REST API Development Handbook: From Building to Testing, Consuming, and Documenting

Dive into the essential world of REST APIs with this comprehensive handbook by Alex R. D. Morgan. Whether you're a beginner eager to learn how applications communicate or a seasoned developer looking to refine your skills, this guide covers the full API lifecycle—from foundational concepts like HTTP methods and status codes to advanced topics such as versioning, scaling, and security with OAuth and JWT.
Structured as a hands-on workshop, the book walks you through building your first API using Node.js/Express or Python/Flask, testing it manually with tools like Postman and automatically in CI/CD pipelines, consuming public APIs (e.g., Twitter, GitHub), and documenting them effectively with OpenAPI/Swagger. You'll explore best practices for error handling, performance optimization, and comparing REST to alternatives like GraphQL and gRPC.
Packed with code examples, practical exercises, and real-world projects, this book empowers beginners, junior developers, testers, and tech enthusiasts to create scalable, secure APIs and showcase them in portfolios. Perfect for self-learners and professionals alike, it's your roadmap to mastering REST in modern software development. Published in 2025, this educational resource ensures you're ready for API-first trends and emerging tech.