Introduction to REST APIs for Absolute Beginners Course Syllabus

Overview: This hands-on course guides absolute beginners through the fundamentals of REST APIs and API testing using Postman. You'll progress from making basic HTTP requests to building automated, reusable workflows and integrating with CI/CD pipelines. With over 5 hours of practical content, the course emphasizes real-world skills like organizing collections, writing test scripts, mocking APIs, and running automated monitors—equipping you with the tools to confidently test and validate APIs in professional environments.

Module 1: Introduction to APIs & Postman Setup

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Understanding REST principles, endpoints, and JSON data formats
• Installing and navigating Postman
• Configuring workspaces and user interface
• Sending your first API request

Module 2: Working with Requests & Responses

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Creating GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE requests
• Inspecting HTTP status codes and response bodies
• Analyzing headers and response metadata
• Handling query parameters and request formatting

Module 3: Collections, Environments & Variables

Estimated time: 1 hours

• Creating and organizing collections and folders
• Setting up environment variables for different stages (dev, staging, prod)
• Using collection-level variables for reusable workflows
• Managing dynamic data with variables and scopes

Module 4: Automated Testing & Scripts

Estimated time: 1 hours

• Writing test scripts using the Chai assertion library
• Validating responses with automated assertions
• Using pre-request scripts to generate timestamps and authentication tokens
• Debugging scripts using Postman Console

Module 5: Mock Servers & Documentation

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Generating mock servers from collections
• Using mocks for front-end development without backend dependencies
• Auto-generating API documentation from collections
• Customizing and publishing API documentation

Module 6: Workflows & Monitors

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Chaining requests using collection runners
• Running requests with external data files (CSV/JSON)
• Scheduling monitors to run collections periodically
• Receiving alerts and reviewing monitor results

Module 7: CI/CD Integration with Newman

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Installing and configuring Newman
• Exporting collections and environments for CLI use
• Running Postman tests from the command line
• Integrating with GitHub Actions and Jenkins for CI/CD

Module 8: Best Practices & Next Steps

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Structuring Postman accounts and workspaces effectively
• Applying naming conventions and version control
• Exploring advanced features: GraphQL, visualizer, and Postman API

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with basic web concepts (what a URL is, how websites work)
• No prior programming or API experience required
• A free Postman account and internet access

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Send and analyze HTTP requests using Postman
• Organize API workflows with collections, environments, and variables
• Automate API tests with JavaScript-based assertions and pre-request scripts
• Create mock servers and share API documentation
• Integrate API tests into CI/CD pipelines using Newman