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# Integrate REST APIs with your enterprise systems

Connect REST services to hundreds of applications and systems. Build API integrations, automate HTTP operations, and create scalable integration workflows with Python.

[Downloads](https://zato.io/docs/admin/guide/install/index.html)

## Tutorials

[### In-depth API integration tutorial Learn how to design and build scalable, real-world, production-ready API integrations in Python](https://zato.io/tutorials/main/01.html) [### Modern REST API tutorial How to design, build and secure REST APIs, and how to offer services to API clients](https://zato.io/tutorials/rest-api/python.html) [### Microsoft 365 APIs in Python Build production-ready Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 automations without dealing with OAuth2 complexities](https://zato.io/tutorials/microsoft/365.html)

## How to use the REST integration

[Configure REST API channels for incoming requests](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/channels.html) [Create outgoing connections to external REST endpoints](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/outconns.html) [Use the REST adapter for simplified REST calls](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/rest-adapter.html) [Document and publish your APIs with OpenAPI and API Management](https://zato.io/openapi.html) [Manage the whole API layer - security, quota tiers, versioning and analytics](https://zato.io/api-management.html)

## More examples

[### Receiving webhooks Handle incoming HTTP callbacks from external systems like Jira, ServiceNow, and Salesforce](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/webhooks.html) [### Orchestrating multiple APIs Combine data from multiple sources into unified responses and build complex workflows](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/orchestration.html) [### API authentication Configure Basic Auth, API keys, OAuth, and other security methods for your APIs](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/authentication.html) [### Data mapping Transform API responses to models and convert between formats](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/data-mapping.html) [### File uploads and downloads Process multipart forms, return attachments, and stream binary data](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/file-handling.html) [### HTTP verbs Handle GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE with dedicated methods for REST resources](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/verbs.html) [### Request and response objects Access incoming data, set status codes, and return JSON from your services](https://zato.io/docs/dev/request-response/index.html) [### Integrating with API gateways Connect Zato to Azure API Management, AWS API Gateway, Kong, or similar](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/api-gateways.html) [### API versioning Publish new versions, deprecate old ones with sunset dates and successor links, retire them on usage evidence](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/versioning.html) [### Using the OpenAPI console Live documentation, per-caller access and a try-it client](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/openapi-console.html) [### API Management documentation The hub with everything the layer includes - gateway, security, quota tiers, analytics and GitOps](https://zato.io/docs/api-management/index.html) [### OpenAPI administration API Management for operators - which channels are documented, auto-created channels, branding](https://zato.io/docs/dev/api-management/openapi.html) [### OpenAPI specifications Generate OpenAPI specs from Dashboard or access them programmatically via HTTP](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/openapi.html) [### Data models Define request and response schemas with Python dataclasses for type safety and OpenAPI generation](https://zato.io/docs/dev/model/index.html) [### API configuration Where to keep your configuration - API endpoints, mapping tables, and environment-specific settings](https://zato.io/docs/dev/examples/config.html)

## About REST

REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. REST APIs use HTTP methods to perform operations on resources identified by URLs. REST has become the dominant approach for web APIs due to its simplicity, scalability, and stateless nature. With Zato, you can expose REST APIs, consume external REST services, and build complex integrations that connect REST endpoints with databases, message queues, and enterprise applications.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I create a REST API with Zato?

[Create a REST channel](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/channels.html) pointing to your Python service. You specify the URL path, HTTP methods, and data format. Zato handles request parsing and response serialization.

### What authentication methods are supported?

Zato supports Basic Auth, API keys, OAuth 2.0, JWT tokens, and custom schemes. See [API authentication](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/authentication.html) for configuration details.

### Can I transform data between different formats?

Yes - see [data mapping](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/data-mapping.html) for transforming API responses to internal models and converting between formats.

### How do I call external REST APIs?

Configure an [outgoing REST connection](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/outconns.html) in Dashboard, then call it from your service. Zato handles serialization and connection pooling.

### How do I access incoming request data?

Use [self.request.payload](https://zato.io/docs/dev/request-response/index.html) for parsed JSON or self.request.input when using [data models](https://zato.io/docs/dev/model/index.html).

### Can I handle different HTTP verbs in one service?

Yes - implement [handle\_GET, handle\_POST](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/verbs.html), etc. Zato routes requests to the right method automatically.

### How do I receive webhooks from external systems?

[Create a REST channel](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/webhooks.html) for the webhook URL. Your service receives the JSON payload in self.request.payload.

### How do I combine data from multiple APIs?

Use [self.invoke()](https://zato.io/docs/dev/rest/orchestration.html) to call other services and combine their responses into a single result.

### Can Zato replace a proprietary integration platform?

Yes - REST channels, outgoing connections and Python services cover what commercial suites do with proprietary languages and IDEs.

## Ready to build REST integrations?

Get started with Zato and connect your REST APIs to enterprise systems in minutes.

[Go to tutorials](https://zato.io/tutorials/index.html)