This article will discuss the following practices that can make our Postman good.
Before we go towards Good Practices, we have to understand what is Postman ?, So let’s have a quick look at Postman
Postman is a powerful tool that helps developers to streamline the process of API development and testing.
Formal Definition of Postman
Postman can be defined as a software testing API platform that integrates a simple Graphic User Interface with an intention of an easy view of the HTTP requests and responses in the system. The impressive feature of postman is that you don’t need to write an HTTP client network code but can instead build test suites called collections which will then help the interaction between Postman and the API.
Concepts to know while learning Postman
API
API or Application Programming Interface is a simple and flexible way to communicate (fetch or give information) between web services. When we use any the applications like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, we use an API.
HTTP
Hypertext Transfer Protocol or HTTP is the communication between clients and servers in the form of requests and responses. A client sends an HTTP request using a browser to the server where the request is then processed. Following is the response the server sends to a client. All kinds of data can be transmitted via HTTP like text, images, audio, video, etc. The most used HTTP operations are GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE.
Collection
The collection is a grouping of requests that are related to each other. It can include one or more requests, along with any associated data, scripts, and documentation. Collections can be organized in folders to help manage and categorize requests.
Request
Requests are HTTP messages that are sent by Postman to a server or API endpoint. They can be configured to include various types of data, such as query parameters, headers, request bodies, and authentication credentials. Once a request is sent, Postman displays the response from the server, which can include data, status codes, headers, and other information.
So now come to the best practices which should we follow while making our API collection
- Use Collections: Collections are a way to group related requests together in Postman. By using collections, you can organize your requests into logical groups and make it easier to manage them. You can also share collections with other team members, which can help to improve collaboration.
- Use Environments: Environments allow you to define variables that can be used across multiple requests. For example, you could define a base URL variable that is used in all of your requests. By using environments, you can make your requests more flexible and reduce the amount of duplication.
- Use Tests: Tests are a way to validate the response from an API request. By using tests, you can ensure that your API is functioning correctly and handling errors as expected. You can also use tests to validate the format of the response, such as checking that the response contains a specific key or value.
- Use Pre-Request and Post-Request Scripts: Pre-request and post-request scripts allow you to execute code before and after a request is made. This can be useful for tasks such as setting headers, logging information, or processing the response data.
- Use the History and Console Tabs: The History and Console tabs in Postman are useful for debugging and troubleshooting. The History tab shows a log of all the requests that have been made, while the Console tab shows any errors or warnings that have been generated during the request.
- Use Descriptive Names and Labels: When creating requests, use descriptive names and labels that accurately reflect what the request is doing. This makes it easier to understand what the request is doing and helps to reduce confusion.
By following these best practices, you can make the most of Postman and improve the quality of your APIs. Whether you are working on a small project or a large-scale API development effort, Postman can help you to streamline the process and deliver better results.
