Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.10.15
What is RESTCONF, and how does it relate to NETCONF?
RESTCONF is a RESTful HTTP interface to YANG-modelled data. It uses the same YANG models and datastore concepts as NETCONF, but over HTTPS with ordinary HTTP methods, which makes it simpler and web-friendly.
RESTCONF (RFC 8040) keeps what makes NETCONF good, the YANG models and the abstraction from the device, and swaps the transport and message style for something every web developer already knows:
| NETCONF | RESTCONF | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | SSH (TLS) | HTTPS |
| Message style | XML RPCs (<get-config>, <edit-config>) |
HTTP methods on URLs |
| Data format | XML | JSON or XML |
| Data models | YANG | The same YANG |
| Strength | Transactions, candidate datastore, validation | Simplicity, any HTTP tool or library works |
On Cisco IOS XE, both interfaces expose the same YANG models, so the data you get is the same. Only the way you ask for it differs.
Go deeper:
RFC 8040 — RESTCONF Protocol — the standard, with its URL scheme and methods.