FastAPI Path Operations: Part #8 Python API Course | Highlights and Annotations by Gistr.

FastAPI path operations consist of a function and a decorator. The decorator (@app.get("/path")) specifies the HTTP method (e.g., GET) and URL path. The function contains the API logic and its return value (often a JSON) is sent as the response. Server restarts are needed for code changes unless the `--reload` flag is used during development. Path operation order matters; the first matching operation is executed. This segment focuses on the role of decorators in transforming a standard Python function into a FastAPI path operation. It clarifies the function of the `@app.get()` decorator, explaining the significance of specifying the HTTP method (e.g., GET, POST) and the path (URL) for the API endpoint. The explanation includes a practical example using the root path ("/") and how it relates to the overall API URL. This segment explains the structure and function of path operation functions in FastAPI, emphasizing that the function name is arbitrary but should be descriptive for clarity. It details how a simple Python function, with or without the `async` keyword, can be used to define the logic of an API endpoint, and how the returned value becomes the API response. This segment demonstrates the creation of a new path operation to retrieve social media posts. It shows how to define a new function (`get_posts`), choose an appropriate HTTP method (GET), and specify the URL path (`/posts`). The explanation reinforces the concepts of path operations and HTTP methods, referencing external documentation for further clarification on HTTP methods.