Postman API Automation Questions

Provide important interview questions from Introduction to API Automation postman also include
answers to each question below

Here are some important interview questions related to API automation using Postman, along with
their answers:

1. What is Postman?

Answer:
Postman is a popular API development and testing tool that simplifies the process of developing APIs.
It allows users to send requests to APIs, receive responses, and organize their API testing in
collections. It provides features such as automated testing, monitoring, and API documentation,
making it an essential tool for developers and testers.

2. How do you create a request in Postman?

Answer:
To create a request in Postman:

1. Open Postman and click on the "New" button or the "+" tab to create a new request.
2. Select the HTTP method (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.) from the dropdown.
3. Enter the API endpoint URL in the request URL field.
4. If needed, add parameters, headers, and body data by clicking on the corresponding tabs.
5. Click the "Send" button to execute the request and view the response.

3. What is the difference between the GET and POST methods?

Answer:

GET: The GET method is used to retrieve data from a specified resource. It is idempotent,
meaning repeated calls to the same endpoint will yield the same result without side effects.
POST: The POST method is used to submit data to be processed to a specified resource, often
resulting in a change in state or side effects on the server. It is not idempotent, as repeated calls
can produce different results.

4. How can you manage and organize your API tests in Postman?

Answer:
Postman allows you to organize your API tests using:

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 Collections: Group related requests together in a collection for easier management.
Folders: Create folders within collections to further organize requests by categories or features.
Environments: Define environments with variables (e.g., base URLs, tokens) to easily switch
contexts and test different setups.

5. What are Postman Collections, and how are they used?

Answer:
Postman Collections are groups of API requests that can be organized logically. They can be used to:

Share API requests with team members.

Run multiple requests in sequence using the Collection Runner.
Generate documentation from the collection.
Export and import collections for collaboration.

6. How do you handle authentication in Postman?

Answer:
Postman supports several authentication methods:

Basic Auth: Enter a username and password in the "Authorization" tab.

Bearer Token: Use a token by selecting "Bearer Token" in the "Authorization" tab and entering
the token value.
OAuth 2.0: Configure OAuth 2.0 settings in the "Authorization" tab to obtain an access token
automatically.
API Key: Include API keys as query parameters or headers based on the API's requirements.

7. What are tests in Postman, and how can you write them?

Answer:
Tests in Postman are scripts written in JavaScript that run after a request is sent. You can write tests to
validate the response status, headers, and body. To write tests:

1. Go to the "Tests" tab of a request.

2. Use Postman’s test scripts syntax, such as:

javascript

pm.test("Status code is 200", function () {

pm.response.to.have.status(200);
});

3. Use `pm.response` to access response details and perform assertions.

8. What is the Collection Runner in Postman?

Answer:
The Collection Runner in Postman allows you to run all requests in a collection sequentially. You can
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 execute tests, see the results, and analyze the overall performance. You can also set up data files (e.g.,
CSV or JSON) to run tests with multiple data sets, enabling data-driven testing.

9. How can you export and import collections in Postman?

Answer:
To export a collection:

1. Click on the three dots next to the collection name.

2. Select "Export" and choose the format (e.g., JSON).
3. Save the file to your system.

To import a collection:

1. Click on the "Import" button in the top left corner.

2. Upload the exported JSON file or paste the raw JSON directly.
3. The collection will be added to your Postman workspace.

10. What is the use of environment variables in Postman?

Answer:
Environment variables in Postman are used to store and manage dynamic values that can be reused
across requests. This allows for easier testing across different environments (e.g., development,
staging, production) without changing the requests manually. You can set variables for URLs, tokens,
or any other frequently used data, and reference them in requests using the syntax
`{{variable_name}}`.

These questions cover a range of topics regarding Postman and API automation, providing a solid
foundation for an interview. Let me know if you need more questions or specific topics!

Provide important interview questions from Basics of REST APIs also include answers to each
question below

Here are some important interview questions related to the basics of REST APIs, along with their
answers:

1. What is a REST API?

Answer:
A REST API (Representational State Transfer API) is an architectural style for designing networked
applications. It uses HTTP requests to perform operations on resources identified by URLs. REST APIs
are stateless, meaning each request from a client contains all the information needed to process it.
They typically use standard HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.

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 2. What are the key principles of REST?

Answer:
The key principles of REST include:

Statelessness: Each request from the client to the server must contain all the information
needed to understand and process the request.
Client-Server Architecture: The client and server are separate entities, allowing them to evolve
independently.
Uniform Interface: A consistent way of communicating between client and server, using
standard methods and conventions.
Resource Representation: Resources are represented in various formats (e.g., JSON, XML) and
can be manipulated using standard HTTP methods.
Cacheability: Responses must define whether they are cacheable to improve performance.

3. What is a resource in REST?

Answer:
A resource in REST is any piece of information that can be identified and represented. It can be a
document, image, or collection of data. Resources are typically represented using a URL (Uniform
Resource Locator) and can have various representations (e.g., JSON, XML) that are returned to the
client when requested.

4. What are HTTP methods, and how are they used in REST?

Answer:
HTTP methods define the action to be performed on a resource. The most commonly used methods in
REST are:

GET: Retrieve a resource.

POST: Create a new resource.
PUT: Update an existing resource or create a new one if it doesn’t exist.
DELETE: Remove a resource.
PATCH: Partially update an existing resource.

5. What is the difference between PUT and PATCH?

Answer:

PUT: The PUT method is used to update an entire resource. If a resource does not exist, it can
create a new one at the specified URI. The client sends the complete representation of the
resource.
PATCH: The PATCH method is used to apply partial modifications to a resource. The client sends
only the changes, rather than the complete resource representation.

6. What is the significance of status codes in REST APIs?

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 Answer:
Status codes in REST APIs indicate the outcome of an HTTP request. They help clients understand the
result of their request. Common status codes include:

200 OK: The request was successful.

201 Created: A new resource has been created.
204 No Content: The request was successful, but there is no content to return.
400 Bad Request: The server could not understand the request due to invalid syntax.
401 Unauthorized: Authentication is required and has failed or has not been provided.
404 Not Found: The requested resource could not be found.
500 Internal Server Error: A generic error occurred on the server.

7. What are the common data formats used in REST APIs?

Answer:
Common data formats used in REST APIs include:

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): A lightweight format that is easy to read and write for
humans and machines, widely used in REST APIs.
XML (eXtensible Markup Language): A markup language that is more verbose than JSON but
can describe complex data structures.
YAML (YAML Ain't Markup Language): A human-readable data serialization format often used
in configuration files.

8. What is HATEOAS in REST?

Answer:
HATEOAS (Hypermedia as the Engine of Application State) is a constraint of the REST application
architecture. It allows clients to navigate the API dynamically by providing hypermedia links with
responses. These links inform the client about available actions they can take next, enhancing the
discoverability of the API without hardcoding URIs.

9. What is API versioning, and why is it important?

Answer:
API versioning is the practice of managing changes to an API over time. It is important because:

It allows the API to evolve without breaking existing clients.

It helps manage compatibility and deprecate older versions safely.
It provides a clear path for developers to transition to newer versions while still accessing the
previous functionality.

Common versioning strategies include URL versioning (e.g., `/api/v1/resource`), header versioning,
and query parameter versioning.

10. How do you handle errors in REST APIs?

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 Answer:
Errors in REST APIs can be handled by:

Returning appropriate HTTP status codes (e.g., 400, 404, 500) to indicate the nature of the error.
Including a JSON or XML response body that provides details about the error, such as an error
code, message, and possibly additional debugging information. For example:

json

{
"error": {
"code": "INVALID_REQUEST",
"message": "The request is missing required parameters."
}
}

This approach helps clients understand what went wrong and how to address it.

These questions and answers cover essential concepts related to REST APIs and can serve as a good
preparation guide for interviews. Let me know if you need more questions or any specific topics!

Provide important questions from HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.) also include
answers to each question below

Here are some important interview questions related to HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.),
along with their answers:

1. What are HTTP methods?

Answer:
HTTP methods are standardized request types used by clients to communicate with servers over the
web. Each method defines a specific action to be performed on a resource identified by a URL. The
most common HTTP methods include GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH, and OPTIONS.

2. What is the GET method?

Answer:
The GET method is used to retrieve data from a specified resource. It is idempotent, meaning that
multiple identical requests will yield the same result without changing the state of the resource. GET
requests can include parameters in the URL to filter or modify the data returned by the server.

3. What is the POST method?

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 Answer:
The POST method is used to submit data to the server to create a new resource. The data is sent in the
request body. Unlike GET, POST requests can change the server's state, as they often result in the
creation of new resources. POST requests are not idempotent; repeated submissions can result in
multiple new resources being created.

4. What is the PUT method?

Answer:
The PUT method is used to update an existing resource or create a new resource at a specified URI if it
does not exist. The client sends the complete representation of the resource in the request body. PUT
requests are idempotent; multiple identical requests will produce the same result without additional
changes to the resource.

5. What is the DELETE method?

Answer:
The DELETE method is used to remove a specified resource from the server. Upon a successful DELETE
request, the resource should be deleted, and the server typically responds with a status code
indicating the result (e.g., 204 No Content). DELETE requests are idempotent; sending the same
request multiple times will have the same effect as sending it once (the resource remains deleted).

6. What is the PATCH method?

Answer:
The PATCH method is used to apply partial modifications to an existing resource. Unlike PUT, which
requires the complete representation of a resource, PATCH requests include only the changes. This
makes PATCH more efficient for updates that do not require altering the entire resource.

7. What is the OPTIONS method?

Answer:
The OPTIONS method is used to describe the communication options for the target resource. It allows
clients to discover the allowed HTTP methods (e.g., GET, POST, DELETE) and other capabilities
supported by the server for that resource. This is often used in CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing)
scenarios to determine whether a cross-origin request is permitted.

8. When would you use GET vs. POST?

Answer:

Use GET: When you want to retrieve data without causing any side effects on the server. GET
requests are suitable for fetching information, like reading a database entry.
Use POST: When you need to submit data to the server, such as creating a new resource or
submitting a form. POST requests can change the server state or cause side effects.

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 9. What are some common status codes associated with each HTTP method?

Answer:

GET:
200 OK: The request was successful, and data is returned.
404 Not Found: The requested resource does not exist.
POST:
201 Created: A new resource was successfully created.
400 Bad Request: The request could not be understood or was missing required
parameters.
PUT:
200 OK: The resource was successfully updated.
204 No Content: The update was successful, but there is no content to return.
DELETE:
204 No Content: The resource was successfully deleted.
404 Not Found: The resource to delete does not exist.

10. What is idempotence, and which HTTP methods are idempotent?

Answer:
Idempotence is a property of certain operations where performing the same action multiple times
produces the same result as doing it once. In HTTP methods:

Idempotent methods: GET, PUT, DELETE, and OPTIONS. Repeated requests yield the same
outcome.
Non-idempotent method: POST. Repeated submissions can create multiple resources or change
the server state differently.

These questions and answers cover the essential aspects of HTTP methods and their usage. Let me
know if you need further details or additional questions!

Provide important questions from Status codes and responses also include answers to each
question below

Here are some important interview questions related to HTTP status codes and responses, along with
their answers:

1. What are HTTP status codes?

Answer:
HTTP status codes are three-digit numbers returned by a server in response to a client's request. They
indicate the outcome of the request and provide information about the success or failure of the
operation. Status codes are categorized into five classes based on their first digit:
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 1xx (Informational): Request received and processing is continuing.
2xx (Successful): Request successfully processed.
3xx (Redirection): Further action is needed to complete the request.
4xx (Client Error): There was an error with the client's request.
5xx (Server Error): The server failed to fulfill a valid request.

2. What does a 200 OK status code mean?

Answer:
The 200 OK status code indicates that the request was successful and that the server has returned the
requested data in the response body. This is the most common status code for successful HTTP
requests.

3. What does a 201 Created status code signify?

Answer:
The 201 Created status code indicates that a new resource has been successfully created in response
to a POST request. The server typically includes the URI of the newly created resource in the
`Location` header of the response.

4. What does a 204 No Content status code indicate?

Answer:
The 204 No Content status code means that the server has successfully processed the request, but
there is no content to return in the response body. This status is commonly used for successful
DELETE requests or PUT requests where the server has updated a resource.

5. What is the meaning of a 400 Bad Request status code?

Answer:
The 400 Bad Request status code indicates that the server could not understand the request due to
invalid syntax. This usually occurs when the client sends malformed or incomplete data in the request.

6. What does a 401 Unauthorized status code mean?

Answer:
The 401 Unauthorized status code means that the request requires user authentication and that the
provided credentials are either missing or invalid. The server response may include a `WWW-
Authenticate` header, indicating how to authenticate.

7. What does a 403 Forbidden status code signify?

Answer:
The 403 Forbidden status code indicates that the server understood the request, but it refuses to
authorize it. This may occur due to insufficient permissions or access rights for the requested
resource.

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 8. What is the meaning of a 404 Not Found status code?

Answer:
The 404 Not Found status code indicates that the server cannot find the requested resource. This
could happen if the resource has been deleted, moved, or the URL is incorrect.

9. What does a 500 Internal Server Error status code indicate?

Answer:
The 500 Internal Server Error status code signifies that the server encountered an unexpected
condition that prevented it from fulfilling the request. This is a generic error message and does not
provide specific details about the issue.

10. What are 3xx status codes, and can you provide examples?

Answer:
3xx status codes indicate that further action is needed to complete the request, typically involving
redirection. Examples include:

301 Moved Permanently: The requested resource has been permanently moved to a new URI.
302 Found: The requested resource is temporarily located at a different URI.
303 See Other: The response to the request can be found at another URI, and the client should
perform a GET request to that location.
304 Not Modified: The resource has not been modified since the last request, allowing the client
to use the cached version.

These questions and answers cover the essential aspects of HTTP status codes and responses. If you
need further details or additional questions, feel free to ask!

Provide important questions from web naming and addressing also include answers to each
question below

Here are some important interview questions related to web naming and addressing, along with their
answers:

1. What is a URL?

Answer:
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address used to access resources on the internet. It specifies
the location of a resource and the protocol used to retrieve it. A URL typically consists of several
components, including the protocol (e.g., HTTP or HTTPS), domain name, path, and query parameters.
For example, `https://www.example.com/path/to/resource?query=parameter`.

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 2. What is a domain name?

Answer:
A domain name is a human-readable address used to identify a location on the internet. It translates
to an IP address through the Domain Name System (DNS). Domain names are structured
hierarchically, with levels separated by dots. For example, in `www.example.com`, "example" is the
second-level domain, and "com" is the top-level domain (TLD).

3. What is DNS and how does it work?

Answer:
DNS (Domain Name System) is a system that translates human-readable domain names into IP
addresses, allowing browsers to locate and access resources on the internet. When a user types a URL
into a browser, the DNS query goes through several steps:

1. The browser checks its cache for the IP address.

2. If not found, it queries a DNS resolver.
3. The resolver queries the root DNS servers and then the appropriate TLD server.
4. Finally, it queries the authoritative DNS server for the specific domain to obtain the IP address,
which is then used to access the resource.

4. What is the difference between a domain name and an IP address?

Answer:

Domain Name: A human-readable identifier used to access websites (e.g., `www.example.com`). It

is easier for users to remember and type.
IP Address: A numerical label assigned to each device connected to a network, used to identify
and locate devices on the internet (e.g., `192.0.2.1`). IP addresses are in a format that machines
understand, such as IPv4 (32-bit) or IPv6 (128-bit).

5. What is an IP address?

Answer:
An IP address (Internet Protocol address) is a unique identifier assigned to devices connected to a
network. It facilitates communication between devices on the internet. There are two main types of IP
addresses:

IPv4: A 32-bit address format expressed as four decimal numbers separated by dots (e.g.,
`192.168.1.1`).
IPv6: A 128-bit address format expressed as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits separated
by colons (e.g., `2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334`).

6. What is the difference between static and dynamic IP addresses?

Answer:

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 Static IP Address: A permanent address assigned to a device, which does not change over time.
Static IPs are often used for servers or devices that need constant access.
Dynamic IP Address: A temporary address assigned to a device by a DHCP (Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol) server. Dynamic IPs can change each time a device connects to the
network, making them more cost-effective for ISPs.

7. What is a top-level domain (TLD)?

Answer:
A top-level domain (TLD) is the last segment of a domain name, following the final dot. TLDs can be
categorized into several types:

Generic TLDs (gTLDs): Such as `.com`, `.org`, and `.net`.

Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs): Such as `.uk` for the United Kingdom or `.in` for India.
Sponsored TLDs: Restricted to specific communities, such as `.edu` for educational institutions
or `.gov` for government entities.

8. What is a subdomain?

Answer:
A subdomain is a domain that is part of a larger domain. It precedes the main domain name and is
separated by a dot. Subdomains are used to organize and categorize different sections of a website.
For example, in `blog.example.com`, "blog" is the subdomain of the main domain "example.com."

9. What is the purpose of a URL shortener?

Answer:
A URL shortener is a service that converts long URLs into shorter, more manageable links. This can
improve user experience by making links easier to share and remember, especially on platforms with
character limits (e.g., Twitter). URL shorteners can also provide analytics on link performance, such as
click-through rates.

10. What are URI and URL, and how are they different?

Answer:

URI (Uniform Resource Identifier): A string of characters that uniquely identifies a resource. It
can be a URL or a URN (Uniform Resource Name).
URL (Uniform Resource Locator): A specific type of URI that provides the means to access a
resource by specifying its location on the network (e.g., `https://www.example.com`).
Difference: All URLs are URIs, but not all URIs are URLs. URIs can also identify resources without
providing their location.

These questions and answers cover the essential aspects of web naming and addressing. If you need
further details or additional questions, feel free to ask!

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 any more on last topics?

Here are some additional interview questions related to web naming and addressing, along with their
answers:

11. What is the purpose of the `www` subdomain?

Answer:
The `www` subdomain traditionally indicates that a server is serving web content. It stands for "World
Wide Web." While it was once common practice to include `www` in domain names (e.g.,
`www.example.com`), many websites now function without it (e.g., `example.com`). The choice to use
`www` or not often comes down to personal preference and DNS configuration.

12. What is a canonical URL?

Answer:
A canonical URL is the preferred version of a set of duplicate pages that search engines should index.
It helps prevent issues with duplicate content by specifying the "canonical" or primary URL for a
webpage. This is often indicated in the HTML header with a `<link rel="canonical"
href="https://www.example.com/page" />` tag.

13. What is DNS propagation?

Answer:
DNS propagation refers to the time it takes for changes to DNS records (such as domain registration,
IP address updates, or changes to DNS settings) to be updated and reflected across the internet. This
process can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours, depending on TTL (Time to Live) settings
and how DNS servers cache information.

14. What is the difference between a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and a
regular domain name?

Answer:
A fully qualified domain name (FQDN) is the complete domain name for a specific computer, host, or
service on the internet, including all levels of the domain. It specifies the exact location within the DNS
hierarchy. For example, `www.example.com` is an FQDN, while `example.com` is just the base domain
name. The FQDN is essential for identifying resources uniquely.

15. What is a reverse DNS lookup?

Answer:
A reverse DNS lookup is the process of determining the domain name associated with a given IP
address. This is the opposite of a standard DNS lookup, which resolves a domain name to its

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 corresponding IP address. Reverse DNS lookups can be useful for verifying the identity of servers and
improving security.

16. What is a DNS zone?

Answer:
A DNS zone is a distinct part of the domain name space for which administrative responsibility has
been delegated. It contains DNS records for a specific domain and can include records such as A,
AAAA, CNAME, MX, and TXT. A DNS zone defines how domain names within that zone are managed
and resolved.

17. What is the role of a DNS resolver?

Answer:
A DNS resolver is a server that receives DNS queries from clients (such as browsers) and resolves
those queries by retrieving the corresponding IP address from the DNS hierarchy. The resolver
typically caches responses to reduce the load on authoritative DNS servers and improve query
response times.

18. What are the components of a URL?

Answer:
A URL typically consists of the following components:

Protocol: The method used to access the resource (e.g., `http`, `https`, `ftp`).
Hostname: The domain name or IP address of the server (e.g., `www.example.com`).
Port: The network port used to connect to the server (optional, e.g., `:80` for HTTP).
Path: The specific location of the resource on the server (e.g., `/path/to/resource`).
Query: A set of parameters sent to the server (optional, e.g., `?key1=value1&key2=value2`).
Fragment: A section of the resource (optional, e.g., `#section1`).

19. What is a wildcard DNS record?

Answer:
A wildcard DNS record is a record that matches requests for non-existent domain names. It is specified
with an asterisk (*) as a placeholder. For example, a wildcard record for `*.example.com` would match
requests for any subdomain of `example.com` that does not have a specific record, such as
`test.example.com` or `anything.example.com`.

20. What is an IP address range?

Answer:
An IP address range defines a contiguous block of IP addresses. It is commonly used in networking
and subnetting. An example of an IP address range is `192.168.1.0/24`, which indicates all IP
addresses from `192.168.1.0` to `192.168.1.255` in a subnet defined by the subnet mask `/24`
(255.255.255.0). This is useful for assigning IP addresses to devices within a specific network.

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 These additional questions and answers further cover the key concepts of web naming and
addressing. If you have any more specific areas you’d like to explore or need additional questions, just
let me know!
ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

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