Learning API Testing
Tutorial Content
Start with the guided tutorial if you want a practical path through REST API testing:
Reference Content
Use the reference content when you want to understand a specific concept in more detail:
- Web Applications
- HTTP Basics
- HTTP Verbs and Methods
- REST API Basics
- API Testing Concepts and Coverage
- OpenAPI
- Swagger
- Summary
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:
- bundled into the app API Challenge Solutions
- and on the EvilTester.com blog.
Read the API Challenge Solutions
Open Source Workshops
All the material from Alan Richardson's REST API Training workshops have been released to Github.