Skip to main content

GET STARTED

Why Karate?

Karate is a modern, comprehensive testing framework that unifies API testing, performance testing, UI automation, and service mocking in a single solution. Using a readable Gherkin-style syntax, it is designed for both technical and non-technical team members, making test automation accessible, collaborative, and efficient.

Key Benefits​

All-in-One Testing Solution​

Unlike traditional testing frameworks that require multiple tools and complex setups, Karate provides everything you need in one package:

  • API Testing: REST, GraphQL, SOAP, and WebSocket support
  • Performance Testing: Reuse your Karate features as load tests with Gatling integration.
  • UI Automation: Web browser automation with Chrome/Firefox
  • Service Mocking: Create mock services for testing

Business-Readable Tests​

Karate uses a simple, English-like syntax based on Gherkin, making tests readable by everyone on your team:

Feature: User Authentication

Scenario: Login with valid credentials
Given url 'https://api.example.com'
And path 'login'
And request { username: 'john', password: 'secret' }
When method post
Then status 200
And match response.token == '#string'

Simple Runtime Options (No Glue Code)​

Karate runs on the JVM but doesn't require you to write Java code. It handles:

  • HTTP client capabilities
  • JSON and XML processing
  • Data-driven testing
  • Parallel execution
  • Comprehensive reporting

Developer-Friendly Features​

  • IDE Support: Syntax highlighting and debugging in popular IDEs
  • CI/CD Integration: Works seamlessly with Jenkins, GitHub Actions, and other CI tools
  • Parallel Execution: Multi-threaded test execution for faster results
  • Rich Assertions: Powerful matching capabilities for complex data validation

Key Technical Advantages​

Native JSON/XML Support​

Karate treats JSON and XML as "first-class citizens" - no escaping quotes or creating binding classes:

# Natural JSON syntax
* def user = { name: 'John', age: 30, active: true }
* match user.name == 'John'

# Built-in JsonPath support

- def users = { data: [{ id: 1, name: 'John' }, { id: 2, name: 'Jane' }] }
- match users.data[0].name == 'John'
- match users..name contains 'Jane'

No Step Definitions Required​

Unlike Cucumber, Karate keywords work immediately without separate glue code:

# This works out-of-the-box - no step definitions needed!
Given url 'https://api.example.com'
And request { name: 'John', email: 'john@test.com' }  
When method POST
Then status 201
And match response.id == '#number'

Advanced Assertions​

Comprehensive matching with fuzzy validation and schema checking:

# Exact matching
* match response == { id: 1, name: 'John', active: true }

# Fuzzy matching with placeholders

- match response == { id: '#number', name: '#string', active: '#boolean' }

# Schema validation

- match response.users == '#[] #object'

For more advanced features like environment configuration and data-driven testing, visit our FAQ.

Who Uses Karate?​

Karate is trusted by teams at leading companies including:

  • Fortune 500 enterprises for mission-critical API testing
  • Startups building modern microservices architectures
  • QA teams transitioning from manual to automated testing
  • Development teams implementing shift-left testing practices

Next Steps​

Ready to get started? Let's install the dependencies you'll need to begin using Karate.

On This Page