How to use the Network Tab for API Testing?

The Network Tab in a browser's developer tools (available in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.) is a powerful feature that allows you to inspect network activity, including API calls made by web applications. It’s a helpful tool for API testing, debugging, and validating API requests and responses directly from the browser.

Here’s how to use the Network Tab for API testing:

1. Open Developer Tools
In Chrome, press F12 or right-click on the page and select Inspect, then navigate to the Network tab.
In Firefox, press Ctrl + Shift + E or use the menu to open Web Developer → Network.

2. Monitor Network Requests
Once the Network tab is open:

Make sure the Record button (●) is on to capture network activity.
Refresh the web page or perform any action (like form submission or clicking a button) to trigger network requests, including API calls.

3. Filter API Requests
You can filter network traffic to show only API calls:

XHR (XMLHttpRequest) or Fetch: These are typically used for API requests.
You can also filter by Type (e.g., XHR, fetch, document, stylesheet), or you can search for specific API endpoints in the filter/search bar.

4. Inspect API Calls
a. Request Details
Click on any API call from the network log. The right panel will show several tabs where you can inspect details.

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