API Automation Testing Part 8: A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Postman API Testing

3 min readDec 6, 2023

In our last segment, we delved into the core concepts of REST API testing and its testing methodologies. We explored the fundamentals of what REST API testing entails and delved into the practical aspects of how to perform these tests effectively.

Building upon this knowledge, this segment aims to introduce another essential tool in the API testing domain: Postman.

Introduction to Postman

Postman stands tall as a revered API development and testing tool, simplifying the complex task of sending requests to APIs while analyzing their responses. Its user-friendly interface provides testers and developers with an intuitive platform to effortlessly create, organize, and execute API requests.

Getting Started with Postman

1. Installation and Setup:

Embark on your Postman journey by downloading and installing the application on your system. Postman caters to a range of operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. Access the tool through the Postman website for a tailored installation according to your platform.

2. Request Creation:

Once installed, initiate a new request within Postman by specifying the request type (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.), defining the request URL (API endpoint), configuring headers, specifying parameters, and integrating authentication, if required.

3. Organizing Requests into Collections:

Postman empowers users to organize requests into collections, facilitating the management of multiple requests associated with a particular API or project. Collections serve as repositories to categorize requests, simplifying sharing across teams.

4. Testing and Response Validation:

Execute a request using Postman to receive and scrutinize the API response. Analyze response components such as the body, headers, status code, and response time. Utilize the “Test Scripts” feature to create automated tests validating API responses.

5. Environment Variables for Seamless Switching:

Leverage Postman’s environment variable functionality to define variables applicable across requests. This feature streamlines work across different environments (e.g., development, testing, production), enabling seamless transitions.

Postman for API Automation Testing

1. Automated Testing with Postman:

Postman houses a robust testing framework that enables users to automate test scenarios for APIs. Utilizing JavaScript, construct test scripts to validate API responses, conduct data-driven testing, and perform assertions on response data.

2. Execution of Collections and Tests:

Collections in Postman amalgamate multiple requests with associated test scripts. These collections can be sequentially executed, allowing for the automatic execution of a series of API requests alongside their respective tests.

3. Report Generation:

Postman generates comprehensive reports encapsulating test results, including passed tests, failed tests, and encountered errors during execution. These detailed reports are invaluable for sharing with team members and stakeholders for meticulous analysis.

4. Integration and Collaborative Features:

The tool seamlessly integrates with various platforms and services, fostering collaboration among team members. It extends support to version control systems, team collaboration platforms, and CI/CD pipelines.

Conclusion

Postman emerges as an indispensable ally in the arena of API testing and automation. Its user-friendly interface, robust testing capabilities, and collaborative features significantly enhance testing efficiency, ensuring the reliability and quality of APIs.

In forthcoming segments of our series, we’ll delve deeper into Postman, exploring its advanced features, scripting for test automation, and uncovering best practices steering API testing methodologies.

Stay tuned for enriched insights into API Automation Testing!