What is Postman

Imagine managing an API with countless endpoints. As your application evolves, the API can expand to include hundreds or even thousands of endpoints. Routine testing becomes an essential measure to ensure that continuous code changes do not disrupt any functionality.

Initially, you might rely on a tool like curl to send HTTP requests to your API endpoints:

$ curl kodekloud.com/products

While curl is effective for simple use cases, it quickly becomes cumbersome when you have to remember a specific command for each endpoint. This approach is not scalable when dealing with a large number of API endpoints.

Advantages of Using Postman

Postman not only sends HTTP requests like curl but also provides additional capabilities that simplify API testing and management:

• User-Friendly Interface: Construct HTTP requests without memorizing complex command-line syntax.
• Request Organization: Save and categorize your API requests for future reuse, improving overall workflow efficiency.
• Automated Testing: Built-in testing features automatically validate API responses, reducing the need for manual tests.
• Custom Scripting: Add custom scripts to control and enhance test behavior, allowing advanced automation and debugging.

These features make Postman an indispensable tool for managing and testing APIs. It simplifies the process significantly compared to using curl alone, particularly as the number of endpoints increases.

Let's begin exploring how to use Postman effectively for API testing!