Postman

Postman is a powerful API development and testing tool that allows developers to streamline their workflow when building APIs. It was created in 2012 by Abhinav Asthana and Ankit Sobti and has since become one of the most popular API tools on the market. Postman is free to use and available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Postman’s features include the ability to create and save requests, organize requests into collections, and run automated tests on APIs. The tool also allows developers to work collaboratively by sharing collections with team members and integrating with version control systems like GitHub.

Key features of Postman

1. Environment Variables: Postman allows developers to define environment variables which can be used to store values that are used across different requests. This makes it easier to manage and maintain values that are frequently used, such as authentication tokens, server URLs, and API keys.
2. Mock Server: Postman provides a mock server which allows developers to simulate the behavior of an API without having to build a full-fledged backend. This is particularly useful when testing APIs in development or before deploying them to production.
3. API Documentation: Postman allows developers to create and publish API documentation, which can be used to share information about an API with other developers. This feature makes it easier to understand how to use an API and reduces the amount of time required for developers to figure out how an API works.
4. Collaboration Tools: Postman provides a range of collaboration tools that make it easy for developers to work together on API projects. Developers can share collections, review code changes, and work together to solve problems in real-time.
5. Automated Testing: Postman includes a testing framework that allows developers to write automated tests for their APIs. Tests can be run in the app or from the command line, making it easy to catch issues before they make it into production.
6. Integration with Other Tools: Postman integrates with a range of other tools, such as Git, Jenkins, and Slack. This makes it easier to manage API development and testing workflows and ensures that developers can work with the tools they are most comfortable using.

Get started with Postman

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Download and Install Postman: To download Postman, visit the Postman website and select the version that is compatible with your operating system. The installation process is straightforward and varies depending on your OS.
2. Create an Account: After installing Postman, you can create a free account on the Postman website. This account allows you to synchronize your data across multiple devices and share your work with your team.
3. Explore the User Interface: The Postman interface has a sidebar on the left-hand side that contains options to create requests, collections, and environments. The main interface is where you can see your requests and responses. Spend some time exploring the interface and familiarizing yourself with the different sections.
4. Create Your First Request: To create a new request, click on the “New” button in the top left corner of the interface and select “Request.” This will open a new window where you can enter the URL of the API endpoint you want to test.
5. Customize Your Request: You can customize your request by adding query parameters, headers, and a request body. These options are available in the different tabs on the right-hand side of the interface. You can also choose the request method, such as GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.
6. View the Response: After sending the request, you will see the response from the API endpoint in the “Response” tab on the right-hand side of the interface. You can view the response in different formats, including JSON, XML, and HTML.
7. Save Your Request: If you want to save your request for future use, click on the “Save” button in the top left corner of the interface. You can save your request as part of a collection, which allows you to group related requests together.
8. Test Your API: Once you’ve created your request, you can use Postman to test your API in a variety of ways. For example, you can create automated tests to ensure that your API is working as expected, or use the mock server to simulate the behavior of an API without having to build a backend.
9. Create Collections: Collections are a way to organize related requests together. You can create a new collection by clicking on the “New” button and selecting “Collection.” You can give your collection a name and add a description to help others understand what it contains.
10. Add Requests to Collections: To add requests to a collection, click on the collection in the sidebar, then click on the “Add Request” button. You can then enter the URL of the API endpoint you want to test, and customize your request as needed.
11. Add Variables to Your Environment: Postman allows you to define variables that can be used across requests. To add a variable, click on the “Environment” quick look tab in the top right corner of the interface, then click on the “Edit” button next to the environment you want to add variables to. You can then define your variables and use them in your requests.
12. Use Pre-Request and Post-Request Scripts: Pre-request scripts and post-request scripts are JavaScript code snippets that can be executed before or after a request is sent. To add a script, click on the “Pre-request Script” or “Tests” tab, then enter your code.
13. Use the Runner: The Runner is a tool that allows you to run multiple requests at once. You can select a collection and run all the requests in the collection, or you can create a new set of requests and run them as a series of tests.
14. Use the Mock Server: Postman’s mock server allows you to simulate the behavior of an API without having to build a backend. To use the mock server, click on the “New” button in the top left corner of the interface, then select “Mock Server.” You can then specify the URL of the mock server and define the responses that should be returned for different requests.

15. Collaborate with Your Team: Postman makes it easy to collaborate with your team members on API development. You can share collections and environments with your team members, and work together on the same requests and tests.
16. Explore Postman’s Features: Postman has many features beyond the basics outlined above. Some additional features include:

• Generating API documentation: Postman can automatically generate documentation for your API based on your requests and responses.
• Monitoring API performance: Postman can be used to monitor the performance of your API, and send alerts if performance falls below a certain threshold.
• Integrating with other tools: Postman can be integrated with other tools, such as Jira and GitHub, to create a seamless development workflow.

Postman has a lot of features and functionality, but these simple steps should help you get started. Spend some time exploring the interface and experimenting with different features to get the most out of this powerful tool.

Conclusion

Postman is an essential tool for any developer working with APIs. Its features, including the ability to create and save requests, organize requests into collections, and run automated tests, make it a powerful and efficient tool for API development and testing. With its collaborative features and easy integration with version control systems, Postman is also an excellent tool for teams working on API projects.