From 2aff18af21d22764b60f43165756d003786b126f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tom Dykstra Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2025 21:26:36 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 1/9] draft --- aspnetcore/test/http-files.md | 113 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++- 1 file changed, 112 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md index b158391084ff..7c187bcbe33c 100644 --- a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md +++ b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md @@ -190,6 +190,118 @@ A variable defined in an environment file can be the same as one defined in the In the preceding example, the `$shared` environment defines the `HostAddress` variable with the value `localhost:7293`. The `HostAddress` variable with the value `localhost:7293` functions as a default for environments that don't define a `HostAddress`. When the `dev1` or `dev2` environment is defined, the value for `HostAddress` comes from the `$shared` environment because `dev1` and `dev2` don't define a `HostAddress` variable. When the `staging` environment is defined, the value for `HostAddress` is set to `https://staging.contoso.com`, overriding the `$shared` default. +## Request variables + +You can pass values from one HTTP request to another within the same HTTP file. + +1. Create a named variable that represents a request by using the syntax `#@name`. +1. In other requests in the same HTTP file use the variable name to refer to the request. + +For example, suppose you have a request that authenticates the caller, so you name it `login`. In subsequent requests, pass in the bearer token in an Authorization header by using the syntax `{{login.response.body.$.token}}`. The following example shows how to do this: + +```http +#@name login + +POST {{TodoApi_HostAddress}}/users/token +Content-Type: application/json + +{ + "username": "{{myusername}}", +} + +### + +GET {{TodoApi_HostAddress}}/todos +Authorization: Bearer {{login.response.body.$.token}} + +### +``` + +Once the named request is sent, you can access values from its response in any subsequent request within the same file. Use JSONPath to query JSONin the , similar to XPath for XML. It allows you to navigate and extract data from JSON documents. + +### Explanation + +- **`response`**: Refers to the HTTP response object. +- **`body`**: Refers to the body of the HTTP response. +- **`$`**: Represents the root element of the JSON document in the response body. +- **`token`**: Refers to the specific property within the JSON document. + +The reference syntax of a request variable is a bit more complex than other kinds of custom variables. The request variable reference syntax follows {{requestName.(response|request).(body|headers).(*|JSONPath|XPath|Header Name)}}. You have two reference part choices of the response or request: body and headers. For body part, you can use * to reference the full response body, and for JSON and XML responses, you can use JSONPath and XPath to extract specific property or attribute. For example, if a JSON response returns body {"id": "mock"}, you can set the JSONPath part to $.id to reference the id. For headers part, you can specify the header name to extract the header value. Additionally, the header name is case-insensitive. + +If the JSONPath or XPath of body, or Header Name of headers can't be resolved, the plain text of variable reference will be sent instead. And in this case, diagnostic information will be displayed to help you to inspect this. And you can also hover over the request variables to view the actual resolved value. + +Below is a sample of request variable definitions and references in an http file. + + +@baseUrl = https://example.com/api + +# @name login +POST {{baseUrl}}/api/login HTTP/1.1 +Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded + +name=foo&password=bar + +### + +@authToken = {{login.response.headers.X-AuthToken}} + +# @name createComment +POST {{baseUrl}}/comments HTTP/1.1 +Authorization: {{authToken}} +Content-Type: application/json + +{ + "content": "fake content" +} + +### + +@commentId = {{createComment.response.body.$.id}} + +# @name getCreatedComment +GET {{baseUrl}}/comments/{{commentId}} HTTP/1.1 +Authorization: {{authToken}} + +### + +# @name getReplies +GET {{baseUrl}}/comments/{{commentId}}/replies HTTP/1.1 +Accept: application/xml + +### + +# @name getFirstReply +GET {{baseUrl}}/comments/{{commentId}}/replies/{{getReplies.response.body.//reply[1]/@id}}### Example + +Given a JSON response body like this: + +```json + + +{ + + + "token": "abc123", + "user": { + "id": 1, + "name": "John Doe" + } +} +``` + +The expression `{{login.response.body.$.token}}` would extract the value `"abc123"`. + +### Reference Documentation + +For more information on JSONPath syntax and what can come after `response.` or `body.`, you can refer to the following resources: + +- **JSONPath Syntax**: [JSONPath - XPath for JSON](https://goessner.net/articles/JsonPath/) +- **HTTP File Syntax in Visual Studio Code**: [REST Client Extension for Visual Studio Code](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=humao.rest-client) + +These resources provide detailed information on how to use JSONPath to navigate and extract data from JSON documents, as well as how to use the REST Client extension in Visual Studio Code to work with HTTP files. + + This approach reduces error-prone manual steps. Without using request variables you would need to manually extract the token from the login response and include it in the header of subsequent requests. With the HTTP Request Variables feature, this process is automated. + ## User-specific environment files A user-specific value is any value that a developer wants to test with but doesn't want to share with the team. The `http-client.env.json` file is checked in to source control by default, therefore, ***DO NOT*** add user-specific values to this file. Rather, add user-specific values in a file named `http-client.env.json.user`. The `http-client.env.json.user` file is located in the same folder as the `http-client.env.json` file. Files that end with `.user` are excluded from source control by default when using Visual Studio source control features. @@ -455,7 +567,6 @@ Some of the preceding examples use the free open-source website . T The Visual Studio 2022 `.http` file editor doesn't have all the features that the Visual Studio Code [REST Client extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=humao.rest-client) has. The following list includes some of the more significant features available only in the Visual Studio Code extension: * Request line that spans more than one line -* Named requests * Specify file path as body of the request * Mixed format for body when using multipart/form-data * GraphQL requests From ad7082d92b4fe44d6c6a852671489131bd4ac8c6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tom Dykstra Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2025 15:24:47 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 2/9] draft --- aspnetcore/test/http-files.md | 70 ++++++++++------------------------- 1 file changed, 19 insertions(+), 51 deletions(-) diff --git a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md index 7c187bcbe33c..264356247b9f 100644 --- a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md +++ b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md @@ -195,9 +195,24 @@ In the preceding example, the `$shared` environment defines the `HostAddress` va You can pass values from one HTTP request to another within the same HTTP file. 1. Create a named variable that represents a request by using the syntax `#@name`. -1. In other requests in the same HTTP file use the variable name to refer to the request. +1. In subsequent requests in the same HTTP file use the variable name to refer to the request. +1. Use the following syntax to extract the specific part of the response that you want. -For example, suppose you have a request that authenticates the caller, so you name it `login`. In subsequent requests, pass in the bearer token in an Authorization header by using the syntax `{{login.response.body.$.token}}`. The following example shows how to do this: + ```http + {{requestVariable.(response|request).(body|headers).(*|JSONPath|XPath|Header Name)}}. + ``` + + You can extract values from the request itself or from the response to it. For either request or response, you can extract values from the body or the headers. For the body: + + * `*` extracts the entire response body. + * For JSON responses, use JSONPath to extract a specific property or attribute. + * For XML responses, use XPath to extract a specific property or attribute. + + Header names are case-insensitive. + +### Example + +For example, suppose your HTTP file has a request that authenticates the caller, so you name it `login`. The response body is a JSON document that contains the bearer token in a property named `token`. In subsequent requests, you want to pass in this bearer token in an `Authorization` header. The following syntax does this: ```http #@name login @@ -217,61 +232,14 @@ Authorization: Bearer {{login.response.body.$.token}} ### ``` -Once the named request is sent, you can access values from its response in any subsequent request within the same file. Use JSONPath to query JSONin the , similar to XPath for XML. It allows you to navigate and extract data from JSON documents. - -### Explanation +The syntax `{{login.response.body.$.token}}` extracts the bearer token: +- **`login`**: Is the request variable. - **`response`**: Refers to the HTTP response object. - **`body`**: Refers to the body of the HTTP response. - **`$`**: Represents the root element of the JSON document in the response body. - **`token`**: Refers to the specific property within the JSON document. -The reference syntax of a request variable is a bit more complex than other kinds of custom variables. The request variable reference syntax follows {{requestName.(response|request).(body|headers).(*|JSONPath|XPath|Header Name)}}. You have two reference part choices of the response or request: body and headers. For body part, you can use * to reference the full response body, and for JSON and XML responses, you can use JSONPath and XPath to extract specific property or attribute. For example, if a JSON response returns body {"id": "mock"}, you can set the JSONPath part to $.id to reference the id. For headers part, you can specify the header name to extract the header value. Additionally, the header name is case-insensitive. - -If the JSONPath or XPath of body, or Header Name of headers can't be resolved, the plain text of variable reference will be sent instead. And in this case, diagnostic information will be displayed to help you to inspect this. And you can also hover over the request variables to view the actual resolved value. - -Below is a sample of request variable definitions and references in an http file. - - -@baseUrl = https://example.com/api - -# @name login -POST {{baseUrl}}/api/login HTTP/1.1 -Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded - -name=foo&password=bar - -### - -@authToken = {{login.response.headers.X-AuthToken}} - -# @name createComment -POST {{baseUrl}}/comments HTTP/1.1 -Authorization: {{authToken}} -Content-Type: application/json - -{ - "content": "fake content" -} - -### - -@commentId = {{createComment.response.body.$.id}} - -# @name getCreatedComment -GET {{baseUrl}}/comments/{{commentId}} HTTP/1.1 -Authorization: {{authToken}} - -### - -# @name getReplies -GET {{baseUrl}}/comments/{{commentId}}/replies HTTP/1.1 -Accept: application/xml - -### - -# @name getFirstReply -GET {{baseUrl}}/comments/{{commentId}}/replies/{{getReplies.response.body.//reply[1]/@id}}### Example Given a JSON response body like this: From 99303abd525ffcf9d2772dce31a061ffcc1b39e8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tom Dykstra Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2025 20:28:09 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 3/9] draft --- aspnetcore/test/http-files.md | 77 +++++++++++++++-------------------- 1 file changed, 32 insertions(+), 45 deletions(-) diff --git a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md index 264356247b9f..600057df89af 100644 --- a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md +++ b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md @@ -192,27 +192,42 @@ In the preceding example, the `$shared` environment defines the `HostAddress` va ## Request variables -You can pass values from one HTTP request to another within the same HTTP file. +You can pass values from one HTTP request to another within the same `.http` file. -1. Create a named variable that represents a request by using the syntax `#@name`. -1. In subsequent requests in the same HTTP file use the variable name to refer to the request. +1. Create a single-line comment located just before a request URL to name the following request. For example, the following lines show alternative ways to name the request `login`: + + ```http + # @name login + https://contosol..com/api/login HTTP/1.1 + ``` + + ```http + // @name login + https://contosol..com/api/login HTTP/1.1 + ``` + +1. In subsequent requests in the same HTTP file use the request name to refer to the request. 1. Use the following syntax to extract the specific part of the response that you want. ```http - {{requestVariable.(response|request).(body|headers).(*|JSONPath|XPath|Header Name)}}. + {{.(response|request).(body|headers).(*|JSONPath|XPath|Header Name)}}. ``` - You can extract values from the request itself or from the response to it. For either request or response, you can extract values from the body or the headers. For the body: + You can extract values from the request itself or from the response to it (`request|response`). For either request or response, you can extract values from the body or the headers (`body|headers`). + + For the body (`*|JSONPath|XPath`): * `*` extracts the entire response body. - * For JSON responses, use JSONPath to extract a specific property or attribute. - * For XML responses, use XPath to extract a specific property or attribute. + * For JSON responses, use [JSONPath](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9535.html) to extract a specific property or attribute. + * For XML responses, use [XPath](https://www.w3schools.com/xml/xpath_syntax.asp) to extract a specific property or attribute. + + Header name extracts the entire header. Header names are case-insensitive. - Header names are case-insensitive. +If you want to refer to the response of a named request, you need to manually trigger the named request to retrieve its response first. When you extract from the response, you'll get the latest response if the request has been sent more than once. -### Example +### Example request variable usage -For example, suppose your HTTP file has a request that authenticates the caller, so you name it `login`. The response body is a JSON document that contains the bearer token in a property named `token`. In subsequent requests, you want to pass in this bearer token in an `Authorization` header. The following syntax does this: +For example, suppose your HTTP file has a request that authenticates the caller, and you name it `login`. The response body is a JSON document that contains the bearer token in a property named `token`. In subsequent requests, you want to pass in this bearer token in an `Authorization` header. The following syntax does all this: ```http #@name login @@ -232,43 +247,15 @@ Authorization: Bearer {{login.response.body.$.token}} ### ``` -The syntax `{{login.response.body.$.token}}` extracts the bearer token: - -- **`login`**: Is the request variable. -- **`response`**: Refers to the HTTP response object. -- **`body`**: Refers to the body of the HTTP response. -- **`$`**: Represents the root element of the JSON document in the response body. -- **`token`**: Refers to the specific property within the JSON document. - - -Given a JSON response body like this: - -```json - - -{ - - - "token": "abc123", - "user": { - "id": 1, - "name": "John Doe" - } -} -``` - -The expression `{{login.response.body.$.token}}` would extract the value `"abc123"`. - -### Reference Documentation - -For more information on JSONPath syntax and what can come after `response.` or `body.`, you can refer to the following resources: - -- **JSONPath Syntax**: [JSONPath - XPath for JSON](https://goessner.net/articles/JsonPath/) -- **HTTP File Syntax in Visual Studio Code**: [REST Client Extension for Visual Studio Code](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=humao.rest-client) +The syntax `{{login.response.body.$.token}}` represents the bearer token: -These resources provide detailed information on how to use JSONPath to navigate and extract data from JSON documents, as well as how to use the REST Client extension in Visual Studio Code to work with HTTP files. +**`login`**: Is the request name. +**`response`**: Refers to the HTTP response object. +**`body`**: Refers to the body of the HTTP response. +**`$`**: Represents the root element of the JSON document in the response body. +**`token`**: Refers to the specific property within the JSON document. - This approach reduces error-prone manual steps. Without using request variables you would need to manually extract the token from the login response and include it in the header of subsequent requests. With the HTTP Request Variables feature, this process is automated. +Without using request variables you would need to manually extract the token from the login response and include it in the header of subsequent requests. Request variables enable you to automate this process. ## User-specific environment files From 44774380fcae04f953ffe2bde238308e26ca8800 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tom Dykstra <1569635+tdykstra@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2025 10:38:59 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 4/9] draft --- aspnetcore/test/http-files.md | 20 +++++++++++++++----- 1 file changed, 15 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-) diff --git a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md index 600057df89af..b160f9ef40e3 100644 --- a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md +++ b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md @@ -210,20 +210,30 @@ You can pass values from one HTTP request to another within the same `.http` fil 1. Use the following syntax to extract the specific part of the response that you want. ```http - {{.(response|request).(body|headers).(*|JSONPath|XPath|Header Name)}}. + {{.(response|request).(body|headers).(*|JSONPath|XPath|
)}}. ``` - You can extract values from the request itself or from the response to it (`request|response`). For either request or response, you can extract values from the body or the headers (`body|headers`). + This syntax lets you extract values from the request itself or from the response to it (`request|response`). For either request or response, you can extract values from the body or the headers (`body|headers`). - For the body (`*|JSONPath|XPath`): + When `body` is selected, the `*|JSONPath|XPath` part of the syntax applies: * `*` extracts the entire response body. + + Example: `{{login.response.body.*}}` + * For JSON responses, use [JSONPath](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc9535.html) to extract a specific property or attribute. + + Example: `{{login.response.body.$.token}}` + * For XML responses, use [XPath](https://www.w3schools.com/xml/xpath_syntax.asp) to extract a specific property or attribute. - Header name extracts the entire header. Header names are case-insensitive. + Example: `{{login.response.body./token}}` + + When `headers` is selected, a header name extracts the entire header. Header names are case-insensitive. + + Example: `{{login.response.headers.Location}}` -If you want to refer to the response of a named request, you need to manually trigger the named request to retrieve its response first. When you extract from the response, you'll get the latest response if the request has been sent more than once. +If you want to refer to the response of a named request, you need to manually trigger the named request to retrieve its response first. When you extract values from the response, you'll get the latest response if the request has been sent more than once. ### Example request variable usage From e4efa4ce02f4690722fdcca7b1be7521354fde19 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tom Dykstra <1569635+tdykstra@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2025 10:45:31 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 5/9] draft --- aspnetcore/test/http-files.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md index b160f9ef40e3..6896c9d5066d 100644 --- a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md +++ b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md @@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ You can pass values from one HTTP request to another within the same `.http` fil When `headers` is selected, a header name extracts the entire header. Header names are case-insensitive. - Example: `{{login.response.headers.Location}}` + Example: `{{login.response.headers.Location}}` If you want to refer to the response of a named request, you need to manually trigger the named request to retrieve its response first. When you extract values from the response, you'll get the latest response if the request has been sent more than once. From a9ad57a3cb7d0dd562bc5dbe3123be1488866de7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tom Dykstra <1569635+tdykstra@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2025 10:51:41 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 6/9] draft --- aspnetcore/test/http-files.md | 10 +++++----- 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-) diff --git a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md index 6896c9d5066d..bc4732018044 100644 --- a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md +++ b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md @@ -259,11 +259,11 @@ Authorization: Bearer {{login.response.body.$.token}} The syntax `{{login.response.body.$.token}}` represents the bearer token: -**`login`**: Is the request name. -**`response`**: Refers to the HTTP response object. -**`body`**: Refers to the body of the HTTP response. -**`$`**: Represents the root element of the JSON document in the response body. -**`token`**: Refers to the specific property within the JSON document. +* **`login`**: Is the request name. +* **`response`**: Refers to the HTTP response object. +* **`body`**: Refers to the body of the HTTP response. +* **`$`**: Represents the root element of the JSON document in the response body. +* **`token`**: Refers to the specific property within the JSON document. Without using request variables you would need to manually extract the token from the login response and include it in the header of subsequent requests. Request variables enable you to automate this process. From 2541e9a7c5d0da4726ed0f818639e6acf1cd509f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tom Dykstra <1569635+tdykstra@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2025 10:58:45 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 7/9] draft --- aspnetcore/test/http-files.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md index bc4732018044..a4ffe4e3e06e 100644 --- a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md +++ b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md @@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ If you want to refer to the response of a named request, you need to manually tr ### Example request variable usage -For example, suppose your HTTP file has a request that authenticates the caller, and you name it `login`. The response body is a JSON document that contains the bearer token in a property named `token`. In subsequent requests, you want to pass in this bearer token in an `Authorization` header. The following syntax does all this: +For example, suppose your HTTP file has a request that authenticates the caller, and you name it `login`. The response body is a JSON document that contains the bearer token in a property named `token`. In subsequent requests, you want to pass in this bearer token in an `Authorization` header. The following example does this: ```http #@name login From 470f957b5832ac837198f4b992681d9c743aa5b5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tom Dykstra Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2025 14:56:35 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 8/9] Update aspnetcore/test/http-files.md Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com> --- aspnetcore/test/http-files.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md index a4ffe4e3e06e..757df0f0c420 100644 --- a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md +++ b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md @@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ You can pass values from one HTTP request to another within the same `.http` fil ```http # @name login - https://contosol..com/api/login HTTP/1.1 + https://contoso.com/api/login HTTP/1.1 ``` ```http From 770007e92a7d375ea171bc0f3609c3fe275d07ca Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Tom Dykstra Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2025 14:56:45 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 9/9] Update aspnetcore/test/http-files.md Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com> --- aspnetcore/test/http-files.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md index 757df0f0c420..c087990435af 100644 --- a/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md +++ b/aspnetcore/test/http-files.md @@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ You can pass values from one HTTP request to another within the same `.http` fil ```http // @name login - https://contosol..com/api/login HTTP/1.1 + https://contoso.com/api/login HTTP/1.1 ``` 1. In subsequent requests in the same HTTP file use the request name to refer to the request.