# How to Test and Verify an HTTP API Integration in ZazzyAgent An API integration should be tested before it becomes part of a customer-facing automation. A flow can be perfectly connected while the API configuration itself is incorrect. Testing helps verify the complete request before customers depend on it. ## What should you test? Don't test only whether the endpoint exists. Verify: ```text Endpoint HTTP Method Authentication Headers Parameters Request Body Response Response Mapping ``` Every part can fail independently. ## Start with the API configuration Open the HTTP API integration in ZazzyAgent. Review: ### Endpoint Check the URL carefully. A small typo can produce a 404 error. ### HTTP method Make sure the method matches the external API. For example: ```text GET POST PUT DELETE ``` The correct method depends on the API. ### Authentication Check: * API key * Bearer token * Required authentication headers * Credential validity ### Headers Verify all required headers. For example: ```text Content-Type Authorization x-api-key ``` ### Parameters Check all required values. ### Request body If the API expects JSON or other request data, verify the structure. ## Verify the connection The HTTP API setup includes a verification step before the integration is saved. Use that verification process to confirm that the configured request can reach the external service. A successful verification is useful, but it does not guarantee that every customer-facing flow will work. The live flow may use different dynamic data. ## Test with a real subscriber value When an API depends on subscriber information, use a real test customer or test subscriber value. For example: ```text Order Number Customer ID Phone Email ``` This is especially important when the API request contains dynamic data. ## Test the request manually first Before debugging the Flow Builder, understand what the API expects. You should know: ```text Method URL Headers Parameters Body Expected Response ``` Then compare those requirements with your ZazzyAgent configuration. ## Test the happy path Start with a value that should definitely work. Example: ```text Order ID: 12345 ``` Expected: ```text status = shipped tracking_number = TRK12345 ``` Once that works, test failure scenarios. ## Test invalid data Try an invalid identifier: ```text Order ID: 999999999 ``` The API may return: ```json { "error": "Order not found" } ``` Your automation should handle that response cleanly. ## Test missing data Also test what happens when a required value isn't supplied. For example: ```text Customer ↓ Order Number ↓ Empty ``` The automation should not blindly call an API that requires an order number. Instead, ask for the missing information or route the customer appropriately. ## Test authentication failure Temporarily test with an invalid credential in a controlled environment when appropriate. The purpose is to confirm that your error handling works. Your customer should receive something like: > We couldn't retrieve that information right now. Please try again. They should not receive: ```text 401 Unauthorized ``` or raw technical details. ## Test the API response A successful HTTP request does not necessarily mean the response contains usable data. For example, an API may return: ```json { "status": "success" } ``` while your flow expects: ```json { "order_status": "shipped" } ``` The request succeeded. Your mapping is still wrong. See [How to Use API Response Data in ZazzyAgent](https://blog.zazzyagent.com/how-to-use-api-response-data-zazzyagent). ## Test response mapping If you map API data into custom fields, verify that the correct values are stored. For example: ```text API response ↓ order_status ↓ Order Status ``` Then use that field in the next step. If the field is empty, inspect the response structure and mapping rather than rebuilding the entire flow. ## Test the complete flow After the API itself works, test the actual customer journey. For example: ```text Customer ↓ User Input ↓ Save Order Number ↓ HTTP API ↓ Response ↓ Response Mapping ↓ Condition ↓ Customer Reply ``` This catches problems that API verification alone cannot detect. ## Test both success and failure paths A production-ready API automation should have at least: ```text API Call ↓ Successful? ↙ ↘ Yes No ↓ ↓ Continue Fallback ``` The fallback could: * Ask the customer to try again * Request corrected information * Explain that the service is temporarily unavailable * Transfer the conversation to a human ## Test unusual customer input Real users will not always provide clean values. Test: * Extra spaces * Wrong capitalization * Long text * Invalid IDs * Missing values * Multiple languages * Special characters This is especially important when customer input becomes an API parameter. ## Check error logs when necessary If the API works during verification but fails inside the live flow, inspect the relevant error information. Start from the exact point where the process breaks: ```text Flow started? ↓ Input saved? ↓ API called? ↓ Request correct? ↓ API responded? ↓ Response correct? ↓ Mapping worked? ↓ Next node executed? ``` This is much faster than randomly changing settings. See [How to Check Bot Error Logs in ZazzyAgent](https://blog.zazzyagent.com/how-to-check-bot-error-logs-zazzyagent). ## A proper pre-launch checklist Before publishing an API-powered flow, verify: **Request** * Correct endpoint * Correct method * Correct headers * Correct parameters * Correct request body **Security** * Credentials are protected * Secrets are not shown to customers **Response** * Expected response received * Correct fields mapped * Missing values handled **Flow** * Success branch works * Failure branch works * Invalid input works * Customer receives a useful message ## Test the live scenario Once everything works in configuration, perform an end-to-end test exactly like a customer would. For example: ```text Customer: Where is my order? Bot: What is your order number? Customer: 12345 Bot: [API request] Bot: Your order is out for delivery. ``` You are testing the entire chain, not just the API. ## The difference between verification and testing These are related but not identical. ### Verification Checks whether the configured API request can be validated. ### Flow testing Checks whether the API behaves correctly when used inside the actual automation. You should do both. ## Best practice Don't wait until customers report an API problem. Test: ```text Happy path + Invalid input + Missing input + API failure + Empty response + Mapping failure ``` That gives your automation a much better chance of behaving correctly in real conversations. For the broader API architecture, see [HTTP API in ZazzyAgent: Complete Guide to External API Automation](https://blog.zazzyagent.com/http-api-zazzyagent-guide). ## The key idea A verified API is not necessarily a finished automation. Test the request, the response, the mapping, and the complete customer journey before relying on it in production.