Key considerations for API automation

Automating API tests involves a thorough understanding of the underlying business logic as well as the architectural nuances. Data and performance aspects of the API always pose a tough challenge when trying to run multiple iterations of API tests.

Effective API test automation

Let us now look at some chief considerations when automating API tests:

• Static data references must be eliminated wherever possible. These render the tests inextensible and isolated.
• Do more than happy path testing since API tests are quick to run and can provide feedback early in the product life cycle. Applicable product use cases should be tested to a greater extent via APIs. Consider mocking and stubbing to fill in gaps to complete the application flow.
• Since there is no frontend to check the test results, it is imperative to keep API tests clear with sufficient documentation. This helps especially in debugging when there are new failures in the...