Solving the Unexpected Token Error in Python Requests with Postman Payloads

A common issue when transferring payloads from Postman to Python Requests is the `Unexpected token` error. This guide examines the causes and provides a clear solution. --- This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/66835360/ asked by the user 'beedeeguan' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/15364512/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/66835395/ provided by the user 'jsfehler' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/15364632/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions. Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: request payload from Postman works but mine doesn't - unexpected token error Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/licensing The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ ) license. If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com. --- Solving the Unexpected Token Error in Python Requests with Postman Payloads Have you ever faced an issue where your request payload works perfectly in Postman but throws an Unexpected token error when implemented in your Python code? You're not alone! This is a common problem faced by many developers when transferring requests from Postman to their codebase. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at this issue and how to resolve it effectively. The Problem: Unexpected Token Error The Unexpected token error typically happens due to a discrepancy between the expected data type by the server and what is actually sent in the request. Here's a simplified situation based on a common use case: You have a valid payload in Postman that successfully returns a response. You attempt to replicate that payload in Python using the Requests library, which leads to an error message like: { "message": "Unexpected token P in JSON at position 0" } This can be confusing as it implies that something is wrong with the structure or format of the payload being sent. Example Scenario Suppose you took the following code from Postman: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] And it works fine. But when you attempt to modify it with a new format, you run into this error with your updated payload: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] When populating new values in this manner and sending it with: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] You encounter the dreaded error. The Solution: Properly Formatting Your Payload The root of the problem lies in how Python sends the payload. The first snippet from Postman sends a JSON-formatted string, while the second one tries to send a Python dictionary without converting it into JSON format compatible with what the server expects. Here’s how to resolve it: Convert Your Dictionary to JSON Instead of sending data=payload, use the json parameter in the request. Here’s how: [[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]] Key Changes Explained: Use json instead of data: The json parameter automatically converts the dictionary to the appropriate JSON string format, ensuring that the server receives it correctly. Do Not Manually Convert: Avoid using str(payload) to convert your dictionary, as this will not yield a properly formatted JSON string necessary for your request. Benefits of Using the JSON Parameter Error Reduction: Minimizes the chances of syntax errors or formatting problems. Cleaner Code: Simplifies your request code and makes it more readable. Conclusion In summary, if you're facing the Unexpected token error when transferring payloads from Postman to Python Requests, remember to use the json parameter to ensure your dictionary is correctly formatted as JSON. This small change can save you lots of debugging time and keep your codebase clean and efficient. If you continue to experience issues, revisit your headers or payload structure for any inconsistencies. Happy coding!