Jmeter vs Postman for API Testing

An API works as intermediate software between UI and the backend, it's necessary to check its functionality, reliability, and performance which means simply testing the API. There are many tools available to validate an API, which invokes the API and exposes bugs in it. The article focuses on discussing API testing software or tools "Apache JMeter " and " Postman ".

Apache JMeter

JMeter is a Java application developed by Stefano Mazzocchi and the Apache Software Foundation. It is open source and is used to load, test functional behavior, measure performance on static and dynamic resources, and for database server tests.

• JMeter can handle various protocols (like HTTP, and web socket) required for testing web applications or databases.
• It is written in Java and, hence is platform-independent.
• JMeter is a very versatile tool that can be used for a variety of purposes. It can simulate heavy loads on servers to measure performance under different scenarios.
• Its GUI is quite complex(tree-based) for beginners as it focuses on configuring test plans.
• If you are looking for a load testing and performance testing tool.

You may come across a commonly asked question whether JMeter and Apache JMeter are the same! JMeter Plugins is a separate project that can be installed through the Plugin Manager in Apache JMeter.

Features

• Open-source: It is open source hence its code is available and open to all. Apache JMeter is written in Java.
• Platform-independent: It is platform-independent and can run on any environment/workstation that accepts a Java virtual machine.
• Supports different testing techniques: It supports various testing techniques from load testing to functional testing and also supports various protocols.
• User-friendly: It has a user-friendly GUI just like any web browser.
• Highly extensible: Apache JMeter is highly extensible, it allows you to extend your own tests by using visualization plugins.

Advantages

• Different plugins support: JMeter has vast support for different plugins.
• Open-source: It is free and open source.
• Suppprts different protocols: It supports many protocols like HTTP and Rest which enables testers to simulate real-world scenarios.
• Can be used on different platforms: JMeter can be used on different platforms like Windows and macOS.
• Allows to generate graphs: It allows testers to generate graphs, tables, and other visual representations of test results.

Disadvantages

• Not scalable GUI: Its GUI is not scalable, one needs to use the command line when handling large-scale tests.
• Lacks built-in real-time monitoring: It lacks built-in real-time monitoring capabilities to test applications' performance.
• No support for Ajax: It does not support Ajax, JavaScript, and Flash.
• Editing recorded test scenario not possible: In JMeter, it is almost impossible to edit recorded test scenarios and you need to Record the Test Scenario again.
• Requires training: The learning curve of JMeter is steep at an advanced level.

Postman

Postman is an API tool started in 2012 and developed by Abhinav Asthana. Postman is now a rest client software that was started as a Chrome extension.

• Postman is free to use but a paid plan of $12 per month is also available. This is used to create, use, manage, document, and test APIs.
• Postman provides a user-friendly GUI for creating and sending HTTP requests and viewing and analyzing responses.
• It makes the process of working with API's, allowing developers to design, test, and document API's more efficiently.
• It works over a technique where the request is sent from client to server.
• Postman Cloud offers features like version control, team collaboration, and API documentation.

Features

• Free: It is free of cost but a paid version with premium features is also available.
• Easy to manage: It is easy to manage and access and can be installed on various OS ( Windows, Linux, etc.).
• Supports automated testing: Postman supports automated and repeated testing which means automated test scripts test the API without manual intervention.
• Supports unique features: It has unique features like 'request', 'collection' (to organize and group API requests), and 'environment' (to define variables and configurations for different testing environments).
• Good community support: It has good user support and community. You can join the community on various social media handles.

Advantages

• Supports different status codes: It supports several status codes for users to verify the response. For eg: Successful requests, Empty responses, Bad requests, and Unauthorized access.
• Easily accessible: It is easily accessible by installing its application or Postman browser extension.
• Can develop API tests: You can develop and run API tests using Postman's powerful testing features. Workflows for both manual and automated testing are supported.
• Can generate API documentation: You can generate and publish API documentation, and add detailed descriptions, examples, and annotations to API endpoints.
• Possible to run iterative tests: It is possible to run iterative tests with Postman by using the Newman tool or Collection Runner.

Disadvantages

• Consumes memory: In complex test scenarios, it may consume significant memory and processing power, impacting system performance.
• Lacks advanced features: Postman lacks advanced features for data management and manipulation.
• Limited support: It provides limited support for non-Rest APIs as it is primarily designed for RESTful APIs.
• Paid features: Some advanced features required for collaboration and monitoring are paid.
• Cannot generate random data: It can't generate random data so you need to work around scripts.

JMeter vs Postman