What are API collections? How to create it

Ready to create your first API collection? Don't worry, it's easier than you might think! Let's walk through the process together, step by step.

1. Prerequisites

Before we dive in, make sure you have:

1. A Workato account with access to the API Platform

2. A project created (or an existing one you want to use)

3. For API recipe collections: A folder with one or more API recipes

4. For API proxy collections: An HTTP connection to forward requests

Got all that? Great! Let's get started.

2. Step-by-Step Guide

1. Accessing the API Collections Page
First things first, let's navigate to where the magic happens:

1. Log into your Workato account

2. Go to the Platform menu

3. Click on API Platform

4. Select API Collections

You're now on the API collections page. This is where all your collections will live.

2. Selecting Collection Type
Time to choose your flavor:

1. Click on the "New Collection" button

2. You'll see three options: API Proxy Collection, API Recipe Collection, or AI Gateway Collection

3. Select the type that fits your needs (remember our discussion on types from earlier?
   
   

3. Configuring Endpoints

Now for the fun part - setting up your endpoints:
For API Proxy Collections:

1. Choose an HTTP connection to forward requests to

2. Select a configuration type (Import OpenAPI Spec or Manual)

3. If importing, upload your OpenAPI file or enter a URL

4. Select the endpoints you want to include

For API Recipe Collections:

1. Choose to use existing recipes or import an OpenAPI Spec

2. If using recipes, select the folder containing your API recipes

3. If importing, upload your OpenAPI file or enter a URL

4. Customize your endpoints as needed

For AI Gateway Collections:

1. Choose to use existing recipes or import an OpenAPI Spec

2. Follow the same steps as API Recipe Collections for your chosen method

Pro Tip: When customizing endpoints, pay attention to the endpoint name, path, and HTTP method. These are crucial for how your API will be accessed.

4. Creating and Testing Requests—No Code Needed

You might be wondering: “Do I need to write scripts or use the command line to interact with my APIs?” Good news—absolutely not! Modern API platforms make it easy for anyone to create, send, and test requests without a single line of code.

Here’s how it works:

• Use a visual interface to build your API requests by choosing the request type (like GET or POST), filling in any necessary parameters or headers, and defining the endpoint path—just point, click, and type.

• Hit “Send” (or your platform’s equivalent), and the response from your data source appears instantly in the workspace.

• You can tweak settings, view results, and experiment with different inputs, all from your browser. No terminal gymnastics required.

This user-friendly approach means you can validate endpoints, explore data, and see how your APIs behave—whether you’re a seasoned developer or just getting your feet wet.

5. Setting Collection Details

Almost there! Let's give your collection an identity:

1. Enter a name for your collection (make it descriptive!)

2. Assign a version (this helps with managing updates later)

3. Add a description (optional, but helpful for your team)

4. Select the project this collection belongs to
   
   

6. Activating Endpoints

The final touch - bringing your endpoints to life:

1. After creating your collection, you'll see an overview of all endpoints

2. By default, new endpoints are inactive

3. To activate an endpoint, simply toggle the "Inactive" button to "Active"

4. Repeat for all endpoints you want to make available

And voilà! You've just created your very own API collection. Pat yourself on the back – you're now an API organization pro!

Remember, creating a collection is just the beginning. Don't forget to manage access, monitor usage, and keep your collection updated as your needs evolve.

7. Authorization Made Simple

Before you open your API doors to the world, you'll want to make sure only the right folks get in. That’s where authorization comes in! APIs support a variety of authorization methods, each designed to keep your data secure while making life easier for legitimate users.

Here’s a quick rundown of the most common API authorization methods, plus how to set them up in minutes:

• API Keys: This is the classic—just generate a unique key for each user or application. Then pop that key into a request header or parameter and you’re all set. Many platforms, like Stripe or Google Maps, rely on this super simple approach.

• OAuth 2.0: When you want fine-grained, delegated access (think: “Log in with Google” buttons), OAuth 2.0 is your friend. Set it up by registering your application with the provider (like Microsoft or GitHub), grab your client ID and secret, and follow their quick-start wizard to get tokens for user access.

• Bearer Tokens: Think of these as digital hall passes. Once a user logs in (often via OAuth2), they’re issued a token, which they include in the Authorization header of API calls. This method is robust and flexible—great for modern web apps.

• Basic Auth: For quick-and-dirty security (and for internal tools or testing), this method encodes a username and password in the request header. Just remember, it’s best paired with HTTPS for safety.

• Client Certificates: For extra-tight security, some APIs use client SSL certificates. Here you’ll need to generate, install, and manage certs for each approved user or device.

• Custom Solutions: Some APIs roll out their own methods, using custom tokens, signed requests, or even HMAC signatures. Always check the docs for specifics!

Quick Tip: Save yourself from credential headaches by using environment variables or secret management tools whenever possible—this keeps passwords and keys out of your codebase and helps your team collaborate securely.

No matter which method you choose, setting up authorization usually boils down to: selecting your preferred method, entering a few details (like keys or credentials), and verifying the connection—often as simple as filling a form or toggling an option.

8. Managing and Reusing Authorization Details

Let’s talk about handling authorization—because scrambling for API keys every time you make a request is no one’s idea of fun.

Rather than entering credentials for each endpoint, you can streamline the process by centralizing your authorization settings within your API collection. Here’s how to make it painless (and secure):

• Set Authorization at the Collection Level: Define your preferred authentication method (like OAuth, API key, or JWT) directly in your collection’s settings. This way, all endpoints within that collection inherit these details automatically.

• Leverage Environment Variables: Store sensitive information (such as tokens, credentials, or secrets) in environment variables. This approach keeps your actual credentials from being hard-coded in requests and makes switching between dev, staging, and production environments a breeze.

• Customize When Needed: If an individual endpoint requires a different authorization method or specific credentials, you can override the collection settings just for that endpoint.

• Keep It Safe and Efficient: By managing authorization in one place and reusing variables, you reduce the risk of mistakes, eliminate repetitive entry, and improve team collaboration.

This setup not only saves time but also helps keep your API requests consistent and secure as your project grows. Next up: managing your new API collection like a champ and unlocking even more features!

Crafting API Documentation with Markdown

Now that your endpoints are live, it's time to make them shine with clear documentation. Markdown is your best friend here—it lets you create clean, readable documentation without fuss, so your developers (and your future self) will thank you.

Why Use Markdown?

• Easy Formatting: Markdown makes it simple to add headers, lists, code blocks, and even tables—perfect for structuring endpoint details and usage examples.

• Live Examples: Drop in request/response examples or curl commands to show how your API works in practice.

• Quick Edits: Change details on the fly—no complicated formatting tools required.

• Rich Readability: The result is documentation that's both easy to read and visually organized.

How to Use It

When writing your API documentation, consider these essentials:

• Add a high-level introduction at the top so readers know what they're working with.

• List endpoints using Markdown headers and bullet points.

• For each endpoint, include method, path, parameters, and authentication requirements.

• Use code blocks for example requests and responses, like so:

  curl -X GET "https://api.example.com/v1/users" -H "Authorization: Bearer token"

  {
    "id": 123,
    "email": "user@example.com"
  }

• Highlight optional and required fields clearly using bold or italics.

Pro Tip: Tools like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket render Markdown beautifully, so your docs look polished wherever they're shared.

Clear, friendly documentation means fewer headaches and smoother integrations. Take the time to make your docs welcoming and easy to follow—your team (and your users) will be glad you did!

Generating Sample Test Data

Need to put your shiny new API collection through its paces? Generating realistic test data is key for troubleshooting, validation, and simulating real-world use cases—without any risk to your production systems.

Here are a few handy ways to create fake test data for your APIs:

• Online Data Generators: Free tools like Mockaroo and RandomUser.me let you create a variety of datasets on demand, from user profiles to custom records. Simply specify the fields and formats you need, then download or pipe them directly into your tests.

• Open Source Libraries: If you prefer to keep things scriptable, libraries such as Faker (available for Python, JavaScript, and more) and Chance.js make it easy to generate random data within your test scripts or recipes.

• Custom Scripts: Feeling adventurous? You can always write your own logic to build test data tailored to your business logic (great for complex, structured data).

Pro Tip: Using fabricated data not only protects real user information but also helps ensure your API behaves consistently—even under unusual or edge-case scenarios.

Armed with a stash of fake data, you’re ready to run comprehensive tests and catch tricky bugs before they ever reach production.

Understanding Variables: Boosting Reusability and Efficiency

Ever wish you could save time (and a few headaches) when building or testing your APIs? That’s where variables shine. Variables let you store values—like API keys, environment URLs, or input data—in one place, so you don’t have to manually enter them all over your requests. It's a bit like letting your favorite coffee shop remember your order, so you can just say “the usual” and get moving.

Here’s why variables are a game-changer for your workflow:

• No More Repetitive Typing: Set a value once—like your dev server’s base URL or a token—and reference it everywhere. Need to switch environments? Just update the variable, and you’re golden.

• Cleaner, More Understandable Requests: Instead of cryptic URLs or credentials scattered throughout your setup, you’ll see clear placeholders. This makes your requests easier to read and share with teammates.

• Flexible Testing and Collaboration: Variables adapt to whatever you’re working on, letting you switch between test, staging, and production setups in a snap. It also helps your whole team stay on the same page.

Whether you’re juggling sandbox and production endpoints, or updating a password across multiple places, variables keep things tidy, efficient, and much less error-prone. Your future self—and your teammates—will thank you!

Performance Testing: Stress-Testing Your APIs Like a Pro

Wondering if your APIs can handle real-world traffic? It’s time to put them to the test! Performance testing helps you spot slowdowns, bottlenecks, and other gremlins before your users ever notice.

Here's how to get started:

1. Choose a performance testing tool (like JMeter, k6, or Artillery) that fits your needs.

2. Set up scenarios that mimic typical and peak user traffic.

3. Run your tests and monitor key metrics: response time, throughput, and error rates.

4. Analyze the results to pinpoint slow endpoints or potential trouble spots.

Pro Tip: Schedule regular performance tests—especially after major changes—to keep your APIs speedy and reliable for everyone.

Regression Testing: Safeguarding Your API's Reliability

So, what exactly is regression testing—and why should you care? In simple terms, regression testing helps you make sure that your API still behaves as expected after you've made updates, bug fixes, or added shiny new features. Think of it as a safety net: every time you tweak something, you run automated tests to catch any accidental breakage before your users do.

In practice, this means:

• Double-checking existing endpoints to ensure nothing broke in the process

• Validating that previous integrations and workflows remain intact

• Confirming that new changes haven’t triggered any sneaky issues elsewhere

Bottom line: regression testing gives you the peace of mind that your improvements won’t come with unwanted side effects. With regular testing in place, your API collections remain robust, dependable, and future-proof as your projects grow.

What is Integration Testing for APIs?

Imagine you’ve finished organizing your APIs into collections—fantastic! But how do you know all these individual pieces actually play well together? That’s where integration testing steps in.

Integration testing is a way to ensure that different APIs, or different parts of a single API, work together seamlessly when combined. Rather than just checking if one endpoint does its job in isolation, integration tests look at how everything interacts as a whole. For example, if your login API talks to your user profile API, integration testing helps confirm that the entire flow—from authentication to retrieving user data—runs smoothly, just as you’d expect.

At its core, integration testing lets you:

• Catch issues where APIs depend on each other, such as mismatched data formats or timing problems.

• Confirm that responses remain consistent across the workflow, so you’re not left with nasty surprises in production.

• Simulate real-world scenarios using tools like Postman, SoapUI, or JMeter, giving you peace of mind before your APIs go live.

In short, integration testing acts as the dress rehearsal for your APIs—ensuring everything functions harmoniously, sparing you from last-minute chaos down the road.

Kick-Start Your API Journey with Ready-Made Templates

Not sure where to begin with your API project? Good news—you don't have to start from scratch! There’s a treasure trove of over 70 free, customizable templates covering every stage of the API lifecycle. Whether you’re sketching out a brand-new design, crafting clear documentation, building endpoints, or setting up automated tests, you’ll find templates tailor-made to fit your workflow.

What Can You Find?

• Design Blueprints: Wire up your first endpoint in minutes with design patterns modeled after industry best practices from giants like Spotify, Stripe, and Twilio.

• Documentation Frameworks: Easily structure your API docs for clarity, consistency, and developer happiness—think clear examples, usage notes, and error codes all set up for you.

• Development Starters: Pre-built collections that help you quickly scaffold routes, authentication, data validation, and even common integrations with platforms like Salesforce or Slack.

• Testing Playbooks: Out-of-the-box templates for functional, load, and security testing, inspired by real-world workflows at leading tech companies.

Simply pick a template that fits your needs, customize it to match your requirements, and you’ll save hours of busywork—not to mention sidestepping rookie mistakes along the way.

Now that you’ve got a jump start with templates, let’s roll up our sleeves and create your first API collection.

Forking Collections: Collaborate and Experiment Without Risk

Ever wanted to try out new ideas or experiment with API changes—without fear of breaking the original collection? That’s where forking comes in. Forking lets you create an independent copy of an existing collection. You’re free to explore, add new endpoints, or tweak configurations in your forked version, all while the original collection stays safe and unchanged.

Forks are perfect for:

• Testing new features without disrupting production

• Collaborating with teammates on parallel development

• Suggesting improvements or changes for review

When your updates are polished and ready, you can simply merge your changes back into the original collection—no mess, no stress. This workflow keeps things organized and encourages safe, efficient collaboration across your team.

Moving Collections: Seamless Collaboration Across Workspaces

Need to shift your collection to another workspace for better collaboration or to support a different team? No problem! Here’s how to make it happen:

1. Head to your API Platform and locate the collection you want to move.

2. Click into the collection, then look for the "Move" option—usually found in the collection menu or settings.

3. Select the destination workspace from the list of available options.

4. Confirm the move.

This quick transfer is ideal when you want to share your collections with your team, set them up in a dedicated workspace, or simply reorganize your growing list of APIs. It’s especially handy for making collections accessible to new groups—whether you’re bringing recipes over to a new project or collaborating with external partners in your organization’s Private API Network.

Pro Tip: Double-check permissions in the new workspace to ensure the right people have access to your moved collection.

Running Collections with Data Files: Test Like a Pro

Need to put your APIs through their paces with different inputs—without endless, tedious manual tweaking? Enter data files! With a CSV or JSON file, you can run your entire API collection against dozens (or hundreds) of scenarios in one go.

Here’s how to bulk-test your APIs with data files:

1. Prepare your data file, typically in CSV or JSON format. Each row (CSV) or object (JSON) represents a separate test case with its own set of variables.

2. In your API testing platform of choice (like Postman or Insomnia), look for the option to run a collection or workflow with a data file.

3. Upload your file and start the collection run. Each iteration pulls values from a row/object in your data file, plugging them into your requests automatically.

4. Review the results after the run finishes—spot trends, identify edge cases, and catch issues you might otherwise miss.

This approach is a lifesaver for validating how your APIs handle a ton of scenarios—from varied customer data to edge case values—without having to manually change each input. It’s automation, but with extra swagger!

Sending API Requests—No Coding Required

Ready to interact with your APIs but not up for writing a single line of code? Good news: many modern API platforms let you define and send API requests through intuitive interfaces. Instead of dusting off your command line skills, you can simply fill out a request form, plug in your parameters, and click "Send"—all from your browser or a desktop app.

Here’s how it typically works:

• Select the API endpoint you want from your organized collection.

• Enter any required inputs (like authentication keys or query parameters).

• Hit "Send" and watch the response appear instantly—no scripts or terminal windows needed.

Platforms like Qodex, Postman, and Insomnia have made it a breeze to test, tweak, and troubleshoot your APIs visually. This makes it easy for non-developers and developers alike to interact with APIs, experiment with new workflows, or simply confirm everything’s running smoothly.

With just a couple of clicks, you can see exactly what your API is returning and make adjustments on the fly—no coding chops required.

Scenario Testing with Data Sets

Curious how to put your API collection through its paces? Enter scenario testing. This approach lets you loop through multiple data points—think customer records, product IDs, order numbers—and automatically trigger workflows for each one, making it easy to simulate real-world usage.

Here’s how you can get started:

• Prepare a Data Set: Gather your test data into a spreadsheet or CSV file, with each row representing a scenario you want to test.

• Configure the Workflow: Set up your workflow or automation to accept inputs from this data set. For example, if you’re testing order creation, each row might represent a unique order.

• Run Iterative Tests: Use your automation tool’s bulk-execution or batch-processing feature (many platforms like Zapier, Microsoft Power Automate, or Workato offer this). The workflow will iterate through the list, firing off test calls for each data entry.

• Monitor Responses: Watch the responses roll in. Pay attention to success and failure cases—proactively spotting bugs or inconsistencies before your users do.

This method is especially handy for stress-testing, regression checks, or confirming that new updates don’t accidentally break your existing logic. By combining datasets with automated workflows, you ensure your APIs are battle-tested and ready for anything your users might throw at them.

Setting Up Authorization Methods

Let’s make sure your APIs stay secure and easy to use. There are several popular ways to handle authorization, and setting them up is pretty straightforward. Here’s a quick overview of your options and how to get started:

Common Authorization Methods:

• API Key – Just add a unique key to your header or query. Perfect for quick, lightweight projects.

• Basic Auth – Use a simple username and password combo. Great for internal tools or systems without complex security needs.

• OAuth 2.0 – The gold standard for secure, delegated access. Set up your client ID, secret, and scopes to safely connect with services like Google, Microsoft, or Salesforce.

• Bearer Token – Often used with OAuth 2.0 flows, you’ll pass a token in your Authorization header.

• Custom Schemes – Some APIs want something special in their headers or payloads. Just follow their specific setup instructions.

How to set them up:

1. Choose your authorization type based on your API or application needs.

2. Add credentials securely—use environment variables or collection-level settings to avoid exposing secrets.

3. For advanced methods like OAuth, you’ll typically need to register your app with the provider and grab required details like client IDs and redirect URIs.

4. Test your configuration to make sure your requests are properly authenticated.

Pro Tip: Keep sensitive credentials out of plain sight by always using variables and secure folders.

That’s all there is to it—pick your method, plug in your details, and your endpoints are now both protected and ready to use!

Managing Authorization: Streamlining Secure Access

Controlling access to your APIs is key to keeping your data safe and workflows humming. To handle authorization details efficiently—and without the headache—centralize your credentials using variables within your API collection or project. This way, you can update tokens, keys, or credentials in one spot, keeping them consistent and out of harm’s way.

For even more security, use environment variables or secrets management features provided by your platform. These options let you share collections with teammates without ever exposing sensitive info directly. Whenever an API call is made, the system pulls in the correct authorization details automatically, ensuring every request is both secure and seamless.

Pro Tip: Regularly review and update your credentials, and only grant as much access as necessary. Think of it as giving out front door keys—only hand them over to those who really need them!

Making Your APIs Integration-Ready with Modern Protocols

So, where does support for protocols like the Model Context Protocol (MCP) fit into all of this? Think of MCP as a universal translator for your APIs. By adopting standardized protocols, your APIs instantly become more approachable for automation tools, integration platforms, and even the latest AI models—kind of like adding a magnetic label to every drawer in your filing cabinet, so anyone can find exactly what they need at a glance.

How does this help you?

• Plug-and-Play Integration: MCP and similar protocols ensure your APIs use a common language, making it far easier for platforms like Zapier, Workato, or even OpenAI's agents to connect and coordinate without tedious custom configuration.

• Smarter Automation: When your APIs are context-aware thanks to protocols like MCP, you enable workflows that adapt automatically to user needs, greatly reducing manual oversight (and the risk of errors).

• Futureproof Compatibility: Think of this as equipping your API toolbox with the latest adapters—no more being left out when new integration trends or AI-powered workflows show up on the scene.

• Reduced Chaos: By standardizing how data and actions are described, you avoid the confusion that comes from inconsistent endpoints or unpredictable behaviors.

Bottom line: if you want your APIs to be team players—ready to jump into any integration, workflow, or AI task at a moment's notice—embracing modern protocols like MCP will help you avoid chaos and unlock the full potential of your API collections.

Adding Tests: Debugging and Powering Your CI/CD Pipeline

Ready to catch issues before they hit production? Tests are your secret weapon. By attaching tests directly to your API requests, you can instantly verify responses—spotting errors and quirks on the fly. Think of these as little guardians that watch every API call you make.

How it works:

1. When setting up or editing an API request, add your test scripts right within the request configuration.

2. These scripts automatically check if responses meet your expectations—status codes, data structure, or anything you want to validate.

3. As you run requests, results are displayed immediately so you can debug quickly, perfecting your collection before anyone else tries it.

For teams with automated pipelines, it's easy to take things further. Reuse your test suite and plug it into your CI/CD with platforms like Jenkins or Travis CI. Now, every push or code change triggers your API tests, catching breaking changes right away and keeping your collection rock solid.

Pro Tip: Organize your tests for clarity. The clearer your testing logic, the faster you'll squash bugs and help your team ship with confidence.

Data Visualization: Making Sense of the Chaos

Ever looked at a massive API response and felt your eyes glaze over? Fear not—data visualization can come to your rescue! By transforming raw, complex data into charts, graphs, or other visual formats, you can identify trends, spot anomalies, and communicate information far more effectively.

Here’s why data visualization is a game-changer for API responses:

• Clarity at a Glance: Instead of wading through endless JSON or XML, visualize your data as bar charts, line graphs, or heatmaps for instant understanding.

• Spot Patterns and Outliers: Detect trends, highlight spikes, or catch issues in your API responses before they become big headaches.

• Engage Your Audience: A well-crafted pie chart or scatter plot makes it easier to present findings to your team—or to your boss who prefers “pictures over paragraphs.”

Whether you’re using tools like Tableau or embedding custom dashboards in your workflow, a good visualization can turn a mountain of API data into actionable insights.

Documenting Your API with Markdown

Now that your collection is set up, let's talk documentation. Using Markdown, you can craft clear, user-friendly API docs that make onboarding and troubleshooting a breeze.

Markdown is a lightweight, easy-to-read syntax that's widely supported by platforms like GitHub, Bitbucket, and many developer portals. Here’s how you can put it to work:

• Add Endpoint Descriptions: Write concise descriptions for each API endpoint using headers, lists, and code blocks to organize information.

• Illustrate with Examples: Use fenced code blocks (```) to show sample JSON requests and responses. Syntax highlighting makes them easy to scan.

• Tables for Clarity: Present parameters, response fields, and status codes with Markdown tables. No more squinting at jumbled text!

• Link Out for Context: Embed helpful links to external docs or related APIs using standard Markdown link syntax.

For example, you might document an endpoint like this:

#### `GET /users`
Retrieves a list of users in your workspace.

**Query Parameters**
Name  Type   Description         limit number Max users to return skip  number Users to skip       **Example Request**

Example Response

[
  {
    "id": "1",
    "name": "Ada Lovelace"
  }
]

Pre-Request Scripts: Automate Prep and Debugging

Ever wish you could set up some common logic to run before every API call—like setting authentication headers, initializing variables, or logging details for debugging? That’s where pre-request scripts shine.

A pre-request script is a snippet of code you attach to your entire collection or a specific folder. When you trigger any request inside that group, your script runs automatically—think of it as a backstage crew handling prep work before the curtain rises.

Here’s why you’ll love them:

• Flexible Placement: Attach scripts at the collection level to apply everywhere, or just to a folder for more targeted control.

• Powerful Automation: Automate repetitive setup tasks, catch errors early, or inject dynamic variables without rewriting code for every endpoint.

• Debug Like a Pro: Add logging or temporary checks to spot issues before requests go out.

For example, if every call needs an updated timestamp or token, let your pre-request script handle it. Or, pop in some console logs to inspect variables before calling an external API. This saves you time, reduces errors, and keeps workflows tidy—no more copy-pasting setup logic into every request.