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Postman API Testing Tips

How To Use Postman Web Version

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Getting Started with Postman Web Version

Postman is a powerful tool for API testing, and its web version offers a convenient way to get started without any local installations. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to navigate and use Postman in the browser:

1. Accessing the Postman Web Version

  1. Visit the Website: Open your web browser and navigate to https://www.postman.com/.
  2. Sign Up or Sign In: If you don’t have an account, click “Sign Up” and create a free account. Otherwise, click “Sign In” to access your existing workspace.

2. Creating Your First Request

  1. Open the Postman App: Once signed in, you’ll be redirected to the Postman web app.
  2. Start with a New Request: Click the “New” button in the top-left corner and choose “Request.”
  3. Choose a Method: Select the HTTP method you want to use from the dropdown (e.g., GET, POST, PUT, DELETE).
  4. Enter the Request URL: In the “Enter request URL” field, type the URL of the API endpoint you want to test.

Example:

https://reqres.in/api/users

3. Sending Your First Request

  1. Send the Request: Click the “Send” button to execute the request.
  2. View the Response: The response from the server will be displayed in the “Response” pane, including the status code, headers, and body.

Example (GET Request):

  • Request Method: GET
  • Request URL: https://reqres.in/api/users
  • Response Status Code: 200 OK
  • Response Body: (JSON data containing user information)

4. Adding Headers and Body

  1. Headers Tab: Click the “Headers” tab to add or modify request headers.
  2. Body Tab: Click the “Body” tab to send data with the request (e.g., JSON, XML, form data).

Example (POST Request with JSON body):

  • Request Method: POST
  • Request URL: https://reqres.in/api/users
  • Headers:
    • Content-Type: application/json
  • Body: 
    {
      "name": "John Doe",
      "job": "Software Engineer"
    }

5. Working with Collections

  1. Create a Collection: A collection helps organize your requests and related documentation. Click the “New” button and choose “Collection.” Give your collection a descriptive name.
  2. Add Requests: Drag and drop requests into your collection. You can also create new requests directly within the collection.
  3. Share Collections: Share your collections with collaborators for team collaboration and efficient API testing.

Example Collection:

  • Name: User API
  • Requests:
    • Get Users
    • Create User
    • Update User
    • Delete User

6. Utilizing Variables

  1. Define Variables: Variables allow you to reuse values across multiple requests within a collection. Click the “Variables” tab in your collection to define variables.
  2. Use Variables in Requests: Use the {{variable_name}} syntax to insert variables into your request URLs, headers, or body.

Example:

  • Variable: baseUrl with value https://reqres.in/api
  • Request URL: {{baseUrl}}/users

7. Using Tests

  1. Add Tests: Go to the “Tests” tab and write JavaScript code to run assertions against the API response.
  2. Assertions: Use Postman’s built-in test functions to check for expected values, status codes, or headers.

Example (Test for Status Code 200):

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

8. Automating with Scripts

  1. Pre-request Scripts: Write code in the “Pre-request Script” section to execute actions before sending the request (e.g., generate dynamic data).
  2. Tests Scripts: Use the “Tests” section to perform actions after receiving the response (e.g., log data, update variables).

Example (Pre-request Script to generate a random number):

let randomNumber = Math.floor(Math.random() * 100) + 1;
pm.variables.set("randomNumber", randomNumber);

9. Collaboration and Sharing

  1. Team Workspaces: Organize your work by sharing collections and requests with team members in a dedicated workspace.
  2. Sharing with External Users: Grant access to specific collections or requests for developers or stakeholders outside your team.

Postman is a powerful tool that empowers you to test and document APIs efficiently. By utilizing its web version, you can easily access and leverage its features without any local installations.

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