.NET Web API
Zero to Hero
The most comprehensive free ASP.NET Core Web API course. I built this to take you from your first endpoint to production-ready APIs with Clean Architecture, Docker, and CI/CD.
by Mukesh Murugan app.MapGet("/api/products", async (
IMediator mediator,
[AsParameters] GetProductsQuery query) =>
{
var result = await mediator.Send(query);
return Results.Ok(result);
});
// Clean Architecture + CQRS + MediatR
// You'll build this in Module 8 ↗
125+
Lessons
12
Modules
60+
Hours
$0
Cost
Not just another CRUD tutorial
Most free courses stop at basic CRUD. This one goes all the way to production.
Clean Architecture & DDD
Not just theory — you'll build a real project with proper layering, domain entities, value objects, and the repository pattern.
JWT Auth & Authorization
Refresh tokens, role-based access, policy-based authorization. The full security stack that production APIs need.
Docker & CI/CD
Containerize your API, set up GitHub Actions pipelines, and deploy. Most free courses skip this entirely.
Observability & Monitoring
OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack. Know what your API is doing in production — not just in development.
Integration Testing
TestContainers, WebApplicationFactory, real database tests. Ship with confidence, not hope.
Caching & Performance
In-memory, distributed Redis, and hybrid caching strategies. Make your API fast — not just functional.
This is the course I wish existed when I started .NET. So I built it.
125+ lessons from zero to production
This is the most comprehensive free ASP.NET Core Web API course available in 2026 — covering everything from your first REST endpoint to deploying a production-ready, Docker-containerized API with observability and automated testing.
Unlike most tutorials that stop at CRUD operations, this course takes you through 125+ lessons across 12 modules, including advanced topics that even paid courses on Udemy and Pluralsight skip: Clean Architecture, Domain-Driven Design (DDD), CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation) with MediatR, OpenTelemetry-based observability with Prometheus and Grafana, integration testing with TestContainers, and CI/CD deployment with GitHub Actions.
Built entirely on .NET 10 — one of the fastest backend frameworks available, consistently outperforming Node.js and Spring Boot in TechEmpower benchmarks — this course teaches the exact patterns and practices used by senior .NET developers at companies like Microsoft, Stack Overflow, and Accenture.
Whether you're a beginner learning your first framework, a developer transitioning from Node.js or Java, or an experienced .NET developer looking to fill gaps in architecture, caching, or observability — this course is structured to take you from zero to production-ready. Every lesson includes complete source code on GitHub, and the curriculum is updated regularly to reflect the latest .NET releases and best practices.
By the end of this course, you'll be able to
- Build RESTful APIs from scratch with ASP.NET Core & .NET 10
- Clean Architecture & DDD (Domain-Driven Design) patterns
- JWT (JSON Web Token) Authentication & Role-based Authorization
- Entity Framework Core (EF Core) with advanced query patterns
- Docker containerization & CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Deployment) with GitHub Actions
- In-memory, distributed & hybrid caching strategies with Redis
- CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation) & MediatR for scalable, decoupled APIs
- Structured logging, error handling & ProblemDetails
- Pagination, sorting, searching & bulk operations
- Production-ready validation with FluentValidation
From first endpoint to production deployment
Four stages. 12 modules. Go at your own pace — most students finish in 4-8 weeks.
Stage 1
Beginner
REST fundamentals, middleware, DI, your first API
Module 1, Module 2
Stage 2
Intermediate
Advanced patterns, caching, HTTP clients, background jobs
Module 3, Module 4, Module 5, Module 6
Stage 3
Advanced
Security, Clean Architecture, DDD, file handling
Module 7, Module 8, Module 9
Stage 4
Production-Ready
Observability, testing, Docker, CI/CD, deployment
Module 10, Module 11, Module 12
Real projects, not toy demos
RESTful Product API
Build a complete CRUD API with proper HTTP status codes, validation, and error handling
Secure Authentication System
Implement JWT (JSON Web Token) authentication with refresh tokens and role-based authorization
E-Commerce Backend
Create a scalable backend with Entity Framework Core, caching, and clean architecture
Dockerized Microservice
Containerize and deploy your API with Docker and CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Deployment) pipelines
125+ lessons across 12 modules
Each lesson is a detailed written article with complete source code. Read at your own pace.
Course content
12 sections · 125 lessons · 60+ hours total length
New lessons added regularly
What 12,500+ students are saying
"This is the best free .NET course I've found. The way Mukesh explains Clean Architecture and EF Core patterns saved me weeks of learning."
Rahul Sharma
Backend Developer at Infosys
"I transitioned from Node.js to .NET using this course. The step-by-step approach made it so much easier than I expected."
Sarah Mitchell
Full Stack Developer
"Landed my first .NET developer role after completing this course. The CQRS and MediatR sections were exactly what my interviewer asked about."
Carlos Rodriguez
Junior Developer at Accenture
"Better than most paid courses on Udemy. The code samples are production-quality and the explanations are crystal clear."
Priya Patel
Software Engineer at TCS
"I've been doing .NET for 5 years and still learned new patterns from this course. The EF Core optimization tips alone were worth it."
David Chen
Senior Developer
"The Docker and deployment sections bridged the gap between tutorials and real-world production apps. Exactly what I needed."
Aisha Okafor
Backend Engineer at Deloitte
Built for developers who want to ship
Prerequisites: Basic C# programming knowledge, Visual Studio 2022 or VS Code installed, .NET SDK installed on your machine, Familiarity with HTTP and basic web concepts
Mukesh Murugan
Microsoft MVP · Solutions Architect · @iammukeshm
Microsoft MVP & Solutions Architect with 9+ years of experience building enterprise .NET systems. Creator of codewithmukesh.com — impacting 4M+ developers. 40,000+ LinkedIn followers, 12,500+ students trained.
This course is free because my newsletter and the community it builds are what sustain the work. I believe the best way to learn is from someone who's actually building production systems — not just teaching them.
Frequently asked questions
Is this .NET Web API course really free?
Yes, 100% free forever. All lessons, source code, and resources are available at no cost. No hidden fees, no premium tiers.
Do I need prior .NET experience to take this course?
Basic C# knowledge is helpful, but not required. The course starts from fundamentals and progressively builds to advanced topics. Complete beginners can follow along.
What version of .NET does this course cover?
The course is built with .NET 10 and covers the latest features and best practices. Code samples are updated to use modern C# syntax and patterns.
How long will it take to complete the course?
The course contains 60+ hours of content across 125+ lessons. Most students complete it in 4-8 weeks studying 2-3 hours daily, but you can go at your own pace.
Will I get a certificate after completing the course?
Currently, we don't offer certificates. However, the practical skills and portfolio projects you'll build are far more valuable to employers than certificates.
Is there source code available for the lessons?
Yes! Complete source code for all lessons is available on GitHub. You can clone the repository and follow along with each lesson.
What is ASP.NET Core Web API and why should I learn it?
ASP.NET Core Web API is Microsoft's framework for building RESTful HTTP services in C# and .NET. It powers backends at companies like Stack Overflow, Microsoft, and thousands of enterprises. Learning it opens doors to backend developer, full-stack developer, and cloud engineer roles with salaries ranging from $95K to $150K+.
Is .NET 10 good for building REST APIs?
.NET 10 is one of the fastest backend frameworks available — consistently outperforming Node.js and Spring Boot in TechEmpower benchmarks (https://www.techempower.com/benchmarks). It offers native AOT (Ahead-of-Time) compilation, minimal APIs, built-in OpenAPI support, and seamless Docker/cloud deployment. This course covers all of these modern .NET 10 features.
How does this free course compare to paid Udemy courses?
This course offers 125+ lessons and 60+ hours of content — more than most paid courses on Udemy. It covers advanced topics like Clean Architecture, Docker deployment, observability, and testing that many paid courses skip. The biggest difference? It's 100% free with full source code on GitHub, and it's kept up to date with the latest .NET version.
Can I use this course to prepare for .NET developer interviews?
Absolutely. The course covers the exact topics asked in .NET backend interviews — REST API design, Entity Framework Core (EF Core), JWT (JSON Web Token) authentication, caching with Redis, CQRS (Command Query Responsibility Segregation), SOLID design patterns, Clean Architecture, and Docker containerization. Many students have used this course to land their first .NET developer job or transition from other tech stacks.
ASP.NET Core vs Node.js — which is better for building REST APIs?
ASP.NET Core consistently outperforms Node.js in raw throughput and latency benchmarks (TechEmpower, 2025). It offers built-in dependency injection, strong typing with C#, native async/await that doesn't block the event loop, and enterprise-grade security features out of the box. Node.js has a larger npm ecosystem and is great for lightweight services, but for production APIs that need performance, type safety, and long-term maintainability — ASP.NET Core with .NET 10 is the stronger choice. This course teaches you to leverage all of these advantages.
Is .NET a good choice for backend development in 2026?
.NET is one of the top 3 backend frameworks globally, powering services at Microsoft, Stack Overflow, UPS, GE, and thousands of enterprises. With .NET 10, you get native AOT (Ahead-of-Time) compilation for faster startup, built-in OpenAPI support, minimal APIs for lightweight endpoints, and first-class cloud-native tooling for Docker, Kubernetes, and serverless. The job market reflects this — .NET backend developers earn $95K–$150K+ annually, and demand continues to grow as companies modernize legacy systems to ASP.NET Core.
How long does it take to learn .NET Web API development from scratch?
With structured learning, you can build your first production-ready REST API in 4-6 weeks. This course is designed for exactly that pace — start with REST fundamentals and your first endpoint in Week 1, move to database operations with Entity Framework Core in Week 2, add authentication and advanced patterns in Weeks 3-4, and finish with Docker deployment, testing, and observability in Weeks 5-6. Most students who follow the curriculum consistently report being job-ready within 2 months.
What career opportunities does learning ASP.NET Core Web API open up?
ASP.NET Core Web API skills qualify you for backend developer, full-stack developer, cloud engineer, and solutions architect roles. The average salary for a .NET backend developer in the US is $120K (Glassdoor, 2025), with senior roles reaching $150K-$180K+. Companies actively hiring .NET developers include Microsoft, Accenture, Deloitte, JPMorgan, and thousands of startups. This course covers the exact stack most employers look for: REST APIs, Entity Framework Core, authentication, Clean Architecture, Docker, and CI/CD.
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