Making API Testing Simple with Katalon Studio

An Overview of Katalon Studio, an API Examination Mechanism

Being required to merge API automated assessments into my tasks, I researched and tinkered with a variety of mechanisms and assessment frameworks to concoct proofs of concept (POC).

Determining the optimal mechanism for my team, comprising a senior QA and four novice QAs was somewhat challenging. Many resources are available to assist in crafting durable, nimble, and manageable scripts. Nonetheless, a majority of these require advanced technical competence. Conversely, simpler mechanisms may be less challenging to operate but could yield frail and doubtful assessments.

What Makes Katalon Studio the Best Choice?

Like all mechanisms, Katalon Studio has its benefits and shortcomings.

When it concerns API assessments employing Java, Rest-assured is my mechanism of choice. It leverages Java’s capabilities to offer a durable and adjustable mode of API examination. However, I soon discovered that Rest-assured requires considerable programming prowess, which restricts its utilization to only the experienced QA members in my team. This constituted an obstacle since I required a tool that all team members could utilize.

To address this predicament, I researched other mechanisms featuring intuitive interfaces to enable automation assessments by all team members. This is when I chanced upon Katalon Studio, an uncomplicated yet formidable automation assessment tool.

My reasons for selecting Katalon Studio included:

• It gives a visual interface for the creation of automation examination scenarios.
• It avails integrated keywords which lessen the effort needed to construct examinations from scratch.
• It allows both manual and script modes to accommodate varying competence levels within the team.
• Has support for BDD Cucumber.
• Easy to install and operate, therefore suited for both technical and non-technical assessors.
• It is cross-platform and supports multiple mobile devices; works on regular operating systems and web browsers.
• Can tackle various examination types, including API, Web UI, and mobile.
• It fosters teamwork within the group, allowing everyone to concentrate on their examination duties.
• It enjoys a lively user community.
• Most importantly, it comes at no cost.

Let’s now delve into what I have learnt about Katalon Studio and how it addresses the examination requirements of my team.

You can delve into other tutorials on Katalon Studio:

Segment 1 – A Review of Katalon Studio
Segment 2 – Directions on Katalon Studio
Segment 3 – Streamlining API Assessments with Katalon Studio (This Tutorial)

How to Install Katalon Studio

Katalon Studio installation is effortless, with only two simple steps:

• Acquire the tool from this link
• Execute the tool and activate it employing a valid email address.

How to Craft an API Assessment

#1) We’ll commence by creating an assessment project:

Navigate to File => New => Project

Enter the project title and select its location to forge a new project.

The project is forged using a predefined folder structure to store different elements, exhibited in the Tests Explorer panel. The main folders comprise Test Cases, Object Repository, and Test Suites.

Object Repository holds all information concerning Web service endpoints, taking into account request methods, URLs, headers, content, and authentication specifications.

Test Cases, where all examination scenarios are organized. Each test case constitutes test steps illustrating a specific scenario.

Test Suites hold multiple test cases that confirm a specific aim. A Test Suite Collection is a group of test suites that confirm a broader target.

#2) Create a Web service endpoint.

All Web service endpoints are stored in Katalon Studio’s Object Repository.

To generate a fresh request, navigate to Object Repository => New => Web Service Request.

In the ‘Forge New Web Service Request’ dialog, provide the Name, Request Type, URL, and Description of the request. You can opt between RESTful or SOAP request types.

Click OK. You can then further specify the request specifics.

The following items need to be specified for a RESTful request:

#1) Request Method

Choose one of the four REST methods: GET, POST, PUT, or DELETE.

The method should correspond with the request URL. In the following example, the GET method is used to acquire information about an existing ticket in JIRA based on its ID.

#2) Request URL

The request URL specifies the address of the request (for instance, web server, port, and path).

#3) Authorization

Authorization is a crucial part of an API. It is employed to authenticate the user and authorize access to the request. Katalon Studio offers backing for common authentication methods, such as basic authentication.

Basic authentication requires a username and password. Ensure that you click ‘Update to HTTP Header’ to apply the credentials to the ‘HTTP Header’.

#4) Verification

Verification enables you to delineate assertions to affirm that the response carries the anticipated information.

The verification tab for a request bears similarities to the Script tab for a test case. It allows you to script custom scripts employing built-in keywords or Groovy/Java scripts to verify the response data. Katalon Studio provides integrated code snippets to simplify the creation of assertions.

To include verification scripts while sending the request, go with the ‘Test Request and Verify’ alternative (showcased in the screenshot above). This gives you the capability to effortlessly check the request status.

#5) Variables

Variables make API assessments more durable and dynamic by adopting a data-driven approach.

In Katalon Studio, every part of the request can be parameterized. This implies you can delineate variables for the URL, authentication, HTTP header, and HTTP body.

#6) Formatter

The response is automatically displayed in JSON, XML, HTML, or JavaScript format. The formatter helps visualize the response status more effectively.

Incorporating a Pre-Existing Request into a Test Case

A request can be inserted into a test case employing the built-in keywords availed by Katalon Studio for web services. These keywords give you the capability to send the request, confirm the response, and incorporate the request into the overall assessment flow.

<img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-39965″ src=”https://iptvassist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/10.-Add-an-existing-request-to-a-test-case-1.png” alt=’10. Add an existing request to a test case