Exploring IntelliJ IDEA’s Built-In REST Client for API Testing
Introduction
If you’re a Java developer, you’re likely familiar with IntelliJ IDEA — the highly popular Integrated Development Environment (IDE) built by JetBrains. IntelliJ IDEA provides an extensive suite of tools that are designed to improve productivity, streamline development, and ultimately help us craft high-quality code.
But, did you know that IntelliJ IDEA also offers a built-in REST client for API testing? This built-in functionality has become a compelling alternative to standalone API testing tools like Postman or Insomnia. This article will explore this less-known, yet powerful, feature of IntelliJ IDEA and how you can use it to simplify your API testing process.
Getting Started with IntelliJ’s Built-in REST Client
To access the HTTP Client in IntelliJ IDEA, you need to create an HTTP request file. To do this, right-click on your project in the Project Tool Window, navigate to ‘New’, and then select ‘HTTP Request’. This creates a new file with an .http extension where you can write and execute HTTP requests.
### This is a simple GET request
GET https://api.github.com/users/octocat
Accept: application/json
