Skip to content
Postman API Testing Tips

How To Test Wsdl Using Postman

API Testing Blog

Testing WSDL with Postman: A Comprehensive Guide

WSDL (Web Services Description Language) defines the structure and functionality of web services, enabling clients to interact with them. Postman, a popular API testing tool, offers flexibility and power for testing WSDL-based web services. Here’s a comprehensive guide to mastering WSDL testing using Postman.

Understanding WSDL and Postman

Before delving into the practical steps, let’s briefly understand WSDL and Postman’s role in API testing.

WSDL comprises XML-based descriptions of web services, defining:

  • Operations: Functions the service provides, like retrieving data, creating new entries, etc.
  • Data Types: Structures and formats for data exchanged between the client and server.
  • Messages: Exchange formats for data during communication.
  • Bindings: Protocol used for communication (HTTP, SOAP, etc.).

Postman excels in API testing by providing features for:

  • Making requests: Sending HTTP requests to web services.
  • Request customization: Setting headers, parameters, and payloads.
  • Response validation: Verifying the accuracy and integrity of responses.
  • Test scripting: Automating tests with Javascript assertions.
  • Environment management: Organizing and managing API credentials.

Step 1: Importing the WSDL

Postman makes importing WSDLs effortless, allowing you to automatically generate API definitions and requests.

  1. Open Postman: Launch Postman and create a new workspace or use an existing one.
  2. Import WSDL:
    • Click the “Import” button: Located in the top-right corner of the Postman interface.
    • Select “Import from URL”: Choose this option to directly import from a URL.
    • Paste WSDL URL: Enter the complete WSDL URL in the provided field.
    • Click “Import”: Postman will analyze the WSDL and generate corresponding API definitions.

Step 2: Exploring the Generated API

Postman intelligently extracts information from the WSDL, creating requests and collections based on the service’s operations.

  1. Explore Collections: In the left sidebar, you’ll find a new collection named after the WSDL file.
  2. Review Requests: Expand the collection to see the generated requests, each representing a service operation.
  3. Understand Definitions: Each request will have pre-filled details like URL, methods (GET, POST, etc.), and parameters based on the WSDL.

Step 3: Executing WSDL Requests

With the requests generated, you can start testing the web service’s functionality.

  1. Choose a Request: Select the request representing the operation you want to test.
  2. Set Parameters: If the operation requires parameters, provide appropriate values in the “Params” tab.
  3. Send Request: Click the “Send” button to execute the request.
  4. Analyze Response: On the response tab, inspect the response code, headers, and body to check for success or errors.

Example: Testing a Weather Forecast Service

Let’s test a hypothetical weather forecast service using a WSDL endpoint: https://www.example.com/weather.wsdl.

Example WSDL (Simplified):

<wsdl:definitions>
  <wsdl:types>
    <xsd:schema>
      <xsd:element name="GetWeather" type="weather:WeatherRequest"/>
      <xsd:element name="WeatherResponse" type="weather:WeatherData"/>
      <xsd:complexType name="WeatherRequest">
        <xsd:sequence>
          <xsd:element name="city" type="xsd:string"/>
        </xsd:sequence>
      </xsd:complexType>
      <xsd:complexType name="WeatherData">
        <xsd:sequence>
          <xsd:element name="temperature" type="xsd:float"/>
          <xsd:element name="condition" type="xsd:string"/>
        </xsd:sequence>
      </xsd:complexType>
    </xsd:schema>
  </wsdl:types>
  <wsdl:message name="GetWeatherRequest">
    <wsdl:part name="body" element="weather:GetWeather"/>
  </wsdl:message>
  <wsdl:message name="WeatherResponse">
    <wsdl:part name="body" element="weather:WeatherResponse"/>
  </wsdl:message>
  <wsdl:portType name="WeatherServicePortType">
    <wsdl:operation name="GetWeatherForecast">
      <wsdl:input message="weather:GetWeatherRequest"/>
      <wsdl:output message="weather:WeatherResponse"/>
    </wsdl:operation>
  </wsdl:portType>
  <wsdl:binding name="WeatherServiceBinding">
    </wsdl:binding>
  <wsdl:service name="WeatherService">
    <wsdl:port name="WeatherPort" binding="weather:WeatherServiceBinding"/>
  </wsdl:service>
</wsdl:definitions>

Step-by-Step Testing:

  1. Import WSDL: In Postman, import the WSDL from the URL (https://www.example.com/weather.wsdl).
  2. Explore Collection: You’ll find a collection named “WeatherService” containing requests like “GetWeatherForecast”.
  3. Send Request: Select “GetWeatherForecast” and provide the city parameter (e.g., “London”) in the “Params” tab.
  4. Analyze Response: The response body should contain the weather data for London, including temperature and conditions.

Step 4: Adding Assertions and Testing Logic

To make tests more comprehensive, add assertions using Javascript within Postman’s built-in testing functionalities.

  1. Open Tests Tab: In the request editor, click the “Tests” tab.
  2. Add Assertions: Write Javascript code to assert the response based on expected outcomes.

Example Assertions:

pm.test("Response status code is 200", function () {
    pm.response.to.have.status(200);
});


pm.test("Response body contains temperature", function () {
    pm.expect(pm.response.text()).to.include("temperature");
});


pm.test("Temperature is within a reasonable range", function () {
    var temperature = pm.response.json().temperature;
    pm.expect(temperature).to.be.above(-50);
    pm.expect(temperature).to.be.below(50);
});

Step 5: Automating WSDL Tests

Postman supports automation through collections and environments.

  1. Create a Collection: Group related WSDL tests in a single collection.
  2. Add Environments: Define environments for different testing scenarios (dev, staging, production) with different API endpoints and credentials.
  3. Run Collection: Execute the entire collection with a specific environment for automated testing.

Conclusion

Postman provides a powerful and user-friendly platform for testing WSDL-based web services. By importing WSDLs, generating requests, adding assertions, and automating tests, you can streamline and enhance your API testing process, ensuring the reliability and quality of your web services.

API Testing Blog