WordPress REST API Basics Quiz Quiz

Explore your understanding of core concepts, endpoints, authentication methods, and data formats within the WordPress REST API. This quiz is designed to help users strengthen their knowledge of integrating and extending WordPress sites using RESTful techniques.

1. Understanding Core Endpoints

   Which of the following default endpoints would you use to retrieve a list of published posts using the WordPress REST API?

   1. /json/wp/v2/pages
   2. /wp-json/wp/v2/posts
   3. /wp-rest/wp/v2/articles
   4. /api-json/wp/v2/blogs

   Explanation: The '/wp-json/wp/v2/posts' endpoint is the default option for retrieving published posts through the WordPress REST API. The other choices are incorrect due to typos or improper endpoint names—'/wp-rest/wp/v2/articles' and '/json/wp/v2/pages' do not match the correct namespace or resource, and '/api-json/wp/v2/blogs' does not exist in the standard API.

2. Supported Authentication Methods

   Which authentication method is typically supported by the WordPress REST API for creating or updating posts via external applications?

   1. Application Passwords
   2. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol
   3. FTP Authorization
   4. Cookie-Free Sessions

   Explanation: Application Passwords are supported by the REST API for authenticating external applications, enabling secure access for creating or updating posts. 'Cookie-Free Sessions' is not a recognized authentication method, 'FTP Authorization' relates to file transfers, and 'Simple Mail Transfer Protocol' is for email, not API authentication.

3. Response Data Format

   What is the default format for data returned from a successful WordPress REST API request?

   1. HTML
   2. CSV
   3. JSON
   4. XML

   Explanation: By default, the WordPress REST API returns data in JSON format, which is lightweight and widely used for web APIs. While XML and CSV are formats used in other contexts, they are not the default in REST responses. HTML is used to structure web pages but is not a standard data exchange format for APIs.

4. Registering a Custom Endpoint

   Which function should be used to add a custom endpoint to the WordPress REST API for handling a specific type of request?

   1. create_api_link
   2. add_rest_path
   3. register_rest_route
   4. set_custom_endpoint

   Explanation: The 'register_rest_route' function is the correct method to add a custom endpoint to the WordPress REST API. The other options—'add_rest_path', 'create_api_link', and 'set_custom_endpoint'—either do not exist in the API or are improperly named pseudo-functions.

5. Making Authenticated API Requests

   If a user wants to update their profile information via the WordPress REST API, which HTTP request method should they typically use?

   1. FETCH
   2. PUT
   3. GET
   4. DELETE

   Explanation: The 'PUT' method is used for updating existing resources, like a user’s profile, via the REST API. 'GET' is only for retrieving data and does not modify content, while 'DELETE' removes resources. 'FETCH' is not an HTTP request method supported by REST APIs.