Software testing using automated scripted sequences executed by tools is a method for ensuring that software functions appropriately and meets requirements before it is released into production. Testing tools perform tests of the software and report the results, as well as compare them with earlier tests. Automation testing tools carry out software tests, report outcomes, and compare results.
In addition to unit testing, API tests, and regression tests, organizations can use automated tests to an extensive range of situations. Its biggest advantage is simplifying as much manual effort as possible into scripts. Quality assurance (QA) teams should evaluate unit testing as a candidate for automation if it consumes a considerable amount of their resources.
There is no need to manually intervene in automated tests because they can run repeatedly anytime. Continuous testing, continuous integration, and continuous delivery are software development practices aimed at moving code changes to production as quickly as possible without gates that need to be manually opened.
In this article, we will have a close look at what automated testing is and what really goes into it. Come, let us now jump into the world of test automation.
What basically is automated testing?
Any approach that automates the testing process and makes it possible to do so deprived of human intervention is automated testing. Tests have traditionally been done manually. In manual tests, a human follows a set of steps to verify that everything is working correctly. By contrast, automated tests are created once and then can be run whenever you need them. Developers have been automating unit testing for years. Basically, these tests check if a function is working as expected. A framework for automated testing called Selenium was then developed. This facilitates the testing of entire applications or modules automatically.
With the frameworks, a test script can mimic a user’s actions by interacting with your user interface. Using them, you can find a specific button and click it, or locate a text entry box and fill it out correctly, as well as verify the test was successful.
Benefits of automated testing
There is no doubt that automated testing has its limitations, but there is also no doubt that it is becoming a necessity. In addition, with the development of artificial intelligence, automated testing tools are becoming more powerful and versatile. Quality assurance will continue to benefit from automation as testing technology develops.
- Performing multiple tests at the same time
Automated testing allows you to run many tests at once since it requires very little human input once it is running. Consequently, you can make detailed comparative reports in less time.
- Costs are reduced
Your organization will save money, resources, and time during the quality assurance process with automated software testing. You may also perform manual testing, but your quality assurance engineers will have more time to work on other projects. The overall cost of software development will be reduced as a result.
- Increasing the speed of feedback
You may find that manual testing takes a long time for testers to provide feedback to your DevOps team. By testing your software early, you increase your team’s efficiency. Test automation tools allow you to execute faster validations.
- A higher degree of accuracy
Manual testing has the risk of human error because humans are prone to making mistakes. Automation will almost always ensure that tests are executed correctly. However, test scripting is still performed by humans, so there is still a chance of error. You should lose these errors as you reuse your tests more often.
- You will have a less stressful QA team
Once your quality assurance team is relieved of the time-consuming task of manual testing, they are able to build tools to enhance your testing suite further by using an automated testing strategy. As a result, they become more engaged with their jobs and reduce stress and monotony.
- Developing products faster
You can launch your product sooner with continuous testing during development, and automation testing tools can expedite the final validation of your software by getting results faster.
- Increasing the coverage of tests
Your automation engineers can write more tests and make them more detailed if you have a good automation strategy to increase your test coverage.
- Improved insights
It is not only possible to analyze the results of automated tests, but it is also possible to see insights into the application. For example, automation tests can show the contents of files, data tables, as well as resources in memory.
What Goes Into Automation Testing?
Every automated test must follow four steps. The type of tests you automate, and the tools you use to run them will determine what you should use. Below is a list of tools and frameworks that you can use to automate your tests.
- Define your test case precisely. Write down each step and the outcome you have in mind. Don’t guess at anything and don’t overlook anything, such as accepting a cookie banner popup without thinking about it.
- It can be necessary to write a custom script to run your test case in your chosen framework. You have to check the test actually works and sets along well in all cases. As an example, if you need your application to run on multiple browsers, your test must be compatible with each.
- You may find it difficult to evaluate the outcome of the test when it fails. Sometimes, test failures aren’t apparent right away, and finding out what really went wrong can take some detective work. Additionally, many test failures result from “false positives,” which are triggered when a minor change occurs in the application. You must update your test in these cases and run it again.
- If you want to automate tests, you need to do it right. You shouldn’t cut any corners. Instead, approach it as a type of software development, defining the scope, implementing the tests, testing, and debugging.
9 Types Of Automation Testing
Software is tested in two ways: functionally and non-functionally. Functional testing examines how the software performs in real-world situations, while non-functional tests examine different aspects of the software, such as security and data storage.
There are a number of types of automated testing, some of which overlap. Examples of automated testing include:
- Unit Testing
The first stage of software testing is unit testing. It involves checking small, individual components of the code. It is usually done manually. But, like all the other tests it can be automated, so we wanted to include it.
- Integration Tests
During the functional testing, each piece of software is checked to make sure that it operates well as a whole.
- Smoke Tests
During a smoke test, essential features are verified to make sure the program can endure any further testing. Smoke tests determine whether or not a build is stable. By performing this test, we prevent the program from catching fire if it isn’t ready for further testing.
- Regression Tests
Testing for regression ensures that none of the parts of the software have regressed after modifications are made, both functionally and non-functionally.
- API Testing
Usually conducted after software development to ensure that everything is working as it is meant to be, application programming interfaces act as a conduit between your software and other systems.
- Security Tests
The purpose of security tests is to detect any security defects that can be exploited. They can be either functional or non-functional.
- Performance Tests
The purpose of non-functional performance tests is to ensure software’s stability, responsiveness, and ability to handle stress. They guarantee that the software is reliable and can handle stressful situations.
- Acceptance Tests
It is important to pass acceptance tests successfully before releasing the final product to the end users. In order to be able to release it, the product must take the test required by the end users.
- UI Tests
One of the last tests in the development process is the user interface test. This test simulates the end-user experience and confirms it works as expected.
7 test automation best practices
Here are some best practices that every tester must follow in order to optimise the testing process.
- Make sure that you are assigning right tasks to the right team member. Assign testing suites and cases according to the technical expertise of individuals or teams.
- Document failures might happen. Keep text logs, video logs, and screenshots of each step where you encountered an error. This allows you to better debug your application.
- Using data-driven tests can help you boil down large amounts of data into a single test and data set once you have multiple data points that need to be analyzed.
- Testing early and frequently is critical to detecting bugs early and managing them as soon as possible. You should use a continuous integration strategy throughout the development process.
- Make sure you automate the most frequently occurring, easy to automate, and predictable tests. It is impossible to automate everything so start with the tests you perform most often that require conditional actions.
- The main thing you have to keep in mind when testing is to test on real devices and browsers. No matter what device your users are using, you have to make sure the product works for them.
- Ensure that all people working on the project can contribute meaningfully to the automation testing process. Don’t use a single tester. Involve the development team, testing team, and quality assurance engineers.
How to choose a test automation tool?
You need to take a number of factors into account when choosing a test automation tool. Below are some criteria to consider when selecting a test automation tool.
- The best tools allow you to achieve multiple types of tests in one place. For instance, you might be able to perform smoke tests, API tests, regression tests, and performance tests in the same tool. It is important to be careful not to fall into the “Jack of all trades, master of none,” trap when it comes to testing. No single framework can cover all the types of testing we mentioned above. And if it claims to, find out where it’s cutting corners.
- You need to study a new scripting language before you can make your test scripts with Selenium. For example, Selenium has a steep learning curve. It is possible to run tests with other tools with problems, such as setting up and maintaining large test infrastructures.
- For acceptance testing or systems testing, cross-platform as well as cross-browser testing are vital. To test your application on the various browsers and platforms that it supports, you need to make sure it is easy to run the tests. You may have to rewrite the test for each browser as a result.
- There are many tools out there that make it easy to analyze your test data, but not all of them are the same. Some offer nice dashboards to display the results of your tests, which ones failed, how frequently they were run, and so on. A few may require you to produce reports in order to gain access this information. Also, there are some differences in what metrics are collected in parallel. Do pages load much slower than they used to?
- Data-driven testing along with the ability to define custom metrics (known as test criteria), as well as the ability to orchestrate separate tests are all power features that you want to look for in test automation tools.
Conclusion
When you have to test your site or application with many different browser combinations, running automated browser tests at your local server may work as well as it does if you’re only concerned with a few browsers. For such cases, Selenium Grid in-house testing is not an option. Instead, organizations should use LambdaTest, a cloud-based cross-browser testing platform. Selenium tests can be executed against multiple combinations using a cloud-based platform such as LambdaTest. As a result of these tests, you will be able to achieve great test coverage, which in turn will give them more confidence in their product.
To summarize, this article introduces automation testing, its benefits, and how to get started. The best way to meet most testing goals with practical resources and time in an Agile environment is to do so this way. Be careful when selecting the type of automation that will meet 100% of the application requirements, since no one can do so.
