This course in our Data Analyst in R path will help you build on the R programming skills you've learned to unlock a new world of data: APIs.
Although there are many datasets available in convenient formats like CSVs, there is also a large amount of data that is accessible to data analysts only via an API. If you want to analyze streaming data from Twitter, for example, or dig into posting trends on reddit, you'll need to be able to get that data from the relevant APIs.
In this course, you'll learn the fundamentals of APIs, like how to connect to an open API, and how to interpret different status codes. You'll also learn how to work with the JSON data format in R, since most data from APIs will be provided in JSON format.
Then, you'll tackle more complex tasks like authenticating with private APIs, and submitting more complex requests.
The course wraps up with a guided challenge that'll help you build more experience working with different types of APIs and API requests. Finally, you'll put together a full data analysis project using an API to get data on New York's solar energy resources.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
APIs in R Course — Lessons
Working with APIs in R
Learn the basics of accessing and pulling data from APIs in R.
Intermediate APIs in R
Learn how to make use of more advanced and complex APIs using your R programming skills.
Challenge: Working with Different APIs in R
Try working with new and different types of APIs, and submitting different sorts of API requests.
Guided Project: New York Solar Resource Data
Try working with a different API as you build a project on New York's solar energy resources.
Frequently asked questions about this R APIs course:
How long does the course take?
On Dataquest, you can learn at your own pace. There's no set course schedule you need to worry about.
Different learners work at different paces, but a typical learner might finish this course in a week to a month, depending on how much time they were able to dedicate to it.
Where are the videos?
We don't teach with videos. We think the best way to learn programming is to actually write code, not watch someone else write code.
Read more about the science behind our hands-on learning approach.
Can I try it for free?
Yes, and you should! Sign up for a free account and get started right now, right in your browser!
What is this APIs course useful for?
There is a ton of data that may be of interest to us as a data analyst that is only available via an API.
For that reason, it's critical that we be familiar with APIs, and be comfortable connecting with them and using them to get the data we need.