Building REST APIs with Laravel
A practical 4-week course in building production-ready REST APIs with Laravel: API design, Eloquent, validation, API resources, Sanctum token authentication, policies, rate limiting, feature tests, queues, webhooks and deployment. Includes a recurring certificate valid for 24 months.
Over four weeks you will build a complete task-management API step by step. Week 1 covers REST design and a clean Laravel setup with migrations and Eloquent models. Week 2 builds the CRUD endpoints with resource controllers, Form Request validation, API Resources and pagination. Week 3 secures the API with Sanctum tokens, policies, rate limiting and consistent JSON errors. Week 4 adds automated feature tests, background jobs and webhooks (including sending a Telegram notification), documentation and a production deployment checklist.
You will finish with a portfolio project on GitHub that demonstrates exactly what employers and clients look for in a backend developer. The course is taught by Prevail Ejimadu, a software developer and product builder who builds production systems with Laravel, JavaScript frameworks, modern APIs, automation and bots. It is the second course of the Software Engineering Professional learning path.
The examples follow Laravel 11 and later; where a command differs in older versions, the lesson says so.
Recurring certificate: frameworks and security practices move quickly, so the certificate for this course is valid for 24 months. You will be reminded 30 days before it expires and re-enrolled at no cost to refresh your skills and earn a new certificate.
What You'll Learn
Recurring certificate: valid 2 years
The certificate for this course stays valid for 2 years, so employers know your knowledge is current. You are reminded 30 days before it expires, then enrolled again at no cost to refresh the course and earn a new certificate.
How recurring certification worksPart of a learning path
Take this course on its own, or get it with the other courses of the path at the bundle price.
Prerequisites
Working knowledge of PHP (variables, functions, arrays, classes)
Basic SQL (SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, WHERE)
Git basics (or complete Git and GitHub for Professional Developers first)
PHP 8.2 or later, Composer and a database (MySQL/MariaDB or SQLite) installed
An HTTP client such as Postman, Insomnia, Bruno or curl
Course Content
12 lessonsWeek 1: API Design and Laravel Foundations
REST principles, a clean Laravel API project, and the data layer with migrations and Eloquent.Weekly objectives
By the end of Week 1, learners will be able to:
Design endpoints, methods and status codes for a resource
Create and configure a Laravel API project
Write migrations and Eloquent models with relationships
Designing a REST API: Resources, Methods and Status Codes
50 minSetting Up Laravel for API Development
55 minMigrations, Eloquent Models and Relationships
55 minWeek 2: CRUD Endpoints, Validation and Responses
Resource controllers, route model binding, Form Request validation, API Resources and pagination.Weekly objectives
By the end of Week 2, learners will be able to:
Build the full set of CRUD endpoints
Validate requests with Form Requests
Shape output with API Resources and paginate lists
Controllers, Resource Routes and Route Model Binding
55 minValidating Input with Form Requests
50 minAPI Resources, Pagination and Filtering
50 minWeek 3: Authentication, Authorization and Protection
Sanctum tokens, ownership rules with policies, rate limiting, CORS and consistent error handling.Weekly objectives
By the end of Week 3, learners will be able to:
Issue and revoke API tokens with Sanctum
Enforce ownership with policies
Apply rate limits and return consistent JSON errors
Token Authentication with Laravel Sanctum
55 minAuthorization with Policies
45 minRate Limiting, CORS and Consistent Errors
45 minWeek 4: Testing, Automation and Deployment
Feature tests for every endpoint, queues, jobs and webhooks, API documentation and a production deployment checklist.Weekly objectives
By the end of Week 4, learners will be able to:
Write feature tests covering success, validation and authorization cases
Move slow work to queued jobs and send webhooks
Document and deploy the API safely
Feature Testing Your API
55 minQueues, Jobs and Webhooks
55 minDocumenting and Deploying the API
55 min
Prevail Ejimadu
Lead Instructor
About the Instructor
Prevail Ejimadu is a software developer and product builder known for creating practical, scalable digital solutions with a strong focus on real-world impact. His work spans across frontend and backend development, where he combines tools like Laravel, JavaScript frameworks, and modern APIs to build complete, production-ready systems.
He has a deep interest in automation, microservices, and building intelligent systems, from Telegram bots and SaaS platforms to blockchain-integrated applications. Rather than just writing code, Prevail focuses on solving problems, designing efficient workflows, and turning ideas into usable products.
Beyond development, he is a teacher and technical writer, committed to helping others break into tech with clarity and confidence. His approach emphasizes simplicity, practical execution, and building projects that actually work in the real world.
Prevail’s work sits at the intersection of engineering, product thinking, and innovation, which is driven by a goal to build tools, platforms, and systems that people can rely on.
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recurring, valid 2 years
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