Understanding Request Headers in Postman: A Simple Guide

If you're working with APIs, you’ve probably heard about request headers. They might sound a bit technical, but don't worry! let's break it down for you in a simple and friendly way.

What Are Request Headers?

In Postman, or any HTTP request, request headers are like little notes you send along with your request to the server. These notes contain extra information about what you're sending, how you want to send it, and other details like authentication credentials. Think of them as the fine print that ensures your request is handled just right.

Common Request Headers

Here are some common headers you might use:

• Content-Type:

  • What it does: Tells the server what type of data you're sending.

  • Example: content-Type: application/json

• Accept:

  • What it does: Tells the server what type of data you can handle in response.

  • Example: Accept: application/json

• Authorization:

  • What it does: Sends your credentials to authenticate with the server.

  • Example: Authorization: Bearer <token>

• User-Agent:

  • What it does: Provides info about the client making the request.

  • Example: User-Agent: PostmanRuntime/7.28.4e

• Cache-Control:

  • What it does: Gives instructions about caching.

  • Example: cache-control: no-cache

• Accept-Encoding:

  • What it does: Tells the server what content encoding you can handle.

  • Example: Accept-Encoding:gzip,deflate,br

Cookie:

• What it does: Sends stored cookies to the server.

• Example: Cookie: sessionId=abc123

How to Add Request Headers in Postman

Adding headers in Postman is super easy. Here’s how you do it:

1. Open Postman:

   • Launch the Postman application.

2. Create a Request:

   • Click on "New" to create a new request.

   • Enter the request URL and select the HTTP method (GET, POST, etc.).

3. Navigate to the Headers Tab:

   • Click on the "Headers" tab below the request URL field.

4. Add Headers:

   • Click on the key-value fields to add headers.

   • For example, to add a Content-Type header, enter Content-Type in the Key field and application/json in the Value field.

5. Send the Request:

   • Once you’ve added the necessary headers, click the "Send" button to submit your request.

Example Headers Section in Postman

Here's what a typical headers section might look like:

Conclusion

Request headers might seem a bit technical at first, but they’re just additional information that helps ensure your API requests are properly understood and processed by the server. Whether you're specifying the type of data you're sending, your authentication details, or your caching preferences, headers play a crucial role in making your API interactions smooth and efficient.