APIs expose 90% of the modern apps to users
API traffic is exploding across web and mobile with the proliferation of microservices. While developers tend to test only the functionalities they are working on, testers are in charge of testing both individual functionalities and a series or chain of functionalities, discovering how they work together from end to end. Do we have the right approach to protect them against failures?
How are APIs currently tested?
There are two broad methods of testing API – manually and using automation. While testing APIs, a tester should concentrate on using software to make API calls in order to receive an output before observing and logging the system’s response. Most importantly, tests that the API returns a correct response or output under varying conditions. This output is typically one of these three:
A Pass or Fail status
Data or information
A call to another API
However, there also could be no output at all or something completely unpredicted occurs. This makes the tester’s role crucial to the application development process. And because APIs are the central hub of data for many applications, data-driven testing for APIs can help increase test coverage and accuracy. In testing the API directly, specifying pass/fail scenarios is slightly more challenging. However, in comparing the API data in the response or in comparing the behavior after the API call in another API would help you setup definitive validation scenarios.
We’ve set up a simple 4-test framework to check if your current API automation protects your app against all unexpected failures.
What will your answers to these questions be if your API automation is stable?
Test 1: Can your API automation catch any API change, like schema change or data modification in keys etc., intentionally made by your Devs without effort?
Test 2: Can your API automation not only catch desired changes in the new API update but also detect unexpected side effects that might happen as a result?
Test 3: Does your API suite automatically add or update assertions in your test suite to intelligently accommodate the new API changes, not needing any manual effort?
Test 4: Are you 100% sure, that any breaking change possible in any new build would be caught by your API suite without modifying or updating any tests?
VERDICT
If the answer to none of these questions is a YES, your API suite currently misses more bugs than it catches in testing. HyperTest is a testing automation software that automatically generates, updates and maintains end-to-end tests for your APIs using real network traffic. It validates Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) with the purpose of checking the functionality, reliability, performance, and security of the programming interfaces. It mainly concentrates on the business logic layer of the software architecture. HyperTest eliminates the need for you to manually write tests scripts, thereby saving time and improving productivity. Sign up for a FREE trial, or schedule a call with us today!
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FAQs
What is API automation?
API automation is the process of using software tools and scripts to automatically perform tasks related to testing, monitoring, or interacting with application programming interfaces (APIs). It streamlines repetitive API-related activities, improving efficiency and reliability in software development and testing processes.
Why automate your API tests?
Automating API tests offers speed, accuracy, and efficiency. It ensures consistent testing, faster feedback, and the ability to catch regressions quickly, reducing manual effort and enabling frequent, reliable testing, ultimately improving software quality.