Simplifying Mocking APIs for Faster Development: Basic & Advanced Techniques

API mocking involves creating a simulated version of an actual web service that mimics the behavior and functionality of the real API. It is primarily used for testing API contracts, allowing frontend developers to start developing while backend developers are writing the boilerplate and business logic. The benefits of using API mocks include speeding up development, faster testing, better performance, cost savings, and early bug detection. To set up an API mock, identify the API components to simulate, set up a mock server, configure mock responses, and ensure consistency. Advanced techniques involve dynamic response generation based on request parameters, simulating different network conditions and delays, using mock APIs for performance and load testing, and integrating mock APIs with CI/CD pipelines for continuous testing. Best practices include keeping mocks in sync with the real API, not overlooking error scenarios, using mocks appropriately, and documenting API mocks.