Django REST API Development

Django REST API development is the practice of using the Python-based Django framework to build web Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that adhere to the architectural principles of REpresentational State Transfer (REST). This process enables a server to expose its application's data and functionality in a standardized, stateless manner, typically using JSON as the data format, so that it can be consumed by various clients like single-page web applications, mobile apps, or other backend services. Development is significantly streamlined by leveraging the Django REST Framework (DRF), a powerful and flexible toolkit that provides essential components for serialization, authentication, permissions, and routing, allowing developers to rapidly create secure and scalable APIs.

1. Introduction to APIs and REST Principles
   1. Understanding APIs
      1. Definition and Purpose of APIs
      2. Types of APIs
         1. Web APIs
         2. Library APIs
         3. Operating System APIs
      3. Role of APIs in Modern Applications
      4. API Use Cases
         1. Web Development
         2. Mobile Development
         3. Microservices Architecture
      5. Client-Server Architecture
         1. Separation of Concerns
         2. Request-Response Cycle
         3. Stateless Communication
   2. REST Architectural Style
      1. Definition of REST
      2. REST Architectural Constraints
         1. Client-Server Separation
         2. Statelessness
         3. Cacheability
         4. Layered System
         5. Uniform Interface
         6. Code on Demand
      3. Benefits of REST Architecture
      4. REST vs Other Architectural Styles
   3. REST Resources and URIs
      1. Resource Identification
      2. URI Design Principles
      3. Resource Naming Conventions
      4. Hierarchical Resource Structure
   4. HTTP Methods in REST
      1. GET Method
         1. Safe Operations
         2. Idempotent Nature
         3. Retrieving Resources
      2. POST Method
         1. Creating Resources
         2. Non-idempotent Operations
      3. PUT Method
         1. Full Resource Updates
         2. Idempotent Updates
      4. PATCH Method
         1. Partial Resource Updates
      5. DELETE Method
         1. Resource Deletion
         2. Idempotent Deletion
      6. HEAD and OPTIONS Methods
   5. HTTP Status Codes
      1. Success Status Codes
         1. 200 OK
         2. 201 Created
         3. 204 No Content
      2. Client Error Status Codes
         1. 400 Bad Request
         2. 401 Unauthorized
         3. 403 Forbidden
         4. 404 Not Found
         5. 405 Method Not Allowed
         6. 409 Conflict
      3. Server Error Status Codes
         1. 500 Internal Server Error
         2. 502 Bad Gateway
         3. 503 Service Unavailable
   6. Data Representations
      1. JSON Format
      2. XML Format
      3. Content Negotiation
      4. Accept Headers
      5. Media Types
   7. HATEOAS
      1. Hypermedia Controls
      2. Link Relations
      3. Discoverability
      4. Self-Describing APIs
   8. Introduction to Django Framework
      1. Django Architecture Overview
      2. MVT Pattern
      3. Django Project Structure
      4. Django Applications
   9. Django REST Framework Overview
      1. DRF Features and Benefits
      2. DRF vs Other Python API Frameworks
      3. DRF Architecture Components