Testing API Routes

Testing pages vs. API routes

Cypress is commonly used for testing regular web pages, but it is also capable of testing API routes. It provides features specifically designed for API testing, making it easier and more effective. However, there are a few differences to consider when testing API routes compared to testing pages.

Request methods

API routes respond to various HTTP methods such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE, whereas standard pages primarily respond to GET requests. Therefore, we need to ensure we send the correct request method in our tests.

Response format

Unlike standard pages, which return HTML markup, API routes typically return JSON data. Making assertions for HTTP responses is slightly different, but they still follow the same principles.

API route end-to-end test example

Let’s explore how to test API routes in Next.js, make HTTP requests, validate response status codes, and assert expected outcomes, such as checking for successful responses and verifying the absence of requested routes.