API Development and Documentation

Course

Learn how to use APIs to control and manage web applications, including best practices for API testing and documentation.

Intermediate
2 weeks
Last Updated January 7, 2025

Skills you'll learn:

FlaskHTTP

Prerequisites:

Basic web development

Intermediate

2 weeks

Last Updated January 7, 2025

Skills you'll learn:

Flask • HTTP • Cors • API fluency

Prerequisites:

Basic web development

Course Lessons

Lesson 1

Introduction to APIs

In this lesson, you'll learn what APIs are, how they're implemented, and why they're important. We'll also dive into the concepts of Internet Protocols and REST.

Lesson 2

HTTP and Flask Basics

In this lesson, you'll learn about HTTP—including methods, requests, responses and status codes— as well as how to set up a Flask app, and implement and test endpoints using Curl.

Lesson 3

Endpoints and Payloads

In this lesson, you'll learn about how Flask is extensible in itself to handle different kinds of methods, more complex endpoints, and to return formatted data to the client.

Lesson 4

API Testing

This lesson teaches students the benefits and purposes of testing an API, Test-Driven Development for APIs and implementing the tests using unittest.

Lesson 5

API Documentation

To round out the course, students will consider and write API documentation and project documentation so their projects can be hosted, shared, and used by other developers with clarity.

Lesson 6 • Project

Project: Trivia API

In this project, you'll use your new API and API documentation skills to build a trivia API.

Taught By The Best

Caryn McCarthy

Instructor

Caryn has worked as a software developer and as Coach and Experience Manager at Code Next at Google. She is passionate about diversity and equity in tech, is always working to create positive impact in the tech industry and the world.

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Demonstrate proficiency with practical projects

Projects are based on real-world scenarios and challenges, allowing you to apply the skills you learn to practical situations, while giving you real hands-on experience.

Gain proven experience
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Top-tier services to ensure learner success

Reviewers provide timely and constructive feedback on your project submissions, highlighting areas of improvement and offering practical tips to enhance your work.