With APIs playing a crucial role in the business landscape, ensuring they are secure, reliable, and perform as expected is imperative. API automation testing is a vital part of that process.
However, it takes a lot of work to select the proper framework and tools for this type of testing. This comprehensive guide will help you get started with API test automation.
Development teams can use automated API testing to reduce the time they spend planning, writing, and running tests. It also helps them ensure that changes to one function don’t have unintended consequences elsewhere.
Tests should include input validation and error handling. Teams should also test for fault tolerance. For example, an API should be able to handle requests that are too large or complex to process without crashing.
What is an API?
An API (application programming interface) allows the software to talk with others, allowing information and functionality to be instantly shared. APIs can be private or public, and they can also offer a hybrid of both.
The process that makes this possible is a set of rules and specifications known as an API specification. Software developers use this specification to build an API to which other software can connect. This is how a company can make its mapping software accessible to other companies that develop navigation systems or share content through their websites. This arrangement is also known as a public API. This type of API is monetized by charging for access to certain services and features or offering free tiers with limited usage.
Types of APIs
API integrations like Finch connect diverse software applications and deliver data from one application to another. For instance, when you check the weather on your mobile device, you’re patting a developer on the back using an already-exposed API that sends the data back to your application.
These versatile tools are indispensable for today’s vast software ecosystem. They enable companies to share information with customers and other stakeholders. For example, a customer survey can be automated and made accessible across all devices with the help of an API.
To maximize the benefits of these services, choosing an API type that fits your business needs is essential. For instance, an API with a wider audience will require a different protocol than one designed to serve internal employees.
There are four common API types: public, partner, private, and composite. The differences between them lie in the intended scope of use and the architecture used to develop them. Moreover, each API type adheres to different web standards and protocols.
Authentication
Authentication is verifying that a user is who they claim to be. It typically involves pairing a user ID with other verification credentials, like passwords and other secure tokens, to ensure that the person trying to access a system is who they say they are.
To prove that they are who they are, a person would use one of these methods: a physical security key, a biometric data scan like a fingerprint or retinal scan, a facial recognition system, or voice and speech recognition. Using a combination of these methods allows for the most secure authentication possible, as it makes it difficult to hack into an account by stealing the user’s real information.
Once the system has verified that a user is who they are, it will permit them to access certain information, apps, or resources. It does this by utilizing a set of settings already established and managed by the company. Think of it as a friend who knows you and welcomes you into their home but also protects their personal space.
Response Body Validation
In API testing, it’s essential to verify the contents of a response body. This can include validating data types, checking if fields are updated correctly, or confirming that a security token was received. This is where automated tests become invaluable, enabling developers to test and surface issues before they get deployed into production and cause user-facing errors.
To add a validation step, navigate to your test and select the Add API Action or Validate API Action option. Then, choose the header, body, or status code response and click Add to create a new assertion. You can also select the Run additional code on request results switch if you want to perform other validations or codes if the assertion fails. This step will not count against your account quota.
Testing
API testing is critical because it helps ensure an API functions properly. Whether that means verifying that an API function adds two integer numbers together or that data displays accurately after an update, testing all aspects of an API, including input validation, error handling, and security, is essential.
Automating this process ensures consistency and speed. It’s also a good idea to write reusable tests, as they can be easily applied to different websites or APIs. It is also helpful to name test cases based on the functionality they are testing, as this can make it easier to locate them later.
Automation can standardize the testing process and reduce the risk of errors, allowing teams to release features faster and more confidently.
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