OData, also known as Open Data Protocol, is an OASIS standard that outlines a set of best practices for creating and accessing RESTful APIs. Initially developed by Microsoft in 2007, OData is also recognized by ISO/IEC. While developing RESTful APIs, it provides the ease to concentrate on business logic rather than worrying about how to define request and response headers. They are also not concerned about URL conventions, HTTP method, status code, media types, query parameters and payload formats.
Why OData?
- User-friendly with easy navigation
- OData metadata can create powerful and efficient generic client proxies and tools
- It offers numerous libraries to assist in implementation, using of OData services
- It facilitates in testing, rapid prototyping, documentation and verification. This is with the help of its online OData API explorer XOData
- The RESTful APIs can be customized according to the usage needs
- Define functions and actions for reusable processes and track change, along with sending asynchronous queries and other functionalities
- With the help of a key, OData facilitates to define key properties of a resource and retrieve it
- For building complex queries, OData can develop a chain of system. This can be used for the resources wanted
- Offers simple and unified interface as per the requirements of REST