PostgREST Documentation

GitHub - PostgREST/postgrest: REST API for any Postgres database

PostgREST serves a fully RESTful API from any existing PostgreSQL database. It provides a cleaner, more standards-compliant, faster API than you are likely to write from scratch.

What is PostgREST?

PostgREST is a standalone web server that transforms PostgreSQL databases directly into RESTful APIs. It provides a powerful, efficient approach to API development by leveraging the database's inherent capabilities[1][2][4].

Key Characteristics

Architectural Philosophy

PostgREST operates on a unique principle of establishing the database as the single source of truth. Instead of writing complex backend logic, it allows developers to define API endpoints and operations through database structural constraints and permissions[1].

Core Features

• Automatic API Generation: Converts PostgreSQL database schemas into fully functional REST APIs
• Declarative Programming: Utilizes PostgreSQL's native capabilities for data manipulation
• Performance: Lightweight and highly performant web server written in Haskell
• Security: Delegates authentication and authorization directly to database roles[2][3]

Technical Highlights

API Characteristics

• Provides complete CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations
• Supports filtering, selection, and pagination through SQL-like query parameters
• Generates self-documentation using OpenAPI standards
• Handles authentication via JSON Web Tokens (JWT)