# API Testing with Postman, Rest Assured, and SOAP UI - Course Outline
This comprehensive course covers API testing fundamentals and three major API testing tools. Here's an
expanded breakdown of the curriculum:
## Module 1: API Testing Basics
### Fundamentals
- **Client-Server Architecture**: Understanding request-response model
- **3-Tier Architecture**:
- Presentation layer (UI)
- Business logic layer (API)
- Database layer
- **API Concepts**: REST vs SOAP, endpoints, resources
- **Web Services**: Characteristics and types (SOAP, REST, GraphQL)
### Technical Components
- **HTTP Structure**:
- Request methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.)
- Headers, body, parameters
- **Data Formats**:
- XML structure and validation
- JSON syntax and schema validation
- **URI/URL Components**: Paths, query parameters, fragments
### Testing Aspects
- **Testing Approach**:
- Functional testing
- Performance testing
- Security testing
- **Key Test Areas**:
- Status codes verification
- Response payload validation
- Error handling
- Authorization/authentication
- **Common Challenges**: Versioning, documentation accuracy, test data management
## Module 2: Postman Tool
### Core Features
- **Installation**: Desktop vs Chrome app
- **Request Creation**:
- GET, POST, PUT, DELETE requests
- Query parameters
- Request bodies (form-data, raw, binary)
- **Collections**: Organization, sharing, documentation
### Advanced Features
- **Variables**:
- Global, collection, environment variables
- Dynamic variables
- **Environments**: Setup, switching between envs
- **Authorization**:
- Basic auth
- OAuth 1.0/2.0
- Bearer tokens
- AWS signature
### Testing Capabilities
- **Test Scripts**:
- JavaScript-based tests
- Chai assertion library
- Response validation
- **Automation**:
- Collection runner
- Newman for CI/CD integration
- **Mock Servers**: Creating mock endpoints
## Module 3: REST Assured
### Java-based API Testing
- **Setup**:
- Maven dependencies
- Eclipse/IntelliJ configuration
- TestNG/JUnit integration
- **Basic Tests**:
- GET request validation
- Status code assertions
- Header verification
### Advanced Testing
- **Response Handling**:
- JSON path extraction
- XML path evaluation
- Complex response validation
- **Request Building**:
- POST with body
- PUT/PATCH updates
- Multipart requests
- Query/path parameters
### Security Testing
- **Authentication**:
- Basic auth
- OAuth
- JWT tokens
- **Negative Testing**:
- Unauthorized access
- Invalid inputs
- Rate limiting
## Module 4: SOAP UI
### SOAP Web Services
- **SOAP Fundamentals**:
- WSDL understanding
- SOAP envelope structure
- XSD validation
- **SOAP vs REST**: Key differences and use cases
### SOAP UI Tool
- **Project Setup**:
- Importing WSDL
- Test suite organization
- Test case creation
- **Request Building**:
- SOAP XML construction
- Namespace handling
- Attachment support
### Testing Features
- **Assertions**:
- XPath assertions
- Schema compliance
- SOAP fault validation
- Response time thresholds
- **Advanced Features**:
- Data-driven testing
- Property transfer
- Load testing capabilities
- **ReadyAPI Features**: Commercial version enhancements
## Practical Components
- Hands-on exercises for each tool
- Real-world API testing scenarios
- Integration with CI/CD pipelines
- Best practices for API test automation
- Reporting and documentation techniques
This course provides a comprehensive journey from API fundamentals to advanced testing techniques
using three of the most popular API testing tools in the industry.
