Testing REST API Calls with VS Code: A Guide to the REST Client Extension

When it comes to testing REST API calls, Visual Studio Code (VS Code) offers a powerful tool in the form of the REST Client extension. This extension allows developers to make HTTP requests directly from their code editor, streamlining the testing process and eliminating the need to switch between different applications. In this blog post, we'll explore how to use the REST Client extension effectively, including some practical examples.

Getting Started with the REST Client Extension

To begin, you'll need to install the REST Client extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace. Once installed, you can start making API calls right from your workspace. The syntax is straightforward, making it easy to send requests and view responses.

Sample API Call: Login

Here's a simple example of how to perform a POST request to log in a user followed by an example how to use a PUT call.

### Login User
POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/auth/login
Content-Type: application/json

{
    "email": "tom@tom.com"
}

### update username
PUT http://localhost:8080/api/v1/student/2?name=Muxi

In this example, we send a POST request to the login endpoint with a JSON payload containing the user's email.

Handling JWT Tokens

When working with JWT (JSON Web Tokens), it can be tedious to manually copy and paste tokens for each API request. Fortunately, the REST Client extension allows you to access data from HTTP responses, making it easier to manage tokens.

Example: Accessing the Token from the Login Response

You can store the token returned from the login response and use it in subsequent requests. Here's how you can do it:javascript

### Login
# @name login
POST http://localhost:8080/api/v1/auth/login
Content-Type: application/json

{
    "email": "tom@tom.com"
}

@authToken = {{login.response.body.accessToken}}

In this snippet, we define a request to log in and store the access token in a variable called authToken.

Using the Token in Subsequent Requests

Now that we have the token stored, we can use it in other API calls. For example, to get student information, you can do the following:

### useToken
GET http://localhost:8080/api/v1/student
Authorization: Bearer {{authToken}}

In this request, we use the authToken variable to authorize the GET request to the student endpoint. This approach saves time and reduces the risk of errors when handling tokens.

For more useful information: