Building REST APIs with ASP.NET

INTRODUCTION

In today’s digital world, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) play a crucial role in enabling applications to communicate over the web. RESTful APIs follow a standardized approach, making data exchange between systems efficient and scalable. ASP.NET, developed by Microsoft, provides a powerful framework for building high-performance REST APIs.

This course is designed to guide learners through the process of developing RESTful APIs using ASP.NET Core. It covers fundamental concepts, best practices, authentication, database integration, and deployment strategies. Whether you are new to API development or looking to improve your skills, this course provides practical knowledge through hands-on exercises and real-world examples.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

By the end of this course, you will have gained proficiency in:

• Understanding the fundamentals of RESTful APIs, including HTTP methods, status codes, and best practices.
• Setting up an ASP.NET Core Web API project and structuring it effectively.
• Implementing routing and controllers to manage API requests.
• Working with Entity Framework Core to integrate databases and perform CRUD operations.
• Utilizing dependency injection and middleware to enhance API architecture.
• Securing APIs with authentication and authorization using JWT and Identity.
• Implementing API versioning and caching for better performance.
• Handling errors and logging API activity effectively.
• Writing and executing tests for REST APIs using Postman and integration tests.
• Deploying APIs to cloud platforms such as Azure for real-world applications.

COURSE OUTLINE

Module 1: Introduction to REST APIs & ASP.NET Core

• Overview of RESTful APIs and their importance in web development
• Introduction to ASP.NET Core for API development
• Setting up the development environment

Module 2: Creating Your First ASP.NET Core Web API

• Initial project setup and directory structure
• Understanding controllers and routing
• Handling HTTP requests (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)

Module 3: Database Integration with Entity Framework Core

• Configuring SQL Server and SQLite for API data storage
• Creating models and database migrations
• Performing CRUD operations using Entity Framework Core

Module 4: Dependency Injection & Middleware

• Understanding and implementing dependency injection
• Using middleware to customize request processing

Module 5: API Security with Authentication & Authorization

• Implementing JWT-based authentication for user access
• Setting up role-based access control (RBAC) with ASP.NET Identity

Module 6: API Versioning & Performance Optimization

• Implementing API versioning strategies
• Using caching and rate limiting to optimize performance

Module 7: Error Handling & Logging

• Implementing global exception handling
• Logging API activity using Serilog and Application Insights

Module 8: Testing & Documentation

• Writing unit and integration tests for APIs
• Documenting APIs using Swagger for better usability

Module 9: Deploying APIs to the Cloud

• Hosting an API on Azure or other cloud platforms
• Setting up CI/CD for automated deployment

Final Project: Developing a Complete REST API

• Creating a real-world REST API as a final project
• Deploying and testing the API in a live environment

RECOMMENDED LEARNING METHOD

This course is structured for both self-paced learners and those who prefer guided instruction. The recommended approach includes:

• Watching the lectures and following along with the demonstrations to understand the concepts.
• Completing hands-on coding exercises to apply what you have learned.
• Engaging with the learning community through discussion forums to ask questions and share knowledge.
• Building a capstone project to solidify your understanding and demonstrate your skills.
• Deploying the API to a cloud platform to experience real-world API hosting.

This course is suitable for backend developers, full-stack developers, and software engineers who want to master REST API development using ASP.NET Core.

Enroll today and start building scalable, high-performance REST APIs!