API Testing Skill

Test API integrations by mocking responses, intercepting requests, and monitoring network traffic.

When to Use

This skill activates when:

• User wants to test API integrations
• User needs to mock backend responses
• User wants to simulate error scenarios
• User asks about request interception
• User needs to test offline behavior

Capabilities

Response Mocking

browser-devtools-cli stub mock-http-response \
  --pattern "**/api/users" \
  --response '{"action":"fulfill","status":200,"body":[{"id":1,"name":"Test"}]}'

Request Interception

browser-devtools-cli stub intercept-http-request \
  --pattern "**/api/**" \
  --modifications '{"headers":{"Authorization":"Bearer token"}}'

Network Monitoring

browser-devtools-cli --json o11y get-http-requests
browser-devtools-cli --json o11y get-http-requests --resource-type fetch
browser-devtools-cli --json o11y get-http-requests --status '{"min":400}'

Stub Management

browser-devtools-cli stub list
browser-devtools-cli stub clear --stub-id <id>
browser-devtools-cli stub clear

Common Scenarios

Mock Successful Response

browser-devtools-cli stub mock-http-response \
  --pattern "**/api/users" \
  --response '{"action":"fulfill","status":200,"body":[{"id":1,"name":"Test"}]}'

Simulate Server Error

browser-devtools-cli stub mock-http-response \
  --pattern "**/api/checkout" \
  --response '{"action":"fulfill","status":500,"body":{"error":"Internal Server Error"}}'

Simulate 404 Not Found

browser-devtools-cli stub mock-http-response \
  --pattern "**/api/missing" \
  --response '{"action":"fulfill","status":404,"body":{"error":"Not Found"}}'

Simulate Network Timeout

browser-devtools-cli stub mock-http-response \
  --pattern "**/api/slow-endpoint" \
  --response '{"action":"abort","abortErrorCode":"timedout"}'

Simulate Connection Failed

browser-devtools-cli stub mock-http-response \
  --pattern "**/api/offline" \
  --response '{"action":"abort","abortErrorCode":"connectionfailed"}'

Add Auth Header

browser-devtools-cli stub intercept-http-request \
  --pattern "**/api/**" \
  --modifications '{"headers":{"Authorization":"Bearer test-token"}}'

Modify Request Body

browser-devtools-cli stub intercept-http-request \
  --pattern "**/api/submit" \
  --modifications '{"body":{"injected":"value"}}'

Add Delay

browser-devtools-cli stub mock-http-response \
  --pattern "**/api/slow" \
  --response '{"action":"fulfill","status":200,"body":{}}' \
  --delay-ms 3000

Simulate Flaky API

browser-devtools-cli stub mock-http-response \
  --pattern "**/api/unreliable" \
  --response '{"action":"fulfill","status":503}' \
  --chance 0.3

One-Shot Mock

browser-devtools-cli stub mock-http-response \
  --pattern "**/api/once" \
  --response '{"action":"fulfill","status":200,"body":{"first":true}}' \
  --times 1

Testing Workflow

SESSION="--session-id api-test"

# 1. Setup mocks before navigation
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION stub mock-http-response \
  --pattern "**/api/users" \
  --response '{"action":"fulfill","status":200,"body":[{"id":1,"name":"Mock User"}]}'

# 2. Navigate to application
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION navigation go-to --url "https://app.example.com"
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION sync wait-for-network-idle

# 3. Interact with the app
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION interaction click --selector "#load-users"
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION sync wait-for-network-idle

# 4. Check network requests
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION --json o11y get-http-requests

# 5. Verify UI shows mocked data
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION content get-as-text --selector ".user-list"

# 6. List active stubs
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION stub list

# 7. Clear all stubs
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION stub clear

# 8. Cleanup
browser-devtools-cli session delete api-test

Error Testing Workflow

SESSION="--session-id error-test"

# Mock error response
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION stub mock-http-response \
  --pattern "**/api/checkout" \
  --response '{"action":"fulfill","status":500,"body":{"error":"Payment failed"}}'

# Navigate and trigger error
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION navigation go-to --url "https://app.example.com/checkout"
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION interaction click --selector "#pay-button"
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION sync wait-for-network-idle

# Check error handling in UI
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION content take-screenshot --name "error-state"
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION content get-as-text --selector ".error-message"

# Cleanup
browser-devtools-cli $SESSION stub clear
browser-devtools-cli session delete error-test

Debugging Backend During API Tests

When testing against a real backend and need to debug why an endpoint fails or returns unexpected data, use node-devtools-cli:

# Connect to API server process
node-devtools-cli --session-id api-debug debug connect --process-name "api"

# Set tracepoint on the handler
node-devtools-cli --session-id api-debug debug put-tracepoint \
  --url-pattern "routes/users.ts" \
  --line-number 42

# Trigger the API from browser (or curl), then get snapshots
node-devtools-cli --session-id api-debug --json debug get-probe-snapshots

# Or inspect backend console logs
node-devtools-cli --session-id api-debug --json debug get-logs --search "error"

Best Practices

1. Use specific patterns to avoid mocking unintended requests
2. Clear stubs after tests to prevent interference
3. List stubs to debug unexpected behavior
4. Use times limit for one-shot mocks
5. Add delays to test loading states
6. Test error scenarios not just happy paths
7. Set up mocks before navigation for first-load testing
8. Monitor actual requests to verify mocks are working