Overview

This project-based course equips learners with the skills to design, construct, and implement RESTful APIs using Spring Boot through a complete case study of a Pet Clinic application. Following a modular structure, the course progresses from project setup and domain modeling to advanced layers such as exception handling, serialization, and RESTful service integration. In Module 1, learners will create and organize entity classes, define base structures using JPA, and construct repository interfaces for data access. Module 2 guides learners to develop robust exception handling mechanisms and customize JSON serialization using Jackson, ensuring clean and secure API responses. Finally, in Module 3, learners will build REST controllers, integrate service layers, and execute CRUD operations through structured HTTP endpoints. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on applying best practices in layered architecture, analyzing component responsibilities, and evaluating results through testable and maintainable API endpoints. By the end of the course, learners will be able to: • Construct RESTful services using Spring Boot and Spring Data JPA • Implement exception handling strategies using Spring's controller advice model • Apply custom serialization and re-serialization for controlled JSON output • Develop and deploy a fully functional, modular REST API project • Demonstrate complete CRUD functionality using integrated service and controller layers

Syllabus

Setting Up the Foundation

This module introduces the foundational structure of the Pet Clinic REST API project using Spring Boot. Learners begin by initializing a Maven-based Spring Boot project and progressively build the core domain model using JPA. The module covers the creation of reusable base classes, named entity extensions, and the modeling of key domain entities such as Owners, Pets, Visits, and Specialties. Additionally, it walks through the creation of repository interfaces using Spring Data JPA, preparing the groundwork for later service and controller layers.

Exception Handling and Data Serialization

This module focuses on enhancing the robustness and flexibility of the Pet Clinic REST API by implementing centralized exception handling and custom serialization strategies. Learners will explore how to build and manage custom exception classes, structure global error responses using Spring’s @ControllerAdvice, and bind exceptions to HTTP status codes. The module also covers the creation of custom serializers and re-serialization techniques using Jackson to control and tailor JSON output formats, ensuring clean and secure API responses.

Building and Connecting REST Components

This module focuses on constructing the interaction layer of the Pet Clinic REST API through the implementation of RESTful controllers and service classes. Learners will gain hands-on experience creating REST endpoints using Spring annotations, structuring request handling logic, and integrating the controller with service and repository layers. The module also emphasizes clean architecture, separation of concerns, and successful execution of full CRUD operations through HTTP requests, culminating in a complete, functioning backend application.