API penetration testing is a type of testing that identifies vulnerabilities in an application
programming interface (API). Unlike web application testing, which focuses on the user interface
(UI) and transactions, API penetration testing drills down into the logic and functionality of the
API itself.
To effectively test an API, penetration testers need a thorough understanding of its inner workings.
They must know how data is passed back and forth between the client and server and how different
inputs affect the output. To this end, API penetration testing is more technical than web
application testing.
One of the critical differences between API and web application tests is the scope of what is being
tested. A web application test focuses on the UI and the transactions between the user and the
application.
On the other hand, an API test focuses on testing the API itself logic and functionality. This means
testing how different inputs affect the output and what kind of data is passed back and forth
between the client and server.
API tests are typically more technical than web application tests, as they require a thorough
understanding of the API’s inner workings.
To effectively test an API, penetration testers need to know how data is passed back and forth
between the client and server. They also need to know how different inputs will affect the output.