Software Testing is important in order to ensure that the end-product which is the software application, is bug-free and is able to meet the requirements of the customers. This process can be conducted in a manual fashion as well as in an automated one. However, since Manual Testing can be extremely time consuming, laborious and might not guarantee accurate results; Automation Testing has emerged as the force of the future.
In this blog, we will look at the idea of Test Automation by looking at from different aspects.
What is Automation Testing?
Types of Automation Test
Why is Test Automation Important?
How to Choose Tests for Automation Testing?
Automation Test Process
Test Automation Framework
Automation Testing Tools
How to Choose the Right Test Automation Tool?
Conclusion
What is Automation Testing?
Automation Testing makes use of Test Automation Tools for executing a test case suite. The Test Automation Framework is so designed that it feeds data into the system and compares the actual outcome with the expected result, followed by generating a detailed test report.
Development cycles which run in a successive manner, involves the execution of the same test suite in a repeated manner. An Automation Testing Tool can help in recording this test-suite and re-playing it as and when required. The objective of Automation Testing is to lessen the number of test cases which are required to be executed manually and not necessarily to be a replacement for Manual Testing.
Types of Automation Test
There are numerous types of tests which can be performed for testing the viability of a product. In this section, we will look at some of the most common types of tests which can be safely automated.
Integration Testing: The objective of Integration Testing is to understand group behavior of the units and modules as they interact with one another.
Regression Testing: This kind of test is important for ensuring that any kind of modification to the code does not have any negative impact on the functionality or on those features of the app.
Unit Testing: In this type of testing, a single unit is isolated and tested for its behavior, independently of the rest of the software. The objective is to observe the behavior of each unit, irrespective of their relation with other parts.
Smoke Testing: This kind of testing is undertaken in order to ensure the stability or otherwise of a system. The objective is to ensure the proper working of the main functionalities before the testers move forth with further testing.
Functional Testing: This is to ensure that the requirements of a software in terms of its functionality, operates as per the needs of the end-user.
UI Testing: The user interface is what the user encounters as he/she opens an app. Testing this interface is a part of UI Testing. It makes use of automaton tools which can record the interaction of a user with the interface and then mimic them automatically.
Why is Automation Testing Important?
Most of the organizations today, offer some or the other kind of software. Their digital presence has made it important for them to look for ways which can improve efficiency. Thus, continuous testing has become an inherent part of an organization’s functioning. In understanding the importance of Automation Testing, it would be worthwhile to look at the benefits of the same.
Advantages of Test Automation:
It allows for fast results and immediate feedback: Manual Testing can be extremely time consuming, but with Automation Test, you can get the results quickly and have immediate feedback. It also allows for the execution of functional tests on different devices in a matter of hours.
Wider Coverage: Test Automation, not only helps in faster execution of test cases, but it also helps in simultaneous execution of tests on different platforms and devices. Automation Testing can help in launching a single test suite against various operating systems and devices. Furthermore, increase in the number of tests implies greater coverage of code and functionality.
Increased Efficiency and Improved ROI on Testing: Since Automation Testing lifts much of the burden from the shoulders of the testers, it provides them with the time and opportunity to try and discover new test ideas which they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to think of.
Reliable Results and Improved Accuracy: By way of lessening human involvement and with the help of reliable Test Automation Tools; an Automation Test is expected to provide far more accurate and reliable results than what is acquired through a Manual Test.
How to Choose Tests for Automation Testing?
In this section of the blog, we will look at some of the criteria which should be kept in mind while choosing tests for automation. Tests which are suitable for automation, generally exhibit certain fundamental attributes:
Tests with determinant outcomes: Test Automation is advisable for situations wherein tests are held to have tentatively predictable outcomes. This happens when a specific function is determinant and hence it would mean that the test would have the same outcome every time it is run with the same input.
Tests which are repeatable: Automation Testing is prescribed for test scripts which are extremely time consuming and need to be executed repeatedly over time.
High Risk Business Critical Tests: There can be tests, the interruption of which might result in considerable business loss. In such cases, conducting an Automation Test can be helpful as it can help in testing new features without necessarily posing any threat to the existing ones.
On much the same note, there are certain kinds of tests for which automation is not advisable. Some of these are:
Test Cases which have been only recently designed and have not been tested manually even once
Test Cases which are executed only temporarily
There are certain test cases whose requirements keep on changing. Automation Testing is not prescribed in such situations
Automation Test Process
The Automation Testing process can be held to follow a series of steps:
Selection of Automation Testing Tool: This choice is dependent on the nature of technology that the Application Under Test (AUT) is constructed upon.
Defining the Scope of Automation: The Automation Scope pertains to the specified area of the AUT which will be required to be automated. While determining the scope, one can keep certain points in mind:
· Technical viability
· Scenarios with large volumes of data
· Common functionalities cutting across applications
· Attributes which are important for business
· Complexity level of test cases
· Usage of same test cases for testing across browsers
Preparatory Stage: This phase would involve the preparation of a base state, the test data as well as setting up the environment in which the test would finally take place.
Execution of the Test: This stage involves test execution as per the specifications laid out in the test scripts. The Automation Scripts require input data before they are made to run, after which they provide detailed reports. This process of execution can be carried out directly with the help of Automation Testing Tools or with the Test Management Tool which help in invoking the automation tool.
Result Analysis: Once it is clear that the test has run to its end and has identified every possible bug in the process; the result is put forth as either being pass or fail. However, if there happened to be any issue during the process of execution or the results turn out to be inconclusive, then the developers can opt for a complete review of the test script or might even rerun the test manually.
Test Automation Framework
An Automation Testing Framework pertains to certain specific guidelines which are important in:
Improving test structuring and improving re-usability
Minimizing usage of code and sustaining consistency of Testing
Reducing the training period of tools
Providing for involvement of non-technical testers in coding
Involving data wherever necessary
In general, there are four types of Automation Testing Framework:
Data Driven Automation Framework
Keyword Driven Automation Framework
Modular Automation Framework
Hybrid Automation Framework
Automation Testing Tools
There are many different types of automation tools which can be used for the purpose of conducting Automation Tests. Some of the popular ones are:
Selenium
It is an open source tool used for conducting Selenium Automation Testing. It is generally used for Regression Testing as it offers playback and recording facility. Recorded scripts can be exported in other languages, it can be integrated with TestNG and JUnit, multiple tests can be executed as well as comments can be inserted in the middle of the script.
Ranorex Studio
It is a multipurpose Test Automation Tool which has quite wide coverage in terms of the types of tests which can be executed through it. It can be used for automating data driven tests, regression tests, functional UI tests and others.
Lambda Test
When it comes to cross browser testing, Lambda Test is the first Automation Testing Tool of choice. They provide secure, super-fast and scalable Selenium Grid which can be utilized for executing test cases in as many as 2000+ OS and browsers.
Quick Test Professional (QTP)
It is essentially used for regression and functional testing. It makes use of the Keyword Driven Automation Framework and allows users to generate test cases directly via the application.
Watir
It is an open source Automation Testing Courses Tool which is widely used for regression testing. It facilitates writing of tests which can easily be read and maintained. Only Internet Explorer is supported by Watir; however, Watir WebDriver supports Opera, Chrome, FireFox and others.
How to Choose the Right Test Automation Tool?
There are many different types of Automation Testing Tools; however, choosing the right one for the task at hand, can be an extremely challenging job. It is important to understand that there is no universal answer with respect to the best tool which can be used for all times. The choice can be governed by certain criteria:
Usability and Environment Support
Database Testing and Object Identification
Image Testing and Object Mapping
The kind of scripting language used
The kind of tests supported by the tool
The ease with which it could help to debug software automation scripts
Its ability to generate detailed results and reports
The objective to be achieved
Conclusion
An Automation Test is faster and more clear-cut, without extensive human errors. However, Test Automation is not necessarily a substitute for Manual Testing. Each of the approaches has its own set of pros and cons. If the software being developed, happens to be too large and complex; Automation Testing is often the first choice; while there are certain kinds of test cases wherein conducting a Automation Test would be futile. Business Testers, Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) and Software Developers, happen to be the prime users of Test Automation.
If you wish to begin your journey on the path of Automation Testing and strive to be a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) visit our site Syntax Technologies.
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