COURSE DESCRIPTION

What is an API ? The full meaning of this acronym is Application Programming Interface. This acronym does not explain exactly what an API is in practical contexts. Practically, an API(also commonly called web service, data service, or just service) is an application interface that exposes the data and functionalities of one application to other independent application(s) in a secure way; thus enabling applications integrations.

With an API, you can build a single backend(database and some functionalities) that works with mobile, SPA, GUI, and even CLI frontend applications all at the same time! APIs redefined our world and enable new experiences that were not possible before. That is why banks can now provide internet-banking mobile apps that enable customers to perform banking operations like funds transfer, donations/collections, bill payments, and much more; operations that were exclusive to only bank tellers a few years ago.

In an API environment - called Decoupled Architecture - one or more applications act as the API(s), which is the data service. This is the part of the system that provides the services that another application wants to consume or connect with. If you are building a fintech product for instance, the functionalities provided by this API may include: Bills Payment, Funds Transfer, Airtime Purchase, Loan Request, etc. API is responsible for the details of how each of the functionalities is handled and processed. This API may provide these functionalities internally or rely on another API provided by a third party to get the job done. An API can be written in any server-side programming language(python, PHP, Java, .net, etc). Then the frontend applications(also called the client applications) which will consume the API will have to be developed either by the same company providing the API or third-party developers and companies. These applications can be mobile apps(android or iOS) or web applications, also written in any language. End-users only interact with the frontend applications to get values provided by the API.

In this course, you will learn everything required to build and consume professional APIs for any industry. And from the course title, it is clear we will be using python and Django to do it. As explained above, the API you will learn to build can be consumed by frontend applications written in any platform. All APIs implement open standards like XML and JSON for data/message exchange, making them operationally platform agnostic.

If you took our fullstack python course, it means you can build a complete web application end-to-end. The next step now is to master how to expose your backend to the world as an API. If you took the fullstack python course and you are interested in this API course, there is a HUGE DISCOUNT for you!! Please contact us to claim it.

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