Web Services APIs

Learn to Connect Different Applications

Web Development4.4(78)4h 15m26 lectures7 sections

What you'll learn

  • Understand application programming interfaces and their types
  • Work with the XML and JSON data formats
  • Test REST APIs and measure their performance
  • Use APIs in Oracle APEX
  • Use APIs with JavaScript, Python and Java
  • Build a complete web application using a REST API
  • Create REST APIs and implement CRUD operations
  • Apply security with authentication and authorization
  • Deploy a REST API and monitor its performance

About this course

This course teaches application programming interfaces (APIs), the way different applications are connected to each other, from the concept and the core role to hands-on practice. It starts with the types of interfaces such as REST, SOAP and GraphQL, and the data formats XML and JSON. Next you learn how to test a REST API, test functions, measure performance, run stress tests and improve tests. Then you use APIs in Oracle APEX, prepare RESTful services, work with the retrieved data and carry out advanced projects, then use them with JavaScript, Python and Java while building a complete web application. In the last part you learn how to create REST APIs, from planning and setting up the infrastructure to implementing CRUD operations and applying security with authentication and authorization, then testing before release, deployment and performance monitoring. It suits programmers and people interested in web and application development, and it is better if you know the basics of programming. Afterwards, you will be able to consume APIs, test them, create your own interface and deploy it.

Expected outcomes

  • Comprehensive understanding of API fundamentals and concepts.
  • Ability to consume REST APIs in your applications.
  • Mastering testing techniques and performance analysis of APIs.
  • Creating effective and secure REST APIs from scratch.
  • Gaining skills to work as an API developer or full-stack programmer.
  • Implementing projects that rely on consuming and creating APIs.

Learner reviews

These reviews are from learners who bought the content and completed at least 50% of it — there are no reviews from anyone who hasn't gone through the material.
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    Course content

    1

    Introduction to APIs

    4 lectures
    1. Introduction to APIs: Concept and Core RoleIntroduces web services and APIs and their role in connecting systems written in different languages without exposing the database, with an overview of REST, SOAP and GraphQL, the XML and JSON formats, and the course topics.10:34
    2. Types of APIs: REST, SOAP, GraphQL, and MoreCompares web service types: SOAP, the oldest and most secure, returning XML and not working directly in the browser, REST, the most widespread and easy, and GraphQL, the newest, with practical examples.9:00
    3. XML Data Formats in APIsExplains the XML format for exchanging data between systems and its rules, such as closing every tag that is opened, with a school and students example, and saving the file with an xml extension and checking it.8:12
    4. JSON Data Formats in APIsExplains the JSON format and how to write it as an object and an array in a file, plus converting between JSON and XML, and between JSON and Excel or CSV tables.6:56
    2

    REST API Interface Testing

    4 lectures
    1. Introduction to REST API Testing: Tools and BasicsIntroduces REST API testing and its tools, most notably Postman, explaining why a service is tried out before building on it and how requests such as GET and POST are sent to the service URL.16:14
    2. Functional Testing in REST API: Procedures and Practical StepsExplains testing the GET all and GET one operations of a REST API with testing tools, entering a username and password, limiting the number of returned records, and sorting results with order by and filtering by name.13:26
    3. Performance Measurement and Stress Testing in REST APIExplains testing POST, Update and Delete operations in a REST API with testing tools: changing the request type on the same URL, sending data in the body, deleting by ID, then trying public SOAP services.12:13
    4. Improving REST API Tests: Strategies and Best PracticesCovers testing SOAP services through a WSDL file in the testing tool, creating a supplier with authentication and a body, noting that SOAP returns XML, followed by a recap of the testing topics so far.7:22
    3

    Using APIs through Oracle APEX

    6 lectures
    1. Using APIs with Oracle APEX: The BasicsIntroduces consuming APIs inside Oracle APEX: requesting a workspace, creating an application and a new page, and setting up an endpoint to fetch and display data, as an introduction to a broader topic.15:13
    2. Setting Up RESTful Services in Oracle APEXExplains setting up RESTful Services in Oracle APEX without coding to get a REST URL, and using that URL as a data source for an Interactive Report page in the application.9:24
    3. Handling Data Retrieved from APIs in Oracle APEXExplains handling data retrieved from an API in Oracle APEX: creating a REST data source with a parameter the user enters, such as an invoice number, with a default value, and a page that displays the data.10:46
    4. Optimizing API Usage in Oracle APEXExplains synchronizing a REST data source in Oracle APEX: creating a local table filled from the data source and refreshed through synchronization, then building a page and form on that table.8:46
    5. Advanced Projects: Using APIs in Oracle APEX ApplicationsExplains calling REST APIs by code from inside Oracle APEX using the apex_web_service package, passing the URL and parameters to the function and reading the result, with a trial on user data.8:44
    6. Tips and Best Practices for Using APIs in Oracle APEXFixes the problem of the whole response showing as JSON in Oracle APEX by storing it in a variable and showing only the name and ID, taking the bank ID from the screen, then preparing POST and Update.10:32
    4

    Using APIs through JavaScript

    3 lectures
    1. Using APIs with JavaScript: Introduction and Practical ApplicationsExplains consuming APIs with JavaScript: writing functions that fetch data, extract the name and email, and print them to the console, then running the code inside an HTML page.15:12
    2. Interacting with JSON via JavaScript: Displaying Data DynamicallyExplains working with JSON through JavaScript: fetching data and converting the response to JSON, looping over the records to show the name, email and ID, with an if condition to show specific results.6:44
    3. Building a Full-Stack Web Application Using REST API and JavaScriptBuilds a complete web app with a REST API and JavaScript: a button calls a function that sends a POST to insert a bank into the table, building a header with the username and password and creating a JSON object for the data.11:35
    5

    Using APIs through Python

    2 lectures
    1. Using APIs with Python: The BasicsExplains consuming REST APIs with Python: a function sending a GET request, another converting the response to JSON, a function extracting the name and email, with try and except and running the code through an online compiler.7:51
    2. Practical Projects Using REST API and PythonApplies a Python project that fetches all users with a loop and prints the name and email, then sends a POST request to create a bank with a header and a JSON body and handles the response.8:01
    6

    Using APIs through Java

    1 lectures
    1. Using REST APIs with Java: Basics and Practical ProjectsExplains consuming REST APIs with Java using the same code parts as in Python: fetching one user then all, and sending a POST, with functions converting the response to JSON and running the code in an online compiler.6:44
    7

    Creating REST APIs

    6 lectures
    1. Introduction to Building REST APIs: Concepts and PlanningIntroduces creating REST APIs with Oracle APEX and ORDS, which turns the work into REST services, starting by creating a module and template on a table and implementing GET and POST handlers.13:07
    2. Setting Up Infrastructure for Building REST APIsContinues setting up REST services in Oracle APEX by creating a new template with an ID parameter, adding and testing Update and Delete handlers, then showing the duplicate record problem that needs a proper error message.8:54
    3. Implementing Basic Operations (CRUD) in REST APIExplains error handling and response messages for a POST operation in a REST API: using the status code, writing an exception when others block, and returning a success message on creation and an error message on a duplicate record.5:57
    4. Applying Security in REST API: Authentication and AuthorizationExplains securing a REST API so not just anyone can reach all the data, by creating users, a group and a role and linking them to the service, then testing access with a username and password.8:55
    5. Testing REST API Before Deployment: Quality Assurance and EfficiencyExplains generating REST services by code in Oracle APEX from a table: enabling the table, creating a module and templates automatically, then browsing and reviewing what was generated.6:51
    6. Deploying REST API and Monitoring Its Performance in ProductionExplains exporting and importing REST services in Oracle APEX to keep a backup copy and move it elsewhere, reviewing the generated code, and summarizing what the course covered.8:23

    Instructor

    Eng. Azab Mohamed Azab

    Eng. Azab Mohamed Azab

    Lecturer at the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, and the Egyptian Ministry of Interior, specializing in technology and information.
    68.8K views28 courses

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