Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
API testing
open-in-new
<p>API testing is a type of <a href="/facts/Software_testing/VoXzG9Tb">software testing</a> that involves testing <a href="/facts/Application_programming_interface/GMlN4vUr">application programming interfaces</a> (APIs) directly and as part of <a href="/facts/Integration_testing/FcPo9Fmn">integration testing</a> to determine if they meet expectations for functionality, reliability, performance, and <a href="/facts/Computer_security/7E5dIy7G">security</a>. Since APIs lack a <a href="/facts/Graphical_user_interface/wBlQFWDP">GUI</a>, API testing is performed at the <a href="/facts/Communications_protocol/5uady7cB">message layer</a>. API testing is now considered critical for automating testing because APIs serve as the primary interface to <a href="/facts/Application_logic/D0eEdM3t">application logic</a> and because <a href="/facts/Graphical_user_interface_testing/6GGdMIPb">GUI tests</a> are difficult to maintain with the short release cycles and frequent changes commonly used with <a href="/facts/Agile_software_development/LDaISBAW">Agile software development</a> and <a href="/facts/DevOps/yRg6dIBc">DevOps</a>. </p>