How do you test for the absence of a specific field in the JSON response?

• A. By using the not() assertion with JSON path
• B. By using the absence() method
• C. By checking for null values
• D. By validating the schema

Answer: (A)

Using the not() assertion with JSON path is an effective way to test for the absence of a specific field in a JSON response because it allows for precise evaluation of the expected structure of the JSON data. The not() assertion negates the condition being evaluated, meaning you can specifically check that a certain field does not exist within the JSON response.

In practice, you'd typically write a JSON Path query to access the field in question and then use the not() assertion to ensure that this field does not evaluate to true. This method is straightforward and aligns well with REST Assured's fluent syntax, making it easy to integrate into automated testing.

Other methods like checking for null values or validating the entire schema may not be as direct or efficient for this particular purpose. Checking for null could incorrectly imply that the field exists but has no value, rather than it being entirely absent. Validating the schema, while useful for overall structure, may not provide a specific assessment of whether individual fields are present or absent in the response.