Developing APIs with ASP.NET Core

Master the art of building professional, secure, and scalable Web APIs using ASP.NET Core. This comprehensive course takes you from API fundamentals to advanced concepts including database integration, authentication, and security. Learn to create RESTful APIs that power modern web applications while following industry best practices for security, performance, and maintainability.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for:

• .NET Developers transitioning to web API development
• Software Engineers building backend services and microservices
• Full-Stack Developers needing strong API development skills
• System Architects designing API-first applications
• Web Developers moving from frontend to backend development
• Students pursuing careers in modern web development
• DevOps Engineers working with API deployment and integration
• Anyone looking to build modern, scalable web services

Prerequisites

• C# Programming Experience: Solid understanding of C# syntax and object-oriented programming
• Basic Web Development Knowledge: HTML, HTTP methods, and web concepts
• Database Fundamentals: Basic SQL queries and relational database concepts
• Visual Studio Familiarity: IDE navigation and project management
• JSON Understanding: Working with JSON data format
• Basic Authentication Concepts: Understanding of login/logout workflows

Course Duration & Format

• Duration: 3 comprehensive lessons
• Level: Intermediate
• Format: AI-instructor-led with hands-on exercises
• Delivery: Interactive development with real-world projects
• Environment: Visual Studio with ASP.NET Core and SQL Server

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Design and implement RESTful APIs following industry standards
Build secure Web APIs with JWT authentication and role-based authorization
Integrate Entity Framework Core for database operations
Implement full CRUD operations with proper HTTP status codes
Configure CORS for cross-origin resource sharing
Create interactive API documentation using Swagger/OpenAPI
Consume APIs effectively using HttpClient in Razor Pages
Apply security best practices including token management and validation
Handle errors gracefully with appropriate HTTP responses
Test APIs using Swagger UI and external tools

Detailed Course Structure

Lesson 1: Creating a New Web API

Foundation and Architecture

Understanding APIs and REST

• API Fundamentals: What APIs are and why they're essential
• RESTful Architecture: Principles of Representational State Transfer
• HTTP Methods: GET, POST, PUT, DELETE and their proper usage
• Status Codes: Understanding and implementing appropriate HTTP responses
• Resource Design: Structuring URLs and endpoints effectively

ASP.NET Core API Development

• Project Structure: Controllers, models, and dependency injection
• API Controllers: Creating and configuring API endpoints
• Model Binding: Request/response handling and validation
• Swagger Integration: Auto-generating API documentation
• Program.cs Configuration: Service registration and middleware setup

CRUD Operations Implementation

• Create Operations: POST endpoints for data creation
• Read Operations: GET endpoints for data retrieval
• Update Operations: PUT endpoints for data modification
• Delete Operations: DELETE endpoints for data removal
• Error Handling: Proper exception management and status codes

API Consumption

• HttpClient Usage: Making API calls from Razor Pages
• JSON Serialization: Working with JSON data in .NET
• Response Handling: Processing API responses effectively
• CORS Configuration: Enabling cross-origin requests

Hands-On Project: Build a complete blog API with full CRUD operations and consume it from a Razor Pages frontend

Lesson 2: Persisting Blog Data in the Database

Database Integration and Data Management

Entity Framework Core Integration

• EF Core Setup: Installing and configuring Entity Framework
• DbContext Configuration: Setting up database connections
• Code-First Approach: Creating database schema from C# models
• Migration Management: Database schema versioning and updates

Advanced Database Operations

• LINQ Integration: Querying databases using LINQ expressions
• Asynchronous Operations: Implementing async/await patterns
• Change Tracking: Understanding EF Core's change detection
• Performance Optimization: Efficient querying and caching strategies

Production-Ready API Development

• Connection String Management: Secure configuration practices
• Error Handling: Database-specific exception management
• Validation: Data integrity and business rule enforcement
• Logging: Implementing comprehensive logging strategies

Frontend Integration

• Dynamic UI Creation: Building responsive interfaces that consume APIs
• Form Handling: Creating and editing data through web forms
• Client-Side Validation: Implementing user-friendly form validation
• State Management: Handling application state in Razor Pages

Hands-On Project: Upgrade the blog API to use SQL Server with Entity Framework Core and build complete CRUD interfaces

Lesson 3: Securing the Blog App and API

Authentication, Authorization, and Security

JWT Authentication Implementation

• JWT Fundamentals: Understanding JSON Web Tokens structure
• Token Generation: Creating and signing JWT tokens
• Claims-Based Authentication: Implementing user claims and roles
• Token Validation: Securing API endpoints with token verification

Role-Based Authorization

• Role Definition: Creating and managing user roles
• Endpoint Protection: Applying authorization attributes
• Permission Management: Implementing fine-grained access control
• Security Best Practices: Preventing common security vulnerabilities

Frontend Security Integration

• Token Storage: Secure token management in web applications
• Authentication Flow: Implementing login/logout workflows
• UI Security: Showing/hiding features based on user roles
• Session Management: Handling user sessions securely

Production Security Considerations

• HTTPS Configuration: Enforcing secure connections
• Input Validation: Preventing injection attacks
• Rate Limiting: Protecting against abuse
• Security Headers: Implementing security-focused HTTP headers

Hands-On Project: Implement complete authentication and authorization system with role-based access control

Key Technical Skills Developed

API Design and Development

• RESTful API Design: Industry-standard API architecture
• HTTP Protocol Mastery: Proper use of methods and status codes
• OpenAPI/Swagger: Interactive API documentation
• Content Negotiation: Supporting multiple data formats
• Versioning Strategies: API evolution and backward compatibility

Database Integration

• Entity Framework Core: Modern ORM implementation
• Database-First vs Code-First: Different development approaches
• Query Optimization: Performance tuning and best practices
• Migration Management: Schema versioning and deployment
• Connection Pooling: Efficient database resource management

Security Implementation

• JWT Authentication: Token-based security system
• Role-Based Authorization: Fine-grained access control
• CORS Configuration: Cross-origin security management
• Input Validation: Preventing security vulnerabilities
• Secure Configuration: Production-ready security settings

Frontend Integration

• HttpClient Usage: Effective API consumption
• Razor Pages Development: Server-side rendering with API integration
• Form Handling: Creating intuitive user interfaces
• Error Handling: User-friendly error management
• State Management: Application state in web applications

Real-World Applications

Enterprise API Development

• Microservices Architecture: Building scalable service-oriented systems
• API Gateway Integration: Centralized API management
• Service Communication: Inter-service communication patterns
• Data Consistency: Distributed system data management

Modern Web Applications

• Single Page Applications: API backends for SPAs
• Mobile App Backends: APIs for mobile applications
• Third-Party Integrations: External service consumption
• Real-Time Applications: WebSocket and SignalR integration

Business Solutions

• E-commerce Platforms: Product catalog and order management APIs
• Content Management: Blog and CMS API development
• User Management: Authentication and profile management
• Reporting Systems: Data aggregation and analytics APIs

Development Environment

Required Software

• Visual Studio 2022: Professional development environment
• SQL Server: Database engine for data persistence
• Postman/Swagger: API testing and documentation tools
• .NET 6/7/8: Latest ASP.NET Core framework

Lab Environment Features

• Integrated Development: Full-stack development environment
• Database Tools: SQL Server Management Studio integration
• Testing Tools: Built-in API testing capabilities
• Debugging Support: Advanced debugging and profiling tools

Assessment and Validation

Practical Assessments

• API Development: Building complete RESTful APIs
• Database Integration: Implementing data persistence
• Security Implementation: Adding authentication and authorization
• Frontend Development: Creating consumer applications

Technical Competency

• Code Quality: Professional coding standards
• Security Awareness: Implementing security best practices
• Performance Optimization: Building efficient applications
• Testing Proficiency: API testing and validation

Business Benefits

Organizations investing in this training will gain:

• Scalable Architecture: APIs that grow with business needs
• Enhanced Security: Protection against common vulnerabilities
• Improved Integration: Better system interoperability
• Faster Development: Efficient API development practices
• Cost Reduction: Reusable API components and services
• Modern Technology Stack: Current industry-standard tools

Career Advancement

This course prepares you for:

• Backend Developer Roles: API-focused development positions
• Full-Stack Development: Complete web application development
• System Architecture: Designing scalable system architectures
• DevOps Engineering: API deployment and management
• Technical Leadership: Leading API development teams

Industry Standards and Best Practices

API Design Standards

• RESTful Principles: Industry-standard API architecture
• OpenAPI Specification: Standardized API documentation
• HTTP Best Practices: Proper protocol usage
• Error Handling: Consistent error response patterns
• Versioning Strategies: API evolution management

Security Standards

• OAuth 2.0/JWT: Modern authentication standards
• HTTPS Enforcement: Secure communication protocols
• Input Validation: Data integrity and security
• Rate Limiting: API abuse prevention
• Security Headers: Web application security

Performance Optimization

• Caching Strategies: Response caching and optimization
• Database Optimization: Efficient data access patterns
• Asynchronous Programming: Non-blocking operation patterns
• Resource Management: Efficient memory and connection usage
• Monitoring and Logging: Application observability