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C# REST APIs

Building REST APIs

C# REST APIs use ASP.NET Core with JSON responses.

Introduction to REST APIs with C#

Representational State Transfer (REST) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. It relies on stateless, client-server communication, typically using HTTP. In this guide, we'll explore how to create REST APIs using C# and ASP.NET Core, a popular framework for building web applications and services.

Setting Up Your ASP.NET Core Project

To get started, you'll need to have .NET SDK installed on your machine. You can create a new ASP.NET Core project using the .NET CLI. Open your terminal and run the following command:

This command creates a new ASP.NET Core Web API project named MyRestApi. Navigate into the project directory:

Understanding the Project Structure

The ASP.NET Core Web API template creates a project with a basic structure. Key folders and files include:

  • Controllers: Contains API controllers. Each controller handles HTTP requests and responses.
  • Models: Where you define data structures used in your API.
  • Program.cs and Startup.cs: These files are used for configuring the application and setting up services.

Creating a Simple API Controller

Let's create a simple API controller that responds to HTTP GET requests. In the Controllers folder, add a new class file named ProductsController.cs:

This controller defines a single GET endpoint that returns a list of products. The [Route] attribute specifies the base route for the controller, and [HttpGet] denotes that this method responds to GET requests.

Testing Your API

To test your API, you can use tools like Postman or simply run the application and navigate to the endpoint in your browser. Start your application by running:

Once running, open your browser and go to https://localhost:5001/api/products to see the JSON response from your API.

Conclusion and Next Steps

You've successfully created a simple REST API using C# and ASP.NET Core. From here, you can expand your API by adding more endpoints, integrating a database, and implementing authentication. In the next part of our series, we will explore how to use GraphQL to enhance your APIs further.

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