When testing, consider these four key aspects of API testing:
1. Subtests Help Validate Each Method
Subtests help validate each method, class and API package. Subtests allow you to run browser tests within other browser tests to reuse existing workflows. This is especially useful when trying to reduce maintenance within a test suite when performing API testing.
With subtests as part of the basics of web API testing, your team should do the following:
- Setting up and upgrading API functions
- Perform basic API function tests
- Multiple method functionality (from the same or different APIs) in sequence mode
- Functionality of selected methods in isolation mode
- Complex method argument functionality with multiple levels
- Implement new or modified core functionality
- Record existing areas affected by new defects
- Functional safety test
2. The Authentication Methodology
The authentication methodology is included in this SFDC testing tutorial because it protects your application from unauthorized access to the code once the API layer is in place. A strong authentication method is strongly recommended when testing APIs because it protects the sensitive information that needs to be exchanged between the user and the server.
Our team recommends that you consider adding a two-factor authorization technique such as OAuth 2.0 for effective protection. OAuth 2.0 requires physical confirmation from the user via two-factor authentication to obtain an access token. OAuth 2.0 is recommended in this SFDC testing tutorial because it is very secure for accessing sensitive data and services and also helps the service provider to classify their client with the right permissions.
3. A Scenario-Based Test Environment
Use a scenario-based test environment for API functions with multiple input parameters. To make it clear in this SFDC testing tutorial, multiple input parameters allow you to test different input parameters simultaneously based on how to perform API testing with a structured automated test case configuration (as opposed to your manual QA test stuff).
Since multiple input parameters can handle all necessary data inputs, this process can ensure that all required workflows and responses to requests are validated during the testing process.
4. Web Interface Authentication
Web interface authentication is required for complex communication. As the foundation of web API Tester, data exchange is common between cloud, PC, or mobile applications and the associated web interface. API functions help maintain data consistency across all three channels.