API Design Short Course

Learn to design clean, well-structured REST APIs that developers love to use and that scale from prototype to production. API design is a critical skill for backend developers, as APIs are the backbone of modern web and mobile applications. This course covers HTTP methods, status codes, URL design, request and response headers, JSON payloads, authentication with API keys and JWT, and pagination patterns.. Master api design through bite-sized, swipeable learning tiles — designed for busy people who want to learn on the go.

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About This API Design Course

This API Design short course on SkillTiles breaks down everything you need to know into 10 structured milestones, each packed with bite-sized learning tiles you can swipe through in under 15 seconds each.

Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refresh your knowledge, this online api design course uses AI-powered content to adapt to your learning pace. Each tile delivers a focused concept, example, or quiz — making it perfect for commutes, coffee breaks, or quick study sessions.

Covering 70 key topics across 10 milestones, this course takes you from foundations to practical application. Earn badges as you complete each milestone and track your progress on your learning dashboard.

Course Curriculum

REST API Fundamentals

HTTP methods, status codes, and design

HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)status codes (200, 404, 500)URL design best practicesrequest/response headersJSON payloadsauthentication (API keys, JWT)pagination and filtering

Resource Design

Model your API resources well

resource naming conventionsresource hierarchiessingular vs plural endpointssub-resourcesaction endpointsresource relationshipsAPI versioning strategies

HTTP Methods & Status

Use HTTP correctly

GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETEidempotency rulesstatus code categoriescommon status codes in detailcustom error responsescontent negotiationconditional requests (ETags)

API Authentication

Secure your API endpoints

API keysJWT tokensOAuth 2.0 flowsbearer tokensHMAC signingrate limiting per keytoken refresh strategies

Pagination & Filtering

Handle large data sets

offset-based paginationcursor-based paginationfiltering syntaxsorting parametersfield selection (sparse fields)search implementationpagination metadata

Error Handling

Design clear error responses

error response formaterror codes and messagesvalidation error detailsrate limit errorsretry-after headersproblem details (RFC 7807)client-friendly errors

API Documentation

Document APIs developers love

OpenAPI/Swagger specAPI reference structurecode examples in docsinteractive documentationchangelog and versioning docsSDKs and client librariesdeveloper portal design

API Testing & Monitoring

Ensure API reliability

contract testingintegration test strategiesload testing basicsAPI monitoring toolshealth check endpointsuptime and SLA trackingchaos engineering for APIs

API Design Patterns

Common API architecture patterns

HATEOAS basicswebhook designlong-running operationsbatch operationsevent-driven APIsAPI gateway patternsBFF (Backend for Frontend)

API Lifecycle

Evolve APIs without breaking clients

deprecation strategiesbackward compatibilityAPI versioning in practicemigration guides for clientsfeature flags in APIsAPI governancedesigning for extensibility