API, Integration, & Backend Testing

API and backend testing are critical components of modern software quality assurance. This category explores API testing methodologies, automation frameworks like Postman and Newman, contract testing, and performance testing for backend systems. Learn how to test APIs effectively, validate data integrity, and ensure smooth system integrations. If you’re working with APIs or backend testing, this section will help you master the skills required for robust and reliable software validation.

Why Cypress is More Than UI Automation (And How Most Teams Get It Wrong)

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Testing pyramid showing API tests as foundation with integration tests middle layer and UI tests at top for optimal automation strategy

Most QA teams treat Cypress as just another UI automation tool. They’re missing out on API testing, network stubbing, database validation, and debugging features that make automation actually maintainable. This guide shows you how to use Cypress as a full-stack testing framework and testing APIs directly, stubbing network responses, validating database state, and catching integration bugs that separate tools would miss. Includes working examples using the QA Journey Playground.

Why Error 429 and Error 500 Are a QA’s Best Friends: The Daily Reality of Testing Critical Flows

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Split screen illustration of developer calmly saying "works on my machine" versus QA analyst surrounded by 429 and 500 error messages in flames during checkout testing

429 and 500 errors are a QA’s constant companions, especially during checkout testing. Here’s why these errors show up repeatedly in payment flows, how to professionally handle “works on my machine” pushback from devs, and why catching these errors before production is exactly what QA is supposed to do.

API Testing with Postman (Manual and Automated)

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Manual API Testing with Postman API testing is crucial to ensure that APIs are functioning correctly and as expected. Postman is one of the most popular tools for manual API testing due to its ease of use and flexibility. Here’s how you can manually test an API with Postman: Automated API Testing with Newman Once … Read more