How to Use Postman for API Testing Step-by-Step

TL;DR

Postman is a complete platform for developing, testing, and managing APIs, and you can run it either as a desktop app on Windows, Mac, or Linux, or directly in a web browser without downloading anything. Getting started takes five steps: visit postman.com, create and verify a free account, optionally download the app, log in, and explore the GUI.

Transcript

hello and welcome I'm ragav and in this session we are going to learn postmen step by step from scratch so do not worry if you are a complete beginner and you have never worked with postmen or even if you do not know anything about apis you have never worked with apis I will start from scratch and we will go up step by step so let us see the topics... Read More

Key Insights

• Postman is a platform for APIs that lets you create, test, manage, and collaborate on APIs, functioning as a complete end-to-end platform for everything you want to do with APIs during development, testing, and management.
• Postman works on any operating system, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, and also offers a web browser app, so you can use it directly in Chrome, Firefox, or any browser without downloading or installing anything on your desktop.
• Creating a Postman account is free and required to start, and the sign-up process asks for an email, username, and password, after which you may receive a verification email with a link to confirm your account.
• The free Postman account has usage limits you can check in your account, covering APIs, manual runner, collection runners, runs, and storage, and all the work in this beginner tutorial is done on the free account.
• The Postman interface is divided into named sections: the header at the top with home, workspaces, and API Network; the sidebar for collections, environments, and history; the Builder area for requests and responses; and the status bar at the bottom.
• Creating a GET API request in Postman follows five steps: select the HTTP method, add the API endpoint, add headers and authorizations as needed, add a body for POST or PUT requests, then save, run, and check the response.
• The sidebar can be customized through 'configure workspace sidebar,' where you check which items appear, such as collections, environments, APIs, mock servers, and monitors, so only the sections you want are visible.
• Postman supports scripting with JavaScript, and you can write different scripts in various sections as well as create tests to validate API requests and responses, which are covered near the end of this tutorial.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Postman used for?

Postman is a platform for APIs that you can use to create APIs, test APIs, manage APIs, and do collaborations on APIs. It is a complete platform for APIs, meaning everything you want to do with APIs you can do within Postman. The tutorial describes it as a platform for API development, testing, and management, making it a single tool covering the full API workflow rather than just one narrow function.

Q: Do I need to download Postman to use it?

No, you do not need to download Postman. It has a web browser app, so you can use Postman directly in a web browser like Chrome, Firefox, or any browser without installing anything on your desktop. Alternatively, you can download the desktop app for your operating system from the Postman website. The features are the same whether you use the desktop app or the browser, and the instructor notes if any difference comes up.

Q: How do I create a Postman account?

Go to the Postman website at postman.com, then click the sign up or sign in link at the top corner. On the sign-up page you provide your email, create a username, and create a password, then sign up for a free account. After that you can give your name and select your role. You may also receive a verification email on the account you used, with a link to verify your account, which you can complete then.

Q: What operating systems does Postman support?

Postman can be used on Windows, Mac, or Linux, and any machine you are using. The tutorial states you can follow along on any operating system. When you go to download Postman, the website detects your operating system and shows the appropriate download option, such as Windows 64-bit or Mac. Beyond the desktop apps, Postman also runs in a web browser, so it is accessible regardless of your platform.

Q: How do I create a GET API request in Postman?

Creating a GET API request follows five steps according to the tutorial. Step 1 is to select the HTTP method. Step 2 is to add the API endpoint. Step 3 is to add headers, authorizations, and other components as needed. Step 4, for POST and PUT requests, is to add a body. Step 5 is to save and run the request, then check the response. You build the request in the Builder area and view the response there as well.

Q: What are the main sections of the Postman interface?

The Postman GUI has several named sections. The header at the top contains options like home, workspaces, API Network, a search box, invite, settings, notifications, and your user account. The sidebar shows collections, environments, and history, and can be customized. The Builder area is where you create, run, and check requests, showing a request section and a response section. At the bottom is the status bar.

Q: Is Postman free to use?

Yes, Postman offers a free account, and all the work in this beginner tutorial is done on the free account. When signing up you create a free account. The free plan has allowed limits you can check within your account, covering things like APIs, manual runner, collection runners, runs, and storage usage. There is also an option to upgrade if you need more, but the free tier is sufficient for learning the topics in this lecture.

Q: What topics does this Postman tutorial cover?

The tutorial covers understanding what Postman is, creating an account, setup, and a GUI tour of the header, sidebar, Builder, and status bar. It then covers creating a first API request and running GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE requests. It continues with collections, variables and their scopes, environments, scripts using JavaScript, and tests to validate requests and responses. Future lectures are promised on debugging, data-driven testing, command line, and CI/CD integration.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Postman is a platform for API development, testing, and management, usable on Windows, Mac, Linux, or directly in a web browser. The tutorial starts from scratch for complete beginners who have never worked with Postman or even APIs, building up step by step.

• Getting started involves five steps: go to postman.com, create an account and verify it via email, optionally download the desktop app or continue in the browser, log in, and explore the GUI. All work is done on a free account, and settings let you choose a light or dark theme.

• The tutorial covers the GUI tour, creating and running GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE requests, collections, variables and their scopes, environments, JavaScript scripts, and tests to validate requests and responses, with promised future lectures on debugging, data-driven testing, command line, and CI/CD integration.