REST APIs - Getting Started

Building a Spring Boot REST API

Introduction

Welcome to the interactive tutorial on building a Spring Boot REST API! In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of creating a simple RESTful web service using the Spring Boot framework. Spring Boot makes it easy to create stand-alone, production-grade Spring-based applications.

Before we begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites installed:

• Java Development Kit (JDK) 8 or later

• Integrated Development Environment (IDE) of your choice (Eclipse, IntelliJ, etc.)

• Gradle or Maven for dependency management

Step 1: Set Up Your Project

Option 1: Using Spring Initializer

1. Open your browser and go to Spring Initializer.

2. Set the following options:

   • Project: "Gradle" or "Maven" (Choose your preference)

   • Language: "Java"

   • Spring Boot: Choose the latest stable version

   • Group: Your package name (e.g., com.example)

   • Artifact: Your project name (e.g., rest-api-demo)

   • Dependencies: Add "Spring Web"

3. Click "Generate" to download the project zip file.

Option 2: Using IDE

1. Open your IDE and create a new Spring Boot project.

2. Configure the project settings, such as group, artifact, and dependencies:

   • Group: com.example

   • Artifact: rest-api-demo

   • Dependencies: Add "Spring Web"

Step 2: Create a Simple REST Controller

1. Open the project in your IDE.

2. Create a new Java class in the src/main/java/com/example/restapidemo package (adjust the package name based on your configuration).

3. Name the class HelloController and annotate it with @RestController:

   import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.GetMapping;
   import org.springframework.web.bind.annotation.RestController;
   
   @RestController
   public class HelloController {
   
       @GetMapping("/hello")
       public String sayHello() {
           return "Hello, welcome to the Spring Boot REST API tutorial!";
       }
   }

Step 3: Run Your Application

1. Open the main application class (usually named RestApiDemoApplication).

2. Run the application.

Step 4: Test Your API

1. Open your browser or a tool like Postman.

2. Access the following URL: http://localhost:8080/hello.

3. You should see the message: "Hello, welcome to the Spring Boot REST API tutorial!"

This is just the beginning, and you can now expand your API by adding more endpoints, integrating with databases, implementing security, and much more.

Feel free to explore the official Spring documentation for in-depth information and advanced features.