Data-driven websites: JSON, APIs and Templates

This course is part of Full-Stack Web Development Specialization

Instructor: Professor Matthew Yee-King

Access provided by Rothschild & Co. Wealth Management UK

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Mainly, you will learn to use JavaScript to retrieve JSON data from REST APIs and transform it into HTML via template engines

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

11 assignments

Taught in English

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This course is part of the Full-Stack Web Development Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

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Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

In this course, you will learn how to use JavaScript and data to turn static web pages into dynamic, interactive applications. Through interactive, guided lab activities on Coursera, you will manipulate the Document Object Model (DOM) and use structured data to generate and update content in the browser.

You will work with JSON data, learning how it is structured and how JavaScript can load, parse and process it. Using practical exercises, you will convert JSON into HTML, implement loops and searches, and dynamically display data on web pages. The course also introduces the principles of REST APIs, explaining how web applications communicate using HTTP and how JavaScript can retrieve and integrate real-world data. Finally, you will explore template engines and their role in generating dynamic content. By creating and integrating templates in hands-on labs and assessments, you will develop the skills needed to build data-driven web applications using modern JavaScript techniques.

In this module, you’ll learn how websites move beyond static content to become dynamic and interactive. You’ll start by exploring how the DOM can change dynamically, gaining a theoretical foundation for concepts like DHTML and server-side updates. Then, through a guided lab, you’ll transform a static page into a dynamic one. Next, you’ll dive into data formats, understanding how structured data underpins dynamic content. You’ll even design your own data format for something you’re interested in, such as books or movies. By the end of the week, you’ll know how dynamic behaviour works, why data formats matter, and be ready to use them to generate web content in the next topic.

What's included

4 videos3 readings3 assignments1 ungraded lab

4 videos Total 26 minutes

Introduction to this course 4 minutes
Introduction: Data-driven websites 1 minute
The DOM can change dynamically 10 minutes
Data formats 12 minutes

3 readings Total 40 minutes

Course structure and navigation 15 minutes
Learn effectively this course 15 minutes
Course syllabus 10 minutes

3 assignments Total 33 minutes

Check your understanding: Dynamic DOMs and data formats 15 minutes
The DOM can change dynamically 9 minutes
Data formats 9 minutes

1 ungraded lab Total 30 minutes

From static to dynamic sites 30 minutes

In this module, you’ll learn how to work with JSON in JavaScript and apply it in practical tasks. You’ll read JSON files, convert JSON data into HTML to display on a web page, and use loops and searches to process JSON objects. You’ll build hands-on skills for loading, transforming, and manipulating JSON data. By the end of the week, you’ll be able to integrate JSON into your JavaScript projects and complete an end-of-week challenge that brings all these techniques together.

What's included

2 videos2 assignments2 ungraded labs

In this module, you’ll dive into REST APIs and discover how they enable communication between web applications. You’ll learn the core principles behind REST, practise identifying API calls on real websites, and experiment with accessing and using APIs through guided activities. You’ll also set up a demo API, review key JavaScript techniques, and finish with an assessment to consolidate your understanding.

What's included

3 videos2 readings4 assignments2 ungraded labs

3 videos Total 17 minutes

Introduction: Networked data and REST APIs 1 minute
Introduction to REST APIs 10 minutes
Using a website and identifying REST API calls 6 minutes

2 readings Total 61 minutes

Activity – Find a REST API and attempt to access it 60 minutes
Using a local REST API 1 minute

4 assignments Total 42 minutes

Check your understanding: Networked data and REST APIs 15 minutes
Introduction to REST APIs 9 minutes
Real-world REST APIs 9 minutes
Setting up the demo REST API 9 minutes

2 ungraded labs Total 60 minutes

Set up the bookshop API 30 minutes
Experiment with the book API 30 minutes

In this module, you’ll focus on building dynamic web pages using template engines. You’ll start by exploring how template engines work and then practise creating templates in a short activity. Next, you’ll complete a guided lab where you integrate a real template engine into your own site, gaining hands-on experience with rendering dynamic content. Finally, you’ll apply these skills in a closing assessment.