API Debug Tools | When to Use Which
API Debug Tools Development
API debugging often needs different tools for different tasks. This article helps you choose the right tool. All tools below are available on this site.
JSON Formatter
When: API returns minified JSON that’s hard to read. Use: JSON Formatter to format and inspect the structure. Check for nested errors.
JWT Decoder
When: Auth fails and you need to inspect the token.
Use: JWT Decode to decode payload, check exp, verify structure. Never paste production tokens into public tools.
HTTP Client (Postman, curl)
When: Testing endpoints, headers, and request bodies. Use: Send requests, inspect responses, debug status codes.
Browser DevTools
When: Debugging frontend API calls. Use: Network tab for requests/responses, Console for errors.
Summary
Match the tool to the problem. Keep a set of local, privacy-safe tools for sensitive data.