Yogesh Tyagi
@ytyagi782
Types of APIs
[ REST, SOAP, GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket ]
Differences in
Their Testing
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytyagi782/
Yogesh Tyagi
@ytyagi782
Types of APIs: REST, SOAP,
GraphQL, gRPC, WebSocket,
and Their Testing Differences
APIs power modern applications, enabling seamless
communication across platforms. Understanding
different API types and their testing strategies is
essential for effective testing. Let’s dive into key API
types, their use cases, and how to test them.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytyagi782/
Yogesh Tyagi
@ytyagi782
REST
(Representational State Transfer)
REST APIs are lightweight, scalable, and follow HTTP
standards, making them ideal for web and mobile
applications. They use JSON or XML formats.
Testing Approach
Focus: Validate endpoints, HTTP methods, headers,
and response payloads.
Tools: Postman, RestAssured, JMeter.
Example Test:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytyagi782/
Yogesh Tyagi
@ytyagi782
SOAP
(Simple Object Access Protocol)
SOAP APIs use XML messaging and are popular in
enterprise systems due to their robust security
features.
Testing Approach
Focus: Validate XML structure, WSDL files, and WS-
Security headers.
Tools: SoapUI, Postman (with additional
configuration).
Example Test:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytyagi782/
Yogesh Tyagi
@ytyagi782
GraphQL
GraphQL allows clients to query only the data they
need, reducing over-fetching. It’s widely used in
modern apps requiring dynamic data retrieval.
Testing Approach
Focus: Verify schema, complex queries, and field-
level responses.
Tools: Postman, GraphiQL, Apollo Studio.
Example Test:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytyagi782/
Yogesh Tyagi
@ytyagi782
gRPC
(Google Remote Procedure Call)
gRPC is a high-performance API framework that uses
Protocol Buffers (protobuf) for communication. It’s
ideal for microservices.
Testing Approach
Focus: Test request/response serialization, payloads,
and real-time streaming.
Tools: BloomRPC, Postman (experimental support).
Example Test:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytyagi782/
Yogesh Tyagi
@ytyagi782
WebSocket
WebSocket APIs support full-duplex communication,
making them ideal for real-time applications like chat
and stock trading.
Testing Approach
Focus: Verify connection establishment, message
broadcasting, and real-time data sync.
Tools: Postman, Insomnia, K6.
Example Test:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytyagi782/
Yogesh Tyagi
@ytyagi782
OpenAPI
OpenAPI provides API specifications, helping
developers document, share, and test APIs efficiently.
Testing Approach
Focus: Validate API specs, response structure, and
contract compliance.
Tools: SwaggerHub, Postman, Dredd.
Example Test:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytyagi782/
Yogesh Tyagi
@ytyagi782
RPC
(Remote Procedure Call)
RPC APIs allow executing procedures remotely, often
used in legacy systems and microservices.
Testing Approach
Focus: Test procedure calls, parameter serialization,
and results.
Tools: Postman, Curl, Advanced REST Client.
Example Test:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytyagi782/
Yogesh Tyagi
@ytyagi782
RPC
(Remote Procedure Call)
Ease Of
Aspect Data Format Use Cases Key Focus
Testing
REST JSON/XML Web/Mobile Apps Easy EndPoints, Payload
SOAP XML Enterprise Apps COmplex XML Validation
GraphQL JSON Dynamic Queries Moderate Schema/Queries
Streaming RPC
gRPC Portobuff Microsevices Complex
Calls
WebSocket JSON/Text Real-Time Apps Moderate Real-Time Data
OpenAPI YAML/JSON API Documentation Easy Contact Testing
Each API type has unique features and
testing needs. Understanding these
Conclusion: differences ensures comprehensive
validation. Which API type do you use
the most? Share your experience!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ytyagi782/
Yogesh Tyagi
@ytyagi782
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