What Is an API? (+ How Do They Work?)
August 13, 2024
Article · 5 min read
Cultivate your career with expert-led programs, job-ready certificates, and 10,000 ways to grow. All for $25/month, billed annually. Save now
Recommended experience
Intermediate level
Working with C# classes and methods, Applications development with VS Code, and familiarity with ASP.NET Core.
Recommended experience
Intermediate level
Working with C# classes and methods, Applications development with VS Code, and familiarity with ASP.NET Core.
Build ASP.NET Core Minimal APIs.
Integrate SQLite with APIs.
Document APIs with Swagger.
Add to your LinkedIn profile
Only available on desktop
As a C# backend developer, why is it important to implement API endpoints? APIs are a logical choice for building applications that allow users to connect to, manage, and interact with cloud services flexibly in a distributed environment. Many enterprises, such as Amazon, Google, LinkedIn, and Twitter, utilize APIs to create seamless applications and services.
In this intermediate 90-minute project, you will integrate and utilize APIs within a student management application by creating API methods, incorporating C# methods into a C# API application, and making calls to your C# APIs. To achieve this, you will create endpoints to retrieve, lookup, and add new data within a list of students. By the end of this project, you will master the implementation of C# APIs and apply your knowledge to create a customer management API. This project is unique as it teaches you how to implement API endpoints in C# simply and efficiently in a simulated environment with all necessary software and tools readily available. To succeed in this project, you must have a solid understanding of the client-server model, familiarity with Visual Studio Code and .NET Core, as well as working experience with C# classes and methods.
In a video that plays in a split-screen with your work area, your instructor will walk you through these steps:
Task 1: Setup an API Project
Task 2: Build the data layer
Practice I: Create a course model and update the database
Task 3: Create an API Endpoint to Retrieve Students
Task 4: Create an API Endpoint to Create a Student
Practice II: Create API Endpoint to create and retrieve courses
Task 5: Create API endpoints to Delete a Student
Task 6: Create API endpoints to Update a Student Data
Cumulative Task: Build a C# API to manage customer data
Working with C# classes and methods, Applications development with VS Code, and familiarity with ASP.NET Core.
The Coursera Project Network is a select group of instructors who have demonstrated expertise in specific tools or skills through their industry experience or academic backgrounds in the topics of their projects. If you're interested in becoming a project instructor and creating Guided Projects to help millions of learners around the world, please apply today at teach.coursera.org.
Skill-based, hands-on learning
Practice new skills by completing job-related tasks.
Expert guidance
Follow along with pre-recorded videos from experts using a unique side-by-side interface.
No downloads or installation required
Access the tools and resources you need in a pre-configured cloud workspace.
Available only on desktop
This Guided Project is designed for laptops or desktop computers with a reliable Internet connection, not mobile devices.
Course
Board Infinity
Course
Course
Course
Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
By purchasing a Guided Project, you'll get everything you need to complete the Guided Project including access to a cloud desktop workspace through your web browser that contains the files and software you need to get started, plus step-by-step video instruction from a subject matter expert.
Because your workspace contains a cloud desktop that is sized for a laptop or desktop computer, Guided Projects are not available on your mobile device.
Guided Project instructors are subject matter experts who have experience in the skill, tool or domain of their project and are passionate about sharing their knowledge to impact millions of learners around the world.
You can download and keep any of your created files from the Guided Project. To do so, you can use the “File Browser” feature while you are accessing your cloud desktop.
Guided Projects are not eligible for refunds. See our full refund policy.
Financial aid is not available for Guided Projects.
Auditing is not available for Guided Projects.
At the top of the page, you can press on the experience level for this Guided Project to view any knowledge prerequisites. For every level of Guided Project, your instructor will walk you through step-by-step.
Yes, everything you need to complete your Guided Project will be available in a cloud desktop that is available in your browser.
You'll learn by doing through completing tasks in a split-screen environment directly in your browser. On the left side of the screen, you'll complete the task in your workspace. On the right side of the screen, you'll watch an instructor walk you through the project, step-by-step.