API testing is crucial to ensure reliability, security, and performance. Below are the key types of API testing along with practical commands and tools to execute them effectively.
Functional Testing
Checks if the API works as intended.
- Tools: Postman, REST Assured, SoapUI
- Example Command (Postman):
curl -X GET "https://api.example.com/users" -H "Authorization: Bearer {token}"
Stress Testing
Pushes the API beyond its limits to identify breaking points.
– Tools: JMeter, Gatling, Locust
– Example Command (JMeter):
jmeter -n -t stress_test.jmx -l result.jtl
Load Testing
Measures performance under expected user loads.
- Tools: k6, LoadRunner
- Example Command (k6):
k6 run --vus 100 --duration 60s script.js
Security Testing
Identifies vulnerabilities like SQLi, XSS, and auth flaws.
- Tools: OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite
- Example Command (ZAP):
zap-cli quick-scan -s xss,sqli https://api.example.com
Performance Testing
Checks speed, latency, and scalability.
- Tools: Apache Benchmark (ab), Siege
- Example Command (ab):
ab -n 1000 -c 100 https://api.example.com/data
Usability Testing
Ensures API documentation and usage are intuitive.
- Tools: Swagger, Postman Collections
- Example Command (OpenAPI validation):
swagger-cli validate api-spec.yaml
Reliability Testing
Ensures long-term stability.
- Tools: Selenium, Jenkins (for CI/CD)
- Example Command (Cron Job for Continuous Testing):
0 /usr/bin/curl -X GET "https://api.example.com/health"
You Should Know:
- Automate API Tests: Use Jenkins or GitHub Actions for CI/CD pipelines.
- Mock APIs for Testing: Tools like WireMock or MockServer simulate API responses.
- Monitor APIs in Production: Prometheus + Grafana for real-time metrics.
What Undercode Say:
API testing is not optional—it’s mandatory for secure, scalable applications. Always test:
– Authentication: Use `jwt_tool` to test JWT flaws.
– Rate Limiting: Check with `wrk` or hey.
– Data Validation: Test SQLi with sqlmap -u "https://api.example.com/search?q=1".
– Error Handling: Force 500 errors with malformed inputs.
Linux commands for API debugging: nc -zv api.example.com 443 Check port availability tcpdump -i eth0 port 443 -w api_traffic.pcap Capture API traffic
Expected Output:
A well-tested API should return:
- 200 OK for successful requests.
- 401/403 for unauthorized access.
- 429 when rate limits are hit.
- 500 only under extreme failure conditions.
Prediction:
As APIs dominate modern apps, automated security testing (DAST/SAST) will become standard in DevOps pipelines. AI-driven fuzz testing (like AFL) will grow in adoption.
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References:
Reported By: Parasmayur %F0%9D%90%93%F0%9D%90%B2%F0%9D%90%A9%F0%9D%90%9E%F0%9D%90%AC – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅
