Supercharge Your API Testing for Seamless Integration

API testing is the process of testing the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that are used to communicate between different software components or systems. It is an essential part of the software development process that improves the quality and reliability of the software. According to Akamai’s State of the Internet report, API calls make up 83% of all traffic on the web.

Why is API testing an important part of any software development timeline?

Detects Bugs Early:

APIs can be tested without a user interface to check the application’s core functionality and since APIs are the primary means of communication between different software components, it is crucial to test them thoroughly. By testing the APIs early in the development process, we can identify and fix any issues before they become more difficult and costly to fix.

Ensures Compatibility:

API testing ensures that the software is compatible with different platforms and devices. Since APIs are designed to communicate between different systems and platforms, it is important to ensure that they work seamlessly across different environments. API testing helps in identifying any compatibility issues and allows us to fix them before releasing the software.

Improves Security:

API testing helps in identifying security vulnerabilities in the software. Since APIs are exposed to the external facing systems, they are more susceptible to security threats. By testing the APIs thoroughly, we can identify any security vulnerabilities and take appropriate measures to secure the software.

Increases Efficiency:

APIs use formats such as XML and JSON to exchange data. This means they are language independent so we can use any language to create test automation suites. By automating the testing process, we can test the APIs quickly and efficiently. This saves time and improves the quality of the software by ensuring that all the APIs are thoroughly tested. API testing typically takes a fraction of the time it takes to perform complete GUI regression testing.  Hence errors can be found and fixed faster and more efficiently, and new builds can be released faster.

Reduces Costs:

Testing APIs helps to find defects in the core functions before being tested in the GUI. These defects can potentially become bigger issues during GUI testing, so if we can find and fix defects during API testing it saves time and money. By detecting bugs early and ensuring compatibility, we can avoid costly fixes later in development. Additionally, by automating the testing process, we can save time and reduce the cost of manual testing.

Enhances User Experience:

API testing helps in enhancing the user experience of the software. By ensuring that the APIs work seamlessly, we can ensure that the software performs well and is easy to use. This improves the user experience and increases the likelihood of user adoption.

API testing techniques can be successfully executed by leveraging expertise and automation accelerators in API testing. It is helpful in improving the quality and reliability of APIs, while also reducing time and cost associated with testing.

Leading banks in Ireland are looking to develop brand-new portals for home mortgage applications and are completing API testing phases with Sogeti. It is helping them uncover business critical issues and validations which were missed in the requirements, thus reducing time to market, and further save testing time during System Integration testing phase.

In conclusion, API testing is an essential part of the software development process that improves the quality and reliability of the software. It helps in detecting bugs early, ensuring compatibility, improving security, increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing the user experience. As such, API testing should be a priority for all software development teams, and organizations should invest in the necessary tools and resources to support this critical process.

Contact our team to learn more on how our accelerators in API testing improves the software development process.