REST API Discovery is the process of identifying and interacting with the available "endpoints" on a WordPress site via the `/wp-json/` directory. WordPress is an API-first platform, meaning almost every piece of content—posts, pages, users, and meta—can be accessed in a machine-readable JSON format by external applications. High-end developers use discovery to understand how to build "Headless" front-ends or how to integrate WordPress content into third-party mobile apps or manufacturing ERP systems. While discovery is powerful for integration, it also requires careful management; exposing sensitive data through the API can be a security risk. A professional Digital Learning Architecture ensures that discovery is enabled for public data but strictly authenticated for sensitive user information.
Glossary entry