6 Explore the API
HAL+JSON is a flexible and powerful specification for structuring your API’s output. It allows clients of your API - whether third-party integrations or your own webapps or native apps - to navigate your resources in an efficient and consistent way.
There are many useful tools for developing and testing HAL+JSON APIs. If you use the Google Chrome browser, try installing the JSONView plugin, and navigating your browser to http://localhost:8080/api/products. This plugin will render the JSON in a pleasant format, and allow you to follow links between your resources in your browser.
Figure 1. JSONViewer plugin for Google Chrome
Another powerful tool for testing and your API is Postman, a Google Chrome-based app available for macOS, Windows, Linux and Chrome OS.
Figure 2. Postman
