Using Postman or cURL for API testingfor Drupal 8 , 9 , 10 , and 11

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As we progress in building and refining your headless Drupal application, mastering API testing becomes indispensable. Tools like Postman and cURL are crucial for checking your API endpoints, ensuring your application fulfills its intended functionality.

The Importance of API Testing

API testing certifies the integrity and performance of your application by validating API endpoint responses and operations. Regular testing empowers you to:

  • Ensure alignment with functional and business requirements.
  • Quickly pinpoint and fix errors or inconsistencies.
  • Validate frontend and backend service integration.
  • Enhance collaboration through documented test cases for team use.

Using Postman for API Testing

Postman provides a user-friendly interface for designing, testing, and documenting APIs. Here’s a guide on how to start API testing with Postman:

Step 1: Install Postman

Download Postman from the official website and install it on your machine.

Step 2: Testing Drupal JSON:API Endpoints

  1. Open Postman and create a new request.
  2. Select the request type (e.g., GET, POST) based on your needs.
  3. Enter the endpoint URL, such as http://example.com/jsonapi/node/article.
  4. Configure headers such as Content-Type: application/vnd.api+json for POST requests.
  5. Setup your authorization if the request requires authentication.
  6. Click 'Send' to execute the request and inspect the response.

Using cURL for API Testing

cURL is a command-line tool for data transfer across various protocols. It’s ideal for test automation scripts or when a graphical interface is unnecessary.

Example: Fetching Data with cURL

Performing a GET request:

curl -X GET "http://example.com/jsonapi/node/article"

This command retrieves all article nodes, displaying the JSON response directly in the terminal.

Example: Posting Data with cURL

For POST requests with authentication:


curl -X POST "http://example.com/jsonapi/node/article" \
     -H "Content-Type: application/vnd.api+json" \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN" \
     -d '{"data": {"type": "node--article", "attributes": {"title": "New Article"}}}'

Best Practices for API Testing

  • Tip: Regularly test your endpoints after changes to your Drupal setup, like module updates or configuration changes.
  • Maintain a collection of common tests to streamline repeated testing tasks.

Conclusion and What’s Next?

Choosing between a visual tool like Postman or the command-line simplicity of cURL depends on your needs. Both tools are vital for ensuring smooth operation in your headless Drupal configuration.

In the next lesson, we will explore how to create Functional Tests for REST/JSON:API, which will help you further solidify the testing framework for your Drupal application. Stay tuned!