API Testing Interview Questions
APIs are a critical part of the modern web, as they allow developers to share data across different platforms.
As a software tester, you may have been asked to test an API. If so, you’ll want to know the best way to approach this task from both a technical and non-technical standpoint. In order to do so, it’s important that you have a strong understanding of what APIs are and how they work.
In this blog post, we’ll be going over some of the most frequently asked Web API testing interview questions and answers. We will discuss what they are and how to answer them as well as provide a list of other related topics that you should know.
Before going ahead, let’s see some unavoidable Interview Questions which every hiring manager asks you in any Software Testing interview.
Let’s move with the actual post on API Interview Questions And Answers.
Best Web API Testing Interview Questions
Before going ahead, I would like to let you know that we have another post where we covered 30+ Postman Interview Questions separately.
1. What is an API?
API is an acronym and it stands for Application Programming Interface. API is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building Software Applications. APIs specify how one software program should interact with other software programs.
In simple words, API stands for Application Programming Interface. API acts as an interface between two software applications and allows the two software applications to communicate with each other. API is a collection of software functions that can be executed by another software program.
2. What is API Testing?
API testing is a type of software testing that involves testing APIs directly and also as a part of integration testing to check whether the API meets expectations in terms of functionality, reliability, performance, and security of an application. In API Testing our main focus will be on the Business logic layer of the software architecture. API testing can be performed on any software system which contains multiple APIs.
3. What are the common API Testing Types?
API testing typically involves the following practices:
- Unit testing
- Functional testing
- Load testing
- Runtime/ Error Detection
- Security testing
- UI testing
- Interoperability and WS Compliance testing
- Penetration testing
- Fuzz testing
Learn more on API Testing Types
4. Name some of the common protocols used in API Testing?
Some of the protocols using in API Testing are as follows:
- HTTP
- REST
- SOAP
- JMS
- UDDI
What are some of the architectural styles for creating a Web API?
Some of the architectural styles for creating web api are as follows.
- Simple URI as the address for the services
- Stateless communication
- HTTP for client-server communication
- XML/JSON as formatting language
What is API test environment?
In API testing environment, no GUI (Graphical User Interface) is available.
For API, the test environment is a rather sophisticated approach that configures the server and database to match the requirement of the software application. After the installation process is done, API will be verified for correct functioning.
Throughout the process, various parameters for the original environment are established via API calls to examine the test results.
5. Difference between API and Web services?
Web services:
1. All web services are APIs
2. All web services need to be exposed over web(HTTP)
3. A Web service uses only three styles of use: SOAP, REST and XML-RPC for communication
4. A Web service always needs a network to operate
APIs:
1. All APIs are not web services
2. All APIs need not be exposed over web(i.e. HTTP)
3. API uses multiple ways for communication e.g. DLL files in C/C++, Jar files/ RMI in java, Interrupts in Linux kernel API etc.
4. APIs don’t need a network for operation
6. What is Soap?
SOAP stands for Simple Object Access Protocol. It is an XML based messaging protocol. It helps in exchanging information among computers.
7. What is Rest API?
REST stands for Representational State Transfer. It is a set of functions helping developers in performing requests and receive responses. Interaction is made through HTTP Protocol in REST API.
8. Difference between SOAP and REST?
SOAP:
1. SOAP is a protocol through which two computers communicate by sharing XML document
2. SOAP supports only XML format
3. SOAP does not support caching
4. SOAP is slower than REST
5. SOAP is like a custom desktop application, closely connected to the server
6. SOAP runs on HTTP but envelopes the message
REST:
1. REST is a service architecture and design for network-based software architecture
2. REST supports different data formats
3. REST supports caching
4. REST is faster than SOAP
5. REST client is just like a browser and uses standard methods An application has to fit inside it
6. REST uses the HTTP headers to hold meta information
9. What are the common tests that are performed on APIs?
Some of the common tests we perform on APIs are as follows.
1. Verify whether the return value is based on the input condition. The response of the APIs should be verified based on the request.
2. Verify whether the system is authenticating the outcome when the API is updating any data structure
3. Verify whether the API triggers some other event or request another API
4. Verify the behavior of the API when there is no return value
10. What are the advantages of API Testing?
- API Testing is time effective when compared to GUI Testing. API test automation requires less code so it can provide faster and better test coverage.
- API Testing helps us to reduce the testing cost. With API Testing we can find minor bugs before the GUI Testing. These minor bugs will become bigger during GUI Testing. So finding those bugs in the API Testing will be cost-effective to the Company.
- API Testing is language independent.
- API Testing is quite helpful in testing Core Functionality. We can test the APIs without a user interface. In GUI Testing, we need to wait until the application is available to test the core functionalities.
- API Testing helps us to reduce the risks.
11. What exactly needs to be verified in API Testing?
Basically, on API Testing, we send a request to the API with the known data and we analyze the response.
1. Data accuracy
2. HTTP status codes
3. Response time
4. Error codes in case API return any errors
5. Authorization checks
6. Non-functional testing such as performance testing, security testing
12. Name some tools used for API Testing?
Some of the tools used for API Testing are as follows:
- Postman
- Katalon Studio
- SoapUI
- Assertible
- Tricentis Tosca
- Apigee
- JMeter
- Rest-Assured
- Karate DSL
- API Fortress
- Parasoft
- HP QTP(UFT)
- vREST
- Airborne
- API Science
- APIary Inspector
- Citrus Framework
- Hippie-Swagger
- HttpMaster Express
- Mockbin
- Ping API
- Pyresttest
- Rest Console
- RoboHydra Server
- SOAP Sonar
- Unirest
- WebInject
Learn more on API Testing Tools
13. List some most used templates for API documentation?
Some of the API documentation templates are as follows.
- Swagger
- FlatDoc
- RestDoc
- API blueprint
- Slate
- Miredot
- Web service API Specification.
14. Name some of the API examples which are quite popular.
Some of the popular API examples are
- Google Maps API
- YouTube
- Amazon Advertising API
15. Difference between API testing and Unit Testing?
UNIT TESTING:
- Unit testing is conducted by the Development Team
- Unit testing is a form of White box testing
- Unit testing is conducted prior to the process of including the code in the build
- Source code is involved in Unit testing
- In unit testing, the scope of testing is limited, so only basic functionalities are considered for testing
API TESTING:
- API testing is conducted by QA Team
- API testing is a form of Black box testing
- API testing is conducted after the build is ready for testing
- Source code is not involved in API testing
- In API testing, the scope of testing is wide, so all the issues that are functional are considered for testing
16. What are the main challenges faced in API testing?
Some of the challenges we face while doing API testing are as follows
- Selecting proper parameters and its combinations
- Categorizing the parameters properly
- Proper call sequencing is required as this may lead to inadequate coverage in testing
- Verifying and validating the output
- Due to the absence of GUI, it is quite difficult to provide input values
17. What are the types of bugs we face when performing API testing?
Issues observed when performing API testing are
- Stress, performance, and security issues
- Duplicate or missing functionality
- Reliability issues
- Improper messaging
- Incompatible error handling mechanism
- Multi-threaded issues
- Improper errors
18. How is UI testing is not similar to API testing?
UI (User Interface) testing is to test the graphical interface part of the application. Its main focus is to test the look and feel of an application. On the other hand, API testing enables the communication between two different software systems. Its main focus is in the business layer of the application.
19. Name some most commonly used HTTP methods?
Some of the HTTP methods are
GET: It enables you to retrieve data from a server
POST: It enables you to add data to an existing file or resource in a server
PUT: It lets you replace an existing file or resource in a server
DELETE: It lets you delete data from a server
PATCH: It is used to apply partial modifications to a resource
OPTIONS: It is used to describe the communication options for the target resource
HEAD: It asks for a response identical to that of a GET request, but without the response body
20. Can you use GET request instead of PUT to create a resource?
No, GET request only allows read only rights. It enables you to retrieve data from a server but not create a resource. PUT or POST methods should be used to create a resource.
21. What is the difference between PUT and POST methods?
PUT and POST methods are sometimes confused in regards to when each should be used. Using POST request, our intent is to create a new object on the server whereas with PUT request, our intent is to replace an object by another object.
POST should be used when the client sends the page to the server and then the server lets the client know where it put it. PUT should be used when the client specifies the location of the page
Don’t Miss:
Here I have hand-picked a few posts which will help you to learn more interview related stuff:
- Postman Tutorial (Beginner to Advanced Level)
- SOAP Interview Questions
- Manual Testing Interview Questions
- Agile Interview Questions
- Selenium Interview Questions
- Java Interview Questions
- TestNG Interview Questions
- SQL Interview Questions
- General Interview Questions
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Thank you Rajkumar, for sharing such a helpful article.
Thanks Raj a helpful article for Fresher & Experience people also.