The WordPress REST API is a tool that helps you talk to the back end of a WordPress website using a language called JSON.
Additionally, you can make easy and interactive themes and plugins for your website.
The WordPress REST API, also known as a Representational State Transfer Application Programming Interface, is a web service that allows communication with the backend of a WordPress site using JSON objects.
The WordPress REST API is not necessary for building a WordPress website, so not everyone knows about it.
When building WordPress sites we use PHP. And the REST API allows you access to the site data.
This is useful for developers who want to build their site using a different technology or create a mobile app.
The REST API is a flexible way to access WordPress data without being limited to just PHP.
You can use the REST API gradually, starting with adding interactivity to your WordPress site and eventually using it for a fully custom front end.
This makes WordPress act as a "headless CMS," preserving content and plugins while giving more flexibility in development.
If you start using the REST API, you may encounter errors, especially if it's your first time.
The following are some of the most common errors you might encounter when using the WordPress REST API.
One common issue in WordPress causing errors is misconfigured permalink settings.
Misconfigured permalink can come up whether or not you’re using the REST API.
In this case, when you try to navigate to the REST API endpoint, you’ll be greeted with a Server 404 error page like this:
Various errors can occur when using the WordPress REST API.
But first, let’s go over some HTTP error codes that the WP REST API relies on to communicate possible causes of an issue. Common errors include the following:
The moment you get any of these errors as a response from the WordPress REST API endpoint, you should be able to come up with possible solutions just from their meaning.
For example, when you get the 403 error, it’s most likely a permission error. You can fix it via the permission feature available via FTP clients like FileZilla or the Cpanel file manager.
Now, let’s go through some common triggers of WordPress REST API Errors.
Caching is useful for improving the performance of a WordPress website. It works by storing a copy of frequently accessed data in the cache, which can reduce the load on the server and improve the overall speed and responsiveness of the website. However, caching plugins can sometimes cause errors with the WordPress REST API.
The WordPress REST API uses caching to improve performance, but some caching plugins cause conflict with the default caching mechanism used by the API.
This can cause the API to return outdated or incorrect data, leading to errors. In some cases, the caching plugin may even prevent the API from working properly, resulting in errors such as the “404 Not Found“.
To fix this issue, you need to make sure that your caching plugin is compatible with the WordPress REST API.
You can do this by checking the plugin documentation or contacting the plugin developer for more information, and in some cases, you may need to disable or reconfigure the caching plugin to avoid conflicts with the REST API.
If you are still experiencing errors with the WordPress REST API after disabling or configuring your caching plugin, you can try disabling the server-level caching technologies provided by your hosting provider, e.g. Cloud flare.