Representation
A representation consists of representation metadata and a potentially unbounded stream of representation data.
- representations
- messages
- fields
Definition
A representation combines metadata with representation data. It reflects some past, current, or desired state of a resource within the semantics of a message.
Content-Type: application/json
{"status":"active"}
Expected result: the field is representation metadata and the JSON bytes are representation data. The complete HTTP message also contains method or status semantics that are not part of the representation itself.
Why it matters
Negotiation, validation, content coding, and media types operate on representations. A resource can have more than one representation without becoming several resources.