Writing Test Cases
Writing Test Cases for API Validation
This prompt helps engineering teams write test cases for validating APIs. It focuses on covering functionality, error handling, and performance to ensure APIs meet their design specifications and handle diverse inputs effectively.
Responsible:
Engineering/IT
Accountable, Informed or Consulted:
Engineering, QA
THE PREP
Creating effective prompts involves tailoring them with detailed, relevant information and uploading documents that provide the best context. Prompts act as a framework to guide the response, but specificity and customization ensure the most accurate and helpful results. Use these prep tips to get the most out of this prompt:
Collect API documentation, including endpoint details, parameters, and expected responses.
Identify all possible input types, edge cases, and error scenarios for the API.
Set up tools for API testing, such as Postman, Swagger, or JMeter.
THE PROMPT
Help create detailed API test cases for [specific API endpoint, e.g., GET /users] in [specific software application]. Focus on:
Test Objectives: Recommending goals, such as, ‘Verify that the API returns the correct response for valid requests and handles invalid inputs gracefully.’
Request Parameters: Suggesting scenarios, like, ‘Define valid, invalid, and edge-case values for query parameters, headers, and request bodies.’
Test Steps: Including execution details, such as, ‘Outline the steps to send requests using tools like Postman, cURL, or automated scripts.’
Expected Results: Proposing validation points, such as, ‘Specify the expected HTTP status codes, response times, and data formats for each test case.’
Error Handling and Security: Including negative tests, like, ‘Test how the API handles unauthorized access, missing fields, or malformed requests.’
Provide a comprehensive set of API test cases that ensure functionality, error handling, and performance validation. If additional details about the API’s specifications or expected behavior are needed, ask clarifying questions to refine the test cases.
Bonus Add-On Prompts
Propose strategies for automating API test cases using tools like Postman or REST Assured.
Suggest methods for writing test cases to validate API integration with other services.
Highlight techniques for incorporating load testing into API validation test cases.
Use AI responsibly by verifying its outputs, as it may occasionally generate inaccurate or incomplete information. Treat AI as a tool to support your decision-making, ensuring human oversight and professional judgment for critical or sensitive use cases.
SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE
Focus on writing test cases for specific API types, like RESTful or GraphQL.
Include tips for validating APIs against security vulnerabilities, such as injection attacks.
Propose ways to test API compatibility with different versions or client systems.
Highlight tools like Swagger Inspector or K6 for API testing and validation.
Add suggestions for creating reusable test case scripts for CI/CD pipelines.
WHEN TO USE
To validate APIs during development, integration, or pre-release testing.
When verifying compliance with API design specifications and standards.
During testing for critical APIs that handle sensitive data or high-volume requests.
WHEN NOT TO USE
For manual exploratory testing without predefined API behavior expectations.
If API documentation is incomplete or unavailable.