How to Use Bruno

Getting started with Bruno

In this guide, you'll learn how to set up and use Bruno, an open-source API client that prioritises privacy and local data storage. By the end, you'll be able to make API requests securely from your own machine.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to Bruno's website.
2. Click on the "Get Started" button located on the homepage.
3. You can start using Bruno without any signup, as it is completely free. Just click on "Launch App" to open the API client in your browser.

Step 2: Your first API request

1. Once the app loads, you'll see a clean interface with a sidebar and a request area.
2. In the sidebar, click on "New Request" to create your first API call.
3. Enter the API endpoint URL in the "Enter URL" field at the top.
4. Select the request method (GET, POST, etc.) from the dropdown menu next to the URL field.
5. If needed, click on the "Headers" tab to add any necessary headers by clicking "Add Header" and entering the key-value pairs.
6. For POST requests, click on the "Body" tab and enter your data in the appropriate format (JSON, form data, etc.).
7. Click the "Send" button to execute your request. You will see the response appear below, including status code and response data.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Use the "History" feature in the sidebar to quickly access previous requests. This saves time when you need to repeat calls.
2. Explore the "Collections" feature to group related requests together for better organisation.
3. Consider using environment variables for different setups (development, staging, production) by clicking on "Manage Environments" in the sidebar.

Pro tip

Set up custom snippets for common headers or request bodies. In the request area, you can save any request as a snippet by clicking the "Save Snippet" button, allowing you to reuse it without retyping.

Common mistake to avoid

Many users forget to set the correct request method. Always double-check the method dropdown before sending your request, as this can lead to unexpected results or errors.