# Introduction to testing with the sam local command
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Use the AWS Serverless Application Model Command Line Interface (AWS SAM CLI) `sam local` command to test your serverless applications locally.

For an introduction to the AWS SAM CLI, see [What is the AWS SAM CLI?](what-is-sam-overview.md#what-is-sam-cli).

## Prerequisites
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To use `sam local`, install the AWS SAM CLI by completing the following:
+ [AWS SAM prerequisites](prerequisites.md).
+ [Install the AWS SAM CLI](install-sam-cli.md).

Before using `sam local`, we recommend a basic understanding of the following:
+ [Configuring the AWS SAM CLI](using-sam-cli-configure.md).
+ [Create your application in AWS SAM](using-sam-cli-init.md).
+ [Introduction to building with AWS SAM](using-sam-cli-build.md).
+ [Introduction to deploying with AWS SAM](using-sam-cli-deploy.md).

## Using the sam local command
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Use the `sam local` command with any of its subcommands to perform different types of local testing for your application.

```
$ sam local {{<subcommand>}}
```

To learn more about each subcommand, see the following:
+ **[Intro to sam local generate-event](using-sam-cli-local-generate-event.md)** – Generate AWS service events for local testing.
+ **[Intro to sam local invoke](using-sam-cli-local-invoke.md)** – Initiate a one-time invocation of an AWS Lambda function locally.
+ **[Intro to sam local start-api](using-sam-cli-local-start-api.md)** – Run your Lambda functions using a local HTTP server.
+ **[Intro to sam local start-lambda](using-sam-cli-local-start-lambda.md)** – Run your Lambda functions using a local HTTP server for use with the AWS CLI or SDKs.