API and Webservices - Understand and use REST APIs

APIs and Web Services are everywhere these days and if you're in IT then it's essential you know how to work with them.

Unfortunately, a lot of the material online about REST APIs is confusing, especially for beginners. But don’t worry, because in this course I explain all the technical terms in a way that is easy to understand. We’re going to be learning all about how APIs work and how to use them.

If you are a beginner, or if you have some knowledge of APIs but need a refresher, this course is for you. This course includes all the essential components of APIs that every IT professional should know. The Main Topics include REST, HTTP, JSON, & XML. This course includes demos, quizzes, and exercises to test your new skills.

What you are going to learn:

• Learn exactly what an API is

• What API Endpoints are

• Calling the International Space Station API – follow along demo.

• Introduction to HTTP – the main protocol used when sending data over the internet

• The different parts of an HTTP Request – The Request Line, Headers, & Body

• Commonly used HTTP Request Methods - GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, HEAD, & DELETE

• Learn when to use each Request Method.

• Learn what idempotence means and how this relates to request methods.

• Send different types of requests to an API using Postman (free version) – follow along demo.

• Learn the structure of HTTP Responses

• Understand Response Status Codes

• HTTP Quiz

• Learn the JSON data format.

• Learn how to structure data in JSON by completing an exercise

• Solution to the JSON exercise

• REST APIs and the six guiding principles of REST – what makes an API RESTful

• Learn both query parameters and path parameters - includes a demo using an API called SWAPI

• Learn the XML data format

• XML follow along demo

• XML Attributes

• XML Quiz and Exercise

• Solution to the XML Exercise

If you're wanting to get a strong foundation in APIs then I look forward to working with you in the course!