How I can do API automation using Playwright?

Playwright is primarily designed for browser automation, so it doesn’t natively support API automation out of the box like tools such as Postman or Insomnia. However, you can still perform API automation using Playwright by leveraging its capabilities to make HTTP requests and validate responses. Here’s a basic approach to do API automation using Playwright:

1. Use the Fetch API: Playwright provides a fetch method that allows you to make HTTP requests directly from your test scripts. You can use this method to send requests to the API endpoints you want to test.
2. Handle Responses: Once you’ve made a request, you can handle the response using Playwright’s APIs. You can extract data from the response, validate response codes, headers, and payloads, and perform assertions to ensure the API behaves as expected.
3. Organize Tests: Organize your API tests just like you would organize your browser tests. Group related tests together, use descriptive test names, and separate setup and teardown logic to keep your tests clean and maintainable.
4. Integration with Testing Frameworks: If you’re using a testing framework like Jest, Mocha, or Jasmine, you can integrate your API tests with these frameworks for better organization and reporting.
5. Error Handling and Reporting: Implement error handling mechanisms to handle unexpected errors during API testing gracefully. You can also generate detailed test reports to track the status of your API tests over time.

While Playwright may not offer the same level of convenience and features for API testing as dedicated API testing tools, it can still be a viable option for teams looking to consolidate their testing efforts within a single toolset or for those already familiar with Playwright for browser automation. Additionally, using Playwright for both browser and API testing can provide a more comprehensive testing approach for web applications.