API Testing
File Upload Using HTTP API Automated Testing

What is File Upload

In a form, file upload is done using the <input> tag with type="file", which allows the user to upload a one or more files from local storage to a server. Read more about file upload (opens in a new tab)

Http Headers During The File Upload

Files are uploaded to server via a HTTP POST request, this request must however be encoded in one of the following methods:

  1. application/x-www-form-urlencoded (default method)
  2. multipart/form-data
  3. text/plain

The content type "application/x-www-form-urlencoded" is inefficient for sending large quantities of binary data or text containing non-ASCII characters. The content type "multipart/form-data" should be used for submitting forms that contain files, non-ASCII data, and binary data. Read more about form content types (opens in a new tab)

Writing An Automated Test Scenario

Example 1

Upload one or more files using http post

{
    "scenarioName": "Upload a file to the server and assert success @@Harikachepuri04 And Santhoshkumar@@",
    "steps": [
        {
            "name": "upload_a_pdf_file",
            "url": "/api/abc-bank/upload",
            "method": "POST",
            "request": {
                "headers": {
                    "content-type": "multipart/form-data"
                },
                "body": {
                    "files": ["file:project_files/my_zip_file.zip"]

                    // Comments -
                    // file: match this field name "file:<path>" to what your server expects
                    //    -- e.g. "file": "content:project_files/my_zip_file.zip"
                    //    -- e.g. "file": "binary:project_files/my_pdf_file.pdf"
                    //    -- e.g. "file": "file1:project_files/my_file.txt"
                    //    -- e.g. "file": "file2:project_files/my_zip_file.zip" etc
                    // and-
                    // "project_files/my_zip_file.zip": Allows 'test/resources' path or full absolute path
                }
            },
            "assertions": {
                "status": 200,
                "body": {
                    "message": "$CONTAINS.STRING:File uploaded successfully !"
                }
            }
        }
    ]
}

Example 2

Upload one or more files along with form key-value pairs

{
    "scenarioName": "Upload two files and send more key-value request params Santhoshkumar@@",
    "steps": [
        {
            "name": "upload_a_pdf_file",
            "url": "/api/abc-bank/upload/filesAndRequestParams",
            "method": "POST",
            "request": {
                "headers": {
                    "content-type": "multipart/form-data"
                },
                "body": {
                    "files": ["file:project_files/my_zip_file.zip", "file2:project_files/pdf_file.pdf"],
                    "trainList" : "Jubilee, Central, Bakerloo",
                    "id" : "LONDON-TUBE-UNDERGROUND"

                    // Comment-
                    // It uploads two files ".zip" and ".pdf" file
                    // Also sends two key-value param to server
                    // Server just prints these key-value(see in the server console)
                }
            },
            "assertions": {
                "status": 200,
                "body": {
                    "message": "$CONTAINS.STRING:File uploaded successfully !"
                }
            }
        }
    ]
}

Conclusion

File Upload Test Automation and Using Form DataGetting Started