Cypress API

Cypress API Testing Skill

Patterns and tools for writing API tests with Cypress.

Architecture Overview

contents/themes/{theme}/tests/cypress/
├── e2e/
│   └── api/                          # API tests (this skill)
│       ├── entities/
│       │   ├── {entity}-crud.cy.ts   # Entity CRUD tests
│       │   └── {entity}-crud.bdd.md  # BDD documentation
│       └── {feature}/
│           └── {feature}.cy.ts
├── src/
│   └── controllers/
│       ├── BaseAPIController.js      # Base class (DO NOT MODIFY)
│       └── {Entity}APIController.js  # Entity-specific controllers
└── fixtures/
    └── entities.json                 # AUTO-GENERATED entity config

When to Use This Skill

• Writing API tests for entity CRUD operations
• Creating entity API controllers
• Testing authentication (API key, session)
• Validating API responses and error handling
• Testing pagination and filtering

Test Tag System

Permanent Tags (COMMIT)

Temporary Tags (NEVER COMMIT)

CRITICAL: code-reviewer (Phase 16) BLOCKS if temporary tags remain.

Test ID Convention

{ENTITY_SLUG_UPPER}_API_{NUMBER}

Examples:
- TASKS_API_001    → List entities
- TASKS_API_010    → Create entity
- TASKS_API_020    → Get by ID
- TASKS_API_030    → Update entity
- TASKS_API_040    → Delete entity
- TASKS_API_100    → Integration/lifecycle test

Number ranges:
- 001-009: LIST operations
- 010-019: CREATE operations
- 020-029: GET BY ID operations
- 030-039: UPDATE operations
- 040-049: DELETE operations
- 100+: Integration tests

BaseAPIController Pattern

Key Methods

class BaseAPIController {
  constructor(baseUrl, apiKey, teamId, entityConfig) {
    this.baseUrl = baseUrl
    this.apiKey = apiKey
    this.teamId = teamId
    this.entitySlug = entityConfig.slug
  }

  // CRUD Methods
  list(options = {})                    // GET /api/v1/{entity}
  getById(id, options = {})            // GET /api/v1/{entity}/{id}
  create(data, options = {})           // POST /api/v1/{entity}
  update(id, data, options = {})       // PATCH /api/v1/{entity}/{id}
  delete(id, options = {})             // DELETE /api/v1/{entity}/{id}

  // Validation Methods
  validateSuccessResponse(response, expectedStatus)
  validatePaginatedResponse(response)
  validateBaseEntityFields(entity)

  // Utility Methods
  setApiKey(key)                       // Change API key
  setTeamId(teamId)                    // Change team context
  getHeaders()                         // Get request headers
}

Entity Controller Structure

import BaseAPIController from './BaseAPIController'
import entitiesConfig from '../fixtures/entities.json'

const { slug } = entitiesConfig.entities.tasks

class TasksAPIController extends BaseAPIController {
  constructor(baseUrl, apiKey, teamId) {
    super(baseUrl, apiKey, teamId, { slug })
  }

  // Semantic aliases
  getTasks(options = {}) {
    return this.list(options)
  }

  getTaskById(id, options = {}) {
    return this.getById(id, options)
  }

  createTask(data, options = {}) {
    return this.create(data, options)
  }

  updateTask(id, data, options = {}) {
    return this.update(id, data, options)
  }

  deleteTask(id, options = {}) {
    return this.delete(id, options)
  }

  // Data generators
  generateRandomTaskData(overrides = {}) {
    return {
      title: `Test Task ${Date.now()}`,
      description: 'Generated test task',
      status: 'active',
      ...overrides
    }
  }

  // Entity-specific validation
  validateTaskObject(entity, allowMetas = false) {
    this.validateBaseEntityFields(entity)
    expect(entity).to.have.property('title')
    expect(entity).to.have.property('status')
  }
}

Authentication

Dual Auth System

// API Key Authentication (primary for API tests)
const api = new TasksAPIController(baseUrl, SUPERADMIN_API_KEY, TEAM_ID)

// Headers sent:
// - Authorization: Bearer {apiKey}
// - x-team-id: {teamId}

// Session Authentication (for UAT tests)
// Uses cy.session() - see cypress-e2e skill

Test Users & API Keys

// Test API keys (from fixtures or environment)
const SUPERADMIN_API_KEY = 'sk_test_...'  // Full access
const MEMBER_API_KEY = 'sk_member_...'     // Limited access

// Team IDs
const TEAM_ID = 'team-tmt-001'

// For session-based tests, see cypress-e2e skill for login helpers

Auth Test Patterns

// Test without API key
it('should reject request without API key', () => {
  const originalApiKey = api.apiKey
  api.setApiKey(null)

  api.list().then((response) => {
    expect(response.status).to.eq(401)
    expect(response.body.success).to.be.false
  })

  api.setApiKey(originalApiKey)
})

// Test without team context
it('should reject request without x-team-id', () => {
  const originalTeamId = api.teamId
  api.setTeamId(null)

  api.list().then((response) => {
    expect(response.status).to.eq(400)
    expect(response.body.code).to.eq('TEAM_CONTEXT_REQUIRED')
  })

  api.setTeamId(originalTeamId)
})

HTTP Status Codes

Error Codes

Test Structure

describe('{Entity} API - CRUD Operations', {
  tags: ['@api', '@feat-{entity}', '@crud', '@regression']
}, () => {
  let api: any
  let createdEntities: any[] = []

  const SUPERADMIN_API_KEY = '...'
  const TEAM_ID = 'team-tmt-001'
  const BASE_URL = Cypress.config('baseUrl')

  before(() => {
    api = new EntityAPIController(BASE_URL, SUPERADMIN_API_KEY, TEAM_ID)
  })

  beforeEach(() => {
    allure.epic('API')
    allure.feature('Entities')
  })

  afterEach(() => {
    // CRITICAL: Cleanup created entities
    createdEntities.forEach((entity) => {
      if (entity?.id) {
        api.delete(entity.id)
      }
    })
    createdEntities = []
  })

  // Tests...
})

BDD Documentation Format (API)

API tests use YAML frontmatter + ## @test sections:

---
feature: {Entity} API
priority: high
tags: [api, feat-{entity}, crud, regression]
grepTags: ["@api", "@feat-{entity}"]
coverage: N tests
---

# {Entity} API

> API tests for /api/v1/{entity} endpoints.

## Endpoints Covered

| Endpoint | Method | Description |
|----------|--------|-------------|
| `/api/v1/{entity}` | GET | List entities |
| `/api/v1/{entity}` | POST | Create entity |
| `/api/v1/{entity}/{id}` | GET | Get entity by ID |
| `/api/v1/{entity}/{id}` | PATCH | Update entity |
| `/api/v1/{entity}/{id}` | DELETE | Delete entity |

---

## @test {ENTITY}_API_001: List entities

### Metadata
- **Priority:** Critical
- **Type:** Smoke
- **Tags:** api, {entity}, list
- **Grep:** `@smoke @feat-{entity}`

\`\`\`gherkin:en
Scenario: List entities with valid API key

Given I have a valid superadmin API key
And I have x-team-id header set
When I make a GET request to /api/v1/{entity}
Then the response status should be 200
And the response body should have success true
And the data should contain paginated results
\`\`\`

\`\`\`gherkin:es
Scenario: Listar entidades con API key válida

Given tengo una API key de superadmin válida
And tengo el header x-team-id configurado
When hago una solicitud GET a /api/v1/{entity}
Then el status de respuesta debería ser 200
And el body debería tener success true
And los datos deberían contener resultados paginados
\`\`\`

### Expected Results
- Status: 200 OK
- Response contains paginated data array
- Info contains total, page, limit

---

## Response Format

### Success Response (200)
\`\`\`json
{
  "success": true,
  "data": [...],
  "info": {
    "total": 10,
    "page": 1,
    "limit": 10
  }
}
\`\`\`

### Error Response (401)
\`\`\`json
{
  "success": false,
  "error": {
    "message": "Authentication required",
    "code": "AUTHENTICATION_REQUIRED"
  }
}
\`\`\`

---

## Test Summary

| Test ID | Endpoint | Description | Tags |
|---------|----------|-------------|------|
| {ENTITY}_API_001 | GET / | List with valid auth | `@smoke` |
| {ENTITY}_API_010 | POST / | Create with valid data | `@smoke` |
| {ENTITY}_API_020 | GET /{id} | Get by valid ID | |
| {ENTITY}_API_030 | PATCH /{id} | Update with valid data | |
| {ENTITY}_API_040 | DELETE /{id} | Delete by valid ID | |

Scripts

Generate API Controller

# Generate API controller from template
python3 .claude/skills/cypress-api/scripts/generate-api-controller.py \
  --entity tasks \
  --theme default

# Preview without writing
python3 .claude/skills/cypress-api/scripts/generate-api-controller.py \
  --entity tasks \
  --theme default \
  --dry-run

Generate API Test

# Generate API test file + BDD documentation
python3 .claude/skills/cypress-api/scripts/generate-api-test.py \
  --entity tasks \
  --theme default \
  --with-bdd

# Preview without writing
python3 .claude/skills/cypress-api/scripts/generate-api-test.py \
  --entity tasks \
  --theme default \
  --with-bdd \
  --dry-run

Test Execution Commands

# Run specific API test file
pnpm cy:run --spec "contents/themes/default/tests/cypress/e2e/api/entities/tasks-crud.cy.ts"

# Run all API tests
pnpm cy:run --env grepTags="@api"

# Run entity-specific API tests
pnpm cy:run --env grepTags="@feat-tasks,@api"

# Run smoke API tests
pnpm cy:run --env grepTags="@api,@smoke"

# Run @in-develop tests only (during iteration)
pnpm cy:run --env grepTags="@in-develop"

Anti-Patterns

// NEVER: Hardcoded entity slugs
const endpoint = '/api/v1/tasks'

// CORRECT: From entities.json
const { slug } = entitiesConfig.entities.tasks
const endpoint = `/api/v1/${slug}`

// NEVER: Fixed timeouts
cy.wait(3000)

// CORRECT: Use promise chaining
api.create(data).then((response) => {
  // Handle response
})

// NEVER: Skip cleanup
afterEach(() => {
  // Missing cleanup!
})

// CORRECT: Always cleanup created entities
afterEach(() => {
  createdEntities.forEach((entity) => {
    if (entity?.id) api.delete(entity.id)
  })
  createdEntities = []
})

// NEVER: Modify shared state without restoring
api.setApiKey(null)
// Tests continue with null key...

// CORRECT: Always restore original state
const original = api.apiKey
api.setApiKey(null)
// Test...
api.setApiKey(original)

Checklist

Before finalizing API tests:

• Uses entity API controller (extends BaseAPIController)
• Uses correct test ID convention ({ENTITY}_API_{NUMBER})
• Includes cleanup in afterEach
• Tests authentication (401 without key)
• Tests team context (400 without x-team-id)
• Includes permanent tags (@api, @feat-{entity}, @crud)
• NO temporary tags (@in-develop, @scope-{session})
• Has corresponding .bdd.md documentation file
• BDD uses YAML frontmatter + ## @test format
• BDD is bilingual (:en and :es gherkin blocks)

Related Skills

• cypress-e2e - UAT testing patterns
• cypress-selectors - Selector architecture
• better-auth - Authentication patterns