API Testing and

Automation tools
Edwin Taquichiri Montao

Agenda
API Testing
API Test Cases
Approach of API Testing
API Testing Challenges
Automation Tools
Best Practices of API Testing

Automation Tools

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What is API Testing?

An API (Application Programming Interface) is a collection

of software functions and procedures, called API calls, that

can be executed by other software applications.
API testing is mostly used for the system which has

collection of API that needs to be tested. The system could

be: system software, application software or libraries.

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Test Cases for API Testing

The test cases on API Testing are based on the output
Returned value based on input condition
Does not return anything
Trigger some other API/event/interrupt
Update data structure
Modify certain resources

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Approach of API Testing

Understanding the functionality of the API program and clearly

define the scope of the program

Apply testing techniques such as equivalence classes, boundary

value analysis and error guessing and write test cases for the API
Input Parameters for the API need to be planned and defined

appropriately.
Execute the test cases and compare expected and actual results.

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API Testing Challenges

GUI is not available
Parameter selection
Validate and verify the output
Call sequencing
Proper exception handling

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Unit and API Testing

Unit Testing

API Testing

Performed by developers

Performed by testers

Separate functionality is tested

End to End functionality has been tested

Developer can access the source code

Testers usually cannot access the code

UI testing is also involved

Only API functions are tested

Only Basic functionalities are tested

All functional issues are tested

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Best Practices of API Testing

Planning the test cases. What and How to test the API functions
Organize the test properly so that those API can be organized

properly
Parameters selection should be explicitly mentioned in the test

case itself
Call sequencing should be performed and well planned
Prioritize API function calls so that it will be easy for testers to

test

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Automation Tools
SOAP
SOAPUI (java) www.soapui.org
php SOAP extension (php) http://php.net/manual/es/book.soap.php

REST
SOAPUI
curl
chrome extensions (Advanced REST client, postman)

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SOAPUI

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SOAPUI (Request and Response)

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SOAPUI (Test Cases)

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SOAPUI (Suite)

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CURL
A command line tool for getting or sending files using URL syntax.

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CURL - Example
http://developer.espn.com/docs/athletes#parameters
curl -k

"http://api.espn.com/v1/sports/basketball/nba/teams/24?api
key=zzzuy4exm2tmvgnb5j3df4xz" | python -mjson.tool

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CURL - Example

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Chrome Extensions

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Chrome Extensions

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Public APIs
http://www.programmableweb.com/apis/directory

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Q&A
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