Have you ever wondered how Google Maps was able to determine your present location and show you the nearest exit when you were stranded somewhere in the middle of nowhere?
That is the Google Maps API at work.
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a kind of messenger that allows two programs to share data and communicate with one another.
But how does an application function as intended without jeopardizing user privacy? It's due to API.
API testing cannot be performed at the front end due to the lack of a graphical user interface (GUI). API testing has primarily focused on the message layer, including REST APIs and SOAP Web services that can be transmitted through HTTPS, HTTP, JMS, and MQ. These days, all automation testing must include this.
Because of how APIs work, they can't be tested manually. As a result, API testing tools are used to test them.
There are plenty of API testing tools available that are discussed in this article.
What is an API?
In layman's language, API works as a messenger between the application and the user where the user requests data from the API, and the API takes that data from the web server and responds to the user with the requested data.
APIs allow developers to integrate data and functions from external sources into their own applications, allowing them to access data and services outside their own program or platform.
Features of an API:
- Authentication: APIs should include mechanisms for authentication to ensure that only authorised users can access data or perform tasks.
- Security: APIs should have security features such as encryption and authorization protocols to protect against malicious attacks.
- Scalability: APIs should be able to scale up or down depending on usage needs and/or demand, allowing for flexible performance as needed.
- Documentation: APIs should have thorough documentation so developers can easily understand the API’s purpose and how it works.
- Rate Limiting: APIs should include rate limits to prevent abuse and overloading of critical system resources by limiting the number of requests per second a user can make.
- Versioning: API versioning allows developers to maintain control over how changes are handled, ensuring old versions remain supported while new ones are added without breaking existing applications.
What is API Testing?
API testing is a type of software testing that focuses on determining whether the application programming interfaces (APIs) used by applications function as expected. It typically involves testing for functionality, reliability, performance, and security of APIs. Testing methods include both manual and automated tests, such as smoke tests, functional tests, integration tests, and regression tests.
How do you pick the best API testing tool?
We have outlined a few crucial aspects for you to bear in mind when selecting API testing tools.
- API Basic Requirements: Is it compatible with the vast majority of HTTP requests? To save time, can settings be imported from one project/test to another?
- Complexity: Ensure that the skillsets in your team can learn and use the program as quickly as possible.
- Interoperability: Is the product compatible with communication platforms like Slack, project management systems such as Git, and Jira for version control, as well as your team's toolchain?
- Integration of CI/CD: Check its list of integrations to determine if the tool is compatible with the CI systems your team is using, such as Bitbucket or Jenkins, and also if it is native to avoid wasting time configuring anything.
- Non-technical Friendly: Read the tool documentation to determine if it supports BDD conventions and can export simple reports.
List of Best API Testing Tools in 2023
1. ReadyAPI
ReadyAPI Test is a platform for functional testing of REST, SOAP, and other online services. Users can use ReadyAPI to build, perform, and manage automated functional tests as well as virtualize services to evaluate the quality and accuracy of their APIs. Advanced scripting, data-driven testing, and connection with CI/CD pipelines are also supported by ReadyAPI.
Features
- ReadyAPI can be used in any environment.
- It has native support for Git, Jenkins, Docker, Azure, and other services.
- It offers a Smart Assertion capability that allows it to quickly build mass assertions against hundreds of endpoints.
- The tool also has command-line support for automated testing.
- It allows for the concurrent execution of functional tests as well as task queuing.
- ReadyAPI also includes tools for eliminating dependencies during testing and development.
- There are also features and functions for reusing functional tests and creating realistic load scenarios.
Pricing
- Functional & Security Testing- starting at $895 per license (billed annually)
- Performance Testing- starting at $7308 per license (billed annually)
- API & Service Virtualization- starting at $1374 per license (billed annually)
2. Katalon platform
Katalon Studio is a platform for automated testing that enables software development teams to test web, mobile, and API applications more quickly and efficiently. It enables users to create, execute, and report on a wide range of automated tests for both online and mobile apps in a unified environment. Several scripting languages, including Java, Groovy, and C#, are supported by Katalon Studio.
The platform also includes a variety of capabilities and connections, including record and replay, test data management, reporting and analytics, and connectivity with other tools like JIRA, Jenkins, and Slack.
Features
- Aids the data-driven approach
- Allows for the integration of CI/CD
- Supports SOAP and REST requests, as well as many sorts of instructions and parameterization functions.
- The Manual and Scripting modes are appropriate for both beginners and specialists.
- AssertJ, one of the most powerful assertion libraries, is supported for creating fluent assertions in a BDD manner.
- It is suitable for both automated and exploratory testing.
- Code templates that are pre-built and configurable
- For your convenience, sample projects are provided.
- The code UI includes auto-completion, auto-formatting, and code inspection facilities for creating, executing, and maintaining tests.
Pricing
- Free- $0.0
- Premium- starting at $ 29 per month
- Ultimate- request a quote
3. Postman
It is a platform for developing APIs. The Postman API Development Environment is made up of Workspaces, Collections, and Built-in Tools. You can use Postman collections to run requests, test and debug them, develop automated tests and mocks, and describe and monitor APIs.
Postman workplace will include collaboration tools. You may manage participation, create permissions, and share collections across a variety of workspaces for teams of any size. Developers will have access to the functionality they need to use an API through built-in tools.
Features
- It aids in automated testing.
- Contributes to exploratory testing.
- It encourages team information exchange.
- Swagger and RAML (RESTful API Modeling Language) formats are supported.
Pricing
- Free- $ 0
- Basic- $ 12 monthly user fee, invoiced annually
- Professional- $ 29 monthly user fee, invoiced annually
- Enterprise- $ 99 monthly user fee, invoiced annually
4. REST-Assured
REST-Assured is an open-source Java Domain Specific Language (DSL) that allows you to create effective, maintainable tests for RESTful APIs. It provides a straightforward, accessible syntax for writing API test cases, allowing complicated scenarios to be evaluated and confirmed. You may quickly design and manage tests that are fast, reliable, and robust by utilizing REST features. Assured It supports HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and PATCH, as well as multipart requests and file uploads. REST-Assured also contains robust verification and validation features such as response time and status code verification, header verification, content type validation, and body validation.
Features
- REST-Assured supports the BDD Given/When/Then syntax.
- Integration with the Serenity automation framework is seamless.
- It is not necessary to be an HTTP specialist to utilize the program.
Pricing
- Free
5. Apigee
Apigee is an API testing tool that allows developers to test, debug, and optimize their APIs fast and efficiently. It has an easy-to-use and powerful web-based interface for testing APIs, as well as a full set of tools for testing, debugging, and optimizing APIs. Apigee also supports a variety of API protocols, such as REST, SOAP, JSON, XML, and OAuth. Apigee streamlines API testing with its strong and user-friendly capabilities, making it easier and faster to get APIs up and running.
Features
- It is a multi-step process that is powered by Javascript.
- Design can monitor, implement, and enhance API.
- Create an API proxy in minutes using open API specs and deploy it in the cloud.
Pricing
- Evaluation- free
- Pay-as-you-go- Go to console
- Subscription- Contact sales
6. ACCELQ
It is a cloud-based test automation platform that makes it easier to create, execute, and manage automated tests for web and mobile applications. AccelQ enables users to quickly write tests that are easy to maintain and update. It includes a robust collection of tools to assist users in automating their tests, such as the ability to design data-driven tests, define reusable test stages, and organize tests into suites.
Furthermore, AccelQ has an easy-to-use user interface that allows users to readily monitor, troubleshoot, and analyze test results.
Features
- Management of a Dynamic Environment
- API Chain Tests for End-to-End Validation
- Management of API Test Cases, Test Planning, Execution, and Tracking Governance
- API Test Automation with Zero Code on Cloud API and UI Test Automation in the Same Simplified Flo
- Full visibility execution tracking and defect tracking integrations
- Correlate the business process with the related API for complete coverage.
- Integrating CI/CD and Jira/ALM seamlessly with natural traceability
Pricing
- Try for free
7. JMeter
It is open-source software for application load and performance testing. It is cross-platform compatible. Jmeter operates at the protocol layer.
This tool can be used by developers as a unit-testing tool for testing JDBC database connections. Its architecture is based on plugins. Jmeter can generate test data. It supports command-line mode, which is useful for Java-compatible operating systems.
Features
- It enables you to rerun test findings.
- It will enable you to use a variety of programming languages.
- Load and performance testing of a wide range of applications, servers, and protocols.
- It supports variable parameterization as well as assertions.
- Per-thread cookies are supported.
- Jmeter additionally supports configuration variables and a variety of reports.
Pricing
- Free
8. Assertible
Assertible allows software teams to easily test, monitor, and deploy their APIs. It works by letting teams develop and run automated tests against their APIs to receive instant feedback on the performance and stability of their apps. The technology also provides extensive data and logs to assist teams in promptly identifying issues and making educated decisions. Assertible also delivers real-time insights into API performance, assisting teams in optimizing their apps and ensuring they are always operating at peak performance. Furthermore, Assertible interacts with common CI/CD systems like Travis CI and Jenkins, allowing teams to run tests as part of their deployment process.
Features
- Automatically updates API tests with the most recent changes
- QA pipeline automation for faster coding and detecting accidents
- Integrates seamlessly with the tools of your choosing
- Ensure that your APIs are in good working order.
- Excellent support for HTTP replies and assertion validation
Pricing
- Personal- $0 per month
- Standard- $25 per month
- Startup- $ 50 per month
- Business- $100 per month
FAQs
What is an API testing tool?
A form of software that allows users to test API services such as requests, responses, authentication, and security is known as an API Testing Tool. API testing tools can be used to automate the testing of API endpoints, allowing possible issues with an API to be identified before it goes live.
What are the points you should consider for API testing?
Consider the following factors when evaluating APIs:
- Target market or API user
- The setting in which the API will be applied
- Examining aspects
- Check for typical circumstances
- Tests to rule out odd circumstances or bad results
What characteristics should an API Testing Tool have?
- Simple to use: The API testing tool should be simple to use, with capabilities that make it simple to build, execute, and analyze tests.
- Versatile: It should be capable of evaluating a wide range of APIs, including REST, SOAP, and GraphQL.
- Adaptable: The tool should be adaptable enough to allow for modifications and expansions, such as the ability to develop custom scripts and interface with third-party tools.
- Scalable: Depending on the size of the project, the API testing tool should be easily scalable up and down.
- Reporting: The API testing tool should include thorough reporting tools including charts, graphs, and dashboards.
- Security: It should be safe, with anti-malicious actor features.
- Automation: The API testing tool should be capable of automating tests as well as enabling continuous integration and delivery.
What forms of testing does API testing involves?
API testing entails the examination of:
- SOAP web services- a more robust protocol for secure APIs.
- REST APIs- a collection of rules for creating scalable and lightweight web APIs.
- RPC- a way for referring techniques using XML or JSON message payloads.
It encompasses several other forms of testing, including functional testing, user interface testing, validation testing, security testing, error detection, load testing, penetration testing, and fuzz testing.
What are the advantages of API Testing in agile?
API testing tools are used by development and testing teams to validate product performance before it reaches users' hands. The key benefits sought by QAs and developers are now guided by Agile principles, and they include:
- More efficient test maintenance and refactoring
- Earlier testing and feedback without having to wait for the entire software to be constructed
- When compared to UI testing, more problems and issues were discovered in less time.
Over to you with Best API Testing Tools 2023
In conclusion, API testing is an integral part of ensuring the functionality and efficiency of an application. As stated in this blog post, there are a variety of great API testing tools that you can use to verify the correctness and usability of your APIs.
While all these tools offer different features, they all share some similarities such as cost-saving solutions, powerful validation and schema functionalities, and flexibility for test automation.
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced user with complex API requirements, you can find the ideal tool for your specific needs with our comprehensive list. So when you’re ready to start incorporating API tests into your repertoire, don’t hesitate to check out this list of API testing tools, as it lays out all the options available to you in one handy location.
Ultimately, try the tool that fits your requirement to be confident in delivering quality software products with safe and secure API endpoints.
I hope this article helped you decide the one between the best API testing tools available in the market.
