API and Web Service Introduction (Udemy.com)
Includes API, Web Services using REST, JSON, XML, HTTP, SOAP, OAuth, OpenID Connect, Postman and Python
Created by: Nate Ross
Last updated August 2026
Our take
Based on the ratings of 40,493 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in August 2026. No course pays to be reviewed.
This is a plain-language tour of how APIs work, aimed at people with no background. It runs 7.1 hours over 57 lectures and covers HTTP, XML, JSON, SOAP, REST, OAuth and OpenID Connect, then adds Postman, a Python call and building an API on Amazon Web Services. Nothing is required going in. It reads more like a concept briefing than a coding class, which suits anyone who keeps hearing the terms and wants them to make sense.
Reviewers keep returning to the teaching. They describe instructor Nate Ross as clear and direct, with analogies and relatable examples that make the ideas stick. Some who already knew the terms still said the structure kept them engaged. The complaints are smaller but real. One reviewer says the later chapters lean on Wikipedia explanations instead of showing a GET request and its response. Another found the pacing padded, with a long wait for Postman to install and an OAuth section that repeats. One notes that some example material is dated, and one says the Portuguese translation is weak.
With about 145,000 students, a 4.6 rating across more than 40,000 reviews and an update in August 2026, the course looks well kept for a 2018 release. It is a good first stop before a hands-on API or Python course. Anyone hoping to write code by the end should know there are no coding exercises, only one 50-question quiz. Take it for the vocabulary and the big picture, then practice elsewhere.
Pros
- Reviewers say analogies and relatable examples make HTTP, REST and OAuth easy to follow
- Covers the full set in one place: HTTP, XML, JSON, SOAP, REST, OAuth and OpenID Connect
- Reviewers call Nate's delivery clear, direct and engaging, and he says he answers questions
- Updated August 2026, with 144,890 students and a 4.6 rating from over 40,000 reviews
Cons
- No coding exercises and only one quiz, so hands-on practice is limited
- One reviewer says later chapters explain terms but skip showing real requests and responses
- Reviewers flag pacing that drags and a repeated OAuth section, and some example material is dated
Excellent trainer, Nate! Very pragmatic, very knowledgeable with a crystal clear delivery. He has a cool style, I like it very much.
Truly beginner friendly. No prerequisites are listed, and the audience is anyone curious about APIs.
What you will learn
- Introduction to APIs and RESTful Web Services. Includes HTTP, JSON, XML, REST, SOAP, OAuth, OpenID Connect, Postman, and Python. Includes examples and a quiz.
Course content
12 sections · 57 lectures · 7.1 hours of video 1 quiz
- 1Introduction 1 free preview1 lecture · 1 min
- 2API 2 free previews6 lectures · 32 min
- 3Web Service2 lectures · 4 min
- 4HTTP11 lectures · 52 min
- 5XML2 lectures · 11 min
- 6JSON3 lectures · 13 min
- 7SOAP4 lectures · 30 min
- 8REST5 lectures · 56 min
- 9API Access7 lectures · 1.1 hours
- 10API Examples9 lectures · 1.2 hours
- 11Extras6 lectures · 1 quiz · 1.4 hours
- 12Conclusion1 lecture · 2 min
Who it is for
The instructor says it suits
- You want to learn about at least one or ALL of the following subjects: API, Web Service, JSON, XML, HTTP, REST, SOAP, OAuth, OpenID Connect, Postman, Python
What you need before you start
- No previous knowledge required. Just a desire to learn.
How it compares
Against the other 1,182 rated Udemy courses in IT & Software on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.6 out of 5higher than 67% of them
- Reviews40,493#6 of 1,183 by number of reviews
- Length7.1 hourslonger than 59% of them
- Last updatedAugust 2026more recently than 87% of them
Course Description
Learn all about APIs and Web Services the easy way! APIs and Web Services are growing fast in popularity and if you're in IT, it's essential you have knowledge of them.
If you are a beginner, or if you have some knowledge of APIs but need to solidify your knowledge overall or on a specific topic, this course is for you.
My name is Nate Ross and I have over 20 years of real experience in the IT world as a technical consultant. But it's not about me, it's about YOU the customer! This course is designed for YOU and TOGETHER I know we can get through the material! If you have any issues, feel free to ask me about anything. I answer all questions and concerns! And the lectures are personally written from me. No copied material!
This course includes the BIG PICTURE, with all the essential components of APIs that you need to know about. Topics covered include: API (of course), Web Service, JSON, XML, HTTP, REST, SOAP, OAuth, OpenID Connect. Examples in Postman, Python, Amazon Web Services, Twitter, eBay, and Google Cloud. AND we have plenty of exercises so you can solidify what you've learned!
Topics covered include:
-What's an API
-Examples of APIs
-What's a Web Service
-Comparison: Web Service and API
-HTTP and HTTPS
-XML
-JSON
-Comparison: JSON and XML
-SOAP
-REST
-REST examples using Twitter and eBay
-Comparison: SOAP and REST
-Apps (Native, Web, and Hybrid)
-OAuth
-OAuth Example (Google Cloud)
-Authentication and Authorization
-OpenID Connect
-Postman
-Authorization types in Postman including No Auth, Basic Auth, Digest Auth, Bearer Token, OAuth
-Call an API using Python
-Create an API using Amazon Web Services
-Calling APIs using Programming Languages
-Webhooks
-Microservices
-Quiz (50 questions) to help ensure you remember what's been covered
Thanks for reading my introduction! This is about YOUR time and making the most of it! Good luck to you and hope to see you in the course! Nate
Instructor Details
- 4.6 Rating
40,493 Reviews
Nate Ross
Hi, my name is Nate Ross, and I'm here at Udemy to teach tech! I have over 15 years of tech experience as a developer and programmer. I also have lots of experience teaching tech to coworkers. My goal is to bring tech to the people, to help them with their lives and take the fear out of learning it.
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Reviews
By Yvonne Bailey on 9/5/2026
Thank you. Some of the example material is outdated, however, I was able to grasp the concept of APIs, and that is what matters most! Instructor kept me engaged throughout, many thanks!
By Andras Gaal on 9/3/2026
Excellent trainer, Nate! Very pragmatic, very knowledgeable with a crystal clear delivery. He has a cool style, I like it very much. Content-wise cannot get better for this topic.
By Hans on 8/8/2026
Der Kurs hat super anfängerfreundlich begonnen, aber jetzt wo es in die Details geht (Kapitel 14) mit Startlines fehlen sämtliche Beispiele. Es wird immer nur die Wikipedia Erklärung aufgerufen aber nicht gezeigt, wie man zum Beispiel eine get Anweisung schreibt und von Google Informationen zu bekommen. Es wird auch in keinem einzigen Beispiel gezeigt, wie man sich den Inhalt der Responses anzeigen lassen kann oder dergleichen.
By Anand Peri on 7/20/2026
Very well articulated course with excellent examples. While I know all these terms and technologies had some time and clicked on the course and the way this was structured kept me occupied and learnt quite a few things along the way.
By Ag on 6/25/2026
Thank you Nate Ross, I leave 5 stars because delivery of this course is what hit me exactly how I imagine a good course. Whiteboard-checked Real examples - checked Way of thinking - checked English is not my mother language, but I haven't any problems to follow all of the chapters. Great Job and wish you more time to bring us more courses in the same format !
By Emiliano Binotti on 6/24/2026
Semplice ed efficace. Sarebbe bello ci fosse anche una parte 2 con altri esempi e nuove applicazioni. Comunque ottimo
By Mei Wang on 5/21/2026
To a beginner like me, this is very helpful plus chatgpt. I started with Mulesoft certificate learning path and feel the gap of not knowing the basics. And this course gives me the exact information I need and helped me to understand the terminology often used in the API world so I can speak the same language.
By ibrahim Büket on 4/9/2026
This was both your first API course and my first API course. I can say it was quite comprehensive and informative. Thank you so much for this wonderful course. I hope you continue with new courses.
By Robert Benz on 3/25/2026
This was a great course for me. I knew nothing coming in and appreciated that it started from ground zero and worked up. Many other courses skip some of the basics which can make them difficult to follow for novices in this area.
By Daniel Alejandro Guerra Alvarez on 3/13/2026
Good explanations, gives good concepts and clear examples. Enough for a good understanding, leaving space for expanding and deepening the knowledge. Good exercises and nice questions.
By Ulises Carreto on 11/15/2020
It's very good to start with the basics in a very simple way.
By Arvinth Nair on 11/15/2020
The course thought me about the basics. Perhaps too much time spent on the basics. I would like to see more examples with different programming languages. I took this course with 0 knowledge but i'm leaving with substantial knowledge.
Quality Score
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Overall Score : 92 / 100






