How to use REST Client extension in VS Code to test Laravel API routes easily

Many of us use Postman to test our Rest APIs, switching between vscode and postman. But what if there is a way to do it using vscode only. That's where Rest Client vscode extension comes in. So, in this post the way to use this extension is described below.

Step 1: Installing REST Client Extension
    - Opening VS Code.
    - Extensions tab (Ctrl + Shift + X).
    - Searching for REST Client (by Huachao Mao).
    - Installing the extension

Step 2: Creating a .http or .rest File

    In our Laravel project, new file with the extension .http or .rest needs to be created.
    Example: api-test.http
    
Step 3: Writing API Requests

We can now write and test API requests directly from VS Code editor.
One important thing to note here  is that multiple requests can be written sequentially in the same file as examples. However, when making a request, ensure that only one request is active while keeping the others commented out.
This prevents conflicts and ensures the correct request is executed.

POST http://localhost:8000/api/user-register
Content-Type: application/json

{
    "name" : "Demo User",
    "email" : "du@demo.com",
    "mobile" : "013222915310",
    "password" : "12345678"
}


POST http://localhost:8000/api/user-login
Content-Type: application/json

{
    "email" : "du@demo.com",
    "password" : "12345678"
}

GET http://localhost:8000/api/user-profile
token: our-token
Accept: application/json


POST http://localhost:8000/api/create-category
token: our-token
Content-Type: application/json

{
    "name" : "monitor"
}

POST http://localhost:8000/api/update-category
token: our-token
Content-Type: application/json

{
    "id" : "28",
    "name" : "monitor 2025"
}


POST http://localhost:8000/api/delete-category
token: our-token
Content-Type: application/json

{
    "id" : "28"
}

POST http://localhost:8000/api/category-by-id
token: our-token
Content-Type: application/json

{
   "id" : "28"
}

GET http://localhost:8000/api/user-logout

Step 4: Running Laravel server

Before sending api requests we need to make sure laravel server is running

php artisan serve

Step 5: Sending requests

There will be "Send Request" link just above the request url the one we are testing. We need to click that.
The response will appear in a new tab in VS Code.

That's it. Now we dont need to go outside of vscode to test our laravel api requests.