Course Description
REST (Representational State Transfer) APIs are enormously powerful and provide seemingly limitless possibilities, but the REST concept is also easy to learn. In this course, we’ll begin with an overview of the fundamental concepts behind web APIs and the defining principles of REST. You will then learn how REST APIs are commonly used for read, send and write operations, including an in-depth exploration of HTTP requests and responses. The HTTP protocol will be analyzed, including secure HTTP, headers and status codes.
Most modern APIs are hosted in public cloud environments, and in this course you will learn about the various cloud providers' API offerings. The alignment of REST APIs to business operations and strategies for API versioning and upgrade management will also be explored. This will be followed by lessons covering REST API testing and error handling to ensure that APIs deliver the expected results. Security will be covered in depth next, including various strategies such as API keys/secrets and OAuth.
The course will conclude with an exploration of server-side REST API software development in a variety of languages.
What You'll Learn
- Describe the advantages and characteristics of REST APIs and the defining principles of REST
- Explain the mechanics of REST API requests and responses, including HTTP, secure HTTP, headers, and status codes
- Apply HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, PATCH) for read, send, and write operations on object state
- Implement REST API design, versioning, error handling, and testing to ensure expected results
- Secure REST APIs using strategies such as API keys/secrets, OAuth, and rate limiting
- Program server-side REST APIs using prepackaged libraries in Node.js with Express.js, Python with OpenAPI documentation, and ASP.NET Core with C#
Key Takeaways
- REST (Representational State Transfer) APIs are powerful yet built on concepts that are easy to learn.
- REST APIs are commonly used for read, send, and write operations carried out through HTTP requests and responses.
- The HTTP protocol covered includes secure HTTP, headers, and status codes.
- Most modern APIs are hosted in public cloud environments, and the course examines various cloud providers' API offerings.
- REST API security can be implemented through strategies such as API keys and secrets, OAuth, and rate limiting to control traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What topics does this REST APIs course cover?
It covers the fundamental concepts behind web APIs and the principles of REST, HTTP requests and responses (including secure HTTP, headers, and status codes), cloud providers' API offerings, API versioning and upgrade management, REST API testing and error handling, security strategies such as API keys/secrets and OAuth, and server-side REST API development in multiple languages.
What programming languages and frameworks are used for building REST APIs in this course?
The course concludes with server-side REST API development covering Node.js REST APIs with Express.js, Python REST APIs with OpenAPI documentation, and creating REST APIs using ASP.NET Core and C#.
What skills will I gain from this course?
You will gain skills in API Design, working with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), ASP.NET Web API, REST API Development, using a REST client, and building RESTful APIs.
How does the course address REST API security?
Security is covered in depth, including strategies such as API keys and secrets, OAuth for authentication, and using rate limiting to control traffic.
Where are most modern APIs hosted according to the course?
The course explains that most modern APIs are hosted in public cloud environments and explores the various cloud providers' API offerings.
