Which command is typically used to test REST APIs in an interactive manner?

Using the command curl is a common practice for testing REST APIs in an interactive manner because it allows users to send HTTP requests to a server and receive responses directly in the command line interface. Curl supports various request methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, which are essential for interacting with RESTful services.

Additionally, it provides options to include headers, data, and authentication, making it a versatile tool for debugging and testing APIs. Users can inspect the responses from the server, including status codes and response bodies, which is crucial for verifying the functionality of a REST API. This level of interactivity and feedback is what makes curl the go-to choice for developers working with RESTful web services.

In contrast, other commands mentioned, such as ping and traceroute, are primarily used for network diagnostics and do not facilitate direct interaction with APIs. Ping checks connectivity to a device on the network, while traceroute maps the path packets take to reach a destination. Netstat provides information about current network connections and statistics, serving a different purpose than interacting with APIs. Thus, curl stands out as the appropriate command for this specific task.