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2 minute read - API Testing API Challenges

Challenge 17 - How To - GET todos XML Preferred - 200

May 29, 2021

This post and video shows how to complete the challenge GET /todos XML (200) to successfully GET all the todos in XML format as first preference.

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GET /todos XML Preference (200)

It is possible to ask for multiple types in the Accept header, expressing a preference for the returned format. If none of the types are available then expect a 406 response.

Issue a GET request on the /todos end point with an Accept header of application/xml followed by application/json to receive results in XML format if supported, or JSON if not.

  • GET request will receive a response with all the todo items
    • e.g. GET /todos to get all the todo items
  • 200 is a success code, in this case it means the end point exists and the `todo items were returned
  • Accept means that an Accept header was added to specify that the todos should be returned in XML format as first preference, followed by JSON as second preference
  • add the X-CHALLENGER header to track progress

Basic Instructions

  • Issue a GET request to end point “/todos”
    • if running locally that endpoint would be
      • http://localhost:4567/todos
    • if running in the cloud that endpoint would be
      • https://apichallenges.herokuapp.com/todos
  • The request should have an Accept header specifying XML format by using a value of application/xml,application/json
  • The request should have an X-CHALLENGER header to track challenge completion
  • The response status code should be 200 when all the details are valid.
  • Check the body of the message has JSON format data, which is the default from the server
  • Check the content-type header in the response has application/json

The chained Accept header application/xml,application/json asks for XML as first preference, but if not supported then supply JSON.

Insomnia Details

> GET /todos HTTP/1.1
> Host: apichallenges.herokuapp.com
> User-Agent: insomnia/2021.2.2
> X-CHALLENGER: x-challenger-guid
> Accept: application/xml,application/json
< HTTP/1.1 200 OK
< Connection: close
< Date: Sat, 29 May 2021 10:05:24 GMT
< Content-Type: application/xml
< Access-Control-Allow-Origin: *
< Access-Control-Allow-Headers: *
< X-Challenger: x-challenger-guid
< Server: Jetty(9.4.z-SNAPSHOT)
< Via: 1.1 vegur

Example Response body:

<todos>
    <todo>
        <doneStatus>false</doneStatus>
        <description/>
        <id>267</id>
        <title>train staff</title>
    </todo>
    <todo>
        <doneStatus>false</doneStatus>
        <description/>
        <id>268</id>
        <title>schedule meeting</title>
    </todo>
</todos>

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