SoapUI: An Essential Tool for API Testing and Validation

I’m thrilled to be writing my first blog post on SoapUI testing, a tool that I’ve found incredibly valuable. I hope this post will be helpful to everyone who are just getting started with SoapUI testing.

In this blog, we'll take a deep dive into what SoapUI is, why it's an essential tool for API testing and validation, and how to get started with it. We'll then use it to test a simple and very small application.

What is API

API stands for Application Programming Interface. It is a set of rules, protocols, and tools for building software applications.

In simple terms, an API allows two software applications to communicate with each other. For example, when you use an app on your phone to check the weather, the app is communicating with a server via an API to retrieve the weather information and display it to you.

Understanding SOAP APIs

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is a messaging protocol used to exchange structured data between applications over the internet. It’s a widely used protocol in web services and API (Application Programming Interface) development. Testing SOAP APIs is a critical step in ensuring that the API functions as intended and meets the business requirements.

SOAP is a protocol that uses XML (extensible Markup Language) to define the structure of the data being exchanged. SOAP APIs typically use HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) as the transport protocol, and messages are sent as XML files.

A SOAP message contains an envelope that defines the message structure and a set of rules for processing the message. The envelope contains a header and a body, and the body contains the actual data being sent.

What is SoapUI?

SoapUI is a widely used open-source tool for testing and validating API functionality. It allows developers and testers to easily create, execute, and manage API tests. It provides a user-friendly interface for building and configuring test cases, which can be run either manually or automated.

SoapUI supports a range of protocols, including SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol), REST (Representational State Transfer), and HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), which are commonly used for building and consuming web services.

Why SoapUI is an essential tool for API testing and validation?

SoapUI is an essential tool for API testing and validation because it offers several features and functionalities that make it easy to test and validate SOAP and REST APIs. Here are some of the reasons why SoapUI is an essential tool for API testing and validation:

Easy to use: SoapUI has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for developers and testers to create and execute API tests.

Supports SOAP and REST APIs: SoapUI supports both SOAP and REST APIs, which makes it a versatile tool for testing and validating different types of APIs.

Automated testing: SoapUI allows you to create automated tests that can be run on a schedule or triggered by certain events. This can help you to identify issues and ensure that your APIs are functioning correctly.

Test reporting: SoapUI provides detailed test reports that show the results of each test case, making it easy to identify and fix issues.

Integration with other tools: SoapUI can be integrated with other tools such as Jenkins, JIRA, and TestLink. This makes it easy to incorporate API testing into your existing workflow.

Supports multiple protocols and formats: SoapUI supports a wide range of protocols and formats. This includes HTTP, HTTPS, JMS, JDBC, XML, and JSON, making it easy to test APIs that use different technologies.

SoapUI download and installation

1. Go to SoapUI download page: https://www.soapui.org/downloads/soapui/

2. Choose the version of SoapUI you want to download. There are two versions available: SoapUI Open Source and ReadyAPI.

3. Click the "Download" button for the SoapUI Open-Source Version.

4. Once the download is complete, locate the installation file on your computer and double-click it to begin the installation process.

5. Follow the installation wizard's prompts to install SoapUI on your computer.

6. Once the installation is complete, launch SoapUI by double-clicking the desktop icon.

7. Close the Endpoint Explorer.

Now we are all set to test API using SoapUI. Let’s see how to use this to test a simple application.

Basic Calculator project

I will guide you to create a Basic Calculator Project in SoapUI, which will enable you to perform basic mathematical operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and validate the results.

Step by step Guide to creating a Basic Calculator Project using WSDL

You will need a sample WSDL file for this. “http://www.dneonline.com/calculator.asmx?wsdl”

WSDL (Web Service Description Language), is an XML based language used to describe web services and their functionality.

Step 1: Launch SoapUI

Launch SoapUI tool from Icon created on your desktop.

Step 2: Create a New Project.

Click on “File” and select “New Soap Project”.

Step 3: Import the sample WSDL file

Enter the sample WSDL file in the Initial WSDL field, and click “OK” to create the project.

SoapUI will load the calculator WSDL file and we will see two projects calculator Soap and Calculator Soap 12 on the left-hand side.

Step 4: Expand “Calculator Soap” then click on “Add” then double click on “Request 1”, Which opens the following window.

Step 5: Now enter the values where “ ? “ is shown and click on green arrow button and you should be able to see the response in Raw format.

Step 6: Click on XML tab to see the response in XML format. Similarly, we can do other operations also.

Creating a basic calculator project in SoapUI is a great way to get started with API testing. By following the steps outlined in this blog, you can perform other mathematical operations and validate the results.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SoapUI is an essential tool for API testing and validation. It provides a user-friendly interface for creating, executing, and maintaining functional, regression, and load tests. SoapUI supports multiple protocols and can be used to test APIs across different platforms and technologies. With its powerful features and functionalities, SoapUI makes the job of API testing and validation easier, faster, and more efficient for testers.