REST client tools test and debug APIs. Send HTTP requests, analyze responses, and streamline development workflows with intuitive REST tools.
A REST client is a simple tool that sends HTTP requests to a web service and shows the response. It helps you learn how endpoints work, what headers mean, and how status codes tell the story. With it you can try GET to read, POST to create, PUT to update, and DELETE to remove. This clear loop of request and reply makes building school projects and tiny apps much easier.
Open the REST client and choose a method such as get for reading. Paste the endpoint url, click send, and watch the response body and headers. If a key is needed, add it in a secure auth panel. Save the request so you can run it again while you experiment and learn.
Make variables for ids, tokens, and base urls, then reference them in the url and headers. Create a collection with several saved calls that share the same values. Switch between test and live environments without rewriting. Run small tests to check time, status, and the shape of the body.
Curl is fast for one liners and great in scripts. A client is friendly because it splits the view into method, headers, and body. If you learn with friends, sharing a collection is easy. Keep both around so you can explore in the app and automate with curl.
Check the status code first, then read the message in the body. Compare your url, method, and headers with the docs. Try a tiny sample payload to reduce noise. Save failing calls and compare with a working call to spot what changed.
Never paste tokens in screenshots or public docs. Store them in environment variables and choose a private workspace. Rotate keys if they leak and remove old ones. Write short notes beside saved calls so teammates use them correctly.
A REST client is a simple app for talking to a web API. You type a URL, choose a method like GET or POST, and send. It shows the status, headers, and body. This tool is great for API testing and debugging because you can try calls, see errors, save requests, and share them with your team.
Open the REST client, enter the API URL, pick a method, and add headers if needed. Type the JSON body for POST or PUT. Click Send and read the status and response. If it fails, check the URL, token, and network. Save the request to use again. These steps help clean API testing for starters.
Most REST clients support core HTTP methods: GET to read data, POST to create, PUT to replace, PATCH to update, and DELETE to remove. Some add HEAD and OPTIONS. Pick the method that matches your API docs. Using the right HTTP method keeps API testing clear and avoids broken calls.
You can view logs in the client’s history or console panel. There you see each request, time, status code, size, and the response body. Use filters to find calls by URL or tag. Logs help repeat tests, catch errors, and prove what was sent. Good logs make API debugging simple for everyone.
Both are good. cURL is a command line tool that is fast for scripts and servers. A REST client has a friendly UI for learning, trying, and saving calls. Choose cURL for automation, and pick a REST client for API testing, teamwork, and docs. Many teams use both for daily work.
Environment variables store values like base URL and API key. You swap dev, test, and prod by changing one place, not many tabs. This reduces typos and keeps secrets out of shared files. They also make team onboarding easy. Using variables is a best practice for safe API testing.