RESTful architecture provides a standardized way to structure web services, promoting scalability and flexibility. It uses HTTP methods for communication, making APIs easier to understand and use.

RESTful architecture is significant in web applications due to its standardized approach to structuring web services. REST, which stands for Representational State Transfer, leverages the existing capabilities of the HTTP protocol to facilitate communication between clients and servers. This architecture promotes scalability and flexibility, making it easier to develop and maintain APIs. One of the key principles of REST is the use of standard HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, which correspond to common operations like retrieving, creating, updating, and deleting resources. This uniformity simplifies the process of building and consuming APIs, as developers can predict how interactions will work. RESTful services are stateless, meaning that each request from the client contains all the information needed to process it, enhancing performance and reliability. Moreover, RESTful architecture supports various data formats, including JSON and XML, allowing for interoperability between different systems. By adhering to REST principles, developers can create robust, scalable, and user-friendly web applications that integrate seamlessly with other services.