Speed up your API Testing with Postman options
In line with a survey performed by SmartBear, greater than 75% of software program builders and testers stated that they’ve elevated their API testing efforts up to now yr. Moreover, the survey discovered that just about 70% of respondents used automated API testing as a part of their software program growth course of, additional highlighting the significance of API testing in in the present day’s software program panorama.
Probably the greatest instruments for automating API testing is Postman. So let’s discover out what Postman is, the way it helps automate API testing, and the way builders can rapidly arrange their API testing processes with Postman options.
What’s Postman?
Postman is a robust API growth device utilized by greater than 11 million builders and 200,000 firms worldwide. You possibly can set up Postman as a separate, unbiased software on Home windows, Mac, or Linux working programs to function inside the appliance. The device helps pace up the event, testing, and API documentation. Tech specialists may additionally use Postman to make requests to backend purposes whereas they’re creating domestically.
This sort of testing helps quite a lot of assertion libraries that allow the creation of assorted assertions, akin to verifying the response standing code, response physique, and response headers, and consists of an intuitive person interface that permits builders to configure requests rapidly.
Postman’s testing capabilities permit customers to create automated exams for API endpoints utilizing a scripting language referred to as JavaScript. This function permits customers to outline useful, efficiency, and safety exams.
With a built-in CI/CD pipeline integration that helps automate the testing and deployment course of, Postman permits builders to arrange steady integration pipelines rapidly and be sure that the code meets the anticipated high quality requirements earlier than releasing it into manufacturing. It permits detecting any bugs earlier than they grow to be vital issues.
Postman options: Why use Postman for API testing?
The Postman API Platform consists of a number of API testing options that assist groups streamline their testing workflows and catch points all through the API lifecycle. With Postman, you are able to do the next:
Take a look at API with pre-configured code snippets
Postman supplies a library of JavaScript code snippets that assist groups test their APIs’ efficiency, reliability, and conduct. These snippets can be utilized with totally different APIs, akin to REST, GraphQL, SOAP, and gRPC. It additionally helps builders rapidly arrange their exams with out writing a single line of code.
Validate advanced and end-to-end workflows
Groups can use Postman’s Assortment Runner to hyperlink requests, run them in a selected order, and monitor check outcomes. It permits groups to make exams that test advanced, very important person experiences. This function saves the workforce money and time by minimizing the necessity for guide exams.
Reuse API requests to check parts
Groups can create and reuse Postman API requests throughout collections to hurry testing. It permits making certain that every one parts of the API are working accurately—whereas avoiding duplicate code.
Create customized assertions with Chai and Java Script
Postman permits customers to create customized assertions with Chai, a JavaScript testing framework, and JavaScript. Thus, customers so as to add customized logic to their exams, akin to checking for particular values or verifying the info construction of responses.
Carry out API exams in parallel
With Postman, customers run a number of exams concurrently, which helps them rapidly establish points throughout their API endpoints with out ready for every check to finish sequentially.
Automate check executions on Postman Cloud
Postman permits customers to arrange exams to run at sure instances and frequencies and obtain notifications when exams don’t move. This service runs on Postman’s infrastructure, that means groups don’t have to fret about potential points brought on by unavailable native sources.
Execute API exams inside CI/CD pipelines
Groups can use Newman or Postman CLI to run exams and collections of their Steady Integration/Steady Supply (CI/CD) pipeline. Doing this helps preserve backward compatibility and stops new adjustments from breaking the manufacturing surroundings.
Monitor check outcomes and troubleshoot bugs
Postman customers can establish why a check has failed utilizing the Postman Console. This device lets them see particulars of every community name, together with headers, certificates, requests, and responses. They’ll additionally monitor outcomes from guide and automatic exams and entry reviews for analyzing testing developments.
Create a devoted testing surroundings
Customers can retailer values in variables utilized in any request, such because the URL, headers, and physique. This makes it straightforward to run automated API exams in a devoted testing surroundings earlier than releasing any adjustments to the manufacturing surroundings.
Incorporate Postman API exams into incident response workflows
The device’s capacity to attach with a number of programs, together with Datadog, New Relic, and OpsGenie, supplies groups with a complete view of their programs, enabling them to make knowledgeable choices and reply to incidents extra effectively.
What are some great benefits of Postman?
A few of Postman’s prime advantages for API testing embody:
- Platform Agnostic. Postman can be utilized on totally different platforms, akin to Home windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Free Trial. Postman gives a free trial which permits builders to discover its capabilities with out committing to a subscription plan.
- Cheap Pricing Plans. Postman gives cheap pricing plans, making them inexpensive for small and huge groups.
- Intuitive Consumer Interface. Postman’s intuitive person interface makes it straightforward to arrange and write exams, even for these with minimal coding expertise.
- Fast and Straightforward Setup. Postman will be rapidly arrange, so builders can begin testing their APIs instantly.
- Complete Documentation. Postman’s intensive documentation supplies detailed details about learn how to use every function accessible on the platform.
- In depth Library of Assertions. Postman helps quite a lot of assertion libraries, akin to Chai, which permits customers to create customized assertions for his or her exams.
- Assist for CI/CD Pipelines. Postman helps CI/CD pipelines and helps builders automate the method of testing and deployment.
- Helps A number of Environments. Postman helps builders check towards totally different environments to make sure their API works accurately throughout all platforms.
- Straightforward to Monitor Take a look at Outcomes. Postman’s reporting instruments assist builders monitor their check outcomes and establish potential points rapidly and simply.
- Versatile Integrations. Postman will be built-in with exterior programs akin to monitoring and incident response instruments.
- Safe. Postman is a safe platform that encrypts all knowledge and helps groups guarantee their API exams are secure.
- Cloud-Based mostly Testing. Postman’s cloud-based testing surroundings permits groups to run exams in a devoted surroundings with out affecting their manufacturing surroundings.
- Scalable Take a look at Setting. Postman helps groups scale their testing surroundings as their APIs develop to match their demand.
- Assist for OpenAPI Specification. Postman helps OpenAPI Specification, which permits groups to create open-source APIs.
Remaining Ideas
Postman is a useful device for automating API exams. It takes the burden off and permits you to outline exams and assertions having minimal coding expertise rapidly.
Postman’s intensive library of assertions, CI/CD pipeline integration, help for a number of environments, and talent to securely retailer values in variables make it a superb device to check APIs and streamline growth workflows rapidly.
Moreover, the intuitive person interface, inexpensive pricing plans, and useful documentation make it straightforward to stand up and run with Postman rapidly, irrespective of your ability degree. General, It is a useful device for automating API exams and making certain the standard and consistency of your APIs.
