> For clean Markdown content of this page, append .md to this URL. For the complete documentation index, see https://learning.postman.com/llms.txt. For full content including API reference and SDK examples, see https://learning.postman.com/llms-full.txt. # Navigating Postman Postman has a variety of tools, views, and controls to help you manage your API projects. This guide is a high-level overview of Postman's primary interface areas: * [Header](#header) * [Sidebar](#sidebar) * [Workbench](#workbench) * [Tabs](#tabs) * [Environment selector and variables pane](#environment-selector-and-variables-pane) * [Right sidebar](#right-sidebar) * [Footer](#footer) ![Postman app](https://assets.postman.com/postman-docs/v12/workspace-diagram-02-28-26-v2.png) ## Header The header enables you to create workspaces, explore the Postman API Network, search in Postman, view sync status and notifications, and access your settings, account, and [Postman plan](/docs/billing/buying/). * Back Small icon **Go back** or Forward Small icon **Go forward** — *(Available on the [Postman desktop app](/docs/getting-started/installation/install-app/))* Navigate backward and forward through pages you've visited within Postman. * Home icon **Home** — Go to your personal [home page](#home-page), which includes your recently visited workspaces, resources for [your team](/docs/administration/managing-your-team/manage-team-workspaces/) (if applicable), and links to explore the [Postman API Network](/docs/postman-api-network/explore/overview). * **Workspaces** — Search for workspaces, view your recently visited workspaces, or [create a new workspace](/docs/collaborating-in-postman/using-workspaces/create-workspaces/). * Search icon **Search Postman** — Search all workspaces, collections, requests, APIs, flows, and teams in Postman. For more details on searching in Postman, see [Search Postman](#search-postman). * **People in the Workspace** — Collaborators who are currently or have recently been in the workspace. * **Invite** — If you have an [Admin role](/docs/administration/roles-and-permissions/#workspace-roles) on a workspace, you can invite other users to collaborate. * Notification icon **Notifications** — View recent activity from your team, get notifications about Postman updates, and see pull requests, comment activity, and other important information. * Setting icon **Settings** — Access [Postman settings](/docs/getting-started/installation/settings/settings-overview/) and other Postman resources. * **Your avatar** — Access your [personal](/docs/getting-started/installation/account/settings/) and [team settings](/docs/administration/managing-your-team/team-settings/), such as active sessions for your account, your resource usage, billing, and other account management tools. ### Home page The home page helps you get started quickly, discover relevant content, and stay on top of important updates. * **Agent Mode** (if enabled) — Type or select a prompt from the recommendations. Clicking **Let's Go** takes you to the latest visited workspace where you have edit access. Agent Mode opens and the prompt runs. * **Pick up where you left off** — View your most recently visited elements and starred workspaces. * **Needs your attention** — View the pending actions depending on your role: * Team join requests — Open requests to join your team (or organization, if enabled). * Requests for access — Open request for access to your collections and workspaces. * Request to edit — Open requests to edit your collections and workspaces. * PRs waiting for your review — Open pull requests that are waiting for your review. * PRs opened by you — Your pull requests that are under review. * **Add Widgets** (Admin users only) — Add widgets to your home page to orient your team members and display important information. * **ReadMe** — Help your teammates get started the right way. Add notes, links, and guidance to important workspaces or resources. This README appears on every team member's homepage. * **Announcements** — Share organization-wide updates, breaking changes, mandatory migrations, or reminders with your teammates on their homepage. ### Search Postman To search in Postman, do the following: 1. Click **Search Postman** in the header, then enter your search terms. You can also use the keyboard shortcut **⌘+K** or **Ctrl+K**. Search results contain an additional line of information such as the creator or last updated information to help you quickly scan and identify relevant results. 2. You can search for APIs in your [Private API Network](/docs/collaborating-in-postman/private-api-network/overview/) using the **Private API Network** filter. A checkmark next to the results indicates they're trusted internal APIs that are approved for use. 3. You can filter the scope of your search by workspace type. Click the **Workspace** dropdown list under the search bar and click **Internal**, **Partner**, or **Public** workspaces to set the scope for your search. 4. You can search for an element type within the selected workspace type. Click the **Element type** dropdown list and click **Workspaces**, **Collections**, **API**, **Request**, **Folder**, or **Publisher**. The options available in the **Element type** list depend on the selected workspace type. 5. You can also use additional filters **In**, **By**, and **Tag**, to narrow down results. Available status tags appear at the top of the suggestion list before the other tags. You can search [collections](/docs/use/use-collections/collaborate-with-collections/#tag-a-collection) and [workspaces](/docs/collaborating-in-postman/using-workspaces/internal-workspaces/use-workspaces/#tag-a-workspace) ([only available with paid plans](https://www.postman.com/pricing/)) that have tags. 6. You can search within your active workspace or collection by selecting it from the options that display under the **Workspace type** and **Element type** dropdown lists. Click **Search Postman** and your current workspace is the first option. If you're working in a collection when you search, then both your current workspace and the collection are displayed as options. You can also enter "in:" and select a workplace or collection. To search the [Postman API Network](/docs/postman-api-network/overview/), click **Public** from the **Workspace** dropdown list and **API** from the **Element type** dropdown list. For signed-out users, search results only include public resources. If you don't find what you are looking for in the list of results, click **View all results** to see all the results on one page. Depending on the element type, the search results contain different information: * For *workspaces*, the search result shows the workspace type, summary, who published it, and when was it published. * For *collections*, the search result shows the workspace type, a preview of the collection's description, any shared or status tags, the workspace name, and when the collection was published. * For *APIs*, the search result shows the name and summary of the API, the API's owner (either an individual user or a team), and the workspace type. * For *teams*, the search result shows the name and summary of the team. Clicking the team name redirects you to the team profile. ### Command palette The command palette uses keystrokes and natural language to navigate features and interface elements in the search bar. For example, instead of pointing and clicking, you can enter "Open runner" to display a Collection Runner tab or enter "Create: New Mock" to create a new mock server. To use the Postman command palette, press **⌘+Shift+P** or **Ctrl+Shift+P**, or enter ">" in the search bar, then enter an interface navigation command. The search bar expands to suggest features you may be looking for. ## Sidebar The Postman sidebar provides access to the fundamental [elements of Postman](/docs/getting-started/basics/postman-elements/). The sidebar groups elements into four tabs: Items, Services, History, and Local Files. Click a tab to switch to that set of elements. Each element offers more actions for you to choose from. Click an element in the sidebar and hover over an item to expose Options icon **View more actions**. The options vary based on the element type. To delete or move multiple collections, folders, and requests inside a collection and in **History**, press and hold **⌘** or **Ctrl**, then select the items. For collections and their contents, you can also use [keyboard shortcuts](/docs/getting-started/installation/settings/shortcut-settings/) for tasks like copying, pasting, and deleting. To create new instances of Postman elements, requests and workspaces, click **+** next to the sidebar's search bar. To hide the sidebar, click Manage icon in the [footer](#footer) and deselect **Left Sidebar**. ### Change sidebar elements By default, the sidebar shows only **Collections**, **Environments**, **Specs**, **SDKs**, and **Flows**. You can add other elements to the sidebar. To add or remove an element to the sidebar, do the following: 1. In the sidebar, click the Options icon menu and choose **Customize sidebar**. 2. In **Workspace settings**, choose **Restore panel** or **Delete panel** next to the element you want to change. If you have admin privileges in other types of workspaces, you can choose which elements to make visible in the sidebar for all members in a workspace. To see all the elements you created in one place, click your avatar in the Postman header, then click **View Profile**. ### History To access the requests you've made, click the History icon **History tab** above the sidebar. When you're signed in to Postman, your history [syncs](/docs/getting-started/basics/syncing/) across your devices. Click a request to open it again in a new tab. To select more than one request, press and hold **⌘** or **Ctrl**, then select the requests. Your history also includes [collection runs](/docs/tests-and-scripts/running-collections/intro-to-collection-runs/). These remain as the summarized version of the run and aren't logged as single requests. * Click Add icon **Add request to Collection** to save the request to a collection. * Click Delete icon **Delete request** to remove the request from your history. * Click Options icon **View more actions** to access other actions, including creating a monitor, documentation, or mock server for the request. When you make requests in a [shared workspace](/docs/collaborating-in-postman/using-workspaces/create-workspaces/), your request history is visible to you but not to other team members in the workspace. #### Clearing your history To remove all requests from your history, click Options icon **View more actions** next to the History search bar, then click **Clear all**. #### Saving responses in history To save request responses in your history, click the History icon **History tab**, click Options icon **View more actions**, then turn on **Save Responses**. You must also turn on **Save Responses** to [share an HTTP request and its response](/docs/collaborating-in-postman/sharing/#share-a-request-with-its-response) from your request's history with collaborators. If this is turned off when you send a request, you won't be able to view or share the response from your request's history. You can't use the **Save Responses** option with requests from [Collection Runner](/docs/tests-and-scripts/running-collections/intro-to-collection-runs/). ## Workbench Whether you're working with a collection, an API, or another element type, the Postman workbench is where you do the majority of your work. [Tabs](#tabs) enable you to organize your work, while the [right sidebar](#right-sidebar) gives you access to element-specific tools like comments. The [environment selector and variables pane](#environment-selector-and-variables-pane) enable you to manage variables. ### Tabs Tabs allow you to organize and work between requests. This section describes how tabs work in the Postman desktop app. By default, tabs in the Postman web app work this way as well. You can choose to use browser tabs instead, which enables you to use a different tab for each open Postman element. For more information, see [Browser tabs in the Postman web app](#browser-tabs-in-the-postman-web-app). #### Opening a new tab To open a new tab, click **+** in the workbench. You can also press **⌘+T** or **Ctrl+T** to open a new tab. Open a new tab If you open a request and don't edit or send it, then open another request, the second tab replaces the first tab. When the tab is in preview mode, it displays in italics. You can set whether Postman opens requests and other sidebar items in new tabs. Click the settings icon Setting icon in the header and click **App settings**. Under **User interface**, click the **Always open sidebar item in new tab** toggle to turn this option on or off. #### Saving or discarding changes If a tab has unsaved changes, Postman displays a dot next to the tab name. Click Save icon **Save** to save the changes. To close the tab and discard changes, click the close icon Close icon then click **Don't save**. #### Renaming and linking elements To rename an element, click the element's name and enter a new name. Rename elements You can also click a collection or its elements (folders, requests, and examples) in the sidebar and press the **Enter** or **Return** key to rename it. To copy a link to an element to the clipboard, click the link icon Link icon in the upper right corner. If the element is in a workspace that no one can access, a popup window displays when you click the link icon. The popup window enables you to invite people to your workspace before sharing the link. To invite people to your workspace, click **Invite People**. To learn more about inviting people to collaborate in a workspace, see [Share workspaces](/docs/collaborating-in-postman/using-workspaces/internal-workspaces/manage-workspaces/#share-workspaces). #### Viewing conflicts If you are making changes to the same request in two different tabs, the tab alerts you to a conflict before you can save the changes. Clicking the tab displays a message that the request was modified since the last time you opened the tab. By clicking **Save**, you can either override the previous change or save the request as a new one. #### Managing tabs You can have many tabs open at the same time. To rearrange your open tabs, click and drag them in the desired order. You can double-click an element's tab to persist it as you navigate the Postman app. You can also double-click a collection or its elements in the sidebar to persist their tabs. To manage your open tabs, right-click the open tab to activate a menu with action options: * **Duplicate Tab** - *(Available on the [Postman desktop app](/docs/getting-started/installation/install-app/))* Duplicates the current tab. This doesn't create a copy of the request, so when you duplicate a tab any edits you make are reflected in the original request. * **Close Tab** - Closes the current tab. If the tab has unsaved changes, Postman asks if you want to save before closing. * **Force Close Tab** - Closes the current tab without saving any changes. * **Close Other Tabs** - Closes all tabs except the one you're working in. * **Close All Tabs** - Closes all tabs. If any tabs contain unsaved changes, Postman will ask if you want to save before closing. * **Force Close All Tabs** - Closes all tabs without saving any changes. **Closing unsaved tabs.** You can set whether Postman asks you to save when you close a tab that has changes. Click the settings icon Setting icon in the header and click **App settings**. Under **General > User interface**, click the **Always ask when closing unsaved tabs** toggle to turn this option on or off. #### Tab search To search open tabs or access recently closed tabs, click the tab search dropdown list. Search tabs #### Browser tabs in the Postman web app By default, the Postman web app uses in-app tabs like the Postman desktop app does. You can optionally choose to use browser tabs instead. With this setting turned on, there is only one collection overview or request in the main work area at a time, and you can open more Postman elements in new browser tabs. This enables you to work across workspaces or to use different environments in the same workspace. If you've saved changes to a request, when you click a new element Postman will open it in the main work area. If the request has unsaved changes, Postman prompts you to save or discard your changes. To open a workspace, environment, or request in a new browser tab, press and hold **⌘+Shift** or **Ctrl+Shift** and click the element you want to open. To open an in-app link in a new browser tab, press and hold **⌘** or **Ctrl** and click the link you want to open. To turn this behavior on or off in the Postman web app, click Setting icon **Settings** in the header, then click **App settings** and turn on the **Remove tabs** toggle in the **User interface** section. #### Environment selector and variables pane The environment selector enables you to choose which [environment](/docs/use/send-requests/variables/managing-environments/) to use in your work. Click an environment from the menu to set it as the active environment, which gives you access to the variables in that environment. You can [pin environments](/docs/use/send-requests/variables/pinned-environments/) to collections to show other Postman users which environments work with that collection. You can also click Add icon **Add** in the environment selector to create a new environment and make it the active environment. Environment selector Use the variables pane to view the variables and vault secrets used in and accessible from your Postman elements. Click Variable list icon **Variables** in the upper-right of the workbench to open the variables pane. To learn more about the variables pane, see [Viewing and editing variables in an element](/docs/use/send-requests/variables/variables/#viewing-and-editing-variables-in-an-element). ## Right sidebar The right sidebar gives you access to more tools, including comments, code snippets, and request information, based on which kind of Postman element you choose. | Tool | Available for | Description | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **AI** Ask Ai Chat icon | Collections, requests, APIs, Specs, Flows | Use Agent Mode. | | **Variables in this request** Variable list icon | Collections, Environments, requests, APIs, Specs, Flows | Review the variables in the current request. | | **Pull requests** Merge icon | Collections, Environments | View any [pull requests](/docs/collaborating-in-postman/using-version-control/creating-pull-requests/) for a Postman element. | | **Forks** Fork icon | Collections, Environments | View any [forks](/docs/collaborating-in-postman/using-version-control/forking-elements/) of a Postman element. | | **Info** Info icon | Collections, requests, APIs, Environments, mock servers, monitors, flows, specifications | See details about the element, including its ID, when it was created, who created it, and more. | | **SDKs** SDK icon | SDKs | Generate SDKs for your API. | | **Comments** Comments icon | Collections, Environments, requests, APIs | Leave [comments](/docs/collaborating-in-postman/comments/) on a specific part of a request or an API. | | **Code** Code icon | Requests, APIs, history | Generate [code snippets](/docs/use/send-requests/create-requests/generate-code-snippets/) in a variety of languages and frameworks that you can use in other apps. | | **Jira cloud** | Collections | Manage issues in Jira. | | **Live Preview** | Specs | Preview the documentation for the API in your workspace. | | **Changelog** History icon | Collections, APIs | Use the changelog to see changes that you and your collaborators have made in [collections](/docs/use/use-collections/manage-collections/#use-the-changelog) and [APIs](/docs/design-apis/overview/). | | **Activity feed** Activity feed icon | Monitors | View the activity feed for a [monitor](/docs/monitoring-your-api/intro-monitors/). | | **Flow Element Info** Unary method icon | Flows | View the input and output of a single block. | | **Released Versions** Release icon | Flows | View your released flows. | | **Execution issues** Execution Error icon | Flows | View a flow's execution issues, if any. | ## Footer The footer on the bottom of Postman enables you to find and replace text, open the Console, capture requests and cookies, and access several other tools. * **Local View** and **Switch to Local** - toggles between the view of files on your local machine or the Postman Cloud when using [Native Git](/docs/use/native-git/overview/). * Console icon **Console** - [Inspect and debug](/docs/use/send-requests/response-data/troubleshooting-api-requests/#debugging-in-the-console) your Postman requests. * Terminal icon **Terminal** - *(Available on the [Postman desktop app](/docs/getting-started/installation/install-app/) with [Native Git](/docs/use/native-git/overview/))* Open a terminal in your local Postman environment. * Git branch icon **Git branch icon** - For APIs using a Git repository, switch branches and open the **Source Control** pane. * Capture icon **Capture requests** - *(Available on the [Postman web app](/docs/getting-started/installation/install-app/#use-the-postman-web-app))* Download the [Postman Interceptor extension](/docs/use/capturing-request-data/interceptor/). * **Select Postman Agent** - *(Available on the [Postman web app](/docs/getting-started/installation/install-app/#use-the-postman-web-app))* Select which [Postman Agent](/docs/getting-started/basics/about-postman-agent/) is used: the Cloud Agent, Desktop Agent, Browser Agent, Interceptor Agent, or auto-select an agent. * **Tools** - Display the following tools: * Runner icon **Runner** - Open the [Collection Runner](/docs/tests-and-scripts/running-collections/intro-to-collection-runs/). * Open web icon **Browser** - *(Available on the [Postman desktop app](/docs/getting-started/installation/install-app/))* Open the [Postman Browser Tool](/docs/use/capturing-request-data/browser-tool/overview) to interact with web applications directly inside Postman and capture network traffic. * Capture icon **Start Proxy** - *(Available on the [Postman desktop app](/docs/getting-started/installation/install-app/))* Start the [Postman proxy](/docs/use/capturing-request-data/capture-overview/). * Cookies icon **Cookies** - View, manage, and sync [cookies](/docs/use/send-requests/response-data/cookies/). * Search icon **Find and replace** - *(Available on the [Postman desktop app](/docs/getting-started/installation/install-app/))* Search the current workspace. You can also use the shortcuts **⌘+Shift+F** or **Ctrl+Shift+F**. Enter your search string then click **Find**. Limit your search to a specific element type by clicking **Collections**, **Environments**, **Globals**, or **Open tabs**. To replace your search term in a selected element, click **Replace in selected**. * Delete icon **Trash** - Recover or permanently delete any deleted collections. * **Globals** - View your global variables. * **Vault** - Store vault secrets in your [Postman Vault](/docs/use/postman-vault/postman-vault-secrets/). Choose your Postman Local Vault or Postman Shared Vault. * Manage icon **Layout** - change the visibility and layout of Postman elements. * Left Sidebar Collapsed icon **Toggle left sidebar** - Close or reopen the left [sidebar](#sidebar). * Right Sidebar Collapsed icon **Toggle right sidebar** - Close or reopen the right sidebar.