Application Programming Interfaces have become an integral part of the functionality of applications today. Applications connect with backend systems using standard interfaces through the use of APIs. In the same manner, they (applications) are able to communicate and share information with IoT devices.
Furthermore, APIs play a major role in the operations of businesses. They have created solutions that streamline operations and add value to businesses. As such, it means that the world would not be where it is today if it was not for APIs.
However, do APIs always do what they are supposed to do? Are there instances where APIs fail leading to negative effects to these businesses that rely on them? The answer is yes, and the main reason for API failure is poor API testing or lack of it.
API testing involves checking whether APIs meet their performance, functionality, availability, and security requirements. You can test your APIs automatically or manually, but automatic testing is preferred for APIs.
There are many tools for automated testing, but to get started, you can automate your tests with RapidAPI which is easy to use and allows you to not only schedule and run tests automatically but also to enable continuous integration testing.
When automating API tests for your robotics development, make sure to keep a keen eye on the following best practices;
Repeating Yourself
Smart testers use an approach called the DRY (Do not Repeat Yourself) approach. This compels testers to try as much as they can to avoid repeating their code when running automated testing.
Even though there might be multiple tests that address similar actions or even components, it is better to create a library that takes care of your test requests. This will help in simplifying the process as well as making shorter usages. At the end of it all, you will have avoided repeating yourself with your tests.
However, for this to work, you need to make sure that you have created a test client for your applications.
Writing Clear Test Cases and Reports
Every tester would like to have a situation where their tests run successfully without any issues. This is because the test cases will not require a lot of time or attention. However, we test APIs to look for issues and chances are that you will find them.
When APIs’ tests fail, testers need to establish the reasons why they are failing and this requires time and resources. This is a process that takes a lot of time and can even cause delays and changes in the functionality of an API.
That notwithstanding, developers and testers can avoid such complexities and issues by making debugging part of the process involved in writing test cases. They also need to write clear code that would not require a lot of time before one can find where an issue is coming from.
Using Minimal Fixed Data Sources
In a live environment, the endpoint of an API relies on the output generated by other APIs. This requires one to create integration test cases to call the first API while at the same time using that call to get to the second API.
With that, you will be following the same flow that the actual users of the API will, making sure that your test cases test every aspect of the API’s functionality.
Writing Test Cases that Depict the Actual Use of an API
Most of the time, testers write test cases depending on what they know about an API. This is a mistake that should be avoided at all times. To make sure that you have tested an API and all its endpoints, you need to ensure that you are writing test cases that depict the actual use of the API.
Smart testers usually introduce errors that users might face when consuming the API in a bid to expose the API to a real-world scenario. This way, they are able to know how the API will respond and solve any problems that might arise instead of waiting for complaints from the API users.
Conclusion
Testing APIs, whether manual or automated, is a challenging process and differs from UI based testing. This is because APIs are developed to enhance communication and sharing of information between systems, their components, and the end-users of the system. If you look at the basic software and system-oriented software products in use today, you will realize that APIs are at the center stage of their operations. This means that if a single API fails, then the entire system will not meet its requirements. You should, therefore, make sure that you have tested your APIs to meet all your requirements as well as those of your users
