How to Create REST APIs with Spring Boot in a Full Stack Java App
In full stack Java development, REST APIs (Representational State Transfer) play a critical role in connecting the front-end and back-end of an application. These APIs enable seamless communication between user interfaces and servers, making your web apps dynamic and interactive. Among the various frameworks available, Spring Boot is the most popular choice for building robust and scalable RESTful web services in Java.
This article will guide you through the basics of creating REST APIs with Spring Boot as part of a full stack Java application.
What is Spring Boot?
Spring Boot is a framework built on top of the Spring framework that simplifies the development of Java-based applications. It eliminates the need for extensive configuration and allows developers to get started quickly with embedded servers, auto-configuration, and production-ready defaults.
When building a full stack Java app, Spring Boot typically handles the backend, while the front-end is developed using technologies like Angular, React, or Vue.js.
Steps to Create REST APIs with Spring Boot
1. Set Up Your Spring Boot Project
You can quickly bootstrap a Spring Boot application using Spring Initializr. Choose the following:
Project: Maven or Gradle
Language: Java
Dependencies: Spring Web, Spring Data JPA, H2/MySQL, and optionally Spring Boot DevTools
Download the project, import it into your IDE (like IntelliJ IDEA or Eclipse), and you’re ready to go.
2. Define the Model
Create a simple Java class that represents your data model. For example, a User model:
java
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@Entity
public class User {
@Id
@GeneratedValue(strategy = GenerationType.IDENTITY)
private Long id;
private String name;
private String email;
// Getters and Setters
}
3. Create the Repository
Use Spring Data JPA to interact with the database.
java
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public interface UserRepository extends JpaRepository<User, Long> {
}
4. Build the REST Controller
The controller is where you define the API endpoints:
java
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@RestController
@RequestMapping("/api/users")
public class UserController {
@Autowired
private UserRepository userRepository;
@GetMapping
public List<User> getAllUsers() {
return userRepository.findAll();
}
@PostMapping
public User createUser(@RequestBody User user) {
return userRepository.save(user);
}
@GetMapping("/{id}")
public ResponseEntity<User> getUserById(@PathVariable Long id) {
return userRepository.findById(id)
.map(user -> ResponseEntity.ok().body(user))
.orElse(ResponseEntity.notFound().build());
}
@PutMapping("/{id}")
public ResponseEntity<User> updateUser(@PathVariable Long id, @RequestBody User userDetails) {
return userRepository.findById(id)
.map(user -> {
user.setName(userDetails.getName());
user.setEmail(userDetails.getEmail());
return ResponseEntity.ok().body(userRepository.save(user));
}).orElse(ResponseEntity.notFound().build());
}
@DeleteMapping("/{id}")
public ResponseEntity<?> deleteUser(@PathVariable Long id) {
return userRepository.findById(id)
.map(user -> {
userRepository.delete(user);
return ResponseEntity.ok().build();
}).orElse(ResponseEntity.notFound().build());
}
}
5. Test Your API
You can test your APIs using tools like Postman or curl. If everything is set up correctly, your Spring Boot application will expose endpoints like:
GET /api/users – fetch all users
POST /api/users – create a new user
PUT /api/users/{id} – update a user
DELETE /api/users/{id} – delete a user
Conclusion
Spring Boot makes it easy to build RESTful APIs quickly and efficiently. When integrated with a front-end framework, these APIs act as the communication bridge between your client and server. As a full stack Java developer, mastering REST API creation with Spring Boot is essential for building modern, scalable web applications.
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