What is HTTP Interception?
HTTP Request interception in web development offers several significant benefits that enhance both the development process and the performance of applications.
HTTP interceptors operate as intermediaries between your application and the server, playing a pivotal role in the lifecycle of HTTP requests and responses.
When an application makes an HTTP call, the request first passes through the interceptor, where it can be examined, modified, or logged before being sent to the server. Similarly, when the server responds, the response can be intercepted, processed, or transformed before it reaches the application.
To understand the HTTP Request Interception in detail read → What is an HTTP Request Interceptor and Why Should You Use One?
Below is the list of HTTP Request Interceptor Chrome extensions that enable you to intercept & modify HTTP Requests. I’ll compare each extension based on the capabilities they have use-cases they solve. At the end of this article, you can find the best Chrome extensions for HTTP request interception.
Top 5 Chrome Extensions for HTTP Request Interception
1. Requestly
Requestly is a powerful HTTP request interception tool, offering a wide range of features that cater to various development and testing scenarios.
Features
Modify headers and query parameters
Redirect requests to different URLs or local resources
Insert, modify, or remove content from request/response bodies
Delay or throttle requests to simulate network conditions
Mock API responses with custom status codes and bodies
Create complex rules with advanced conditions (URL patterns, request methods, response types)
Shared team rules for collaborative workflows
Cross-browser support (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari)
Desktop app for system-wide request modification
Use cases
API development and testing:
Mock API responses for frontend development before the backend is ready
Test error scenarios by modifying API responses
Simulate different API versions or endpoints
Debugging and troubleshooting:
Inject debug scripts into production sites without modifying the codebase
Modify CORS headers to bypass restrictions during local development
Analyze and modify third-party API integrations
Performance testing:
Simulate slow network conditions for specific requests
Test app behavior under various latency scenarios
Security testing:
Modify headers to test for security vulnerabilities
Intercept and analyze requests to identify potential security issues
Local development:
Redirect API calls from production to the local development server
Override specific resources (JS, CSS) with local versions for testing
Modifying CORS headers for development
A/B testing:
Modify content or behavior of live websites for quick A/B testing
Test different configurations without changing server-side code
Advanced features
GraphQL support: Intercept and modify GraphQL queries and mutations
Regex pattern matching for creating sophisticated rules
Request/response body search and replace
Record and replay HTTP sessions
Export and import rules for easy sharing and backup
Ideal for Full-stack developers, frontend developers, QA engineers, and API developers who need a comprehensive tool for HTTP manipulation across various stages of development and testing.
Requestly’s combination of powerful features, user-friendly interface, and broad use case support makes it an excellent choice for developers looking for a versatile HTTP interception tool. Its ability to handle complex scenarios while remaining accessible to less experienced users sets it apart from many other options.
2. Tamper Chrome
A Chrome extension for intercepting, modifying, and debugging HTTP/HTTPS requests and responses in real time.
Features
Real-time interception and modification of HTTP/HTTPS requests and responses
Edit headers, cookies, and request/response bodies
Block specific requests
WebSocket interception
Chrome DevTools integration
Use cases
Web application security testing
Debugging complex AJAX interactions
Testing application behavior under various response scenarios
Disadvantages
Less user-friendly interface for non-security experts
Less options for creating complex, reusable rules
Limited collaboration features
Ideal for
Security researchers and penetration testers
Installation
Navigate to the Chrome web store, search for Tamper Chrome, and click Add to Chrome.
3. Postman Interceptor
A browser extension that allows you to capture and send HTTP/HTTPS requests from your browser directly to the Postman app.
Features
Captures and sends HTTP/HTTPS requests from your browser to Postman
Edit and resend requests captured from your browser
Sync cookies and headers with Postman native app
Supports multiple environments and configurations
Use cases
Testing APIs directly from the web browser
Debugging API interactions connected to front-end applications
Importing requests directly into Postman for detailed analysis and modification
Disadvantages
Limited functionality for users seeking browser-only solutions
Requires an additional app for full functionality, increasing complexity
Resource-intensive during extensive testing
Ideal for
Developers and QA engineers focused on API testing and development
Installation
Navigate to the Chrome web store, search for Postman Interceptor, and click Add to Chrome.
4. Request Interceptor
A browser extension designed to intercept and modify HTTP/HTTPS requests and responses in real-time for web developers and testers.
Features
Intercepts and modifies HTTP/HTTPS requests and responses in real-time
Edit request headers, parameters, and payloads directly in the browser
Rules-based filtering to target specific requests
Logging and exporting of intercepted traffic
Use cases
Testing and debugging HTTP requests directly in the browser
Simulating different request scenarios to test server responses
Capturing and analyzing web traffic for performance tuning
Disadvantages
Limited collaborative features compared to some other tools
Learning curve for creating advanced rules and filters
Less intuitive interface for creating and managing rules
Ideal for
Web developers and network administrators working on web performance and diagnostics
Installation
Navigate to the Chrome web store, search for Request Interceptor, and click Add to Chrome.
5. ModHeader
ModHeader is a popular Request Interception tool, it helps you modify headers of a request without the need of a proxy.
Features
Add, modify, or remove HTTP request headers
Create and manage multiple header profiles
Apply headers based on URL patterns
Export and import configurations
Use cases
Testing different user agents
Adding authentication headers for API testing
Modifying CORS headers for development
Disadvantages
Limited to header modifications only
Lacks advanced features like request redirection, body modification, or response mocking
No collaborative features
Supported by Ads
Ideal for
Developers primarily focused on header manipulation, front-end developers dealing with CORS issues.
Installation
Navigate to the Chrome web store, search for ModHeader, and click Add to Chrome.
Conclusion
In summary, while Requestly offers a broad range of features with a user-friendly interface, each of these tools has its strengths for specific use cases. The choice depends on factors such as the complexity of your needs, and your team’s expertise..
Requestly stands out for its balance of power and ease of use, making it suitable for a wide range of developers. Its open-source, offers team collaboration and SOC-2 compliance makes it a good choice even for large corporates like Verizon, indeed, wix.com, salesforce, AT&T etc.
Checkout the user reviews on chrome store → https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/mdnleldcmiljblolnjhpnblkcekpdkpa?hl=en
