RESTful API Development with Express.js

Course Description

Welcome to the exciting world of RESTful API development using Express.js! This intermediate-level computer science course, offered by IBM, is designed to take your server-side web and mobile development skills to the next level. In just about an hour, you'll dive deep into the world of Representation State Transfer (REST) and learn how to harness the power of Express.js, a popular Node.js web application framework, to create robust and efficient APIs.

What You'll Learn

• Understand and apply RESTful design principles
• Utilize the Express framework to build server-side applications
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of HTTP requests and responses
• Develop and test APIs following industry best practices
• Create a practical REST API for managing information about chilies

Course Content

• Introduction to REST architecture and its principles
• Overview of Express.js and its role in API development
• HTTP request and response fundamentals
• Setting up a development environment with Node.js and Express
• Creating RESTful endpoints for CRUD operations
• Implementing data persistence and management
• Testing and debugging API endpoints
• Best practices for API design and documentation

Who This Course Is For

• Web developers looking to expand their server-side skills
• Mobile app developers interested in creating robust backend services
• Software engineers aiming to enhance their API development expertise
• Computer science students seeking practical experience in modern web technologies
• Anyone interested in learning about RESTful API design and implementation

Real-World Applications

The skills acquired in this course have immediate real-world applications. Learners will be able to:

• Develop scalable and efficient backend services for web and mobile applications
• Create APIs that facilitate communication between different software systems
• Contribute to open-source projects requiring API development
• Improve existing APIs by applying RESTful design principles
• Enhance their marketability in the job market, as API development skills are highly sought after
• Build personal projects that require server-side components, such as data-driven websites or mobile apps

Course Structure

As this is a guided project designed to be completed in about an hour, a detailed syllabus is not provided. However, the course structure likely follows these main topics:

1. Introduction to REST and Express.js
2. Setting up the development environment
3. Designing the API structure
4. Implementing API endpoints
5. Testing and debugging the API
6. Best practices and optimization
7. Conclusion and next steps