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What’s an API?
An API is a specification that acts as an interface for software program parts.
Whereas most useful testing entails testing a person interface like an internet web page or a dot web kind, API testing bypasses a person interface and communicates instantly with an utility by making calls to its APIs.
API useful testing permits you to take a look at headless applied sciences like:
- JMS
- HTTP
- Databases,
- Internet companies.
This testing approach is usually 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 anticipate them to.
This easy instance is sometimes called 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 surprise which instrument to make use of for Relaxation and Cleaning soap net service-based testing.
Listed here are a few of the well-liked API testing instruments that can be utilized for Relaxation and Cleaning soap Internet Service Testing.
These automation instruments are nice as a result of, many instances, 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 a lot of nice paid choices, listed below are the highest free testing instruments you need to take a look at for software program testing.
Postman 
Postman is a relaxation shopper that began off as a Chrome browser plugin however just lately got here out with native variations for each Mac and Home windows. They’ve additionally just lately come out with an AI assistant characteristic known as PostBot.
At a excessive stage, you should utilize it to ship a submit request to your net server, and it provides you a response again. It permits you to arrange all of the headers and cookies your API expects after which examine the response when it returns.
- It may be used for each automated and exploratory testing
- May be run on Mac, Home windows, Linux &Chrome Apps
- It has a bunch of integrations, like help 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 actual 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 just lately develop 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 permits you to create a take a look at to sequence calls to any net service (SOPA or REST) and assert that the responses are as anticipated. Should you’re a tester, it is a very tester-focused instrument that does not require you to know the best way to code. This instrument has develop into so well-liked that we’ve even created two free take a look at information programs to get you in control on it rapidly.
Karate is understood for being straightforward to learn and, thus, very maintainable. That is an typically ignored facet 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 all commonplace Java challenge
- A take a look at might be written with none Java information required
- Exams are straightforward to write down, even for non-programmers
Right here is an instance Karate script:
Function: 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')
Function: TestGuild search Situation: Seek for a key phrase on testguild.com
It at the moment 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 meant by operating automated exams primarily based on API documentation.
By verifying that responses match the anticipated outcomes, Dredd enhances the reliability and consistency of API deployments. Perfect for RESTful APIs, it helps numerous 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 the moment has over 4.2k stars on GitHub.
Step CI
New to our checklist is Step CI.
This open-source, self-hosted platform is designed to automate API testing throughout numerous languages and API varieties, together with:
Step CI affords versatility, permitting configurations through YAML, JSON, or JavaScript. Customers may also deliver their very own take a look at information or generate faux information for testing functions. And you’ll carry out different cool exams utilizing it, like:
- Fuzz Testing
- Testing ChatGPT
- CO2 Testing
One in all its standout options is operating a number of exams concurrently with out compromising efficiency.
For these with an OpenAPI specification, exams might be generated instantly from it. For extra insights, you need to discover Step CI’s official web site, documentation, and GitHub repository.
It at the moment 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
Because the free model is open-source, you possibly can really acquire entry to the total supply code and modify it as wanted.
The free model enables you to:
- You’ll be able to simply create customized code utilizing Groovy
- Drag and Drop Take a look at Creating
- Can create advanced eventualities
- Asynchronous Testing
- SoapUI’s Mock Service enables you to mimic net companies earlier than they’re carried out.
The SoapUI Professional model is user-friendly and has extra performance, together with a kind editor, an assertion wizard for XPath, and an SQL question builder.
Hearken to Mike Giller of Smartbear speak extra about SoapUI:
TraceTest
TraceTest takes a novel strategy 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 exams, claiming to cut back the time required from days to minutes. This is the way it differentiates itself from different API testing instruments on our checklist:
- 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-Based mostly Testing: In contrast to conventional API testing instruments which will focus solely on the request and response, Tracetest makes use of hint information to say the conduct and efficiency of the API and the underlying companies. This contains the power to say on the timing of hint spans (e.g., making certain a database span executes inside a sure timeframe) and wildcard assertions throughout widespread forms of actions (e.g., all gRPC return codes must be 0).
- No Want for Mocks or Fakes: Since Tracetest exams towards actual information and makes use of the precise traces of the system, there is no such thing as a want for the cumbersome setup of mocks or fakes. This may result in extra correct and dependable exams.
- Assist for A number of Take a look at Triggers: Tracetest permits defining exams by numerous triggers corresponding 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 might be constructed visually by the Internet 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 recordsdata help GitOps workflows and CI/CD automation.
- OpenTelemetry Instrumentation Evaluation: Tracetest not solely exams APIs but additionally analyzes the standard of OpenTelemetry instrumentation throughout the system. This ensures adherence to requirements and will help enhance observability practices.
- Complete Hint Evaluation and Validation: Past easy API testing, Tracetest affords options for detailed hint evaluation and validation, implementing 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 strategy, and complete options that transcend conventional API testing, providing a extra holistic view of a system’s conduct and efficiency.
It at the moment has over 1.1k stars on GitHub.
HttpMaster Specific 
HttpMaster describes itself as an internet 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 watch API responses.
- HttpMaster challenge affords world choices to customise your API request
- Parameter capabilities allow you to incorporate dynamic information together with your request
- You need to use request chaining to leverage request gadgets to incorporate some information from the earlier request with the following request
Relaxation- Assured 
Relaxation-Assured is an open-source Java Area-specific language (DSL) that simplifies guide testing of REST service. It simplifies issues by eliminating the necessity to use boilerplate code to check and validate advanced 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
- Assist BDD Given/When/Then syntax
- Built-in seamlessly with Java initiatives
- In all probability the usual for programmatically making a relaxation API testing instrument script
Should you use Java and desire a REST API net companies library you should utilize in your framework, Relaxation-Assured is an effective alternative. Bas Dijkstra just lately additionally created a C# model.
Johan Haleby, creator of Relaxation-Assured, shares ideas and tips for getting began with REST testing with Relaxation-Assured.
It at the moment has over 7k stars on GitHub.RoboHydra Server 
Are you in search of API integration testing instruments?
RoboHydra is a testing instrument for HTTP-based shoppers (i.e., software program that makes HTTP requests). As a substitute of connecting your clients-under-test to the actual 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 trying to find “API automation testing,” you will have to 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 recordsdata; no code is required
- Returns exit codes on failure
- It solely works on Mac and Linux
it is simple to get began. All you could 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 examine if the GitHub API returns a 200 standing code when requesting public repositories.
---
- config:
identify: "GitHub API Take a look at"
timeout: 5
headers: {'Person-Agent': 'PyRestTest'}
- take a look at:
identify: "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 high 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
- Simple to make use of: Airborne gives a easy and readable DSL (Area-Particular Language) that makes it straightforward for builders and testers to write down exams.
- JSON help: Airborne is designed with JSON in thoughts, making it straightforward to parse, validate, and manipulate JSON response our bodies in your exams.
- Constructed on RSpec: As Airborne is constructed on high 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, corresponding to checking the presence of particular keys or validating the forms of values in JSON objects.
- Extensible: You’ll be able to simply lengthen Airborne by including customized matchers or utilizing present RSpec plugins to boost your API testing expertise
To make use of, all you could do is use the next gem recordsdata
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, identify: :string, full_name: :string)
finish
finish
After which run the take a look at: rspec github_api_spec.rb
It at the moment 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 allow you to automate integration exams for nearly any messaging protocol or information format. It has good take a look at outcomes reviews as properly.
- Works with REST, SOAP, HTTP, JMS, TCP/IP, and extra
- Create exams utilizing Java or XML
- Mature – has been round some time
For more information on Citrus and integration testing, examine out API Integration Automation Testing With Citrus Framework.
It at the moment 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 instances 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 exams
- Very straightforward to write down exams – 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 present exams might be reused
- Environment friendly Studies – You are able to do a fuzzy search in addition to filter by any textual content, and monitor by writer
It at the moment 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 affords 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 permits you to take a look at net companies and REST APIs
Hearken to my interview with Raghav Pal to find extra about Katalon Studio.
JMeter
As you may 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 option to write API exams. Tavern permits you to create automated API exams in YAML format, making them straightforward to learn and preserve. Moreover, since Tavern is constructed on high 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 advanced exams
- Helps testing RESTful APIs in addition to MQTT-based APIs
It at the moment 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 the moment has over 908 stars on GitHub.
Should you learn this far, you may ask your self, “Cannot you additionally use a few of the extra well-liked browser automation testing instruments for API testing?” The reply is YES, as an illustration.
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 excellent for testing net functions in a number of browsers, together with Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit. Nonetheless, it’s also possible to use it with different libraries to carry out API testing.
This 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/information";
// Use axios to make an API request
const response = await axios.get(apiUrl);
// Verify the response standing and information
if (response.standing === 200 && response.information) {
console.log('API Take a look at Handed:', response.information);
} 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 option 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 advanced API testing.
Additionally a PW-API-PLUGIN for API testing in Playwright was just lately launched to assist
On-Demand API Testing Coaching
What about API testing utilizing Cypress — positive!
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 may look
describe('API Take a look at', () => {
it('GET request', () => {
// Change together with your API URL
const apiUrl="https://api.instance.com/information";
// Make a GET request utilizing Cypress
cy.request(apiUrl).then((response) => {
// Verify the response standing and information
anticipate(response.standing).to.equal(200);
anticipate(response.physique).to.have.property('information');
});
});
});
Prime API Testing Instruments Recap
I believe software program testers have to embrace APIs this 12 months, which is why I’ve so many classes at this 12 months’s Automation Guild to assist. Verify 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 checklist as time passes.
If considered one of your favourite API take a look at instruments is just not listed, please let me know, and I’ll add it.
