Overview

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Learn how to design and implement RESTful APIs with Spring Boot by building a complete Pet Clinic application from the ground up. This hands-on course follows a practical, project-based approach that guides you through creating a modular backend application using Spring Boot, Spring Data JPA, and RESTful architecture. You will begin by setting up a Maven-based Spring Boot project, designing reusable JPA entity models, and developing repository interfaces for data access. Next, you will strengthen your application by implementing centralized exception handling with Spring's controller advice and customizing JSON serialization using Jackson to produce clean, secure API responses. Finally, you will build REST controllers, integrate service and repository layers, and implement complete CRUD operations through structured HTTP endpoints. This course is ideal for learners who want practical experience developing RESTful APIs with Spring Boot through a structured case study. By the end of the course, you will be able to construct RESTful services, implement exception handling strategies, customize JSON serialization, integrate layered application components, and develop a fully functional, maintainable REST API using industry-standard architectural practices.

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.