A plugin serves as a valuable ally for your software, providing additional features and functionalities to the tools you already use. It's like adding an extra tool to your toolbox, streamlining your work, and making tasks more efficient.
When it comes to API plugins, key features can significantly elevate your API testing experience. A top-notch API plugin offers a user-friendly interface for seamless request and response management, empowering you to interact with the API effortlessly. It also supports automated testing, reducing the need for manual intervention and boosting overall productivity.
Furthermore, collaboration becomes a breeze with a plugin that facilitates seamless sharing of your work, allowing your team to work together effectively. Simplify the process of creating API documentation with a helpful plugin, ensuring others can easily understand and utilize your API.
Lastly, a reliable plugin should handle various API types, such as REST, SOAP, or GraphQL, with ease.
In this article, we will delve into the world of API testing and explore the remarkable capabilities of Postman Plugin - a powerful add-on that enhances your API testing workflow.
Chrome Plugin for Postman
Postman is a tool that many people use when they work with APIs. It's simple to use but also has many helpful features.
Kim Haewon
History and Evolution of Postman Plugin
Postman first started as a small project to help test APIs. It was just a Google Chrome extension when it was first launched in 2012. But it quickly became trendy and grew into a standalone app.
Postman has added many new features over the years. It has changed from a simple HTTP client to a powerful tool that supports all parts of the API lifecycle.
List of Plugins of Postman for Chrome
Postman, being a widely used tool for API development, has a rich ecosystem of plugins and integrations to enhance its capabilities and connect it with other software development tools. Below are some of the critical plugins and integrations and how they can be helpful:
- Newman: It's like a helper that lets you use Postman from your computer's command line instead of opening the app. Very handy when you want to run tests automatically.
- Postman Monitors: Think of this as your assistant who regularly checks your APIs and reports back. It helps you make sure everything is working fine all the time.
- Postman Interceptor: This is your detective tool. It helps you see and use browser cookies in your API requests. It's excellent for directly checking out how things work in real time from your browser.
- Postman API Network: Imagine a library full of APIs. This feature gives you access to that library to explore different APIs.
- Postman BDD: This is like a translator. It helps you write API tests in a way that is easy to understand, almost like a story.
- HAR import: HAR files are like containers containing web request information. This tool lets you open these containers in Postman, which helps test or examine what's inside.
- Echo API: This is like a practice API that you can use to test your API calls. It has many different endpoints you can use to try other things.
Each tool adds something special to Postman, making it even better for building, checking, and managing APIs.
Highlighting Key Features of the Postman Plugin
Postman has many features that make it an excellent tool for developers. Here are some of its key features and benefits:
- Teamwork: Postman lets you share your work with your team. This makes it easier to work together.
- Handling Requests and Responses: Postman supports all types of requests (like GET, POST, DELETE, PUT, etc.) and gives you all the details of the responses.
- Automated Testing: Postman can run tests on its own. This makes it easier to check if your API is working properly.
- Documentation: Postman can automatically make and update documentation for your API. This makes it easier for others to understand your API's use.
- Supports Different API Types: Whether you're working with REST, SOAP, or GraphQL APIs, Postman can handle it.
- Mock Servers: With Postman, you can create mock servers. This lets you simulate API responses even before the actual backend is ready.
These features make Postman a handy tool for working with APIs. Whether you're an experienced developer or starting out, Postman has much to offer.
Postman Interceptor
The "Postman Interceptor" is a supplementary tool to the Postman app and serves a specific function. It allows you to capture requests made in your browser and direct them to the Postman app. This feature is handy when capturing all a website's API calls, including cookies and headers, and analyzing or replicating them in Postman.
Here's how you use the Postman Interceptor:
- Download the Postman Chrome Extension, such as Interceptor.
First, you must install the Postman Interceptor extension from the Google Chrome Web Store.
- Connect Interceptor to Postman App:
Then, in your Postman app, click on the satellite icon in the top right corner (next to the eye icon). Toggle "Interceptor" to "Connected."
- Capture Requests:
As you browse the web in Google Chrome, the Interceptor will capture any HTTP or HTTPS requests your browser sends and can be seen in Postman under "History."
- Send Captured Requests:
You can select any captured requests from the history, which will be loaded into your request tab. You can view the details of the request, send it, modify it, or add it to a collection for future use.
Drawbacks of Postman
Postman is a powerful tool for managing APIs; many developers depend on it for everyday work. However, it has its challenges. Here are some drawbacks of Postman:
- Request Limits: Postman can only handle 1000 API calls at a time. This might only work for small projects with lots of API activity.
- Big Project, Big Confusion: When working on a big project with Postman, keeping track of all your collections and requests can be tricky.
- Slowing You Down: Both the desktop version and the browser extension of Postman use up many of your computer's resources. This can make your computer run slower.
- Space Eater: Postman needs a lot of space on your computer's hard drive. This might make your computer slower overall.
- Database Trouble: If you need to test an API that involves a database, Postman might not be the best tool for the job.
- No Randomness: Postman can't create random data for your tests. You'll have to do this yourself, which can be a pain.
Given these issues, it's no surprise that many seek an alternative. Apidog is a great option. It handles all the abovementioned problems and is just as strong as Postman. If you need a tool that will keep you from slowing down, Apidog might be what you're looking for.
Postman Chrome Extension Alternative: Apidog
Apidog is a handy tool that makes creating and managing APIs a breeze. Think of APIs as messengers that allow different software programs to talk to each other. Apidog is like a director who helps orchestrate the whole process so everything runs smoothly.
With Apidog, you can plan and design your APIs before writing any code. This "design-first" method helps your team to avoid misunderstandings, spot potential issues early on, and produce better-quality code. Plus, Apidog keeps track of all changes to the API's plan, helping to keep everyone on the same page and preventing mistakes.
Apidog Browser Extension
Apidog offers a browser extension, like a small program that gets added to your web browser. This extension provides all the features of Apidog right there in your browser, making it even easier and faster to work on your APIs.
The extension lets you do the following things:
- Design APIs: It comes with a visual editor that makes designing APIs very straightforward. You can set the details of your API, like what data it sends and receives, and the extension can understand standard data formats like JSON, XML, and SQL.
- Debug APIs: The extension lets you send all sorts of requests to your API to ensure it works properly. It will check the responses from your API to see if they match what your API is supposed to do.
- Test APIs: You can import your API into test cases. It lets you check your API under various conditions to make sure it can handle whatever comes its way.
- Automatically Generate Docs and Mock Data: The extension can create user guides for your API and generate mock data, which are pretend data that you can use to test your API. It does all this without you having to write any extra scripts.
How Apidog is a better choice than Postman
Apidog is a tool that helps you make APIs, and it takes care of some problems you might have with Postman:
- No Request Limit: Unlike Postman, Apidog doesn't have a limit on how many API requests it can handle. It makes it great for bigger projects with lots of API activity.
Kim Haewon
- Easier Management: Apidog makes managing your collections and requests simple, no matter how big your project is.
- Faster and Lighter: Apidog uses less of your computer's power than Postman. This means your computer can run faster and get more done.
- Saves Space: Apidog uses less space on your computer than Postman. This leaves more room for other important stuff.
- Loves Databases: Apidog works well with databases. It even lets you use SQL to get test data or set up conditions for tests.
- Random Data Generator: With Apidog, you don't have to make your random test data. It does this for you, saving you a lot of time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether you choose Postman or Apidog, both tools bring powerful capabilities. Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your team's specific needs and preferences. Take the time to explore each platform, test their features, and determine which one aligns best with your project requirements and workflows.
