Web developers
You want to ship APIs and SPAs without getting dragged into server provisioning, patching, and capacity planning. This course is your path to keeping your focus on business logic.
AWS Serverless APIs & Apps - A Complete Introduction
Get into serverless computing with API Gateway, AWS Lambda and other Amazon Web Services! Zero server config APIs & SPAs
Course Overview
About This Course
You know how to build web apps—but the moment it’s time to host an API or SPA, everything turns into servers, configuration, security worries, and paying for capacity you don’t even use. If you’re tired of infrastructure getting in the way of shipping, you’re in the right place.
In this course, you’ll switch to a serverless mindset on AWS: you provide code, define when it should run, and let the platform handle the rest. You’ll follow a clear path that starts with the core idea of serverless computing and quickly moves into building real, working pieces on Amazon Web Services.
By the end, you’ll be able to deliver web applications where APIs and frontends run without you managing servers, handle traffic spikes more gracefully, and lock down access with authentication—so you can focus on business logic instead of babysitting infrastructure.
What You'll Learn
You’ll connect AWS services into a working serverless setup: request-driven APIs, on-demand compute, hosted SPAs, and authentication that protects both frontend and backend.
Serverless REST endpoints
Create REST endpoints with AWS API Gateway so incoming requests hit the right routes without you provisioning or configuring any servers to keep the API online.
On-demand cloud code
Set up AWS Lambda to run your code only when it’s needed, and wire it to your API so functions execute automatically whenever requests reach your defined endpoints.
Serverless data storage
Store application data in a database while avoiding database server management, so your app can persist and retrieve data without running your own database infrastructure.
User auth for apps
Add authentication to existing frontend applications and use it to control who can use your app—without having to build a custom auth system from scratch.
Protect API access
Secure your REST API against unauthenticated requests by enforcing authentication at the right points, so only signed-in users can reach protected functionality.
Serverless SPA delivery
Deploy and host SPAs in a serverless way and speed up delivery of static assets, so your frontend is fast to load and doesn’t require traditional web servers.
Ready to get started?
See enrollment optionsPrerequisites
Basic understanding of what AWS (Amazon Web Services) is, or the willingness to learn it alongside the course.
A credit card to create an AWS account.
Basic familiarity with APIs and SPAs (Single-Page-Applications) and the role they play in modern web development.
Who Is This Course For?
System administrators
You already understand infrastructure, but you can see serverless changing how apps are delivered. This course helps you stay current and apply serverless concepts on AWS in a practical way.
DevOps-leaning builders
You like the “Dev” part of DevOps, but you’d love to make the “Ops” part lighter. If you want scalable, cost-efficient web apps without managing servers, you’ll fit right in.
Curriculum Overview
Start NowPreview the structure and pacing of this course before you begin.
Getting Started25m
- 01Introduction2:44 min
- 02What is AWS?1:51 min
- 03[OPTIONAL] AWS - A Closer Look0:00 min
- 04What is Serverless Development?5:36 min
- 05Join our Online Learning Community0:00 min
- 06Does AWS Cost Money?0:00 min
- 07AWS Signup & First Serverless API8:46 min
- 08Why AWS?1:01 min
- 09Course Structure3:22 min
- 10How to get the Most out of this Course2:21 min
- 11Useful Resources & Links0:00 min
- 12The Academind Pro Referral Program0:00 min
The Core Serverless Services9m
- 01Module Introduction0:43 min
- 02An Overview over the Core Serverless Services5:31 min
- 03More Info About The Core Services0:00 min
- 04The Course Project2:50 min
- 05Understanding AWS Permissions (IAM)0:00 min
Creating an API with API Gateway & AWS Lambda2h 16m
- 01Module Introduction0:55 min
- 02What is API Gateway?2:17 min
- 03API Gateway: Useful Resources & Links0:00 min
- 04Accessing the API Gateway Console1:03 min
- 05General API Gateway Features4:46 min
- 06API-specific Features & Options4:50 min
- 07Introducing the Request-Response Cycle4:38 min
- 08Understanding the Request-Response Cycle6:12 min
- 09Creating a New API3:19 min
- 10Creating a Resource (= URL Path)3:15 min
- 11Handling CORS and the OPTIONS Preflight Request4:11 min
- 12Creating a (HTTP) Method4:10 min
- 13What is AWS Lambda?2:45 min
- 14AWS Lambda: Useful Resources & Links0:00 min
- 15Creating a Lambda Function11:12 min
- 16Lambda Pricing & Uploading Code0:00 min
- 17Connecting Lambda Functions to API Gateway Endpoints1:27 min
- 18Accessing the API from the Web & Fixing CORS Issues7:24 min
- 19Assignment: Lambda (Problem)1:14 min
- 20Assignment: Lambda (Solution)8:10 min
- 21Understanding "event" in Lambda Functions1:59 min
- 22Forwarding Requests with "Proxy Integration"3:52 min
- 23Accessing Lambda Logs2:50 min
- 24Getting Started with Body Mapping Templates4:44 min
- 25Extracting Request Data with Body Mapping Templates4:08 min
- 26What's the Idea behind Body Mappings?2:09 min
- 27Mapping Response Data2:41 min
- 28Using Models & Validating Requests3:14 min
- 29Models & Mappings6:42 min
- 30Assignment: API Gateway (Problem)1:51 min
- 31Assignment: API Gateway (Solution)7:51 min
- 32Next Steps1:24 min
- 33Adding a DELETE Method Endpoint to the API2:24 min
- 34Using Path Parameters8:42 min
- 35What about Query Parameters?0:00 min
- 36Accessing the API from the Web - The Right Way7:11 min
- 37Wrap Up2:43 min
Data Storage with DynamoDB1h 25m
- 01Module Introduction0:44 min
- 02What is DynamoDB?2:50 min
- 03AWS: DynamoDB Useful Resources & Links0:00 min
- 04How DynamoDB Organizes Data4:57 min
- 05NoSQL vs SQL2:51 min
- 06Using DynamoDB with Lambda0:52 min
- 07Creating a Table in DynamoDB2:40 min
- 08Understanding Read & Write Capacity4:11 min
- 09Creating and Scanning Items2:16 min
- 10What about multiple Databases?1:20 min
- 11Accessing DynamoDB from Lambda4:36 min
- 12Quiz: DynamoDB Concepts0:00 min
- 13Sidenote: How Lambda works behind the Scenes1:42 min
- 14Putting Items into a DynamoDB Table from Lambda6:14 min
- 15Setting Permissions Right2:18 min
- 16Using API Gateway (Request) Data for Item Creation6:29 min
- 17Mapping the Response & Web Testing3:05 min
- 18Scanning Data in DynamoDB from Lambda7:52 min
- 19Improving the IAM Permissions4:30 min
- 20Restructuring Fetched Data in Lambda3:00 min
- 21Getting a Single Item from DynamoDB via Lambda5:37 min
- 22Testing it from the Web & Passing Correct Data1:37 min
- 23Preparing "Delete" Permissions2:48 min
- 24Giving Lambda Logging Rights0:00 min
- 25Deleting Items in DynamoDB via Lambda4:41 min
- 26Mapping DynamoDB Responses6:45 min
- 27Wrap Up1:50 min
Authenticating Users with Cognito and API Gateway Authorizers1h 44m
- 01Module Introduction1:32 min
- 02How to add Authorization to API Gateway2:12 min
- 03Understanding Custom Authorizers (API Gateway)4:01 min
- 04Creating a Custom Authorizer Function10:12 min
- 05Using Custom Authorizers5:50 min
- 06Retrieving Users from Custom Authorizers6:08 min
- 07What is AWS Cognito?2:27 min
- 08AWS Cognito: Useful Resources & Links0:00 min
- 09Cognito User Pools and Federated Identities1:31 min
- 10Creating a Cognito User Pool8:13 min
- 11Understanding the Cognito Auth Flow3:19 min
- 12Adding Cognito to a Frontend App - Getting Started5:28 min
- 13Using Cognito in iOS or Android Apps0:00 min
- 14Adding Signup to the Frontend App12:00 min
- 15Adding User Confirmation to a Frontend App4:08 min
- 16Adding Signin to a Frontend App5:50 min
- 17Managing User State with Cognito3:48 min
- 18Using a Cognito Authorizer with API Gateway2:46 min
- 19Passing the right User ID to Lambda6:43 min
- 20Using Query Params & Cognito from Lambda7:59 min
- 21Passing Query Params from the Frontend3:50 min
- 22Passing the User Id to the DELETE Endpoint5:05 min
- 23Wrap Up1:46 min
Hosting a Serverless SPA36m
- 01Module Introduction2:00 min
- 02What is S3?2:32 min
- 03AWS S3: Useful Resources & Links0:00 min
- 04Creating a S3 Bucket4:30 min
- 05Uploading the Web App to the Bucket2:47 min
- 06Turning a S3 Bucket into a Static Webserver3:39 min
- 07Setting up Logging1:53 min
- 08Optimizing Content Delivery: What is AWS CloudFront?2:28 min
- 09AWS CloudFront: Useful Resources & Links0:00 min
- 10Setting up a CloudFront Distribution4:39 min
- 11Finishing the CloudFront Setup1:08 min
- 12Using a Custom Domain: What is Route53?1:15 min
- 13AWS Route53: Useful Resources & Links0:00 min
- 14Registering a Domain1:52 min
- 15Connecting a Domain to a CloudFront Distribution7:01 min
- 16Wrap Up1:15 min
Beyond the Basics - An Outlook1h
- 01Module Introduction3:13 min
- 02Documenting an API2:10 min
- 03Other AWS Lambda Triggers8:00 min
- 04Going Serverless with a Node/ Express App (Non-API!)1:58 min
- 05Running Node/ Express Apps via Lambda + API Gateway9:24 min
- 06Pros and Cons of Serverless Node/Express MPA3:08 min
- 07Learn more about AWS Serverless + Express Apps0:00 min
- 08Serverless Apps and Security12:04 min
- 09A Case of a Better Development Workflow1:03 min
- 10Getting to know the Serverless Framework6:02 min
- 11Getting to know SAM (Serverless Application Model) by AWS3:40 min
- 12Testing Serverless Apps with localstack3:18 min
- 13Other useful AWS Services5:38 min
- 14Wrap Up1:11 min
- 15Useful Resources & Links0:00 min
Course Roundup1m
- 01Roundup1:00 min
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