What is Postman?
Postman is a tool used for software development that makes it easy for developers to test calls to APIs. Developers enter data that is sent to a special web server address. In return, Postman presents the returned information to the developer. Postman has made it convenient to execute APIs because once developers enter and save the APIs, they can use them any time without even having to remember the API key, headers, or the exact endpoints.
Why Should Developers Use Postman?
There are a number of reasons why developers should use Postman when developing their APIs. They include;
- Use of Collections: Postman allows developers to create collections with each collection being able to create multiple requests and subfolders. This way, developers are able to organize their test suites.
- Accessibility: Developers can access files anytime and anywhere since all they need to do is simply log in to their own accounts.
- Collaboration: Developers can share files between themselves since environments and collections can be exported and imported. They can also share collections through a direct link.
- Creation of Environments and Tests: Developers can use the same collection on different environments to help reduce the repetition of tests. They can also add test checkpoints to all API calls to enforce test coverage. Postman plays a major role in helping developers to create automated testing of APIs.
What is the Postman Collection?
The Postman Collections can be defined as a group of requests that can be saved and organized into folders. They make it easy for developers when it comes to keeping their API requests and elements organized. The Postman collection is also important when one wants to convert their API into an OpenAPI. You can use a converter tool that requires one to upload their postman collection, which then converts the API to OpenAPI.
Why are Postman API Environment Files Important?
The Postman collection format has created an easy approach for developers when it comes to integrating with APIs as well as the development and delivery of the APIs. The Postman Environment Files have contributed to shifting the conversation around the process of building and maintaining APIs in the past few years. Because of Postman, developers are able to manage different environments that they use to work with APIs. Furthermore, using Postman, they can export files that represent an environment, meaning that Postman makes the API definitions more collaborative and portable.
One of the major difficulties that most developers face comes in the management of the environments they use for their APIs. However, Postman has helped ease the pain by getting hold of the keys and tokens that they use across different platforms. Developers are now able to define their environments using the Postman application or the Postman API for those that want to have a deeper integration with their operations. In return, all these processes are sharable, portable, and can be used in different environments – courtesy of the Postman Environment Files.
Someone would ask why the Postman Collections are more valuable to users in a certain context than they are to others. Well, the Postman Collections come with a runtime aspect to their functions. With Postman, a developer will be able to communicate seamlessly around the APIs they are working on. They will also have an easy time when it comes to the API environment management making the processes of building, managing, deploying, and integration easy and straightforward. These are some of the reasons that make the Postman API environments files important in API development lifecycle.
