Contract testing and schema validation serve different purposes in API development. Schemas describe data structures for a single system abstractly, while contracts define concrete interactions between two systems with real examples. The article outlines three sophistication levels: basic schema tests, schema-based contract tests (bidirectional), and code-based contract tests. Code-based approaches like Pact prevent implementation drift and provide clear documentation but require more setup, while schema-based testing offers simpler developer experience but struggles with ambiguity and capturing application semantics.
Table of contents
Defining the Key Players: Schemas vs. ContractsThe Limitations of SchemasThe Levels of SophisticationChoosing the Right ApproachAre We Clear Now?Sort: