Bruno API Client Cheat Sheet

Back to Developer ToolsUpdated 2026-05-16

Bruno is a Git-friendly, offline-first, open-source API client for REST, GraphQL, gRPC, and WebSocket testing. Unlike cloud-dependent alternatives like Postman, Bruno stores collections as plain-text .bru markup files in your local filesystem, making them version-controllable with Git. This approach enables true collaborative workflows, eliminates vendor lock-in, and respects privacy by keeping all data local. Bruno's unique value lies in its plain-text format: collections live alongside code, survive across teams, and integrate seamlessly with existing developer tools—no accounts, no sync conflicts, no cloud dependencies.

What This Cheat Sheet Covers

This topic spans 24 focused tables and 153 indexed concepts. Below is a complete table-by-table outline of this topic, spanning foundational concepts through advanced details.

Table 1: Collection and Workspace ManagementTable 2: Variable Types and ScopesTable 3: Request Types and ProtocolsTable 4: Request Body FormatsTable 5: Authentication MethodsTable 6: Scripting and AutomationTable 7: Testing and AssertionsTable 8: Dynamic Variables and Data GenerationTable 9: Environment and Secrets ManagementTable 10: Collection Runner and Data-Driven TestingTable 11: CLI and CI/CD IntegrationTable 12: Git Integration and CollaborationTable 13: Import and ExportTable 14: Code Generation and ExportTable 15: Response Handling and VisualizationTable 16: Headers and ParametersTable 17: Cookies ManagementTable 18: Proxy and Network ConfigurationTable 19: Request History and DebuggingTable 20: Documentation GenerationTable 21: Settings and CustomizationTable 22: VS Code ExtensionTable 23: Performance and MonitoringTable 24: Licensing and Editions

Table 1: Collection and Workspace Management

Feature	Example	Description
Workspace	Right-click sidebar → `New Workspace`	Container that groups multiple collections, environments, and API specifications together; enables organization by project or team.
Collection	Click `+` → `Create Collection` → Select folder	Folder-based set of API requests stored in filesystem; stored as `.bru` files with plain-text markup instead of JSON.
Folder organization	Right-click collection → `New Folder`	Hierarchical request grouping within collections; supports nested folders for complex API structures.

Table 1: Collection and Workspace Management

Feature	Example	Description
Workspace	Right-click sidebar → `New Workspace`	Container that groups multiple collections, environments, and API specifications together; enables organization by project or team.
Collection	Click `+` → `Create Collection` → Select folder	Folder-based set of API requests stored in filesystem; stored as `.bru` files with plain-text markup instead of JSON.
Folder organization	Right-click collection → `New Folder`	Hierarchical request grouping within collections; supports nested folders for complex API structures.