An API (Application Programming Interface) is a computing interface that allows systems to interact with each other to share data and information. Software development has changed and revolves around APIs that transfer and connect logic and data through applications and systems. Due to this fact, implementing API testing strategies is helping businesses improve the performance and efficiency of their systems as well as deliver applications faster. Every industry around the world, for instance, the trucking industry, is utilizing IoT and AI through the use of APIs to run their day to day businesses. This tells you that APIs have taken center stage in running businesses and thorough testing has to be done to make sure that they deliver.
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What API Testing Entails
There are many aspects when it comes to API testing. However, in general, it entails making requests to one or many API endpoints and then validating the responses. This validation is done to check a number of things such as security, performance, status check, or functionality. The difference between UI testing and API testing is that an API test emphasis is on the business logic, performance, security, and data response while that of a UI test is on the look and feel of an interface to make sure that the end-user is impressed by what they see.
Benefits of API Testing
- Tests can be done early in development. API tests can be built when the logic has been designed to test the data and its response. This means that one does not have to wait for different teams to complete their work or for the complete application to be developed for them to initiate tests.
- Bugs can be resolved within a shorter time. With a failed API test, developers can easily know where their application failed and easily locate the defect. This helps in reducing the time it takes to resolve the bugs, leading to a faster release of the software being developed.
- It makes test maintenance easier. Today, we are experiencing constant changes in UIs especially due to the fact that they are accessed differently across multiple devices. This is quite a headache when having to rewrite tests. However, with API definitions such as the OpenAPI and these testing tools outlined by RapidAPI, rewriting tests is no longer difficult.
- Faster testing. While UI tests take a longer time to complete, one can run hundreds of API tests within a couple of minutes.
Types of API Testing
There are different types of API testing, among them;
1. Integration Testing
This is the most common type of API testing. It is used to test the integration of APIs between the APIs, third-party services, and other internal services.
2. Unit Testing
Unit testing is better done manually using the command line. It involves testing a single unit such as an endpoint, using one request to look at its response. Here, a tester is able to check the functionality of different parts of the API.
3. Performance Testing
Performance testing is used to mainly test how the API performs. It is basically testing to see if the API does exactly what it is supposed to do. It is through performance testing that developers are able to know if their API meets their requirements and those of their users.
4. End-to-End Testing
This type of testing is very important when it comes to testing how information and data flow between different connections within an API.
Efficient API testing allows one to cover all potential software failures with regards to the API that might stall an application. This is critical when it comes to maintaining customer trust and quality products that end users will appreciate.
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