API 101 for Junior Web Devs

api 101 for junior web devs

target audience - junior web devs

This course is for junior web programmers with basic web programming knowledge, react and nextjs but who want to get better at APIs.

prerequisites

  • Basic understanding of web development concepts
  • Familiarity with React and Next.js
  • Basic knowledge of JavaScript

learning objectives

  • Understand core concepts of APIs and their role in web development
  • Learn how to make API requests using JavaScript and React
  • Explore different types of APIs, including REST and GraphQL
  • Gain hands-on experience in integrating APIs with Next.js applications
  • Develop skills to handle API responses and error management
  • Understand authentication methods for securing API requests
  • Investigate best practices for API design and documentation

course outline

chapter 1 - introduction to APIs

  • objectives: Understand what APIs are and their significance in web development.
  • outline:
    • Definition of APIs
    • Role of APIs in modern web applications
    • Overview of different types of APIs (web APIs, library APIs, etc.)
    • Introduction to API protocols (HTTP, REST, GraphQL)

chapter 2 - making API requests

  • objectives: Learn how to make basic API requests using JavaScript.
  • outline:
    • Understanding HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
    • Using the Fetch API for making requests
    • Handling JSON data
    • Basic error handling techniques

chapter 3 - integrating APIs with React

  • objectives: Understand how to integrate APIs into React applications.
  • outline:
    • Setting up a React application
    • Using hooks for API calls (useEffect and useState)
    • Rendering data from API responses
    • Handling loading states and errors in React

chapter 4 - exploring REST APIs

  • objectives: Gain an in-depth understanding of REST APIs.
  • outline:
    • Principles of REST architecture
    • Working with RESTful services
    • Common endpoints and data retrieval patterns
    • Practical examples of consuming REST APIs

chapter 5 - introduction to GraphQL

  • objectives: Understand the fundamentals of GraphQL and its advantages.
  • outline:
    • Differences between REST and GraphQL
    • Structure of a GraphQL query
    • Fetching data with GraphQL
    • Hands-on example: Setting up a basic GraphQL server and client

chapter 6 - error handling and response management

  • objectives: Develop skills to handle API responses effectively.
  • outline:
    • Understanding different types of API responses
    • Implementing error handling strategies
    • Creating user-friendly error messages
    • Logging and monitoring API errors

chapter 7 - authentication in APIs

  • objectives: Learn about various authentication methods for securing API requests.
  • outline:
    • Overview of authentication and authorization
    • Common methods: API keys, OAuth, JWT
    • Securing API requests in client applications
    • Implementing authentication in a React application

chapter 8 - integrating APIs with Next.js

  • objectives: Gain hands-on experience integrating APIs into Next.js applications.
  • outline:
    • Setting up a Next.js project
    • Making API calls during server-side rendering
    • Fetching data in static and dynamic pages
    • Example project: Building a simple app with Next.js and an API

chapter 9 - best practices for API design

  • objectives: Explore best practices for designing and documenting APIs.
  • outline:
    • Principles of API design
    • Versioning APIs
    • Documentation tools and techniques
    • Common pitfalls in API design

chapter 10 - testing APIs

  • objectives: Understand how to test API endpoints effectively.
  • outline:
    • Overview of API testing tools
    • Writing unit tests for API calls in JavaScript
    • Automating API testing with Postman or Cypress
    • Real-world testing scenarios

chapter 11 - deploying an API-driven application

  • objectives: Learn the deployment process for applications that rely on APIs.
  • outline:
    • Overview of deployment strategies
    • Deploying React and Next.js applications
    • Configuring environment variables for API keys
    • Managing API versions in production

chapter 12 - course wrap-up and next steps

  • objectives: Review key concepts and explore further learning opportunities.
  • outline:
    • Summary of API concepts covered in the course
    • Resources for further learning (books, online courses, documentation)
    • Career development tips for junior web devs focusing on API integration
    • Q&A session and feedback collection