How do I create and activate a Python virtual environment for a Django API on Windows?

Create it with `python -m venv venv`, then activate it in Git Bash with `source venv/Scripts/activate`.

What commands create database tables after adding a Django model?

Run `python manage.py makemigrations` and then `python manage.py migrate` from the folder containing `manage.py`.

How does Django REST Framework convert Django model data into JSON?

A serializer converts model instances and querysets into JSON-ready data for API responses.

Free Course Image Build An API With Python and Django

Free online course Build An API With Python and Django

Duration of the online course: 1 hours and 33 minutes

New

Learn to build a Python & Django REST API from scratch—models, serializers, admin and routing. Free online course with hands-on practice to level up fast.

In this free course, learn about

API basics with Django and Django REST Framework; serving JSON to clients
Install Python, editor, Git Bash; add Python to PATH to run python/pip anywhere
Create and activate virtual environments in Git Bash on Windows
Install/manage dependencies (pip, requirements) so the API works across machines
Start a Django project/app; run manage.py commands from the project root
Configure URL routing: route site root to the courses app via project urls.py includes
Set up Django admin and create a superuser via manage.py createsuperuser
Define Django models (Course) and create DB tables with makemigrations + migrate
Register models in admin; show items by name using __str__ and admin registration
Build DRF serializers to expose Course fields and convert model instances to JSON
Use correct HTTP methods for REST actions, e.g., POST to create new resources

About the free online course

Turn your Python skills into a real backend project by building a REST API with Django and Django REST Framework. In this course, you will go from initial setup to a working API that can serve data to any client app, helping you understand how modern web services are designed and delivered. You will learn how an API typically responds in JSON, why that matters for web and mobile applications, and how to structure a project so it remains clean as it grows.

You will start by preparing your development environment the right way, including essential tooling and a workflow that works on Windows using Git Bash. You will also use virtual environments to isolate dependencies, avoid conflicts between projects, and keep your setup reproducible. From there, you will create a Django project and app, wire up URL routing, and get comfortable with running Django commands in the correct context so your project stays predictable.

Once the foundation is in place, you will step into the parts that make backend development practical: managing data and exposing it safely. You will create a model to represent courses, generate the database table using migrations, and use the Django admin area to view and manage records efficiently. You will also customize how items appear so administration is faster and more human-friendly.

To transform database objects into API responses, you will work with serializers in Django REST Framework, learning how to choose the right fields to expose and how model instances become JSON. Along the way, you will connect common HTTP methods to real API behavior, including which method is used to create new resources. By the end, you will have a clear understanding of the core building blocks behind a Django REST API and the confidence to start building your own backend endpoints for real projects.

Course content

Video class: Introduction - Build An API With Python Django #1 02m
Exercise: Which data format will the Django API primarily serve to clients?
Video class: Install Python, Sublime Text, and Git Bash - Build An API With Python Django #2 08m
Exercise: During Python installation on Windows for a Django API project, which step is essential to run python and pip from any directory?
Video class: Virtual Environments - Build An API With Python Django #3 03m
Exercise: Activate a Python virtual environment in Git Bash on Windows

Video class: Install The Django Rest Framework - Build An API With Python Django #4 02m
Exercise: Ensuring dependencies are available when working on the API
Video class: Django Startproject - Build An API With Python Django #5 02m
Exercise: Where should you run Django commands when building the API project?
Video class: Django Startapp and Urls.py - Build An API With Python Django #6 04m
Exercise: How do you route the site root to the courses app in the project URL configuration?

Video class: Setting Up The Django Admin Area - Build An API With Python Django #7 03m
Exercise: Which command in Git Bash on Windows creates a Django superuser to access the admin area?
Video class: Django Models Class - Build An API With Python Django #8 05m
Exercise: After defining a new Course model for the API, what is the correct two-step process to create the database table in Django?
Video class: Add Model To Django Admin Area - Build An API With Python Django #9 04m
Exercise: How do you make a new model appear in Django admin and display each item by its name

Video class: Django Rest API Serializers - Build An API With Python Django #10 04m
Exercise: Which fields should the Course serializer expose in the API
Video class: See The Whole Course - Build An API With Python Django #11 05m
Exercise: Which HTTP method should you use to create a new resource in a Django REST API?
Video class: Half Course Recap - Build An API With Python Django #12 46m
Exercise: Which component in Django REST Framework converts model instances to JSON for an API?

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