How to Create a Basic REST API with Flask in Python?

Build your first REST API in Python using Flask, straight from your browser, on a blazing-fast VPS with AccuWeb.Cloud.

Why This Guide Matters

If you’re searching for:

• How to create a REST API in Python for beginners
• Flask REST API tutorial step-by-step
• Host a Flask API on a cloud server
• Best way to deploy Python API on VPS
• or even REST API Python tutorial with terminal commands then this is the blog you’ve been looking for!

And if you’re using AccuWeb.Cloud, this guide makes it 10x easier – we’ll walk you through the process using your cloud dashboard, with zero confusion.

Step 1: Log in to Your AccuWeb.Cloud Dashboard

You can log in to your dashboard using the credentials that have been sent to you in your registered email.

Step 2: Deploy a New VPS (Ubuntu)

1. On the dashboard, go to New Environment.

2. Choose:

• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (lightweight and stable)
• Minimum specs: 1 vCPU, 1GB RAM for testing
• The region closest to your target audience

3. You can name your server: flaskapi

4. Click Create

Step 3: Connect to Your Server via Web SSH

Once your server is live:

• In AccuWeb.Cloud dashboard, go to your newly created environment named flaskapi
• Click on the Web SSH widget
• You’ll now see a command-line interface

Step 4: Update Your Server

Before anything else, run:

sudo apt updateCopy

sudo apt upgrade -yCopy

This ensures your packages are up to date.

Step 5: Install Python3, pip, and virtualenv

sudo apt install python3 python3-pip python3-venv -yCopy

These tools are essential to build and run Flask apps.

If you get error while installing the python

follow this steps

🔹 Step 1: Test Network Connection

Run:

ping -c 4 google.comCopy

• If it says unknown host, DNS is not working.
• You may have no internet access if it hangs or gives Destination Host Unreachable.

🔹 Step 2: Create a Custom DNS Configuration

Run this command:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/systemd/resolved.conf.dCopy

Then create a new DNS file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/resolved.conf.d/dns_servers.confCopy

Paste the following into it:

[Resolve]
DNS=8.8.8.8 1.1.1.1
FallbackDNS=8.8.4.4Copy

These are Google’s and Cloudflare’s DNS servers.

🔹 Step 3: Restart the DNS Service

Now reload systemd and restart the resolver:

sudo systemctl daemon-reexecCopy

sudo systemctl restart systemd-resolvedCopy

🔹 Step 4: Point /etc/resolv.conf to systemd-resolved

Let’s make sure /etc/resolv.conf is correctly linked.

Run:

sudo ln -sf /run/systemd/resolve/resolv.conf /etc/resolv.confCopy

Then check the contents:

cat /etc/resolv.confCopy

You should see something like:

nameserver 8.8.8.8Copy

nameserver 1.1.1.1

🔹 Step 5: Test DNS Resolution Again

Now try:

ping -c 4 google.comCopy

If you see replies, you’re good to go!

🔹 Step 6: Proceed to Install Python & Flask

Once ping works, proceed:

sudo apt updateCopy

sudo apt install python3 python3-pip python3-venv -yCopy

🔹 Step 7: Create a Project Directory and Virtual Environment

mkdir cafe_app

cd cafe_app

python3 -m venv venv

source venv/bin/activateCopy

You’ve now activated an isolated Python environment. You’re ready to build!

🔹 Step 8: Install Flask

Run:

pip install FlaskCopy

🔹 Step 9: Create Your First Flask API

Steps:
1. Create the folder structure as shown.

2. Place files in their appropriate locations.

cafe_app/

├── app.py

├── templates/

│   ├── index.html

│   ├── add.html

│   └── edit.html

├── static/

│   └── style.css

Create a file:

nano app.pyCopy

Paste this code into the editor:

from flask import Flask, render_template, request, redirect, url_for import sqlite3
 
app = Flask(__name__)
 
# Initialize database
def init_db():
    conn = sqlite3.connect('cafe.db')
    c = conn.cursor()
    c.execute('''
        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS menu (
            id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
            name TEXT NOT NULL,
            description TEXT,
            price REAL NOT NULL
        )
    ''')
    conn.commit()
    conn.close()
 
@app.route('/')
def index():
    conn = sqlite3.connect('cafe.db')
    c = conn.cursor()
    c.execute("SELECT * FROM menu")
    items = c.fetchall()
    conn.close()
    return render_template('index.html', items=items)
 
@app.route('/add', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
def add():
    if request.method == 'POST':
        name = request.form['name']
        description = request.form['description']
        price = request.form['price']
        conn = sqlite3.connect('cafe.db')
        c = conn.cursor()
        c.execute("INSERT INTO menu (name, description, price) VALUES (?, ?, ?)", (name, description, price))
        conn.commit()
        conn.close()
        return redirect(url_for('index'))
    return render_template('add.html')
 
@app.route('/edit/<int:item_id>', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
def edit(item_id):
    conn = sqlite3.connect('cafe.db')
    c = conn.cursor()
    if request.method == 'POST':
        name = request.form['name']
        description = request.form['description']
        price = request.form['price']
        c.execute("UPDATE menu SET name=?, description=?, price=? WHERE id=?", (name, description, price, item_id))
        conn.commit()
        conn.close()
        return redirect(url_for('index'))
    else:
        c.execute("SELECT * FROM menu WHERE id=?", (item_id,))
        item = c.fetchone()
        conn.close()
        return render_template('edit.html', item=item)
 
@app.route('/delete/<int:item_id>')
def delete(item_id):
    conn = sqlite3.connect('cafe.db')
    c = conn.cursor()
    c.execute("DELETE FROM menu WHERE id=?", (item_id,))
    conn.commit()
    conn.close()
    return redirect(url_for('index', deleted='true'))
 
if __name__ == '__main__':
    init_db()
    app.run(host='0.0.0.0', port=5000)Copy

Create the HTML Pages

templates/index.html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Cafe Menu</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/style.css">
</head>
<body>
  <div class="container">
    <h1 class="fade-in">☕ Cafe Menu</h1>
    <a class="btn primary" href="/add">➕ Add New Item</a>
    <div class="menu-grid">
      {% for item in items %}
      <div class="card fade-in">
        <h3>{{ item[1] }}</h3>
        <p>{{ item[2] }}</p>
        <p><strong>${{ "%.2f"|format(item[3]) }}</strong></p>
        <div class="actions">
          <a class="btn small" href="/edit/{{ item[0] }}">✏️ Edit</a>
          <button class="btn small danger" onclick="confirmDelete('{{ item[0] }}')">🗑️ Delete</button>
        </div>
      </div>
      {% endfor %}
    </div>
  </div>
  <div id="toast" class="toast">Deleted!</div>
 
  <script>
    function confirmDelete(id) {
      if (confirm("Are you sure you want to delete this item?")) {
        window.location.href = "/delete/" + id;
      }
    }
  {% if request.args.get('deleted') %}
  window.onload = () => {
    const toast = document.getElementById("toast");
    toast.classList.add("show");
    setTimeout(() => toast.classList.remove("show"), 3000);
  }
  {% endif %}
  </script>
 
</body>
</html>Copy

templates/add.html

nano add.htmlCopy

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="UTF-8">
  <title>Add Menu Item</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/style.css">
</head>
<body>
  <div class="container">
    <h1 class="fade-in">➕ Add New Item</h1>
    <form method="POST" class="form-card fade-in">
      <label>Name</label>
      <input type="text" name="name" placeholder="Cappuccino" required>
      <label>Description</label>
      <textarea name="description" placeholder="Rich espresso with steamed milk" required></textarea>
      <label>Price ($)</label>
      <input type="number" step="0.01" name="price" placeholder="3.50" required>
      <button type="submit" class="btn primary">Save</button>
      <a href="/" class="btn small">⬅ Back</a>
    </form>
  </div>
</body>
</html>Copy

templates/edit.html

nano edit.htmlCopy

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>Edit Item</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1 class="fade-in">✏️ Edit Item</h1>
<form method="POST" class="form-card fade-in">
  <label>Name</label>
  <input type="text" name="name" value="{{ item[1] }}" required>
  <label>Description</label>
  <textarea name="description" required>{{ item[2] }}</textarea>
  <label>Price ($)</label>
  <input type="number" step="0.01" name="price" value="{{ item[3] }}" required>
  <button type="submit" class="btn primary">Update</button>
  <a href="/" class="btn small">⬅ Cancel</a>
</form>
</body>
</html>Copy

Add a Simple Style (static/style.css)

cd
cd cafe_app/
mkdir static
cd static/
nano style.cssCopy

body {
  font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;
  background-color: #f6f8fa;
  margin: 0;
  padding: 0;
  color: #333;
}
.container {
  padding: 40px;
  max-width: 900px;
  margin: auto;
}
h1 {
  text-align: center;
  margin-bottom: 30px;
  color: #4e342e;
}
.btn {
  text-decoration: none;
  display: inline-block;
  padding: 8px 14px;
  border-radius: 6px;
  margin: 5px 0;
  font-weight: 600;
  cursor: pointer;
  transition: background-color 0.3s;
}
.btn.primary {
  background-color: #6d4c41;
  color: white;
}
.btn.primary:hover {
  background-color: #5d4037;
}
.btn.small {
  font-size: 14px;
  padding: 6px 10px;
}
.btn.danger {
  background-color: #d32f2f;
  color: white;
}
.btn.danger:hover {
  background-color: #b71c1c;
}
.menu-grid {
  display: grid;
  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(250px, 1fr));
  gap: 20px;
}
.card {
  background: white;
  padding: 20px;
  border-radius: 12px;
  box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
  transition: transform 0.2s;
}
.card:hover {
  transform: translateY(-5px);
}
.card h3 {
  margin-top: 0;
  color: #3e2723;
}
.actions {
  margin-top: 10px;
}
.toast {
  position: fixed;
  bottom: 30px;
  left: 50%;
  transform: translateX(-50%);
  background-color: #4caf50;
  color: white;
  padding: 10px 20px;
  border-radius: 6px;
  opacity: 0;
  transition: opacity 0.5s;
}
.toast.show {
  opacity: 1;
}
/* Animation */
.fade-in {
  animation: fadeIn 0.6s ease-in-out;
}
@keyframes fadeIn {
  from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(10px); }
  to { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
}
.form-card {
  max-width: 500px;
  margin: auto;
  background: white;
  padding: 30px;
  border-radius: 12px;
  box-shadow: 0 2px 12px rgba(0,0,0,0.08);
}
.form-card label {
  display: block;
  margin-top: 15px;
  font-weight: bold;
  color: #4e342e;
}
.form-card input,
.form-card textarea {
  width: 100%;
  padding: 10px;
  margin-top: 6px;
  border: 1px solid #ccc;
  border-radius: 6px;
  font-size: 16px;
  transition: border-color 0.3s;
}
.form-card input:focus,
.form-card textarea:focus {
  outline: none;
  border-color: #6d4c41;
  box-shadow: 0 0 4px rgba(109, 76, 65, 0.4);
}Copy

Disable firewall

Or you can allow port 5000 from the inbound rules

Add Public IP

From the cafe_app/ folder, run:

python3 app.pyCopy

Open http://your-server-ip:5000 in your browser.