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What’s an API?
An API is a specification that acts as an interface for software program elements.
Whereas most useful testing entails testing a person interface like an online web page or a dot internet kind, API testing bypasses a person interface and communicates immediately with an utility by making calls to its APIs.
API useful testing lets you take a look at headless applied sciences like:
- JMS
- HTTP
- Databases,
- Net companies.
This testing approach is typically known as “headless” testing.
Most headless testing consists of bypassing the UI, sending a request on to an utility’s backend or service, and receiving a response whereas validating the response to make sure issues are working as we count on them to.
This easy instance is also known as a shopper/server relationship.
A shopper makes a request by asking for a useful resource; the request then goes out and finds a server that may fill that request. The server locates the specified useful resource and sends a response again to the shopper.
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What API Testing Instruments Can I Use to Automate API Testing?
Since Selenium is only for browser-based testing, chances are you’ll marvel which instrument to make use of for Relaxation and Cleaning soap net service-based testing.
Listed here are a few of the common API testing instruments that can be utilized for Relaxation and Cleaning soap Net Service Testing.
These automation instruments are nice as a result of, many occasions, you possibly can leverage one take a look at script to assist with API load/stress efficiency testing, API safety testing, and penetration testing.
So let’s get to it.
Though there are various nice paid choices, listed here are the highest free testing instruments it is best to take a look at for software program testing.
Postman 
Postman is a relaxation shopper that began off as a Chrome browser plugin however not too long ago got here out with native variations for each Mac and Home windows. They’ve additionally not too long ago come out with an AI assistant function known as PostBot.
At a excessive degree, you should utilize it to ship a put up request to your net server, and it provides you a response again. It lets you arrange all of the headers and cookies your API expects after which test the response when it returns.
- It may be used for each automated and exploratory testing
- Could be run on Mac, Home windows, Linux &Chrome Apps
- It has a bunch of integrations, like assist for Swagger & RAML codecs
- Has Run, Take a look at, Doc, and Monitoring Options
- It doesn’t require studying a brand new language
To listen to how Postman is utilized in the true world for testing video video games, take a look at Amber Race’s TestTalks episode on Testing Video Video games Utilizing API Automation.
CON: Postman’s options have not too long ago turn into paid choices, though they nonetheless have a free plan. That is why extra testers are migrating to instruments like subsequent on our lst Karate.
Karate DSL 
Karate lets you create a take a look at to sequence calls to any net service (SOPA or REST) and assert that the responses are as anticipated. For those who’re a tester, it is a very tester-focused instrument that does not require you to know the way to code. This instrument has turn into so common that we have now even created two free take a look at information programs to get you in control on it rapidly.
Karate is thought for being straightforward to learn and, thus, very maintainable. That is an usually missed side of selecting a take a look at framework as a result of take a look at suites are used for steady integration so long as the API is reside in manufacturing.
- It has an easy-to-use human-like syntax
- Can run a take a look at and generate reviews like several normal Java undertaking
- A take a look at will be written with none Java data required
- Exams are straightforward to jot down, even for non-programmers
Right here is an instance Karate script:
Characteristic: TestGuild search
Situation: Seek for a key phrase on testguild.com
Given url 'https://www.testguild.com/'
And driver
When driver.get
Then driver.findElementByCss('#s').enter('automation')
And driver.findElementByCss('.search-submit').click on()
And driver.waitForUrl('/?s=automation')
Then driver.titleContains('automation')
Characteristic: TestGuild search Situation: Seek for a key phrase on testguild.com
It at present has over 8.5k stars on GitHub.
Dredd
Dredd is an open-source API testing framework that validates API descriptions towards backend implementations. It helps builders guarantee their APIs work as supposed by working automated assessments based mostly on API documentation.
By verifying that responses match the anticipated outcomes, Dredd enhances the reliability and consistency of API deployments. Preferrred for RESTful APIs, it helps varied API description codecs like Swagger/OpenAPI, API Blueprint, and RAML, making it a flexible instrument for sustaining high-quality API companies.
Additionally utilizing Dredd for API testing ensures that your APIs adhere to their outlined specs.
It at present has over 4.2k stars on GitHub.
Step CI
New to our listing is Step CI.
This open-source, self-hosted platform is designed to automate API testing throughout varied languages and API varieties, together with:
Step CI presents versatility, permitting configurations through YAML, JSON, or JavaScript. Customers also can carry their very own take a look at knowledge or generate pretend knowledge for testing functions. And you may carry out different cool assessments utilizing it, like:
- Fuzz Testing
- Testing ChatGPT
- CO2 Testing
One in all its standout options is working a number of assessments concurrently with out compromising efficiency.
For these with an OpenAPI specification, assessments will be generated immediately from it. For extra insights, it is best to discover Step CI’s official web site, documentation, and GitHub repository.
It at present has over 1.4k stars on GitHub.
SoapUI 
SoapUI is a headless useful testing instrument from SmartBear software program. It is available in two flavors:
- Free, open-source model
- Professional Model
For the reason that free model is open-source, you possibly can really achieve entry to the total supply code and modify it as wanted.
The free model allows you to:
- You’ll be able to simply create customized code utilizing Groovy
- Drag and Drop Take a look at Creating
- Can create complicated eventualities
- Asynchronous Testing
- SoapUI’s Mock Service allows you to mimic net companies earlier than they’re applied.
The SoapUI Professional model is user-friendly and has further performance, together with a kind editor, an assertion wizard for XPath, and an SQL question builder.
Take heed to Mike Giller of Smartbear speak extra about SoapUI:
TraceTest
TraceTest takes a singular method to API Testing in comparison with the opposite api automation testing instruments open-source listed right here.
The innovation it brings is that it using OpenTelemetry and trace-based testing.
This instrument is designed to considerably pace up the method of making integration and end-to-end assessments, claiming to cut back the time required from days to minutes. Here is the way it differentiates itself from different API testing instruments on our listing:
- Integration with OpenTelemetry: Tracetest leverages OpenTelemetry to seize traces of API calls and their interactions inside a system. This integration permits for a extra in-depth evaluation and testing of the API and the system’s conduct.
- Hint-Primarily based Testing: In contrast to conventional API testing instruments that will focus solely on the request and response, Tracetest makes use of hint knowledge to claim the conduct and efficiency of the API and the underlying companies. This consists of the power to claim on the timing of hint spans (e.g., making certain a database span executes inside a sure timeframe) and wildcard assertions throughout frequent kinds of actions (e.g., all gRPC return codes needs to be 0).
- No Want for Mocks or Fakes: Since Tracetest assessments towards actual knowledge and makes use of the precise traces of the system, there isn’t any want for the cumbersome setup of mocks or fakes. This will result in extra correct and dependable assessments.
- Help for A number of Take a look at Triggers: Tracetest permits defining assessments via varied triggers comparable to HTTP requests, gRPC requests, and hint IDs. This flexibility accommodates a variety of testing eventualities and necessities.
- Visible and Programmatic Take a look at Creation: Exams will be constructed visually via the Net UI or programmatically through YAML, making it accessible for each builders and testers. Moreover, the Tracetest CLI and YAML-based take a look at definition information assist GitOps workflows and CI/CD automation.
- OpenTelemetry Instrumentation Evaluation: Tracetest not solely assessments APIs but in addition analyzes the standard of OpenTelemetry instrumentation throughout the system. This ensures adherence to requirements and may help enhance observability practices.
- Complete Hint Evaluation and Validation: Past easy API testing, Tracetest presents options for detailed hint evaluation and validation, imposing OpenTelemetry guidelines and requirements. This may be essential for methods relying closely on distributed tracing for observability.
Tracetest’s distinctive worth proposition lies in its integration with OpenTelemetry, trace-based testing method, and complete options that transcend conventional API testing, providing a extra holistic view of a system’s conduct and efficiency.
It at present has over 1.1k stars on GitHub.
HttpMaster Categorical 
HttpMaster describes itself as an online growth and take a look at instrument to automate the testing of internet sites and companies. It may be used to check RESTful net companies and API functions. HttpMaster additionally permits you to observe API responses.
- HttpMaster undertaking presents world choices to customise your API request
- Parameter capabilities allow you to incorporate dynamic knowledge together with your request
- You should utilize request chaining to leverage request objects to incorporate some knowledge from the earlier request with the subsequent request
Relaxation- Assured 
Relaxation-Assured is an open-source Java Area-specific language (DSL) that simplifies handbook testing of REST service. It simplifies issues by eliminating the necessity to use boilerplate code to check and validate complicated responses. It additionally helps XML and JSON Requests/Responses. That is in all probability the best-known instrument to check relaxation API.
- Removes the necessity to create boilerplate code required to work together with a relaxation service
- Help BDD Given/When/Then syntax
- Built-in seamlessly with Java initiatives
- Most likely the usual for programmatically making a relaxation API testing instrument script
For those who use Java and desire a REST API net companies library you should utilize in your framework, Relaxation-Assured is an effective selection. Bas Dijkstra not too long ago additionally created a C# model.
Johan Haleby, creator of Relaxation-Assured, shares ideas and methods for getting began with REST testing with Relaxation-Assured.
It at present has over 7k stars on GitHub.RoboHydra Server 
Are you on the lookout for API integration testing instruments?
RoboHydra is a testing instrument for HTTP-based shoppers (i.e., software program that makes HTTP requests). As an alternative of connecting your clients-under-test to the true server, you join them to RoboHydra and make RoboHydra reply with no matter you want for every request.
To make use of RoboHydra to carry out, say, navigating to testguild.com and looking for “API automation testing,” you will must create a easy proxy server with RoboHydra after which write a take a look at script to carry out the search.
- You’ll be able to take a look at many various sorts of shoppers
- Written in Javascript, runs below Node
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Pyresttest 
PyRestTest is a Python-based REST testing and API micro-benchmarking API testing instrument.
- You’ll be able to write your take a look at scripts in primary YAML or JSON config information; no code is required
- Returns exit codes on failure
- It solely works on Mac and Linux
it is easy to get began. All that you must do is set up pip set up pyresttest
Then Create a YAML take a look at file that, for instance, the take a look at will test if the GitHub API returns a 200 standing code when requesting public repositories.
---
- config:
title: "GitHub API Take a look at"
timeout: 5
headers: {'Person-Agent': 'PyRestTest'}
- take a look at:
title: "Get public repositories"
url: "https://api.github.com/repositories"
methodology: "GET"
expected_status: [200]
And run the take a look at:
resttest.py https://api.github.com github_api_test.yaml
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Airborne 
Airborne is an open-source Ruby-based framework constructed on prime of RSpec. RSpec is a well-liked behavior-driven growth (BDD) testing framework within the Ruby ecosystem. Airborne simplifies testing RESTful APIs by offering a set of handy strategies and matchers for making HTTP requests and validating responses.
Key options of Airborne:
- Works with Rack functions like Sinatra and Grape
- Works with APIs written in Rails
- Straightforward to make use of: Airborne offers a easy and readable DSL (Area-Particular Language) that makes it straightforward for builders and testers to jot down assessments.
- JSON assist: Airborne is designed with JSON in thoughts, making it straightforward to parse, validate, and manipulate JSON response our bodies in your assessments.
- Constructed on RSpec: As Airborne is constructed on prime of RSpec, you possibly can leverage the total energy of RSpec matchers and its BDD-style syntax.
- Customized matchers: Airborne features a set of customized matchers to validate API responses, comparable to checking the presence of particular keys or validating the kinds of values in JSON objects.
- Extensible: You’ll be able to simply lengthen Airborne by including customized matchers or utilizing current RSpec plugins to boost your API testing expertise
To make use of, all that you must do is use the next gem information
gem set up airborne gem set up rspec
Then create a take a look at file github_api_spec.rb:
require 'airborne'
describe 'GitHub API' do
it 'retrieves public repositories' do
get 'https://api.github.com/repositories'
expect_status(200)
expect_json_types('*', id: :integer, title: :string, full_name: :string)
finish
finish
After which run the take a look at: rspec github_api_spec.rb
It at present has over 1.1k stars on GitHub.
Citrus Framework 
I am not sure why extra of us aren’t conscious of the Citrus Framework. Citrus is an open-source framework that may provide help to automate integration assessments for nearly any messaging protocol or knowledge format. It has good take a look at outcomes reviews as properly.
- Works with REST, SOAP, HTTP, JMS, TCP/IP, and extra
- Create assessments utilizing Java or XML
- Mature – has been round some time
For more information on Citrus and integration testing, test out API Integration Automation Testing With Citrus Framework.
It at present has over 465 stars on GitHub.ZeroCode
ZeroCode describes itself on GitHub as a community-developed, free, open supply, microservices API automation and cargo testing framework constructed utilizing JUnit core runners for HTTP REST, SOAP, Safety, Database, Kafka, and way more. Zerocode Open Supply lets you create, change, orchestrate, and preserve your automated take a look at circumstances declaratively simply.
Listed here are some advantages of utilizing ZeroCode:
- ZeroCode is constructed on JUnit core runners (no plugins wanted)
- Simply your IDE or any JSON editor is sufficient to drive the assessments
- Very straightforward to jot down assessments – so simple as Postman REST-Shopper
- You’ll be able to nonetheless do BDD, however with out syntax overhead
- Efficiency testing – Load/Stress era is kind of straightforward, and current assessments will be reused
- Environment friendly Experiences – You are able to do a fuzzy search in addition to filter by any textual content, and observe by creator
It at present has over 934 stars on GitHub.
Katalon Studio
Katalon Studio is an all-in-one take a look at automation resolution that helps net, cell, and API testing. It presents complete options and a user-friendly interface, making it appropriate for inexperienced persons and skilled testers. Katalon Studio can be utilized for headless testing to make sure your RESTful and SOAP net companies’ performance, reliability, efficiency, and safety.
Some advantages of Katalon Studio are:
- It isn’t open-sourced, however it’s free
- It’s a whole bundle and framework. So it’s straightforward to put in and get working
- Small studying curve
- It has performance that lets you take a look at net companies and REST APIs
Take heed to my interview with Raghav Pal to find extra about Katalon Studio.
JMeter
As you would possibly already know, JMeter was developed for load testing, however many testers additionally use it for useful API testing and as an API load testing instrument as properly.
Some advantages of JMeter are:
- Can leverage one script for each API and API Efficiency testing
- JMeter has been round some time, so it is time-tested
- Simply built-in into CI/CD environments
Tavern
Tavern is a pytest plugin, command-line instrument, and Python library for automated testing of APIs. It is designed for testing RESTful APIs. It makes use of the highly effective pytest testing framework to create a easy, concise, and versatile solution to write API assessments. Tavern lets you create automated API assessments in YAML format, making them straightforward to learn and preserve. Moreover, since Tavern is constructed on prime of pytest, you possibly can leverage pytest’s superior options and plugins to boost your API testing expertise.
-
- Easy, concise, and versatile YAML-based syntax
- Very easy to get began
- Extremely customizable for complicated assessments
- Helps testing RESTful APIs in addition to MQTT-based APIs
It at present has over 1,1k stars on GitHub.
Chakram
Chakram is a REST Javascript API testing instruments framework with a BDD testing model and totally exploiting guarantees. So you should utilize it for
- HTTP Assertions
- Chakram totally exploits javascript guarantees
- BDD formatting and hooks
- Very extensible
It at present has over 908 stars on GitHub.
For those who learn this far, you would possibly ask your self, “Cannot you additionally use a few of the extra common browser automation testing instruments for API testing?” The reply is YES, as an example.
Playwright for API testing
You are able to do API testing utilizing Playwright, though Playwright is primarily designed for end-to-end testing of net functions. Playwright is a Node.js library that automates browser actions, making it good for testing net functions in a number of browsers, together with Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit. Nonetheless, you may as well use it with different libraries to carry out API testing.
Here is an instance of how one can carry out API testing utilizing Playwright, together with the “axios” library to make API requests:
First, set up the required libraries:
npm init -y npm set up playwright axios
Create a take a look at file, e.g., api_test.js, and import the required libraries:
const { chromium } = require('playwright');
const axios = require('axios');
Outline an async operate to carry out the API testing:
async operate testAPI() {
// Launch a browser occasion utilizing Playwright
const browser = await chromium.launch();
const context = await browser.newContext();
const web page = await context.newPage();
// Navigate to the goal API URL (substitute together with your API URL)
const apiUrl="https://api.instance.com/knowledge";
// Use axios to make an API request
const response = await axios.get(apiUrl);
// Examine the response standing and knowledge
if (response.standing === 200 && response.knowledge) {
console.log('API Take a look at Handed:', response.knowledge);
} else {
console.error('API Take a look at Failed:', response.standing, response.statusText);
}
// Shut the browser occasion
await browser.shut();
}
testAPI();
Do not forget that this is only one solution to carry out API testing utilizing Playwright. Playwright is a flexible library that may be mixed with many different libraries and frameworks to carry out extra complicated API testing.
Additionally a PW-API-PLUGIN for API testing in Playwright was not too long ago launched to assist
On-Demand API Testing Coaching
What about API testing utilizing Cypress — certain!
Cypress for API Testing
Identical to Playwright, Cypres is a well-liked end-to-end testing framework for net functions. Though Cypress is principally designed for browser automation and testing net functions, it additionally provides performance for testing APIs utilizing the cy.request operate.
Right here is an instance of how that will look
describe('API Take a look at', () => {
it('GET request', () => {
// Exchange together with your API URL
const apiUrl="https://api.instance.com/knowledge";
// Make a GET request utilizing Cypress
cy.request(apiUrl).then((response) => {
// Examine the response standing and knowledge
count on(response.standing).to.equal(200);
count on(response.physique).to.have.property('knowledge');
});
});
});
Prime API Testing Instruments Recap
I feel software program testers must embrace APIs this 12 months, which is why I’ve so many classes at this 12 months’s Automation Guild to assist. Examine them out now.
These are the highest instruments I’ve come throughout, however tons of SOAP and REST API take a look at instruments are popping up all over the place, so I’ll undoubtedly add to this listing as time passes.
If considered one of your favourite API take a look at instruments just isn’t listed, please let me know, and I’ll add it.
