The growth of technology and internet-based services has transformed the world into a highly interactive global village. The digital world has advanced in leaps and bounds with the advent of mobile and web-based applications allowing companies to offer their services and solutions online. The software has developed beyond its early purpose of making businesses efficient in defining business processes and contributing hugely to business expansion. API testing is a growing trend in Information Technology involving the testing of application interfaces to develop bug-free robust applications.
Growth of API
The onset of API was brought upon with companies turning towards API to build bridges enabling collaboration with other organizations to mutually develop their capabilities. API’s have evolved to meet the growing need to develop efficient ways to share information and process them efficiently. The evolution of API from basic point-to-point interacting solutions to a multiple layer, highly integrated ecosystem has ushered their viral spread to new sectors and fields. API systems are expected to dominate over desktop apps in global web traffic with the number of public API’s expanding tremendously within short periods of time.
The high-level interaction enabled by API systems provides access to cognitive computing and the Internet of Things which are expensive to maintain as in-house resources. Strategists and business evangelists are seeking to advance their ventures by enabling market differentiation using the API systems.
The increased availability of API, advanced software platforms and modules and shift of financial models from a capital-centric approach to technological asset oriented approach has incentivized the growth of API-centric business. They are used to design powerful applications generating unique and enterprising customer interactions with the applications by companies and organizations to digitally empower themselves.
Developmental platforms used in designing API’s help in creating unique solutions combining various powerful features of systems to meet the growing requirements.
API Tools
Growth in the API sector encouraged the development of efficient tools for API testing to increase the usability of these tools for coders and non-coders. API designing teams can be categorized into manual testers and automation aided testing. Manual testing required a good knowledge of coding and understanding of the systems while automated testing greatly reduces the workload for testers, allowing more focus on specific problems areas.
Automation of API testing has reduced the need for expertise in coding and has led to increased dependency on automation. There has been tremendous improvement in the field of automated testing with survey reports suggesting that 69% of all API tests will be automated by 2021. Ideal API tools should be easy to set up and use with user-friendly features to shorten the learning curve. Advanced tools support powerful data-driven testing and allow reusability of saved tests to simplify functional testing of applications during updates. Shortened testing cycles and ability to be accessed from different devices offer mobility to the systems attracting API teams to incorporate them.
API systems are capable of integrating stored data to simulate scenarios of customer interactions with the systems and upgrades. Each system is unique in its features and what it has to offer and it is essential to understand your requirements before incorporating these systems. Organizations like Postman, Tricentis, Tosca, Katalan Studio etc offer competent solutions with interesting features that can be applied effectively for your requirements.
Challenges in Incorporation of API Testing Models
There are various challenges faced by companies in developing API centric business models. These business models restrict the supply chains and sales channels creating obstacles for ecosystem partners in adapting them. These business models increase the vulnerability of the companies to the changing market conditions and its liquidity.
Increased dependency on partner organizations deeply impacts the brand value and sets a low threshold for developing partnerships with third-party organizations leveraging similar capabilities. Systems need to be regularly updated with new features and modes to keep customers hooked to the applications and attract new customers. Differing versions and upgrade paths might create a divide in the client base leaving much to chance. Reports suggest that customers view performance (72%) and availability of API (57%) as the most important parameters that determine the success of API systems.
API testing has a few inherent challenges in setting up for new organizations and companies. Assigning teams with high technical expertise for the implementation of API systems is essential initially. They require repeated meticulous testing of the framework and its components when new features are updated in the systems.
Systems need to be designed to allow scalability and cloud compatibility which will require excessive refactoring, error handling, incorporating of more layers, appropriate formats etc. Addition of security features to ensure data protection and confidentiality and integrity of systems is a must. Development and testing teams should carefully analyze problem areas in the systems and employ a professional organization to perform penetration tests in regular time intervals. Companies can smoothen their transition to hybrid and cloud environments should try to retain their core business logic and source code by working around them.
Conclusion
The growth and expansion of companies depend upon their ability to adapt and evolve to the new technological trends. Marketing of their services and products in the digital ecosystem is essential to attract new customers and expand to greener pastures. API systems have evolved from the luxuries to necessities and the gigantic growth in the sector reflects on the acceptance of this fact by companies and organizations. Find the right API system and tools for your organization and create bug-free ideal applications to unleash your true potential.
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