Creating a test

Creating an API test involves the following three steps:

  1. Creating a request.
  2. Sending the request to an API endpoint.
  3. Generating a test from the response that's returned from the endpoint.

The following instructions show you how to create a test by using the HTTP Client.

What is the HTTP client?

After you log in to IBM API Connect Test APIs, you land on the HTTP Client.

Image of http client page

To reach the HTTP Client from any other page, click HTTP Client in the menu bar.

Step 1: Creating a request

The HTTP Client page contains the following three sections:

  1. The initial section is where you specify the request type, the URL, and any other parameters that are needed. It's also where the Send and Clear buttons are located.
  2. The central Headers and Body section is where you define the request headers and body.
  3. The Response section is where the headers and body of the response appear after you've sent the request. You don't need to do anything in this section.

The following instructions use GET https://us-east.apitest.apiconnect.ibmcloud.com/app/api/examples/retail/products for illustration purposes, which is a built-in API endpoint example. This example requires no parameters to be added to the URL, and requires no request headers or body to be supplied.

Set the request type

In the initial section of the HTTP Client, select the type of request that you want from the drop-down menu alongside the Request url field.

Image of http client request link

The following options are available:

  • GET
  • POST
  • PUT
  • PATCH
  • DELETE

For our example, select GET.

Set the API endpoint URL

In the initial section, complete the Request url field with the API endpoint URL. For our example, enter: https://us-east.apitest.apiconnect.ibmcloud.com/app/api/examples/retail/products.

Image of http client request url

Add parameters to the URL

If you are using a different API endpoint from our example, and it requires one or more parameters, click Params + next to the Request url field. A parameter line is added after the URL, which you can edit.

Image of http client request params

Enter a parameter as a key-value pair.

To add more parameters, click the add icon Image of add icon next to any defined parameter.

To remove a parameter, click the delete icon Image of delete icon next to the parameter.

Configure the request headers

In the central Headers and Body section of the HTTP Client, select the Headers tab. If you're using our example, you don't need to supply any headers.

Image of http client request headers

Define a header as key-value pair.

To add more headers, click the add icon Image of add icon next to any defined header.

To remove a header, click the delete icon Image of delete icon next to the header.

Configure the request body

In the central nHeaders and Body section of the HTTP Client, select the Body tab. This tab is not available if the request type is GET, so you don't need to complete this section if you're following our example.

Set the body type to either URL Encoded or Raw.

If you set the body type to URL Encoded, you must provide one or more key-value pairs.

  • To add more key-value pairs to the body, click the add icon Image of add icon next to any defined key-value pair.
  • To remove a key-value pair, click the delete icon Image of delete icon next to the key-value pair.

If you set the body type to Raw, you must complete the following actions:

  • Select the content type from the content type drop-down menu. The following options are available:
    • application/x-www-form-urlencoded
    • application/json
    • text/xml
    • text/plain
  • Complete the request body in the text box under the body type selection.

Step 2: Sending the request

Click Send in the initial section of the HTTP Client.

Image of http client request send button

The response from the endpoint is displayed in the Response section of the page. You can examine the returned headers and body by clicking the Headers and Body tabs in the response section.

Image of http client response headers

Step 3: Generating a test

Now that you've sent a request and received the response, you can generate the test.

Click Generate Test in the initial section of the HTTP Client.

Image of http client generate test button

Enter a test name.

Image of test name

From the Save to Test Suite drop-down menu, select a test suite name, or select Create new test suite to create your own test suite.

Image of select test suite dropdown

If you selected Create new test suite, enter a name for the test suite.

Image of test suite name textbox

Click the confirm icon Image of check mark icon to save the test and start the test generation.

Image of save test button

After generation is complete, the All set! page is displayed. This page confirms the creation of your generated test.

Click Close to continue.

Image of all set

You are now in the test editor, called the Composer. In the Composer you can edit and run the test.

Image of composer.

What to do next