Learning API Testing

Tutorial And Reference Content

Read through the Tutorial and Reference content to understand the basics of:

Download Some Tools

Experiment with the API Challenges

Experiment with Other APIs

We have an extensive list of Practice Sites, which includes tips on how to use them.

We are in the process of creating longer tutorial guides with exercises for each of the listed sites.

Experiment with our HTTP Request Mirror Mode

The Mirror mode is a good way to test out your tooling and see the details of your requests without using a proxy.

Learn About the Mirror Mode Here

Experiment with our API Simulation Mode

The API has a simulation mode, it uses hard coded data in responses, but tries to mimic some conditions.

e.g. it expects you to post a specific JSON payload or XML payload and responds 'as if' you sent it. But... it also checks if you sent valid json, or valid xml, and responds based on your headers e.g. returning XML if you ask for it.

The simulator is stateless and does not track your usage, making it deterministic for multiple users.

The simulator is a good place to get started because it will respond nicely... unless you mess up the request syntax.

Learn About the Simulator Here

Automating and Testing a REST API Book

Alan Richardson wrote a book Automating and Testing a REST API

Buying the book helps support this web site and application.

Challenge Tutorials

The Challenges have solution tutorials.

These are available:

Read the API Challenge Solutions

Open Source Workshops

All the material from Alan Richardson's REST API Training workshops have been released to Github.

Find the Workshop Material Here