How to Use Postman

Getting started with Postman

In this guide, you will learn how to set up Postman and create your first API request. By the end, you'll be ready to explore API testing and documentation features.

Step 1: Sign up and set up

1. Go to Postman’s website.
2. Click on the “Sign Up” button in the top right corner.
3. Choose to sign up with your email or via a Google or GitHub account.
4. Follow the prompts to create your account. The free tier allows you to access basic features, which is perfect for getting started.
5. Once signed in, you will be taken to the Postman dashboard.

Step 2: Your first API request

1. On the dashboard, click the “New” button in the top left.
2. Select “HTTP Request” from the menu.
3. In the request tab that opens, enter the API endpoint URL you want to test (e.g., https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts).
4. Select the request method from the dropdown (GET is the default for fetching data).
5. Click the “Send” button. You will see the response in the lower section of the screen, including the status code and data returned.

Step 3: Get better results

1. Use the “Params” tab to add query parameters if needed. This allows you to customise your request easily.
2. Explore the “Tests” tab to write simple JavaScript snippets that validate the response. For example, check if the status code is 200 by adding pm.test("Status code is 200", function () { pm.response.to.have.status(200); });
3. Save your request by clicking the “Save” button at the top right and organising it into a collection for easy access later.

Pro tip

Use the “Collections” feature to group related API requests together. This not only helps with organisation but also allows you to run multiple requests in sequence, which is great for testing workflows.

Common mistake to avoid

Avoid skipping the "Save" step after creating requests. If you forget to save, you may lose your progress and settings when you navigate away from the tab. Always save your work before moving on.