Web APIs and Backend Communication

You already know how to fetch data from Module 3. This module covers the other side of that conversation: what a real server expects, and the conventions almost every API follows.

Why This Matters

Nearly every real application talks to a server: loading data, saving changes, logging in. Understanding REST conventions and HTTP methods means you can work with almost any API you encounter, not just the one example you memorized.

What You’ll Learn

• REST APIs and the conventions they follow
• HTTP methods: GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and what each is for
• Sending authentication with a request
• CRUD operations: create, read, update, delete, end to end
• A first look at WebSockets, for when a request/response isn’t enough

Outcome

By the end of this module, you’ll be able to build a page that loads real data from a server and lets a user change it, and you’ll prove it with a working Weather Dashboard mini project.

Let’s get started.