Use cy.request() to call an API endpoint directly and assert on its real response. Use cy.intercept() to observe, wait for, or stub requests that the application makes in the browser. They solve different problems: a direct cy.request() call does not pass through cy.intercept().
Write a basic Cypress API test
Cypress treats API tests as part of its end-to-end testing type. Set a baseUrl in your Cypress configuration if you want to use relative endpoint paths; otherwise, pass a full URL.
describe('GET /users', () => {
it('returns a list of users', () => {
cy.request('GET', '/users').then((response) => {
expect(response.status).to.eq(200)
expect(response.body.results).to.have.length.greaterThan(1)
})
})
})For a focused check of a response body and duration:
cy.request('/users/1').then((response) => {
expect(response.status).to.eq(200)
expect(response.body).to.have.property('email')
expect(response.duration).to.be.lessThan(1000)
})The duration threshold here is illustrative, not a universal service-level target. Choose one that makes sense for your API and test environment. Assert stable contract behavior or controlled test data, not incidental fixture contents. See the Cypress API testing guide for the documented approach.
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Configure the API host
A configured baseUrl lets a relative request such as cy.request('/users') resolve against the application or API host. Cypress can also resolve a relative URL against the host of a page already visited; the clearest choice for a dedicated API suite is to configure its base URL explicitly. A full URL works without either.
Choose a request signature
Cypress supports cy.request(url), cy.request(url, body), cy.request(method, url), cy.request(method, url, body), and cy.request(options). Use the options form when you need headers, query parameters, a timeout, or to adjust error and redirect behavior.
Choose between cy.request(), cy.intercept(), and cy.task()
| Command | Use it for | Request or work origin | Contacts a real API? |
|---|---|---|---|
cy.request() |
Calling an endpoint directly, setting up state, or checking a real response. | Cypress’s Node process, outside the browser’s network traffic. | Yes, unless the target or environment otherwise prevents it. |
cy.intercept() |
Observing, waiting for, or controlling a request initiated by the front-end application. | The browser application. | It can pass through to the backend or return a stubbed response. |
cy.task() |
Database access, file I/O, or other work that must run in Node. | The Cypress Node process. | Not necessarily; it depends on the task you implement. |
A direct cy.request() is not browser traffic: it does not appear in the browser’s Network tab, and cy.intercept() cannot spy on or stub it. CORS and browser same-origin restrictions do not apply to this direct request. Cypress sends matching browser cookies with it and reflects response Set-Cookie values back into the browser cookie jar, which makes API-based login setup useful before UI actions.
Observe or stub an application request
Register an intercept before the UI action that should trigger the request, then wait on its alias:
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cy.visit('/')
cy.get('[data-cy="load-users"]').click()
cy.wait('@getUsers').its('response.statusCode').should('eq', 200)When a test needs a deterministic edge case, return a stubbed response instead of depending on backend state:
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cy.intercept('GET', '/api/users', {
statusCode: 200,
body: { results: [] }
}).as('emptyUsers')
cy.visit('/')
cy.get('[data-cy="load-users"]').click()
cy.wait('@emptyUsers')Use real responses when validating the integrated backend; use stubs when the purpose is to isolate front-end behavior or reach a difficult state. Cypress supports mixing those strategies across a suite.
Build useful API coverage
Seed state, exercise the UI, and verify persistence
Use direct requests for API setup, then use the interface for the behavior under test. A further request can verify that the UI action persisted the expected backend change. Cypress also documents the reverse flow: authenticate in the UI and then check an authenticated endpoint.
beforeEach(() => {
cy.request('POST', '/test/reset')
cy.request('POST', '/test/users', { email: 'reader@example.test' })
})
it('saves a profile edit', () => {
cy.visit('/profile')
cy.get('[name="displayName"]').clear().type('Reader')
cy.get('button[type="submit"]').click()
cy.request('/api/profile').then((response) => {
expect(response.body.displayName).to.eq('Reader')
})
})The /test/reset and /test/users routes are illustrative test-support endpoints, not built-in Cypress routes. Use endpoints and test data your application actually provides.
Cover contract failures and boundaries
Direct endpoint checks can reach cases that are awkward to produce through a form. Depending on the API contract, cover invalid input, permission boundaries, rate limits, pagination edges, and expected error bodies. Keep each assertion tied to a defined response contract.
cy.request({
method: 'POST',
url: '/api/users',
body: { email: 'not-an-email' },
failOnStatusCode: false
}).then((response) => {
expect(response.status).to.eq(422)
expect(response.body).to.have.property('error')
})Because Cypress fails on non-2xx/3xx statuses by default, set failOnStatusCode: false when an error response is the subject of the test, then assert on its status and body explicitly.
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Centralize repeated authentication and request setup
If many tests need the same API prefix or authorization header, wrap that setup in a custom Cypress command instead of duplicating options. Keep environment-specific hosts and credentials in Cypress configuration or environment variables rather than committed test code. Store large payloads in fixtures, and use Cypress aliases for values needed later instead of assigning command results to ordinary JavaScript variables.
Use cy.task() for Node-only setup
Prefer an API call when the test should set up or inspect the application through its API. Use cy.task() when setup truly needs direct database access, file operations, or other Node-side work; this keeps the boundary between API behavior and test infrastructure visible.
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- Error statuses:
failOnStatusCodedefaults totrue. Turn it off only when asserting an expected non-2xx/3xx response. - Redirects: Cypress follows redirects by default. Set
followRedirect: falsewhen the test must inspect the redirect response or itsLocationbehavior. - Transient network errors: The API testing guide documents retries up to four times by default for transient network errors. It says status-code failures are not retried unless configured. Defaults are version-sensitive, so check the documentation for the Cypress release in your project.
- Timeouts:
cy.request()usesresponseTimeout, notdefaultCommandTimeout. Override a particular request with itstimeoutoption when needed. - Body serialization: Object and Boolean bodies are JSON-serialized and receive an
application/jsoncontent type. String bodies are sent as-is and do not automatically receive a content type.
Troubleshoot common API test failures
An expected error response fails the test immediately
Cause: The response status is outside the accepted 2xx/3xx range, and the default failOnStatusCode behavior is enabled. Fix: Set failOnStatusCode: false for that request and assert the expected status and response body.
cy.intercept() does not see the request
Cause: The request was made with cy.request(), which runs outside the browser proxy, or the intercept was registered after the browser action. A cached browser response may also be served without reaching the network layer. Fix: Use the response yielded by cy.request() for direct calls; for app traffic, register cy.intercept() before triggering the action. In a test environment, disabling cache headers is one documented workaround when cache behavior prevents interception.
The request goes to the wrong host
Cause: A relative path resolves against the configured baseUrl or the host of a page already visited. Fix: Set the intended API host in configuration or use a full URL, and confirm the environment-specific value is loaded by the spec.
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Cause: The API or test environment takes longer to respond than the configured response timeout. Fix: Check service availability and request timing first; then adjust the request’s timeout or project responseTimeout to a threshold justified by that environment rather than masking a slow or unavailable dependency.
Keep API tests reliable and fast
API checks avoid page rendering and simulated user interaction, so they are useful for focused endpoint contracts and efficient state setup. They do not replace UI tests: only browser tests can validate the user’s interactions and presentation. A balanced suite uses API calls to establish or inspect state and browser tests for the experience itself.
Cypress starts a browser per spec file. Group related API checks in a spec when it makes sense to amortize that startup cost; creating a separate spec for every small request can add unnecessary overhead. Avoid brittle assertions against incidental data, and use controlled test data so failures indicate a contract or behavior change rather than fixture drift.
Cypress’s current native network interception guide says that starting in Cypress 16, Chrome, Chromium, and Edge intercept test traffic on the native browser network. This concerns browser traffic handled by cy.intercept(); it does not change the separate, outside-the-browser behavior documented for cy.request(). Check the guide against the Cypress version and browser your project actually uses: Cypress network requests.
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Sources and version notes
Cypress behavior described here follows its official guides and API references. Consult the documentation for the version your project runs, especially for defaults and native interception behavior:
Quick Recap
- API testing guide
- cy.request() reference
- cy.intercept() reference
- Network requests guide
- Testing types overview
- Test performance guide
- Native network interception guide
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