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API Testing - Software testing

Last Updated : 28 Nov, 2023

API testing, or application programming interface testing, is a type of

software testing that focuses on the testing of individual API methods
and the interactions between different APIs. This type of testing is
typically performed at the integration level, after unit testing is
completed, and before user interface testing begins. It is used to
validate that the API behaves correctly and that it meets the
requirements of the system.

API testing can be performed manually or using automated testing

tools. Some common tasks that are performed during API testing
include:

Testing the functionality of the API to ensure it behaves as expected

Verifying that the API returns the correct response for different input
values Checking for error handling and validation of input
Testing for security vulnerabilities
Checking for performance and scalability of the API
API testing is important because it ensures that the different
components of a system can communicate with each other correctly
and that the system can handle a large volume of requests.

It is also used to ensure that the API is compatible with different

platforms and operating systems, and can be integrated with other
systems and applications.

API Testing : As we know API stands for Application Programming

Interface which acts as an intermediate of communication between two
applications. Due to this intermediary role of API (Application
Programming Interface) two applications talk to each other and
performs the required actions efficiently. API contains a set of rules and
guidelines based on which the applications are developed. So in simple
we can say an API acts as an interface between two software
applications so that two software applications can communicate with
each other. The below figure represents an API in an application :

API (Application Programming Interface) testing is a type of software

testing that focuses on the functionality, reliability, and performance of
application programming interfaces (APIs). APIs act as a bridge
between different software systems, allowing them to communicate and
exchange data with each other.

API testing is important because it helps ensure that the different

systems that make up an application are working together correctly and
that the data being exchanged is accurate and secure. It is also
important because it helps identify and fix issues before the application
is deployed to production.

API testing typically includes the following steps:

Reviewing the API documentation to understand the functionality

and expected inputs and outputs
Writing test cases that exercise the different functionality of the API
Executing the test cases and comparing the expected results with the
actual results
Analysing the results and identifying any issues that need to be fixed

There are several types of API testing, including:

Functional testing: Testing the functionality of the API to ensure it

behaves as expected
Security testing: Testing the security of the API to ensure it is
protected against common vulnerabilities
Performance testing: Testing the performance of the API to ensure it
can handle the expected load
Interoperability testing: Testing the compatibility of the API with
other systems
 Usability testing: Testing the usability of the API for developers
Tools such as Postman, SoapUI, and Runscope can be used to
automate and simplify the process of API testing.

Related searches
Test Automation Framework for Api Testing Api Testing Projects

Types of API testing

API Testing refers to test the APIs which are used in the application just
to validate that the APIs are working fine. When a system has a
collection of APIs, these needs to be tested to know that the system is
working perfectly or not. Mostly we can say that API testing confirms
system's performance, reliability, security and functionality. Below list
represents some of the tools which are used for API Testing :

Postman
Katalon Studio
Soap UI
 Parasoft
REST assured
Tricentis Tosca
Ping API
Assertible

GUI testing is different from the API testing as GUI testing is present at
Presentation layer where the API testing is present at Business layer. If
we take an example of a typical app then API is the middle layer in
between UI layer and Data base layer and due to this API
communication and data exchange between the applications occur. The
below figure represents the layer at which API testing is performed :

Layers of API Testing

API testing Types : There are multiple types of testing which are most
often used as form of API testing which means during multiple types of
testing simultaneously API can be tested. So below list represents the
types of API testing i.e.

1. Unit Testing
2. Integration Testing
3. End-to-End Testing
4. Performance Testing
5. Functional testing
 6. Security Testing
7. Load testing
8. Penetration testing
9. Reliability testing
10. Fuzz testing

What exactly we check during API testing :

Data accuracy.
Response time.
Duplicate or missing functionality.
Authorization checks.
Multithreaded issues.
Security and performance issues.
Error codes if API returns.
Reliability issues.

Benefits of API Testing :

Like we get a lot of advantages by using APIs in application, similarly

by performing API testing we achieve a lot of things towards the
success of the developed application. Below are some benefits i.e.

Earlier validation of correctness in response and data.

Earlier test maintenance.
Better speed and coverage of testing.
GUI independent testing.
Reduced testing cost.
Language independent test.
Helpful in testing core functionality.
API testing has several benefits that make it an important aspect of
software testing:
Improved functionality: API testing helps ensure that the
functionality of the API is working as expected and that the data
being exchanged is accurate and complete.
Increased security: API testing helps identify and fix security
vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting. This
 helps ensure that the API is protected against common threats and
that sensitive data is secure.
Improved performance: API testing helps identify and fix
performance bottlenecks, such as slow response times or high error
rates. This helps ensure that the API can handle the expected load
and that users have a positive experience when using it.
Better integration: API testing helps ensure that the different
systems that make up an application are working together correctly
and that the data being exchanged is accurate and secure.
Reduced risk: By identifying and fixing issues before the application
is deployed to production, API testing helps reduce the risk of system
failure or poor performance in production.
Cost-effective: API testing is more cost-effective than fixing problems
that occur in production. It is much cheaper to identify and fix issues
during the testing phase than after deployment.
Improved developer experience: By making sure that the API is easy
to use, well-documented, and provides useful error messages, API
testing helps improve the developer experience and encourage
adoption.
Greater flexibility: API testing allows teams to test the application
without a user interface, which can be useful when testing
microservices or when the user interface is not yet developed.

Disadvantages of API Testing:

API testing can have some disadvantages, including:

Complexity: API testing can be complex, especially when testing

multiple APIs or when testing APIs that are integrated with other
systems.
Limited Visibility: Since API testing is performed at the integration
level, it can be difficult to see how the API is interacting with other
components of the system. This can make it difficult to identify and
troubleshoot issues.
Security: APIs can introduce security vulnerabilities if they are not
properly tested and secured. This can be a significant concern for
organizations that handle sensitive data.
 Difficulty in testing non-functional requirements: Non-functional
requirements such as performance, scalability and security are
difficult to test with functional testing
Time consuming: The time required to develop and execute test
scripts for APIs can be longer than other types of testing.
Limited documentation: Limited or poor documentation of the API
can make it difficult for testers to understand how the API should
behave.
Limited test coverage: It is difficult to test all possible scenarios and
edge cases with API testing.
Cost: Automated API testing tools can be expensive and require a
significant investment.

Types of Bugs that may occur in API Testing:

Performance Issues - API response Time can be very high, and they
may have latency.
Response data may not structure correctly ( JSON or XML )
Security Issues
Incorrect handling of valid argument values
Improper errors/warning to caller
Missing or Duplicate Functionality
Reliability Issues : Difficulty in connecting and getting a response
from API

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What is an API (Application Programming

Interface)
Last Updated : 09 Apr, 2025

In the tech world, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are crucial.

If you're interested in becoming a web developer or want to understand
how websites work, you'll need to familiarize yourself with APIs. Let's
break down the concept of an API in simple terms.

What is an API?
An API is a set of rules that allow different software applications to
communicate with each other. Think of it like a bridge that connects two
systems and lets them share data or services.

To make this clearer, let's use an example:

Imagine you're at a restaurant. The waiter (API) takes your order

(request), brings it to the chef (server), and then brings the food back
to you (response).
Similarly, when you search for a course on a website, you send a
request through an API, which then checks the database and sends
the result back to you.
APIs are the building blocks for the todays websites in which heavy
data is transferred from the client to server and vice versa. If you want
to learn such more concepts of the websites then you should enrol in
our Full Stack Node Development Course

Why Do We Need APIs?

APIs help developers to create software programs more easily. Instead
of writing complex code from scratch, they can call APIs that already
provide the functions they need. For example, if a developer wants to
display a weather report, they can use an API to get the data instead of
creating the entire system to gather weather data themselves.

APIs are also crucial in building modern websites, where heavy data
transfers happen between the client (user) and the server.

How Do APIs Work?

APIs work in a simple step-by-step process:

Request: A client (user) sends a request through the API's URI

(Uniform Resource Identifier).
Processing: The API forwards the request to the server.
Response: The server processes the request and sends the response
back to the API.
Delivery: The API returns the server's response to the client.

Think of this as a client-server architecture: the client sends a request,

the server processes it, and the API acts as the messenger.curity
threats. To provide additional security layers to the data, HTTP headers,
query string parameters, or cookies are used.
Types of API Architectures:

1. REST (Representational State Transfer) :A simple, flexible API

architecture that uses HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) for
communication.
2. SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) :A more rigid protocol that
requires XML-based messaging for communication.

Both define a standard communication protocol for the exchange of

messages in XML (Extensible Markup Language).

How is an API Different From a Web Application?

An API acts as an interface that allows proper communication between
two programs whereas a web application is a network-based resource
responsible for completing a single task. Also, it's important to know
that "All web services are APIs, but not all APIs are web".

The difference between an API and a web application is that API allows
two-way communication and web applications are just a way for users
to interact through a web browser. A web application may have an API
to complete the requests.

Types of APIs
There are three basic forms of API -

1. WEB APIs
A Web API also called Web Services is an extensively used API over
the web and can be easily accessed using the HTTP protocols. A Web
application programming interface is an open-source interface and can
be used by a large number of clients through their phones, tablets, or
PCs.

2. LOCAL APIs

In this type of API, the programmers get the local middleware services.
TAPI (Telephony Application Programming Interface), and .NET are
common examples of Local APIs.

3. PROGRAM APIs

It makes a remote program appear to be local by making use of RPCs

(Remote Procedural Calls). SOAP is a well-known example of this type
of API.

Few other types of APIs:

SOAP (SIMPLE OBJECT ACCESS PROTOCOL): It defines messages

in XML format used by web applications to communicate with each
other.
REST (Representational State Transfer): It makes use of HTTP to
GET, POST, PUT, or DELETE data. It is basically used to take
advantage of the existing data.
JSON-RPC: It uses JSON for data transfer and is a lightweight
remote procedural call defining a few data structure types.
XML-RPC: It is based on XML and uses HTTP for data transfer. This
API is widely used to exchange information between two or more
networks.

What are REST APIs?

REST stands for Representational State Transfer, and follows the
constraints of REST architecture allowing interaction with RESTful web
services. It defines a set of functions (GET, PUT, POST, DELETE) that
clients use to access server data. The functions used are:
 GET (retrieve a record)
PUT (update a record)
POST (create a record)
DELETE (delete the record)

Its main feature is that REST API is stateless, i.e., the servers do not
save clients' data between requests.

What is a Web API?

Web API Is simply an API for the web. It is an API that can be accessed
using the HTTP protocol. It can be built using Java, .nET, etc. It is
implemented to extend the functionality of a browser, simplify complex
functions, and provide easy syntax to complex code.

The four main types of web APIs are:

Open API
Partner API
Internal API
Composite API

To Know More: What is Web API and why we use it?

SOAP vs. REST

SOAP REST

SOAP (Simple Object Access

REST (Representational State Transfer)
Protocol) is a protocol with
is a set of guidelines (architectural
specific requirements like XML
style) offering flexible implementation
messaging

Heavier and needs more

Lightweight and needs less bandwidth
bandwidth

It inherits security from the underlying

It defines its own security
transport
 SOAP REST

It permits XML-based data It permits different data formats such

format only as plain text, HTML, XML, JSON, etc.

SOAP calls cannot be cached REST calls can be cached

Also, the major difference is that SOAP cannot make use of REST
whereas REST can make use of SOAP. You can also read about the
difference between REST API and SOAP API

What is API (Application Programming Interface)

Integration?
API (Application Programming Interface) Integration is the connection
between two or more applications, via APIs, letting you exchange data.
It is a medium through which you can share data and communicate with
each other by involving APIs to allow web tools to communicate. Due to
the rise in cloud-based products, API integration has become very
important.

What is API (Application Programming Interface)

Testing?
API (Application Programming Interface) testing is a kind of software
testing that analyzes an API in terms of its functionality, security,
performance, and reliability. It is very important to test an API so as to
check whether it's working as expected or not. If not, again changes are
made in the architecture and re-verified.

APIs are the center of software development to exchange data across

applications. The API testing includes sending requests to
single/multiple API endpoints and validating the response. It focuses
majorly on business logic, data responses and security, and
performance bottlenecks.

Types of Testing:

Unit Testing
 Integration Testing
Security Testing
Performance Testing
Functional Testing

Must Read: API Testing in Software Testing

API Testing Tools:

Postman
Apigee
JMeter
Ping API
Soap UI
vREST

How to Create APIs?

Creating an API is an easy task unless you are very well clear on the
basic concepts. It's an iterative process (based on feedback) that just
includes a few easy steps:

Plan your goal and the intended users

Design the API architecture
Develop (Implement the code) and Test API
Monitor its working and work on feedback

Must Read: Tips for Building an API

Restrictions of Using APIs

When an API (Application Programming Interface) is made it's not
really released as software for download and it has some policies
governing its use or restricting its use to everyone, usually, there are
three main types of policies governing APIs, are:

Private: These APIs are only made for a single person or entity (like a
company that has spent the resources to make it or bought it).
Partner: Just like the name it gives the authority to use APIs to some
partners of entities that own APIs for their private use.
 Public: You should be aware of them cause you can only find these
APIs in the market for your own use if you don't own specific API
access from some entity that owns private these APIs for their
private use. An example of a Public API is 'Windows API' by
Microsoft for more public APIs you can visit this GitHub repository ->
https://github.com/public-apis/public-apis .

Advantages of APIs
Efficiency: API produces efficient, quicker, and more reliable results
than the outputs produced by human beings in an organization.
Flexible delivery of services: API provides fast and flexible delivery
of services according to developers' requirements.
Integration: The best feature of API is that it allows the movement of
data between various sites and thus enhances the integrated user
experience.
Automation: As API makes use of robotic computers rather than
humans, it produces better and more automated results.
New functionality : While using API the developers find new tools
and functionality for API exchanges.

Disadvantages of APIs
Cost: Developing and implementing API is costly at times and
requires high maintenance and support from developers.
Security issues: Using API adds another layer of surface which is
then prone to attacks, and hence the security risk problem is common
in APIs.

Conclusion
By now, you must have had a clear idea of What is API? it's working,
types, testing tools used, etc. After understanding these concepts, you
can try working on them by implementing some of the concepts in
projects. Not just theoretical knowledge, you must also have a practical
idea of it by working on it. Developers must have a deep understanding
of APIs in order to implement them.
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Difference between REST API and SOAP API

Last Updated : 08 Mar, 2025

REST (Representational State Transfer) and SOAP (Simple Object

Access Protocol) are the most common methods for communications.
These services enable the web to communicate with the servers with
HTTP protocol. REST is an architectural style that works over HTTP for
communication, while SOAP is a protocol with strict standards and is
helpful for complex system operations.

REST API
REST, or Representational State Transfer, is an architectural style for
building web services. It is mostly used for lightweight and stateless
communication. It uses simple HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, and
DELETE to perform operations on the data resources.

Key Concepts

Rest uses URI, i.e. Uniform Resource Indetifier and assumes

everything as a resource
It does not store any past data or requests and does independent
operations
It relies on the HTTP method to request any type of operation on the
resourse.
Rest usually works with JSON and XML data formats

SOAP API
SOAP, or Simple Object Access Protocol, is a messaging protocol. It
allows the exchange of structure information without any platform.
Soap uses the XML data format due to the complexity. It is mostly used
for complex systems with strict standards ensuring security and
reliability.
Key Concepts

SOAP is a protocol as it has some strict rules for data fomat and
communication.
It manages the records and maintains the state between the
requests.
SOAP relies on SSL and WS-Securiy for secured communication.
SOAP works with the XML data format to handle the complex data.

Difference between SOAP API and REST API

SOAP API REST API

Relies on SOAP (Simple Relies on REST (Representational State

Object Access Protocol) Transfer) architecture using HTTP.

Generally transports data in JSON. It is based

Transports data in on URI. Because REST follows a stateless
standard XML format. model, REST does not enforce message
format as XML or JSON etc.

Because it is XML based

and relies on SOAP, it It works with GET, POST, PUT, DELETE
works with WSDL

Works over HTTP,

Works over HTTP and HTTPS
HTTPS, SMTP, XMPP

Highly structured/typed Less structured -> less bulky data

Designed with large

enterprise applications in Designed with mobile devices in mind
mind
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5 HTTP Methods in RESTful API Development

Last Updated : 22 Oct, 2024

JavaScript is by far one of the most popular languages when it comes to

web development, powering most websites and web applications. Not
being limited to only the client-side JavaScript is also one of the most
popular languages which are used for developing server-side
applications. Organizations use Javascript to create interactive and
dynamic web applications for their customers. Today, most modern web
applications rely on using REST architecture to improve the website's
dynamic capabilities.

Thus, there are some of the most crucial HTTP methods that you must
know as a developer, to develop RESTful APIs for your application.
RESTful APIs are those that follow the REST (Representational State
Transfer) architectural style. With this being said, let’s continue with the
article on the essential RESTful methods to assist you to have with
working on the server side using JavaScript.

5 Essential HTTP Methods in RESTful API

Development
1. GET

The GET method is used to 'retrieve' a record or a collection of records

from the server. The below code shows the implementation of the GET
method in JavaScript.

Example:
1.1. Backend (Node with Express)

// returns the list of students

app.get('/students', function (req, res) {

res.json(students);

});

Here, the code defines a get() method that is used to retrieve the
'students' (here is an array of objects) data from the server. It defines a
route that listens to the '/students' endpoint. The second parameter is a
callback function that receives 'req'(request) and 'res' (response)
objects as arguments. It uses the 'res.json()' method to send the data to
the client.

1.2. Frontend (JavaScript)

const getStudents = async(URL) => {

const response = await fetch(URL);

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data)
}
getStudents(BASEURL+"/students");

Here, the code defines an async function called 'getStudents()' that

makes a GET request to the API Endpoint (/students) using the fetch
function. The fetch function returns a promise that is resolved with
await and the response object is stored in the ‘response’ variable. The
json() method is called on the response to parse the data which again
returns a promise that is resolved by await and the data is stored in the
‘data’ variable. The parsed data(list of students) is then logged into the
console.
Must Read: Express | app.get()

2. POST

The POST method sends data to create a 'new record' on the server.
The below code shows the implementation of the POST method in
JavaScript.

Example:
2.1. Backend (Node with Express)

// add student
app.post("/students", function (req, res) {
var student = req.body;

students.push(student);

res.json({ message: "Record Added" });

});

Here, the code defines a post() method that is used to add a new
record i.e. 'student' data to the server. It defines a route that listens to
the '/students' endpoint. The second parameter is a callback function
that receives 'req'(request) and 'res' (response) objects as arguments.
It extracts the data from the request using 'req.body', and appends it to
the existing list using the array push() method. Finally, it sends the
acknowledgment message back to the client in the form of JSON data
using res.json().
2.2. Frontend (JavaScript)
 const addStudent = async (URL, student) => {
const response = await fetch(URL, {
method: "POST",
headers: {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
body: student,
});

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data.message);
};

addStudent(BASEURL + "/students", { id: 3, name: "Geek3" });

Here, the code defines an async function called 'addStudent()' that

makes a POST request to the API Endpoint (/students) with the request
body containing the 'student' data. The fetch function returns a promise
which is resolved with await and the response object is stored in the
‘response’ variable. The json() method is called on the response to
parse the data which again returns a promise that is resolved by await
and the data is stored in the ‘data’ variable. The parsed data
(acknowledgment message - Record Added) is then logged into the
console.

Must Read: Express | app.post()

3. PUT

The PUT method sends data to update an 'existing record' on the

server. The below code shows the implementation of the PUT method
in JavaScript.

Example:
3.1. Backend (Node with Express)

app.put("/students/:id", function (req, res) {

var id = req.params.id;

var student = req.body;

// updating user with the specific id

for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i++) {
if (students[i].id == id) {
students[i] = student;
 break;
}
}

res.json({ message: "Record Updated" });

});

Here, the code defines a put() method that is used to update an

existing record i.e. 'student with specific id' on the server. It defines a
route that listens to the '/students/:id' endpoint. The ':id' here is a URL
parameter that is extracted using 'req.params.id'. The data passed
inside the request body is extracted using 'req.body'. The student's data
is traversed to find the student with the matching id which on found
gets the particular record replaced with new data. Finally, it sends the
acknowledgment message back to the client in the form of JSON data
using res.json().
3.2. Frontend (JavaScript)

const updateStudent = async (URL, student) => {

const response = await fetch(URL, {
method: "PUT",
headers: {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
body: student,
});

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data.message);
};
updateStudent(BASEURL + "/students/3", { id: 3, name: "Geek3 Updated" });

Here, the code defines an async function called 'updateStudent()' that

makes a PUT request to the API Endpoint (/students/3) with the request
body containing the 'student' data. The fetch function returns a promise
which is resolved with await and the response object is stored in the
‘response’ variable. The json() method is called on the response to
parse the data which again returns a promise that is resolved by await
and the data is stored in the ‘data’ variable. The parsed data
(acknowledgment message - "Record Updated") is then logged into the
console.
Must Read: Express | app.put()

4. PATCH

Like the PUT method, PATCH is also used to send data to update an
'existing record' on the server. But the important difference between
PUT and PATCH is that PATCH only applies partial modifications to the
record instead of replacing the whole record. The below code shows the
implementation of the PATCH method in JavaScript.

Example:
4.1. Backend (Node with Express)

app.patch("/students/:id", function (req, res) {

var id = req.params.id;
var student = req.body;

for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i++) {

if (students[i].id == id) {

// replacing only specific properties

for (var key in student) {
students[i][key] = student[key];
}
break;

}
}
res.json({ message: "Record Updated using patch" });
});

Here, the code defines a patch() method that is used to partially

update an existing record i.e. 'student with specific id' on the server. It
defines a route that listens to the '/students/:id' endpoint. The ':id' here
is a URL parameter that is extracted using 'req.params.id'. The data
passed inside the request body is extracted using 'req.body'. The
student's data is traversed to find the student with the matching id
which on found gets the particular record updated, here instead of
updating the entire object only the specific properties on the objects
get updated. Finally, it sends the acknowledgment message back to the
client in the form of JSON data using res.json().
4.2. Frontend (JavaScript)

// update using patch

 const updateStudentPatch = async (URL, student) => {
const response = await fetch(URL, {
method: "PATCH",
headers: {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
body: student,
});

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);
};

updateStudentPatch(BASEURL + "/students/2", { name: "Geek2 Updated using

Patch" });

Here, the code defines an async function called 'updateStudentPatch()'

that makes a PATCH request to the API Endpoint (/students/2) with the
request body containing the specific('name') property 'student' data.
The fetch function returns a promise which is resolved with await and
the response object is stored in the ‘response’ variable. The json()
method is called on the response to parse the data which again returns
a promise that is resolved by await and the data is stored in the ‘data’
variable. The parsed data (acknowledgment message - 'Record
Updated using patch') is then logged into the console.

Must Read: Express | put() vs patch()

5. DELETE

The DELETE method is used to delete record(s) from the server. The
below code shows the implementation of the DELETE method in
JavaScript.

Example:
5.1. Backend (Node with Express)

app.delete("/students/:id", function (req, res) {

var id = req.params.id;

for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i++) {

if (students[i].id == id) {
students.splice(i, 1);
break;
}
}
 res.json({ message: "Record Deleted" });
});

Here, the code defines a delete() method that is used to delete an

existing record (here 'student with specific id') on the server. It defines
a route that listens to the '/students/:id' endpoint. The ':id' here is a
URL parameter that is extracted using 'req.params.id'. The student's
data (here Array of students) is traversed to find the student with the
matching id which on found gets deleted using the Array splice()
method in javascript. Finally, it sends the acknowledgment message
back to the client in the form of JSON data using res.json().
5.2. Frontend (JavaScript)

const deleteStudent = async (URL) => {

const response = await fetch(URL, {
method: "DELETE",
headers: {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
});

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);
};
deleteStudent(BASEURL + "/students/3");

Here, the code defines an async function called 'deleteStudent()' that

makes a PATCH request to the API Endpoint (/students/3). The fetch
function returns a promise which is resolved with await and the
response object is stored in the ‘response’ variable. The json() method
is called on the response to parse the data which again returns a
promise that is resolved by await and the data is stored in the ‘data’
variable. The parsed data (acknowledgment message - 'Record
Deleted') is then logged into the console.

Must Read: Express | app.delete()

Code Files
1. Backend Code
// index.js
var express = require("express");

// database
var students = [
{ id: 1, name: "Geek1" },
{ id: 2, name: "Geek2" },
];

var app = express();

app.use(express.json());

// returns the list of students

app.get("/students", function (req, res) {
res.json(students);
});

// add student
app.post("/students", function (req, res) {
var student = req.body;
students.push(student);
res.json({ message: "Record Added" });
});

// update student
app.put("/students/:id", function (req, res) {
var id = req.params.id;
var student = req.body;
for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i++) {
if (students[i].id == id) {
students[i] = student;
break;
}
}
res.json({ message: "Record Updated" });
});

// update using patch

app.patch("/students/:id", function (req, res) {
var id = req.params.id;
var student = req.body;
for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i++) {
if (students[i].id == id) {
for (var key in student) {
students[i][key] = student[key];
}
break;
}
}
res.json({ message: "Record Updated using patch" });
});

// delete student
app.delete("/students/:id", function (req, res) {
var id = req.params.id;
for (var i = 0; i < students.length; i++) {
if (students[i].id == id) {
students.splice(i, 1);
 break;
}
}
res.json({ message: "Record Deleted" });
});

app.listen(5000, () => {
console.log("Server started on port 5000");
});

2. Frontend Code

var BASEURL = "http://localhost:5000";

const getStudents = async (URL) => {

const response = await fetch(URL);

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);
};

const addStudent = async (URL, student) => {

const response = await fetch(URL, {
method: "POST",
headers: {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
body: student,
});

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);
};

const updateStudent = async (URL, student) => {

const response = await fetch(URL, {
method: "PUT",
headers: {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
body: student,
});

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);
};

// update using patch

const updateStudentPatch = async (URL, student) => {
const response = await fetch(URL, {
method: "PATCH",
headers: {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
body: student,
});
 const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);
};

// delete student
const deleteStudent = async (URL) => {
const response = await fetch(URL, {
method: "DELETE",
headers: {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
});

const data = await response.json();

console.log(data);
};

// Function Calls
getStudents(BASEURL + "/students");

addStudent(BASEURL + "/students", { id: 3, name: "Geek3" });

updateStudent(BASEURL + "/students/3", { id: 3, name: "Geek3 Updated" });

updateStudentPatch(BASEURL + "/students/2", {
name: "Geek2 Updated using Patch",
});

deleteStudent(BASEURL + "/students/3");

Conclusion
Now that you know how to implement RESTful HTTP methods in
javascript, start using them now! HTTP methods such as GET, POST,
PUT, PATCH, and DELETE are used in RESTful API development to
specify the type of action being performed on a resource. RESTful
HTTP methods are an essential component of developing web APIs in
the REST architectural style. They are widely used in modern web
development because they provide a standard interface for interacting
with server resources.

REST Architecture
ExpressJS

Comment More info Next Article

 Campus Training Program 5 HTTP Methods in RESTful API
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Introduction to Postman for API Development

Last Updated : 22 Mar, 2025

Postman: Postman is an API(application programming interface)

development tool that helps to build, test and modify APIs. Almost any
functionality that could be needed by any developer is encapsulated in
this tool. It is used by over 5 million developers every month to make
their API development easy and simple. It has the ability to make
various types of HTTP requests(GET, POST, PUT, PATCH), save
environments for later use, converting the API to code for various
languages(like JavaScript, and Python).

Introduction to Postman for API Development

Postman stands as an indispensable tool for modern API development,
offering a range of features that streamline the development process.
Here are key aspects that make Postman a powerful ally in the realm of
API development:

Versatile Request Methods: Postman supports an array of HTTP

request methods, encompassing GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, and
PATCH. This versatility allows developers to interact
comprehensively with APIs.
Flexible Request Body Formats: Developers benefit from the
flexibility of handling various request body formats, including form-
data, URL-encoded data, raw data, and binary data. This adaptability
caters to the diverse requirements of different APIs.
Authentication Simplified: Postman simplifies the intricacies of
authentication by providing support for various methods such as API
keys, OAuth, and Basic Auth. This streamlines the process of
securing API interactions, ensuring a robust and secure development
environment.
 Organized API Testing: Collections in Postman serve as a powerful
organizational tool, allowing developers to categorize and manage
API requests efficiently. This organized structure facilitates seamless
sharing and collaboration within development teams. Moreover, the
platform enables the automation of testing through the use of
JavaScript, enhancing the efficiency of the testing process.
Efficient Documentation: Postman excels in the generation of API
documentation directly from requests and collections. This feature
provides a streamlined and centralized approach to documenting
APIs, benefiting both internal development teams and external
stakeholders. The documentation process is efficient, ensuring clarity
and accessibility.

In essence, Postman transforms the API development landscape by

combining versatility, flexibility, simplicity, and efficiency. Whether it's
interacting with APIs, handling authentication, organizing tests, or
generating documentation, Postman offers a comprehensive suite of
tools tailored to meet the demands of modern software development

API Development in Postman

In this post, I will use the Postman software to send and receive
requests, POST data to the server and I will try to demo some other
popular maneuvers. You can treat this article as your first contact with
the Postman. So, let's get started !!
You can download Postman from here.
After downloading and installing the Postman, open the software.
 postman interface. image : https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/wp-content/uploads/postman-interface-1.png

.
Explaining the Interface

The longest middle input field that looks something like a search bar
is where the URL that we want to GET or POST or DELETE, etc. is
fed.
Just to the left of it, is a drop down button which has all the various
HTTP methods as options. If you want to POST to the URL that you
have specified, select POST.
To the right of it is the params button. If you click on it, a new
interface will appear. Params are basically the data that we want to
send to the server with our request. We will use this params
interface to POST to put app a new User.
To the right of this button is the Send button which is used in
sending the request to the server or the app in this case.

I think this much introduction to the interface is enough for us to get

started. I will explain any other bit about the Postman on the fly if I have
to.
So, lets get started with sending and receiving requests through
Postman.

Sending and receiving requests through Postman

Enter the url that you want to hit in the URL bar that i described
above. I will put http:localhost:3000 in my case.
Lets select our HTTP method to send the request as GET in the left
button. Now click on the Send button.

get localhost https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/wp-content/uploads/get-localhost.png

You will be returned HTML of the URL that you GET. I have selected
the Preview to have a browser-like look.
As you can see in the snap below that with the response from the
server or the app, various headers are returned too with the main
response.

return headers get

Explanation of Header :
The first header returned is keep-alive . It basically means that the
server's connection with the user will not kill itself after some time.
Content-length is the length of the html document that is
returned.
Date is the time the request has been made to the server to
return the file.
X-Powered-By sends Express as the app server is Express.
Etag is an identifier for a specific version of the resource. It
helps in saving time and bandwidth in case the user
requests the same page again without any modifications,
then the same file could be sent. You can read more about
Etags here.

For that, we will first GET the register form.

get register

Change the HTTP method of the next request that we are

going to the send to POST. Open the Params tab of the
Postman . This will help us in sending the form with the
values that we want.

form value filled as key-value pair in postman params tab.

image:https://media.geeksforgeeks.org/wp-content/uploads/form-value-filled-as-key-value-
pair-in-postman-params-tab.png

After we hit enter, it POSTs the form with our key-value

pairs and returns the response.
 preview look postman for registered user

The terminal also logs the registered user.

console logged the registered user

Super easy API

Wide range of functionality like support for all possible
HTTP methods, saving progress, API to code conversion,
changing environment of API development and many others.
Helps to see the status codes, time taken for response and
other performance parameters.
Testing of APIs can be scheduled and automated.
There is an option for importing of existing work so that you
don't have to start from scratch.
Too many choices can overwhelm a beginner.
It is not always true that an API developed in Postman will
sure shot work in browser.
Limited area of application(API testing and some other
techniques).

Create New Folder

To use Postman to test an API, start by creating a new request, naming

and saving it within a collection. Set up the request by specifying the
API URL, choosing the HTTP method, and adding parameters, headers,
authentication, and body as needed. Organize your requests by creating
folders within collections. Run the request, view the results, and
optionally, write tests for automation. Save and share your work, and
export collections if needed. Postman's user-friendly interface facilitates
efficient API testing, providing a comprehensive tool for developers.

0:00

API Development : Creating, Sorting, and Deleting Folders with

API Requests

By following below steps, you've created folders, added requests with

different URLs and parameters, and demonstrated how to delete a
folder. Adjust the details based on your specific needs, and make sure to
execute the requests to see the responses in Postman.
1. Create Three Folders:
Open Postman and click on the "Collections" tab.
Click "New Collection" and name it "Geeks1."
Repeat for "Geeks2" and "Geeks3."

2. Folder 1: Add URL to Geeks1:

Inside "Geeks1," click "Add Request."
Name it and set the URL to https://simple-books-api.glitch.me.

3. Folder 2: Add URL to Geeks2:

Inside "Geeks2," click "Add Request."
Name it and set the URL to https://simple-books-
api.glitch.me/books.

4. Folder 3: Sort Books by Type - Fiction in Geeks3:

Inside "Geeks3," click "Add Request."
Name it, set the URL to https://simple-books-api.glitch.me/books,
and go to the "Params" tab.
Add a parameter with key type and value fiction.

5. Folder 4: Sort Books by Book ID in Geeks4:

Inside "Geeks4," click "Add Request."
Name it, set the URL to https://simple-books-
api.glitch.me/books/:bookid. Replace :bookid with an actual book ID.
 0:00

1. Delete Folder:
To delete a folder, right-click on the folder name in the Collections
tab and select "Delete."

By following these steps, you've created folders, added requests with

different URLs and parameters, and demonstrated how to delete a
folder. Adjust the details based on your specific needs, and make sure to
execute the requests to see the responses in Postman.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the introduction to Postman for API development

underscores its pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency, flexibility, and
collaboration within the development lifecycle. Postman's support for
versatile request methods, flexible handling of request body formats,
simplified authentication mechanisms, organized API testing through
collections, and the seamless generation of documentation collectively
elevate the development experience. As a comprehensive and user-
friendly tool, Postman empowers developers to navigate the intricacies
of API interactions with precision, fostering a streamlined workflow.

Comment More info Next Article

How to use postman for

Campus Training Program automated tests that run on a CI

pipeline?

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Differences between Web Services and Web API

Last Updated : 15 May, 2020

Web Services: A Web services are any bit of services that makes it
accessible over the Internet and normalizes its correspondence through
XML encoding. A customer conjures web services by sending a
solicitation (for the most part as an XML message), and the services
send back an XML response. Web services summon communication
over a network, with HTTP as the most widely recognized methods for
the network between the two frameworks. Web services are equivalent
to SOA (Services Oriented Architecture) and fundamentally depend on
measures, for example, XML-RPC and SOAP (Simple Object Access
Protocol). Components: All the standard web services work using the
following components.
SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)
UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery and Integration)
WSDL (Web Services Description Language)

Web APIs: API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a

collection of communication conventions and subroutines used by
various programs to communicate between them. A developer can
utilize different API apparatuses to make its program simpler and less
complex. Likewise, an API encourages the developers with a proficient
method to build up their product programs. Thus, in simple terms, an
API determines how programming segments ought to associate with
one another. It is a set of protocols and schedules, and its reactions are
returned as JSON or XML in data. APIs can utilize any kind of
communication convention and are not restricted similarly as a web
service is. Difference between Web Services and APIs:
 Web Services Web API

APIs are application interfaces,

Web services are a type of API,
implying that one application can
which must be accessed
communicate with another application
through a network connection.
in a standardized manner.

Web service is used for REST,

API is used for any style of
SOAP and XML-RPC for
communication.
communication.

All Web services are APIs. APIs are not web services.

It doesn't have lightweight It has a light-weight architecture

design, needs a SOAP furthermore, useful for gadgets which
convention to send or receive have constrained transmission capacity
data over the system. like smart phones.

It provides support for the HTTP/s

It provides supports only for
protocol: URL Request/Response
the HTTP protocol.
Headers, and so on.

It is not open source, however,

can be devoured by any It is an open source and also ships with
customer that comprehends .NET framework.
xml.

Web service supports only

API supports XML and JSON.
XML.

Web Services can be hosted on Web API can be hosted only on IIS and
IIS. self.
 Comment More info Next Article
Differences between Web
Campus Training Program Services and Web API

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Difference between HTTP GET and POST Methods

Last Updated : 16 Sep, 2024

HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) specifies a collection of request

methods to specify what action is to be performed on a particular
resource. The most commonly used HTTP request methods are GET,
POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE. This article covers the 2 most
common HTTP request methods, i.e. the GET & POST Methods among
the rest of the methods.

Table of Content
HTTP GET
HTTP POST
Difference between HTTP GET and HTTP POST

HTTP GET
The HTTP GET method requests data from a server without altering its
state. It appends parameters to the URL, making it suitable for retrieving
non-sensitive data. Commonly used for viewing content, GET is ideal for
requests that don't involve data modification.

Example: In the following HTML code we have created a form with text
fields such as Username and City. we have also included a PHP file
getmethod.php where our data would be sent after we click the submit
button.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

<body>
<form action="getmethod.php" method="GET">
Username:
<input type="text" name="username" /> <br>
City:
<input type="text" name="city" /> <br>
<input type="submit" />
</form>
 </body>

</html>

In the following PHP code using the GET method we have displayed the
Username and city.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

<body>
Welcome
<?php echo $_GET["username"]; ?> </br>
Your City is:
<?php echo $_GET["city"]; ?>
</body>

</html>

Output: Data passed in GET method is clearly visible in the address bar,
which can compromise the security.

HTTP POST
The HTTP POST method sends data from the client to the server to
create or update resources, storing data in the request body. It's suitable
for secure data transfer, like images or documents, with security relying
on encryption (HTTPS), authentication, and validation.

Example: In the following HTML code we have created a form with text
field as Username and Area of study. we have also included a PHP file
postmethod.php, where our data would be sent after we click the
submit button.

Related searches
Http Get Vs Post Open Browser with Http Post Http Request
 <!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

<body>
<form action="postmethod.php" method="post">
Username:
<input type="text" name="username" /> <br>
Area of Study:
<input type="text" name="area" /> <br>

<input type="submit" />

</form>
</body>

</html>

In the following PHP code using the POST method we have displayed
the Username and Area of study.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

<body>
Welcome
<?php echo $_POST["username"]; ?> </br>
YOur Area of Study is:
<?php echo $_POST["area"]; ?>
</body>

</html>

Output: Data passed in POST method is not shown in the address bar,
which maintains the security.

Difference between HTTP GET and HTTP POST

HTTP GET HTTP POST

In GET method we can not send

large amount of data rather limited In POST method large amount of
data of some number of characters data can be sent because the
is sent because the request request parameter is appended into
parameter is appended into the the body.
URL.

GET request is comparatively POST request is comparatively less

better than Post so it is used more better than Get method, so it is
than the Post request. used less than the Get request.

GET requests are only used to POST requests can be used to

request data (not modify) create and modify data.

GET request is comparatively less POST request is comparatively

secure because the data is exposed more secure because the data is not
in the URL bar. exposed in the URL bar.

Request made through GET Request made through POST

method are stored in Browser method is not stored in Browser
history. history.

GET method request can be saved POST method request can not be
as bookmark in browser. saved as bookmark in browser.

Request made through GET Request made through POST

method are stored in cache method are not stored in cache
memory of Browser. memory of Browser.

Data passed through GET method

Data passed through POST method
can be easily stolen by attackers as
can not be easily stolen by
the data is visible to everyone.GET
attackers as the URL Data is not
requests should never be used
displayed in the URL
when dealing with sensitive data

In GET method only ASCII In POST method all types of data is

characters are allowed. allowed.

In POSTmethod, the encoding type

In GET method, the Encoding type is application/x-www-form-
is application/x-www-form- urlencoded or multipart/form-data.
urlencoded Use multipart encoding for binary
data
 Comment More info Next Article
Difference between HTTP GET
Campus Training Program and POST Methods

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Tower, Sector- 136, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
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Apartment, Sector 137, Noida, Gautam
 Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, 201305

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What is API Authentication? Definition and

Working
Last Updated : 21 Apr, 2025

APIs are the backbone of contemporary applications, facilitating

effortless communication between various services and platforms. But
in the absence of security, APIs are exposed to unauthorized access,
data breaches, and cyber-attacks. This is where API authentication
steps in—allowing only authorized users and applications to interact
with an API.

This article will take you through the API authentication approaches,
such as OAuth 2.0, API keys, JWT (JSON Web Tokens), Basic
Authentication, TLS authentication, and OpenID Connect (OIDC). We
will also have a look at the best practices of API security so that you
may select the suitable authentication method.

Understanding API Authentication & Authorization

Authentication Vs Authorization

What is API Authentication?

API authentication is an important security process that authenticates
the identity of users or applications prior to providing API access. It
makes sure that only legitimate entities interact with an API, avoiding
unauthorized access, data exposure, and API misuse. Different
authentication mechanisms like OAuth 2.0, API Key Authentication,
JWT (JSON Web Tokens), TLS Authentication, and OpenID Connect
(OIDC) secure API interactions.

What is API Authorization?

API authorization specifies what actions or resources an authenticated
user is allowed to access. While authentication checks identity,
authorization applies permissions according to user roles.

For example:

Authentication: Logging into a banking application using your

credentials.
Authorization: Accessing your transactions but not another person's
account.

For more details refer: Difference Between Authentication and

Authorization

The Importance of Secure API Authentication

Inadequate API security can result in severe cybersecurity threats, such

as:

Data breaches due to unauthorized access.

Man-in-the-middle attacks, where attackers intercept API requests.
API key exposures and credential stealing, resulting in unauthorized
access to data.
API misuse, impacting system performance and security.

How Does API Authentication Work?

API authentication is an application security attribute employed to
authenticate users or applications requesting an API. It checks whether
the authorized users or services requesting are the ones accessing
sensitive information or operations of an application. Access tokens,
OAuth 2.0, API key authentication, JWT (JSON Web Tokens), and TLS
authentication are used by the authentication mechanism to protect
APIs against abuse and cyber attacks.

1. Client Request:

The API is requested by a client or an application to fetch resources.

The request must include authentication credentials as an access
token, API key, JWT, or OAuth 2.0 auth token.

2. Server Validation:

The API server validates the credentials by ascertaining whether

they are active, valid, and authorized.
If OAuth 2.0 or OpenID Connect (OIDC) is being used, the request is
forwarded to the authentication server for validation.

3. Token Generation (If Required):

After successful verification, the server creates an access token (JWT

or OAuth token).
The token contains user permission and expiration details to enable
future API calls without further authentication.

4. Access Granted or Denied:

 After successful verification, the API grants access to requested
resources.
Given invalid credentials, the server returns an error (e.g., 401
Unauthorized or 403 Forbidden).

Common API Authentication Methods

API authentication plays a crucial role in ensuring secure access and
protecting sensitive data. Various authentication methods offer different
levels of security, scalability, and ease of implementation. Below are the
most commonly used API authentication methods:

1. Basic Authentication

Utilizes a username and password embedded in the request header.

Here credentials are revealed in plain text unless encrypted with TLS
authentication (Transport Layer Security).
It is most suitable for Internal applications with few security issues.

2. API Key Authentication

Needs an API key as a unique identifier within each request.

It is Easy and used extensively for server-to-server communication.
However, the API keys are vulnerable if made visible in code or logs.
It is most suitable for Monitoring API usage, controlling API access,
and API security monitoring.

3. TLS Authentication (SSL Certificates)

Encrypts communication between API clients and servers using

TLS/SSL authentication.
Mutual TLS (mTLS) strengthens security by requiring authentication
from both parties.
Best for: Banking APIs, enterprise applications, and securing
sensitive transactions.

4. OAuth 2.0
 An extensively used API authorization system for safe access
delegation.
Here the user authenticates and gives permission to an application.
Then the API gives an access token.
Subsequent requests can then use the token by that app.
Best for SSO (Single Sign-On), third-party integrations, mobile apps.

5. JSON Web Tokens (JWT)

A lightweight, stateless authentication scheme with a self-contained

token.
Structure:
Header – Holds metadata.
Payload – Holds authentication claims.
Signature – Verifies token integrity.
It is Scalable, distributed systems are most suited.
But If stored inappropriately, JWTs can get stolen.
It is best for Microservices authentication, web & mobile
applications.

6. OpenID Connect (OIDC)

An identity layer built on OAuth 2.0, enabling authentication

alongside authorization.
Provides user profile information and supports Single Sign-On
(SSO).
It is best for Identity federation, user authentication across
multiple platforms.

Best Practices for Secure API Authentication

API security is required to safeguard sensitive information and avoid
unauthorized access. Execution of secure authentication techniques such
as OAuth 2.0, JWTs, API keys, and mTLS is required to preserve the
integrity of the API while limiting the security threats to their lowest
level. Certain best practices for secure API authentication are described
in detail below to improve the security of APIs, access control, and
authentication processes.

1. API Key Management

Never store API keys in source code, which is readily found in version
control systems.
Securely store API keys by storing them in environment variables,
secrets management, or vault services.
Rotate API keys regularly to minimize security exposure in the event
that they are leaked or compromised.
Limit API keys to trusted IP addresses, domains, or services to
minimize unauthorized access.

2. Choosing the Right Authentication Method

Choosing the most suitable authentication mechanism is decided by the

API type and security needs:

Public APIs: Implement OAuth 2.0 for secure third-party access with
token-based authentication.
Internal APIs: Implement API Key Authentication or JWT (JSON Web
Tokens) for lightweight and highly scalable authentication.
High-security apps: Implement Mutual TLS (mTLS) to provide secure
client-server authentication for encrypted communication.

3. Implementing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Use RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) to limit based on the user

role (e.g., admin, user, guest).
Use least privilege access—users have access resources that are
usable for their role.
Use a mix of RBAC with attribute-based access control (ABAC) for
attribute-based fine-grained authorization.

4. Handling Authentication Errors Properly

 Return HTTP 401 Unauthorized for missing or invalid authentication
credentials.
Return HTTP 403 Forbidden for unauthorized access of a resource.
Enforce rate limiting and IP blocking to thwart brute-force attacks
and API misuse.
Employ secure logging and monitoring controls to identify suspicious
authentication failures.

For more details refer the article: 7 Best Practices for API Security
in 2024

Addressing Authentication Challenges

Convenient and secure authentication also has its own set of
challenges. Deciding between stateful and stateless authentication,
Single Sign-On (SSO) integration, and selecting the authentication
methods has direct implications on security as well as on the user
experience.

Stateful vs. Stateless API Authentication:

API authentication is crucial to application security, and whether

stateful or stateless authentication is used impacts performance,
security, and scalability. Both methods are widely used in API
authentication, OAuth 2.0, JWT (JSON Web Tokens), API security,
access tokens, and authentication mechanisms.
 Stateful vs. Stateless API Authentication

Feature Stateful Stateless Authentication

Authentication

No session storage;
Stores session data on the
Storage uses tokens (JWT, OAuth
server
2.0)

Less scalable; requires

Highly scalable; independent
Scalability server-side session
of server sessions
tracking

Higher server load due to Faster as no session tracking

Performance
session management is needed

More secure but can be Secure if tokens

Security vulnerable to session are encrypted and
hijacking expire timely

Best for web Ideal for REST APIs,

Use Case applications, enterprise microservices, cloud
systems applications

JWT-based API
Session-based login in
Examples authentication in a
banking apps
microservices architecture

Single Sign-On (SSO)

SSO allows users to log in only once and access multiple services
without having to re-enter their credentials.
Google SSO, Facebook Login, and Microsoft SSO services encourage
security and convenience for users by reducing the use of multiple
passwords.
Benefits: Avoids password depletion, reduces phishing threats, and
streamlines enterprise access management.
 How Single Sign-On (SSO) works

For more details refer: Introduction of Single Sign On (SSO)

The Role of Authentication Providers

Secure and scalable authentication is offered in most businesses by

means of authentication providers for identity verification management

Auth0: Offers OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect (OIDC), and JWT-based

authentication for web and mobile applications
Okta: Enterprises-oriented authentication with Multi-Factor
Authentication (MFA), SAML, and SSO support.
Firebase Authentication: Suits best for mobile and web applications
with support for email/password authentication, OAuth, and
federated identity providers.

Conclusion
API authentication is the foundation of API security, where only
legitimate users and applications can access secure resources. Having
robust authentication mechanisms such as OAuth 2.0, API Key
Authentication, JWT (JSON Web Tokens), TLS Authentication, and
OpenID Connect (OIDC) prevents unauthorized access, data breaches,
API abuse, and cyber threats.

To enhance API security, it is crucial to follow best practices such as

API key management, role-based access control (RBAC), secure
token storage, TLS encryption, and proper error handling. Choosing
the right authentication method—whether stateful or stateless
authentication, Single Sign-On (SSO), or Mutual TLS (mTLS)—
depends on your application’s security requirements.

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What are HTTP Status Codes ?

Last Updated : 19 May, 2023

HTTP Protocol is used everywhere from the server page to each service
communication, deploying service to monitoring service. HTTP codes
give an extension of HTTP protocol to debug network problems using
curl, telnet able to check server availability, service responses

HTTP status code is used for search engine optimization of how your
pages get indexed, as well as how search engines perceive the
performance of your site.

Why Do We Need Many HTTP Statuses?

It reduces the complexity of client and server errors. It is also one
reason why Microservice and HATEOAS are easy to definable.

HTTP Status

The initial line of the server’s response indicates the HTTP version and a
three-digit status code. Server reserves some default error messages
(404 not found or 500 internal server error). Each server(Tomcat,
Redhat, Web server) reserves some HTTP status for inbuilt
functionality. It is also possible to manually configure the status code.
HTTP Response Status Codes
Informational responses (100–199)
Successful responses (200–299)
Redirection messages (300–399)
Client error responses (400–499)
Server error responses (500–599)

Informational Responses

Message Description

100 Continue readies for the client to continue with a request.

101 Switching
that it will be switching to another protocol.
Protocols

102 Processing This code tells us that server is processing the request
(WebDAV) but at the current time, no response is available.

This is to be used with the Link Header, where the

103 Early Hints preloading resources are started and the server
prepares responses.

Success Response

Message Description

200 OK For a successful transaction.

For creating an entry in the database or updating

201 Created
details.

It might accept the request but not decided on

202 Accepted
going to create an entry.
 Message Description

203 Non-
The information given by the user is not the
Authoritative
original owner of the request.
Information

204 No Content The response came without no entity-body.

The browser should clear the form used for this

205 Reset Content
transaction for additional input.

The server is returning partial data of the size

206 Partial Content
requested.

It has the work to convey multiple resources, in

207 Multi-Status
that case, where more than one code can be
(WebDAV)
correct.

208 Already It is used to avoid the repeating internal members

Reported of different binding to the same data. it is used
(WebDAV) inside <dav:propstat>.

Here, the response is represented by combining

226 IM Used (HTTP
the result of one or more manipulations with the
Data Encoding)
current instance.

Redirection Messages

Message Description

300 Multiple The requested URL refers to more than one

Choices resource.

301 Moved The requested URL is no longer used by the server.

Permanently The new location for the requested document is
specified in the
 Message Description

Location header. All future requests for the

document should use the new URL.

The redirected URL is found current working URL

302 Found
location

The requested URL can be found at a different URL

(specified in the Location header) and should be
303 See Other retrieved by a

GET on that resource.

The URL has not been modified since the specified

date. The entity body is not sent, and the client
304 Not Modified should use its

own local copy.

The requested URL must be accessed through the

305 Use Proxy
proxy in the Location header.

307 Temporary The requested URL has moved, but only

Redirect temporarily.

It is used for locating another URL Permanently. It

is done by the 'Location:'. HTTP Response Code
308 Permanent 301 Moved
Redirect
Permanently is similar to 308 Permanent
Redirect.

Client Error Responses

 Message Description

This response code indicates that the server

400 Bad Request
detected a syntax error in the client’s request.

The service failed because of not give proper

401 Unauthorized
parameters like username, password

402 Payment
This code is not yet implemented in HTTP.
Required

The request was denied for a reason the server

403 Forbidden does not want to (or has no means to) indicate
to the client.

The document at the specified URL does not

404 Not Found
exist.

This code is given with the Allow header and

indicates that the method used by the client is
405 Method Not
not supported
Allowed
for this URL.

The URL specified by the client exists, but not in

a format preferred by the client. Along with this
code, the server
406 Not Acceptable
provides the Content-Language, Content-
Encoding, and Content-type headers.

407 Proxy The proxy server needs to authorize the request

Authentication before forwarding it. Used with the Proxy-
Required Authenticate header.

408 Request Time-out This response code means the client did not
produce a full request within some
predetermined time (usually
 Message Description

specified in the server’s configuration), and the

server is disconnecting the network connection.

This code indicates that the request conflicts

with another request or with the server’s
configuration.

Information about the conflict should be

409 Conflict returned in the data portion of the reply. For
example, this response

code could be given when a client’s request

would cause integrity problems in a database.

This code indicates that the requested URL no

410 Gone longer exists and has been permanently
removed from the server.

The server will not accept the request without a

411 Length Required
Content-length header supplied in the request.

412 Precondition The condition specified by one or more If...

Failed headers in the request evaluated to false.

413 Request Entity The server will not process the request because
Too Large its entity-body is too large.

414 Request URL Too The server will not process the request because
Long its request URL is too large.

415 Unsupported The server will not process the request because
Media Type its entity-body is in an unsupported format.

416 Request Range The requested byte range is not available and is
Not Satisfiable out of bounds.
 Message Description

417 Expectation The server is unable to meet the demands of

Failed the Expect header given by the client.

It is used to attempt to refuse coffee with a

418 I'm a teapot
teapot.

This request is used to direct to a server that is

not able to produce any response. Generally, it
421 Misdirected is sent
Request
by a server for not producing the authorities
present in the request URL.

422 Unprocessable It occurs when the request is not followed

Content (WebDAV) because of semantic errors.

423 Locked (WebDAV) It refers to the locked resources.

424 Failed
Dependency It occurs due to the failure of a recent request.
(WebDAV)

It occurs when a request is made that is not

425 Too Early
processed yet.

It refers to when the current protocol is not

considered and the system is waiting so that
any other
426 Upgrade Required
protocol is generated. It generates the upgrade
header.

This request comes when the request is

428 Precondition
conditional. This is used to help with the lost
Required
update problem.
 Message Description

429 Too Many This error comes when multiple requests are
Requests made in a certain amount of time.

This comes when header fields are large

431 Request Header
enough to proceed. This request comes in that
Fields Too Large
condition.

It occurs when any request is not fulfilled

because of some legal reasons, it can be due to
451 Unavailable for
a web
Legal Reasons
page being censored.

Server Error Responses

Message Description

500 Internal Server This code indicates that a part of the server
Error encountered a configuration error.

This code indicates that the client requested an

501 Not Implemented
action that cannot be performed by the server.

This code indicates that the server (or proxy)

502 Bad Gateway encountered invalid responses from another
server (or proxy).

This code means that the service is temporarily

503 Service
unavailable, but should be restored in the
Unavailable
future.

This code means that the service is temporarily

504 Gateway Time-out unavailable, but should be restored in the
future.
 Message Description

505 HTTP Version Not Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Publish
Supported information usage of standard code.

It comes with a configuration error. It is engaged

506 Variant Also in negotiation., but does not exist at
Negotiates
the endpoint of the negotiation process.

507 Insufficient It comes when the request is not to be

Storage (WebDAV) completed because of the proper storage.

508 Loop Detected This error comes when there is an infinite loop.

Some more extensions are required for the

510 Not Extended
server for fulfilling it.

511 Network
This indicates that it requires verifying network
Authentication
access.
Required

Comment More info

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What are HTTP Status Codes ?
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Postman - Working, HTTP Request & Responses

Last Updated : 20 Sep, 2024

API...Application Programming Interface... If you're a developer then

this word is nothing new for you...

Being a developer, you know the importance of API in any kind of

application. In simple terms, API is a defined set of rules with some
defined methods of communication. With the help of API, software
components can interact with each other. You might have implemented
some kind of APIs (such as payment gateway APIs) in your application.

Table of Content
How Postman Works?
HTTP Request
HTTP Response

Implementing a quality API is really important to ensure fast

development without compromising on the code quality. The best and
popular tool for API testing among developers is Postman.

In API testing we test the collection of APIs, and we check that whether
your application fulfills the expectations of functionality, reliability,
performance, and security. Also, we check that whether it returns the
correct response or not.

In API testing we check that whether the output is well-structured and

useful for some other application or not. Depending on the input
parameter we check the response, and we determine the time API is
taking to extract the data and authorize the data to it.

How Postman Works?

Postman provides easy-to-use interace for sending http request and
receiving responses form the web servers and APIs. Postman working
includes the following steps:

The http request are created ny defining http method, url, headers,
body.
This request is sent by the postman to the server or API endpoint.
Then server's response is received and displayed by Postman
including the response status, header and body

Postman sends the request to the webserver and then the server sends
the response back to it. A user has to set all the headers and cookies
API expects to check the response.

Related searches
Postman Crash Course for Beginners Learn Api Testing Free Download

Postman Installation

You can install the postman from the link Postman. This tool provides a
collection of API calls, and you need to follow these API calls for testing
APIs of the application. You will find a dropdown list with multiple
methods.

Configure the Request

You can select one of the methods from the given dropdown list. You
will also have to include more information depending on the API call.
This information are set as Authorization, Header, or body information.
You just need to select one of the methods and send the request and
get the response back.

Environment Variables in Postman

Some requests in POSTMAN require some specific information. You can

make changes to these variables all at once instead of changing the
variables in the endpoint manually.

In the top right corner, you will get the option to set the environment
variable. You can follow the steps given below to set the environment
variable.

1. In the top right corner click on Manage Environment from Settings.

2. Click on ADD button.
3. Mention the Name of the environment.
4. Mention key and value. This will be used as a variable in the
collection later.
Add Collection

Collections are a bundle of requests. To create a collection, you can add

an API call in the collection. You can reuse it in your application. A lot of
organizations offer collections. You can import this in your postman and
test it. If you have created a collection, you can export it or if you want
the collection of others, you can import it.

Your API call mainly uses two things...

1. HTTP Request
You make HTTP calls sending the HTTP Request. In HTTP request
method includes Request Method, Request URL, Request Headers,
Request Body, Pre-request Script, and Tests.

Let's talk about these Request methods one by one...

Request Methods

You will find several types of Request methods in POSTMAN.

Depending on your requirements or test you can choose one of them.
Mainly you will be using four request methods in your application.
These methods are given below...

GET Request: To retrieve or fetch data

POST Request: To create and update data
PUT Request; To update data
DELETE Request: For deleting data

Request URL: You will find a long-width bar in Postman where you will
have to enter the URL to make the HTTP request.

Request Headers: In the request header, you enter the key value of the
application. The two main key values are given below.

Content-Type: The format of data is specified by Content-Type.

Mainly developers use JSON format in the content type.
Authorization: This information is included to identify the requester.
Request Body: In Postman, you will get the tab of Body where you can
mention some specific information that needs to be sent with the
request. You will get the option to send the data either in raw, binary, or
any other form. Most of the time you will select raw form. You will also
get the option of Pre-request scripts. This gets executed before a
request is sent. In Postman, you are also allowed to write and run the
test for each request. You can use JavaScript language for this.

2. HTTP Response
Once you send the request to Postman, you get the response back from
the API that contains Body, Cookies, Headers, Tests, Status Code, and
API Response time. Body and Header get organized in different tabs.
Status code gets displayed in another tab with the time taken to
complete the API call. Some important status codes are given below to
verify the response.

200- For successful request.

201- For successful request and data was created
204- For Empty Response
400- For Bad Request.
401- For Unauthorized access. Authentication failed or the user does
not have permission for the requested operation.
403- For Forbidden, Access Denied
404- For data not found.
405- For method not allowed or requested method is not supported.
500- Internal server error.
503- For Service unavailable

From the above explanation, you might have understood many things
about Postman. How it works, how it is used for testing, request,
response, and all the status code as well. Postman is the most popular
tool among developers for API testing. There are many other tools as
well, you can check out them as well, but the most popular one is
POSTMAN and the reason behind its popularity is a lot of features
included in it.
 Comment More info Next Article
Postman - Working, HTTP
Campus Training Program Request & Responses

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Corporate & Communications Address:

A-143, 7th Floor, Sovereign Corporate
Tower, Sector- 136, Noida, Uttar Pradesh
(201305)

Registered Address:
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Apartment, Sector 137, Noida, Gautam
 Buddh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, 201305

Advertise with us

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