How To Upload File Using Raw In Postman

How to Upload Files Using “raw” in Postman

Postman is a powerful tool for API testing, and it offers multiple ways to upload files. One common method is using the “raw” body type. This method allows you to control the exact format of your request, which can be useful for sending files in formats other than the default multipart/form-data encoding.

Understanding the “raw” Body Type

The “raw” body type in Postman allows you to send data in its raw format, without any predefined structure. This is useful when you need to send data in custom formats that are not supported by other body types, such as binary data, JSON, XML, or text files.

Steps to Upload a File Using “raw” in Postman

Create a new request: Start by creating a new request in Postman. Choose the appropriate HTTP method (e.g., POST) and enter the URL of the API endpoint you want to test.
Select the “raw” body type: Click on the “Body” tab and select “raw” from the dropdown menu.
Choose the content type: Select the appropriate content type for your file. This could be text/plain, application/json, application/xml, or any other MIME type supported by your API endpoint.
Encode the file data: You can directly paste the raw file content into the request body.

Example using text file:
```
This is the content of my text file.
```
Example using JSON data:
```
{
    "name": "John Doe",
    "age": 30
}
```
Send the request: Click on the “Send” button to send the request to the API endpoint.

Example: Uploading a Text File

Let’s assume we have an API endpoint that accepts text files and prints their contents. Here’s how you can upload a text file using the “raw” body type in Postman:

Create a request: Create a new POST request with the following URL: https://example.com/upload-text-file.
Set the body type to “raw” and content type to “text/plain”:
- Body type: “raw”
- Content type: “text/plain”
Paste the text file content into the request body:
```
This is the content of my text file.
```
Send the request: Click on “Send”.

Note: Depending on the API endpoint, you may need to set the Content-Disposition header in the request headers to specify the file name.

Example: Uploading a JSON File

Let’s assume we have an API endpoint that accepts JSON files and processes the data. Here’s how you can upload a JSON file using the “raw” body type in Postman:

Create a request: Create a new POST request with the following URL: https://example.com/upload-json-file.
Set the body type to “raw” and content type to “application/json”:
- Body type: “raw”
- Content type: “application/json”
Paste the JSON data into the request body:
```
{
    "name": "John Doe",
    "age": 30
}
```
Send the request: Click on “Send”.

Important Considerations

Content type: Ensure the Content-Type header in your request matches the correct MIME type for the file being uploaded.
File size limitations: Some API endpoints impose size limits on uploaded files.
API documentation: Always refer to the API documentation to understand the expected format and supported content types for file uploads.

Conclusion

Using the “raw” body type in Postman allows you to upload files of various formats by directly providing the file content in its raw form. This approach is useful when you need to send data in custom formats not supported by standard encoding methods. Remember to choose the correct content type and check the API documentation for specific requirements for file uploads.