# Post and receive sample data with the Mirror API endpoint

**URL:** <https://connective.celigo.com/t/post-and-receive-sample-data-with-the-mirror-api-endpoint/314>\
**Category:** Integrator.io\
**Tags:** performance, debug\
**Created:** [October 31, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://connective.celigo.com/t/post-and-receive-sample-data-with-the-mirror-api-endpoint/314 "2023-10-31T19:14:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kathyanaqueeman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/connective.celigo.com/kathyanaqueeman/32/9122_2.png) [@kathyanaqueeman](https://connective.celigo.com/u/kathyanaqueeman)\
**Post date:** [October 31, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://connective.celigo.com/t/post-and-receive-sample-data-with-the-mirror-api-endpoint/314/1 "2023-10-31T19:14:14Z")

</div>

The Mirror API endpoint allows you to post data and receive the same data as a response. The endpoint is a versatile tool to ensure the correctness, reliability, and performance of integration flows during various stages of development and testing. To use the endpoint:

1. Gather sample data for an export, import, or lookup step.
2. Create an [integrator.io connection](https://docs.celigo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038520652-Set-up-a-connection-to-integrator-io).
3. Create and configure your integrator.io export, import, or lookup step using your connection. Use the **REST API form view**. 

  1. For the [relative URI](https://docs.celigo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360042281231-Getting-started-with-standard-REST-API), use /v1/mirror.

4. Specify POST as the HTTP method.
5. Add the sample data in the request body.

 ![5301043caa20740200000001-df5a0ba9dfe3485faea7d2de985b18ea.png](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/uploads/celigo/original/2X/4/4533bfc4d29654b4f135ab03522a453f0b11247c.png)

This endpoint is useful when building and testing integrations for:

- **Testing and Debugging:** You can use the endpoint for [testing and debugging purposes](https://docs.celigo.com/hc/en-us/articles/4416800334235-Debug-flow-steps). By sending data to this endpoint, you can quickly verify that it is being transmitted correctly and understand how it's processed within the integration flow.

- **Mocking Data:** In the early stages of development or when certain systems are not readily available, you can use the mirror endpoint to simulate the behavior of a real endpoint. This is especially helpful for testing without affecting actual systems.

- **Endpoint Validation:** The mirror endpoint can validate that the data formatting, structure, and content match the destination application. This is particularly valuable when working with [complex data transformations](https://docs.celigo.com/hc/en-us/articles/12581205330587-Transformation-2-0).

- **Training and Onboarding:** For training purposes or onboarding new team members, the mirror endpoint provides a safe and controlled environment to experiment with data without the risk of impacting actual systems.

- **Documentation and Examples:** The mirror endpoint can serve as a practical example in documentation. It provides a straightforward use case that you can reference when learning to [interact with integrator.io and its APIs](https://docs.celigo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360042281231-Getting-started-with-standard-REST-API).

- **Circuit Breaker Testing:** During development or maintenance, you may intentionally [break certain components or connections within the integration flow to see how the system responds](https://docs.celigo.com/hc/en-us/articles/16837144477339-Debug-a-flow-in-test-mode). The mirror endpoint allows you to observe the behavior without disrupting the actual data flow.

- **Performance Testing:** You might use the mirror endpoint to [assess the performance of your integration flows](https://docs.celigo.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043927292-Fine-tune-integrator-io-for-optimal-data-throughput) by sending a significant amount of data and analyzing how quickly it is processed and returned.