Test Salesforce Rest API using postman

In this post, we will learn about how to test Salesforce REST API using postman. How To Make A Salesforce REST API Call From Postman.

What is Postman?

Postman is an API collaboration platform used for APIs. Postman is an application used for API testing. It is an HTTP client that tests HTTP requests, utilizing a graphical user interface, through which we obtain different types of responses that need to be subsequently validated.

How to test Salesforce REST API using Postman?

Force.com platform supports powerful web services API for interaction with external apps and salesforce.com. For secured interaction with third-party apps, Salesforce enforces the authentication process. Like below image

OAuthFlow
OAuthFlow

Image from Salesforce document. Let’s see step by step process to test Salesforce REST API using Postman.

1. Create a Connected App for OAuth

To perform OAuth in salesforce, you must create a Connected App in salesforce. Follow the below step to create a connected App.

1) Click on Setup->Create->App

2) Then from the above screen click on Connect Apps then the New button. Then add all the required information like below

3) Now After creating the connected App we have the consumer key and consumer secret.

4) Click on Manage and then click on Edit Policy. Then change to “Admin Approved user are pre-authorized”. then click on Save.

5) Now from the profile select System admin and save it.

Learn about Salesforce OAuth 2.0 JWT Bearer flow here.

2. Setup Postman.

Postman has two options for working with its app: desktop and web.

2.1 Sing up to postman here and download the Desktop App. Or you can directly download it from here.

2.2 Then Create a workspace from Workspaces menu.

2.3 Now Click on Create Collection button and give your project name

3. Get Access Token in Postman

There are two ways to get an Access token

  • By OAuth Setting in POSTMAN (Wizard one)
  • By Post Callout (Direct URL)

3.1 By OAuth Setting in POSTMAN (Wizard one)

  • Now Select your Collection and click on Authentication Tab
  • Select Type OAuth 2.0
  • Then click on  “Get Access Token“. Then provide all below detail.
  • Then click on Request Token button. Then it will ask you to enter userName and password.
Get New Access Token in postman
Get New Access Token in postman
  • Here we have Access Token. Then copy Instance_URL and click on Use Token

NOTE:-   May be After trying to login you will get the below error “Failed: Not approved for access

  • OAuth Endpoints in Salesforce
    •   Authorization: https://login.salesforce.com/services/oauth2/authorize
    •   Token Request: https://login.salesforce.com/services/oauth2/token

4. Setup variable for postman project

Open the Variable tab from the collection and you can set your _endPoint and version for API like the below screen

5. Test Salesforce Rest API using Postman

Click on Add a request link under your collection. To make a callout

  • Then you need to set method and URL for API then click on send button

You can also use a variable in the URL which we set up in step 4.

{{_endpoint}}/services/data/v{{version}}/query?q=SELECT+Id+FROM+Account+limit+1

I hope this will help to learn postman for Salesforce API testing.

Salesforce Rest API Authentication through POSTMAN

YouTube video

Amit Chaudhary
Amit Chaudhary

Amit Chaudhary is Salesforce Application & System Architect and working on Salesforce Platform since 2010. He is Salesforce MVP since 2017 and have 17 Salesforce Certificates.

He is a active blogger and founder of Apex Hours.

Articles: 459

4 Comments

  1. Hi
    I have followed this tutorial but I am getting the below error:
    “message”: “Session expired or invalid”,
    “errorCode”: “INVALID_SESSION_ID”

    Could you please help me where I could be wrong…

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