Ways to API: Tools and Methodology

Author Nilesh Ahire, Senior Consultant – Testing

Application Program Interfaces (API) testing improves the coverage of your test cycle, conserves resources, and results in faster, more efficient releases with the right tools and expertise. And, it can supplement existing testing efforts and contribute added capabilities to your testing goals.

Previously, testing your existing API without backend or coding knowledge was not something that was easy to do in the past. But now, there are several new programs and tools available that make the more tedious testing phase much easier.

API Testing Tools
Postman: Postman can be considered as one the most beneficial for API testing tools. It is cost effective and efficient for regression. Postman Monitors automatically run tests at regular intervals and Postman's Tools Support Every Stage of the API Lifecycle, such as:

• Design APIs in Postman & use Postman’s mock service.
• Examine responses, test API’s, as well as add tests and scripts.
• Run automated tests using the Postman collection runner.
• Create APIs documentation with private and public view.
• Create automated tests to monitor APIs for uptime, responsiveness, and correctness.

SOAPUI: This is a headless functional testing tool dedicated to API testing, allowing users to test REST and SOAP APIs and Web Services easily.

JMeter: JMeter is used for functional API testing which is needed to test an API. It has features which help boost the performance of API testing and is used in both static as well as dynamic resources performance testing.

REST-Assured: A popular framework to test REST services in Java. REST Assured is fluent in Java libraries and brings the simplicity of using languages (Ruby and Groovy) into the Java domain.

Tricentis Tosca: A continuous testing platform for Agile and DevOps that supports and array of protocols, including HTTP(s) JMS, AMQP, Rabbit MQ, TIBCO EMS, SOAP, REST, IBM MQ,NET TCP. Tricentis Tosca integrates into the Agile and DevOps Cycle and maximizes reuse and maintainability with model-based test automation.

Apigee: A cross-cloud API testing tool, Apigee allows the user to measure and test API performance, support and build API using other editors such as Swagger. It offers security and governance policies across all APIs.

HTTP Methods used in REST API
There are 4 main HTTP methods are most commonly used in a REST based architecture:

POST: Used to update an existing record or create a new record by providing the input in JSon or XML format.
GET: Used to retrieve data, which is Provides a read only access to a record.
PUT: Used to create a new record or Update, calling the same PUT request multiple times will always produce the same result. In contrast, calling a POST request repeatedly make have side effects of creating the same record multiple times.
DELETE: Used to remove a record.

API testing gels well with Agile methodology. It allows access to an application without a user interface. Testing the core, code-level functionality of the application provides an early evaluation of its overall build strength before running GUI tests, exposing small errors before they become huge problems. Core access also enables testing in tandem with development, promoting communication and improved collaboration between teams.

API testing with Infogain will help you get closer to achieving exceptional business outcomes. Infogain’s Quality Assurance solutions combine automation with intelligence to help enterprises deliver products that are error-free and in line with customer expectations download our whitepaper on using Predictive Analytics and Advanced Test Automation to Boost Business Assurance (https://www.infogain.com/making-an-impact/idc-technology-spotlight/ )

To know more about Infogain’s Quality Assurance solutions read more here (https://www.infogain.com/quality-assurance/ ) or contact a QA expert here info@infogain.com.