Imagine manually testing the login form of an application across multiple browsers, operating systems, mobile devices, or environments. Tedious, right?
But what if you could do all the software testing for this login form with lightning speed and as few resources as possible? Welcome to the world of automated testing—an indispensable part of modern software development.
What is automation testing?
Automation testing is a technique used in software testing. It uses automated testing tools and scripts to create and execute test cases, analyze results, and send feedback to the development teams regarding defects or bugs. It also compares outcomes to project objectives, ensuring software development meets the desired expectations. Unlike manual testing, automated testing can swiftly execute repetitive tasks, improving effectiveness and dependability.
Why choose automated testing?
Automated testing can complete the entire testing cycle in record time and is the preferred type of testing for repetitive tasks, regression testing, and larger data sets. Automation testing ensures improved test coverage, reduced manual errors, and increased scalability and speed. For example, imagine a video streaming service that needs to verify the playback subtitles in multiple languages and the UI responsiveness of each video across various browsers and devices. In this case, it's mission-critical to have cross-environment automated testing that helps deliver reliable, fast, and scalable validation across multiple browsers or devices.
Manual testing vs. automated testing
Manual and automated testing are key components of software testing, so it's important to understand when to choose them for maximum benefit to the project. Here are some of the key differences:
Why choose automated testing?
Tests should be carefully chosen for automation, as not all tests require it. Typically, automated testing is done for repetitive, time-consuming, data-driven, and business-critical scenarios. Tests that are repeated with small changes can be automated and used in the future. QA testers can focus on more complex tasks when automation takes over these monotonous or data-centric tasks.
What are the various types of automated testing?
There are numerous types of automated testing, such as:
Unit testing
Checks the performance of a single module or unit in the software.
Integration testing
Ensures different components, units, or modules work together in a system.
Smoke testing
Checks for the stability of the software before further testing.
Performance testing
Assesses the application's performance under varied loads and conditions.
Regression testing
Checks if the existing functionality is broken or for new bugs after introducing new code changes or updates.
Security testing
Identifies possible vulnerabilities that weaken the system to potential threats.
Acceptance testing
Evaluates the application against business requirements and customer expectations.
Functional testing
Validates the functionality of each feature against expected outcomes.
API testing
Tests API for reliability and security.
UI testing
Tests whether what the user sees and interacts with works smoothly.
Who is involved in test automation?
Automated testing usually involves:
Test automation engineers
Create and implement test cases using automated testing tools.
Manual testers
Identify test cases suitable for automation and work with test automation engineers.
Developers
Work together with automation engineers for reports, bug fixes, and early testing intervention.
DevOps engineers
Integrate automated testing into continuous integration (CI) and continuous deployment (CD) pipelines.
Business analysts, QA managers, and product managers
Handle quality assurance and ensure output matches desired outcomes.
Heads or management
Make business-critical decisions during testing or when adopting automated testing tools.
How does test automation work?
Here's how automation testing typically works:
Select the right automated testing tools depending on the business criteria and resources available.
Define the scope of automation by selecting the proper tests for automation, building a test strategy, and choosing the proper implementation techniques.
Plan, develop, and write test scripts.
Execute tests across various environments.
Analyze reports and send feedback on bugs and defects to the development team.
Manage test scripts and update them when needed.
How do you choose an automated testing tool?
An automated testing tool should fit the company's business objectives. Here are some criteria to consider:
- It should be user-friendly, with an easy learning curve for testers with minimal coding expertise.
- It should integrate with CI/CD tools.
- It should support cross-browser and cross-environment testing.
- It should be cost-effective.
- It should have a readily available knowledge base, training, and support.
- It should be easily scalable.
- It should incorporate cutting-edge technologies like self-healing AI for testing scripts or AI-powered test case generation.
How Zoho QEngine simplifies automated testing
Zoho QEngine is an AI-enabled, cloud-based testing platform that stands out for its no-code, low-code, and pro-code test case creation functionality. It's equipped with a no-code recorder, low-code builder, and manual test case editor. Zoho QEngine supports cross-platform testing for web, mobile, and APIs, all under a single platform, making it excellent for businesses looking to scale. Zoho QEngine's automated testing platform easily integrates CI/CD tools like Jenkins, communication tools, and other DevOps software.
Key features of Zoho QEngine include:
- Intelligent, AI-driven test data generation.
- Smart manual testing with import and export of manual test cases.
- Self-healing AI that automatically identifies and fixes broken locators.
- Parallel testing.
- Real-time dashboards of test runs and defects.
- Uninterrupted communication and collaboration between teams.
What are the key benefits of automated testing?
Automated testing comes with significant advantages:
- Improved speed of test case creation and execution.
- Increased accuracy and reliability of software updates.
- Wider test coverage with cross-browser/device testing.
- Faster feedback loops for software development teams.
- Earlier bug detection.
- Better reporting capabilities.
- Enhanced resource efficiency so QA testers and Dev Ops engineers can be used for more complex tasks.
- Reusability of test scripts.
- Scalability as the business grows or the project extends.
- Continuous testing along with CI/CD.
- Improved collaboration between teams.
Emerging trends in automated testing
As software continues to evolve, it's essential to keep automation testing tools evolving in kind, for reliability and accuracy. Here are some emerging trends in automated testing:
- No-code/low-code testing tools that help non-coders.
- AI-powered test automation to maintain and create test scripts.
- Cloud-based test infrastructure that offers on-demand scalability.
Misconceptions about automated testing
Here are some common misconceptions or myths about automated testing:
- Automated testing provides developers and QA engineers with more free time.
- Automated testing optimizes resources for more complex tasks.
- Automated testing is better than manual testing.
- Automated testing can work in sync with manual testing.
- Automated testing discourages human interaction.
- Automated testing improves collaboration and communication.
- Automated testing is too expensive.
- Automated testing makes software testing less expensive over time.
Best practices for automation testing
Following test automation best practices ensures an efficient and focused testing strategy with clear objectives/goals. Here are some best practices for automated testing:
- Define the scope and objectives of your automated testing and choose the right tool for the desired outcomes.
- Prioritize business-critical, high-risk tests with large data sets and repetitive tests for automated testing.
- Choose a clear automation testing strategy as an organization rather than an individual project.
- Design test scripts that are reusable and easy to maintain.
- Implement continuous and parallel testing methods and integrate test automation into CI/CD pipelines for maximum ROI.
- Ensure the automated testing tool can perform cross-environment testing across various browsers, operating systems, and third-party apps.
- Ensure regular test script maintenance.
- Incorporate robust reporting and analytics.
- Foster communication and collaboration between various teams in the software development process.
Conclusion
As emerging trends like artificial intelligence-driven test scripts and cloud-based infrastructure gain momentum, staying innovative and embracing test automation is key to a company's growth. Automated testing has become an integral part of the software testing process, aiding in this fast-paced digital landscape. Though not a replacement for manual testing, automation testing is ideal for data-driven, high-volume, business-critical, and repetitive tasks. Automated testing enhances software quality, improves collaboration and efficiency, and accelerates the software delivery process.
Zoho QEngine helps simplify your software testing automation with no-code/low-code/pro-code tools, AI-driven test creation and management, and seamless integration with other applications and CI/CD pipelines. It offers scalability, cross-environment, and parallel testing and has a robust cloud-based infrastructure suitable for teams and projects of various sizes.
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