Today it is not enough to create a helpful product, and it is extremely important that it can interact with other programs. Application Programming Interface (API) helps to achieve such results.
However, for the system to work correctly, testing is necessary. It will allow you to identify the slightest errors and offer customers a high-quality product.
Today, almost all applications use the API in one way or another. It allows them to develop, scale, and provide additional services.
To communicate with other applications correctly, it is necessary to test all modules when creating a product carefully.
The API stands in the middle of the whole system, so most traffic goes through it. If they suddenly fail, it can lead to big problems.
Failure of any API can result in services being unavailable, processes not working correctly, and even allowing access to objects and data that shouldn’t be available.
In addition, it is necessary to consider the program’s functional features and the processes that are supposed to be integrated into another system. This process must be as safe and accessible as possible.
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Benefits of API Testing
API software testing from TestFort has a lot of advantages. Still, the most important of them is that you can start at the early stages of development and thereby avoid big problems and reduce future programming and testing costs.
The sooner specialists identify errors, the easier it will be to eliminate them, and the fewer other errors will entail.
Another point worth paying attention to is security issues. It is vital that when connecting your application with other programs and devices, everything happens as reliably and safely as possible.
Testing allows you to determine how adequate the protection is and whether someone can crack it.
Types of Testing
There are several main types of testing APIs:
- Unit testing;
- UX testing;
- Performance and load testing;
- Detection of security errors;
- Statistical and dynamic testing.
Each type of testing is best done at certain stages of the software.
Unit Testing
The software consists of various modules, each performing a separate function. It is crucial that each of them individually work correctly and that they are perfectly compatible with each other.
Quite often, when they are incorrectly combined, some modules work correctly, while others, on the contrary, fail. Since the API is linked to different modules, this is a point where you need to pay a lot of attention.
UX Testing
Your product must be user-friendly. To make sure that everything works correctly, you need to conduct a special kind of test. Here you can apply manual testing. To learn more about this, look at this article.
Performance and Load Testing
As mentioned, a lot of traffic is going through the API, so you need to ensure it can handle heavy loads.
At the first stages of the product’s functioning, this does not play a huge role, but gradually the number of users will grow, so you need to ensure that the system will not crash.
This type of testing should be performed not only during development but also at subsequent stages of program development.
Security Bug Detection
Security issues should be a priority for the developer. The problem is that a considerable number of ill-wishers want to hack various applications to deduct money from your account or get personal data.
This likelihood can significantly increase when connected to other devices, so you should take more care of security.
When testing, specialists create unique programs that attack programs in the same way that scammers do. It allows you to identify vulnerabilities.
Statistical and Dynamic Testing
Dynamic testing is a technique aimed at testing the functionality of a program during code execution.
This type of testing involves the actual operation of the program and the determination of how its functionality works, following expectations or not.
The static testing method is a type of software testing where software is tested without running code; it is a process or tool aimed at detecting possible bugs.
In addition, it finds and fixes errors in various supporting documents, such as requirements specifics.
Ideally, both types of testing should be carried out, however, if there is no time and money for this, then you can stop at one of them. Among the advantages of static testing is the fact that it is used to solve significant problems:
- Detects dead code;
- Unused variables;
- Wrong syntax;
- Variables with values that cannot be determined;
- Endless loops.
Thus, if you want your API product to be convenient, practical, and safe, it must be thoroughly tested before release; otherwise, your users will end up with an application with many errors.
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