API testing, what is it, why is it important and what do you need to know about it? First and most basic, API stands for Application Programming Interface. An API is a set of procedures, functions, and other access points that an application, operating system, library, etc. makes available to programmers to allow them to interact with other software. An API is a bit like a user interface, only instead of a user-friendly collection of windows, dialogs, buttons, and menus, an API consists of a set of direct software references or calls to lower-level functions and operations. APIs may look impressive, but they are designed to be accessible to trained and knowledgeable programmers.
If you’re interested in a career in programming or want to learn more about fundamental software development issues like APIs, there are plenty of online courses available on these topics.
API Testing
API testing is in many ways like software testing at the user interface level, only instead of testing using standard user inputs and outputs, you use software to make API calls, get output, and log the system’s response. Depending on the test environment, you can use a set of ready-made test applications, but very often you will write code specifically for API testing. Regardless of the actual test conditions, it is important to know what the test API code should do.
What It Should Do
Needless to say, the API test code should make specific calls to the API, then output and log the expected and actual results. It should also log timings and any other relevant metrics, along with the line of test code that was running when the API error occurred. If your test code sets a buffer that is larger than the API requires, you can then look at the contents of the buffer to see if there was an incorrect overwrite by the API. The test code should capture all API output produced during the test using variables that are initially set to characteristic values of the API Tester.
Next steps in API Testing
Now that you understand what API testing is and its value to your testing process, what’s next? Testing your APIs, of course. Confirm your APIs are market-ready by following the steps to start API testing. For additional support, consider implementing API testing tools so your QA team can efficiently and effectively implement all best practices throughout your development cycle.