Overview

In this course, you will learn how to use JavaScript and data to turn static web pages into dynamic, interactive applications. Through interactive, guided lab activities on Coursera, you will manipulate the Document Object Model (DOM) and use structured data to generate and update content in the browser. You will work with JSON data, learning how it is structured and how JavaScript can load, parse and process it. Using practical exercises, you will convert JSON into HTML, implement loops and searches, and dynamically display data on web pages. The course also introduces the principles of REST APIs, explaining how web applications communicate using HTTP and how JavaScript can retrieve and integrate real-world data. Finally, you will explore template engines and their role in generating dynamic content. By creating and integrating templates in hands-on labs and assessments, you will develop the skills needed to build data-driven web applications using modern JavaScript techniques.

Syllabus

Introduction to data-driven websites

In this module, you’ll learn how websites move beyond static content to become dynamic and interactive. You’ll start by exploring how the DOM can change dynamically, gaining a theoretical foundation for concepts like DHTML and server-side updates. Then, through a guided lab, you’ll transform a static page into a dynamic one. Next, you’ll dive into data formats, understanding how structured data underpins dynamic content. You’ll even design your own data format for something you’re interested in, such as books or movies. By the end of the week, you’ll know how dynamic behaviour works, why data formats matter, and be ready to use them to generate web content in the next topic.

Reading web page data from JSON

In this module, you’ll learn how to work with JSON in JavaScript and apply it in practical tasks. You’ll read JSON files, convert JSON data into HTML to display on a web page, and use loops and searches to process JSON objects. You’ll build hands-on skills for loading, transforming, and manipulating JSON data. By the end of the week, you’ll be able to integrate JSON into your JavaScript projects and complete an end-of-week challenge that brings all these techniques together.

Networked data and REST APIs

In this module, you’ll dive into REST APIs and discover how they enable communication between web applications. You’ll learn the core principles behind REST, practise identifying API calls on real websites, and experiment with accessing and using APIs through guided activities. You’ll also set up a demo API, review key JavaScript techniques, and finish with an assessment to consolidate your understanding.

Powerful data rendering with template engines

In this module, you’ll focus on building dynamic web pages using template engines. You’ll start by exploring how template engines work and then practise creating templates in a short activity. Next, you’ll complete a guided lab where you integrate a real template engine into your own site, gaining hands-on experience with rendering dynamic content. Finally, you’ll apply these skills in a closing assessment.