Interactive REST API Design

Name: Interactive REST API Design
Availability: InStock
Author: FreeAcademy

37Lessons

IntermediateLevel

FreeCertificate

Master REST API design principles and best practices through hands-on exercises. Learn resource naming, HTTP methods, status codes, authentication, versioning, and documentation. Build real-world API designs with interactive request builders and response validation.

What you'll learn

Apply the six REST constraints to structure clean, scalable APIs
Name resources and design URI patterns following established best practices
Choose the right HTTP method and status code for every endpoint
Implement pagination, filtering, and search parameters correctly
Document your API with OpenAPI/Swagger and manage versioning safely

About This Course

This free interactive REST API design course takes you from the foundational six REST constraints through to real-world concerns like authentication, versioning, and documentation. You will work through twelve modules covering resource naming conventions, HTTP methods and their correct use, status codes and error handling, pagination strategies, and API security including rate limiting and CORS. Hands-on exercises are built into the course: interactive request builders, status code matching exercises, and a capstone project where you apply everything to design a complete API.

The course is aimed at developers, students, and technical professionals who already know the basics of web development and want to build APIs that other people can actually use. You will also compare REST against GraphQL and gRPC so you understand when each approach fits best. Authentication is covered in depth, including API keys, JWT basics, and an introduction to OAuth 2.0.

By the end you will be able to apply REST design best practices in your own projects, write clear OpenAPI/Swagger documentation, and handle breaking changes through versioning. The course is completely free. Completing all modules and passing the final exam earns a certificate of completion you can share on LinkedIn or add to a resume.

Course Content

12 modules • 37 lessons

Module 1: REST Principles and Constraints

3 lessons

1.1

Introduction to REST APIs

1.2

The Six REST Constraints

1.3

REST vs GraphQL vs gRPC

Module 2: Resource Naming Conventions

3 lessons

2.1

Resource Naming Fundamentals

2.2

URI Design Best Practices

2.3

Resource Naming Exercises

Module 3: HTTP Methods

3 lessons

3.1

HTTP Methods Overview

3.2

CRUD Operations with HTTP

3.3

Idempotency and Safety

Module 4: Status Codes and Error Handling

3 lessons

4.1

HTTP Status Codes Overview

4.2

Designing Error Responses

4.3

Status Code Matching Exercises

Module 5: Request/Response Formats

3 lessons

5.1

JSON API Design

5.2

Content Negotiation

5.3

Request/Response Design Exercises

Module 6: Query Parameters and Filtering

3 lessons

6.1

Query Parameter Fundamentals

6.2

Filtering and Sorting

6.3

Search Implementation

Module 7: Pagination Strategies

3 lessons

7.1

Pagination Overview

7.2

Pagination Patterns

7.3

Pagination Implementation Exercises

Module 8: Authentication

4 lessons

8.1

OAuth 2.0 Introduction

Module 9: Versioning Strategies

3 lessons

9.1

Why Version Your API

9.2

Versioning Strategies

9.3

Managing Breaking Changes

Module 10: API Documentation

3 lessons

10.1

Documentation Best Practices

10.2

OpenAPI/Swagger Introduction

10.3

OpenAPI Specification Exercises

Module 11: Rate Limiting and Security

3 lessons

11.1

Rate Limiting

11.2

API Security Best Practices

11.3

CORS and Security Headers

Module 12: API Testing

3 lessons

12.1

API Testing Strategies

12.2

API Testing Tools

12.3

API Design Capstone

Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this REST API design course cover?▼

The course covers the full lifecycle of designing a REST API: the core REST constraints, resource naming and URI design, HTTP methods, status codes, request and response formats, query parameters, pagination, authentication (API keys, JWT, OAuth 2.0), versioning, OpenAPI documentation, rate limiting, security headers, and API testing. Each topic includes interactive exercises and a capstone project at the end.

Is this course free, and do I get a certificate?▼

Yes, the course is completely free and no account is required to start. If you complete all the modules and pass the final exam, you earn a certificate of completion that you can add to your LinkedIn profile or resume.

What background do I need before taking this course?▼

The course is rated intermediate, so you should have some familiarity with web development and a basic understanding of HTTP before you begin. You do not need prior experience designing APIs, as the course builds up the concepts from first principles.

Does the course compare REST to GraphQL or gRPC?▼

Yes. Module 1 includes a dedicated lesson comparing REST, GraphQL, and gRPC so you can understand the trade-offs and choose the right approach for a given project.

How is authentication handled in the course?▼

Module 8 covers the main authentication patterns used in modern APIs: API keys, JWT basics, and an introduction to OAuth 2.0. The goal is to give you a practical understanding of when and how to use each approach in your own API designs.

Interactive REST API Design

37Lessons

IntermediateLevel

FreeCertificate

What you'll learn

Apply the six REST constraints to structure clean, scalable APIs
Name resources and design URI patterns following established best practices
Choose the right HTTP method and status code for every endpoint
Implement pagination, filtering, and search parameters correctly
Document your API with OpenAPI/Swagger and manage versioning safely

About This Course

Course Content

12 modules • 37 lessons