Harnessing the Potential of APIs: A Deep Dive into POSTMAN API 101🌐

INTRODUCTION

Today, I had the privilege of attending a POSTMAN API 101 session conducted at our campus by an amazing Postman student expert, and I must say, it was an eye-opener into the realm of API development. Postman is a useful tool for testing APIs and offers a variety of request methods to interact with them.

In this article, I'll discuss my takeaways from this workshop with a special focus on the practical aspects of performing CRUD operations by sending API requests using JSON data format.

Understanding the Fundamentals

A rich introduction to APIs and Postman was given at the start of the session, simplifying difficult ideas into digestible pieces. Understanding the fundamentals established a strong basis for the hands-on activities that followed. Using of real-world and digital examples like how leading social networking applications use APIs for their functionalities really helped to break down the concept of APIs.

Hands-On Experience with CRUD Operations:

The workshop's hands-on demonstration of CRUD operations using POSTMAN was one of its highlights in my opinion. The facilitator walked us through the process of sending HTTP requests with various methods: GET, POST, PUT , and DELETE in an interesting and engaging way. What truly set this session apart was the emphasis on practical application, allowing us to implement these operations in real-time.

• URL Parameters - Parameters can be added to API URLs to filter responses for GET requests or specify resources for other request types. The test API supported query and path parameters.

• GET Method - retrieve data

We learned how to retrieve data from a server through studying the GET method. The workshop gave participants knowledge about how to formulate requests, manage parameters, as well as interpret responses. The following image shows the way how a random joke with an ID between 1-6 was retrieved when the {base_url}/joke was entered.

To get a joke with a specific ID, {base_url}/joke/{id of joke} had to be entered.

• POST Method - Send data

Next, the workshop went over the POST method, which gave us an understanding of how to create new data. We looked at how to send and organize JSON payloads, which is a vital skill for anyone working on API development.

• PUT Method - Update Data

The PUT method was thoroughly studied, focusing on updating existing data. Understanding how to modify information on the server side was done using practical examples.

after receiving the 204 status code, the GET method was used to see if the update was successful.

• DELETE Method - Remove data

Finally, the CRUD Operations navigation was concluded with the DELETE method, showcasing how to responsibly remove data from a server.

Understanding the nuances of crafting JSON requests was a game changer. The session provided hands-on experience that went beyond theoretical knowledge, from structuring payloads to interpreting responses. The practical exercises improved my ability to work with JSON, which is an essential skill for any web developer.

What truly highlighted this session was its practical application. We participated in real-world scenarios rather than just concepts. This approach not only accelerated the learning process, but also provided us with actionable skills that could be applied immediately in our projects.

Big thanks to Supun Sathsara, Postman student expert for putting together such an engaging and informative workshop. His ability to clearly deliver complex concepts and guide us through practical exercises made the learning experience truly enriching.

In closing, the POSTMAN API 101 session was more than just a workshop—it was a gateway to a new level of technical expertise and I'm looking forward for the workshops that are to be held in the future!
Here's to embracing the journey ahead with newfound abilities and sincere appreciation for a life-changing learning experience🚀.