Testing APIs - Quick Start Guide

 API Testing

API TESTING is a software program checking out kind that validates Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). The motive of API Testing is to test the capability, reliability, performance, and safety of the programming interfaces. In API Testing, rather than the use of preferred person inputs(keyboard) and outputs, you operate software program to ship calls to the API, get output, and observe down the machine’s reaction. API exams are very distinctive from GUI Tests and won’t give attention to the appearance and experience of an software. It specially concentrates at the commercial enterprise common sense layer of the software program architecture.


Set-up of API Test surroundings

API Testing is distinctive than different software program checking out kinds as GUI isn't to be had, and but you're required to setup preliminary surroundings that invokes API with a required set of parameters after which ultimately examines the take a look at result.

Hence, Setting up a checking out surroundings for API automation checking out appears a bit complex.

Database and server need to be configured as in line with the software requirements.

Once the set up is done, the API Function need to be known as to test whether or not that API is working.


Test Cases for API Testing:

Test instances of API testing are primarily based totally on

  • Return fee primarily based totally on enter condition: it's miles distinctly clean to check, as enter may be described and outcomes may be authenticated
  • Does now no longer go back anything: When there's no go back fee, a conduct of API at the machine to be checked
  • Trigger a few different API/occasion/interrupt: If an output of an API triggers a few occasion or interrupt, then the ones activities and interrupt listeners need to be tracked
  • Update statistics shape: Updating statistics shape could have a few final results or impact at the machine, and that need to be authenticated
  • Modify positive sources: If API name modifies a few sources then it need to be confirmed via way of means of having access to respective sources


API Testing Approach

API Testing Approach is a predefined approach or a technique that the QA crew will carry out so that you can behavior the API checking out after the construct is ready. This checking out does now no longer consist of the supply code. The API checking out method facilitates to higher recognize the functionalities, checking out strategies, enter parameters and the execution of take a look at instances.

Following factors facilitates the person to do API Testing method:

  • Understanding the capability of the API application and really outline the scope of the application
  • Apply checking out strategies which include equivalence classes, boundary fee analysis, and mistakess guessing and write take a look at instances for the API
  • Input Parameters for the API want to be deliberate and described appropriately
  • Execute the take a look at instances and evaluate predicted and real outcomes.


How to Test API

API automation checking out need to cowl at the least following checking out techniques other than standard SDLC process

  • Discovery testing: The take a look at institution need to manually execute the set of calls documented withinside the API like verifying that a selected useful resource uncovered via way of means of the API may be listed, created and deleted as appropriate
  • Usability testing: This checking out verifies whether or not the API is useful and person-friendly. And does API integrates nicely with every other platform as nicely
  • Security checking out: This checking out consists of what form of authentication is needed and whether or not touchy statistics is encrypted over HTTP or both
  • Automated testing: API testing need to culminate withinside the advent of a fixed of scripts or a device that may be used to execute the API regularly
  • Documentation: The take a look at crew has to ensure that the documentation is ok and presents sufficient statistics to have interaction with the API. Documentation need to be part of the very last deliverable


Best Practices of API Testing

  • API Test instances need to be grouped via way of means of take a look at category
  • On pinnacle of every take a look at, you need to consist of the declarations of the APIs being known as.
  • Parameters choice need to be explicitly cited withinside the take a look at case itself
  • Prioritize API feature calls with a purpose to be clean for testers to check
  • Each take a look at case need to be as self-contained and impartial from dependencies as viable
  • Avoid “take a look at chaining” on your development
  • Special care need to be taken at the same time as managing one-time name capabilities like – Delete, CloseWindow, etc…
  • Call sequencing need to be achieved and nicely deliberate
  • To make certain whole take a look at coverage, create API take a look at instances for all viable enter mixtures of the API.


Types of Bugs that API checking out detects

  • Fails to deal with mistakess situations gracefully
  • Unused flags
  • Missing or replica capability
  • Reliability Issues. Difficulty in connecting and getting a reaction from API.
  • Security Issues
  • Multi-threading issues
  • Performance Issues. API reaction time could be very high.
  • Improper errors/caution to a caller
  • Incorrect managing of legitimate argument values
  • Response Data isn't based correctly (JSON or XML)


Challenges of API Testing

Challenges of API testing consists of:

  • Main demanding situations in Web API testing is Parameter Combination, Parameter Selection, and Call Sequencing
  • There isn't anyt any GUI to be had to check the software which makes tough to present enter values
  • Validating and Verifying the output in a distinctive machine is little tough for testers
  • Parameters choice and categorization is needed to be regarded to the testers
  • Exception managing feature desires to be examined
  • Coding know-how is vital for testers


Conclusion

API includes a fixed of classes/capabilities/strategies which constitute the commercial enterprise common sense layer. If API isn't examined properly, it can reason troubles now no longer simplest the API software however additionally withinside the calling software. It is an crucial take a look at in software program engineering.

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