Getting Started With Automation Testing in 2023

As we venture into 2023, more organizations rely on automation testing over manual testing for the development of software products.

Automation testing guarantees better quality of the product, reduced cycle time in numerous repetitive tests, and faster in time frame if done in person and with less or no human intervention. In this blog we shall get familiar with the need for automation testing, benefits, working procedure and various types of automation testing tools and frameworks of the same.

What is automation testing?

Automation testing refers to the use of software testing techniques or scripts that automates the process of validating test cases and ensuring that the requirement is met before being released into production. Automation testing refers to the use of software tools to execute predefined test cases and verify the outcomes automatically.

It involves the creation and execution of test scripts which control and stimulate the flow of execution of an application or system that is put under test. It becomes very laborious to debug the errors and fix them if done by humans, that is manual testing. In automation testing it is also necessary to perform continuous testing  at any time of the day to achieve the desired test result or desired product/application.

Why is the need for automation testing?

Any product developed by a company is bound to have some flaws, which should be attained for a smooth and continuous user experience before being released in the product market. It is very important to perform various tests and with test automation, one can execute thousands of varied and lengthy test cases that are impossible in manual testing which can increase the depth of tests to improve software quality. Automation helps the quality assurance (QA) team to execute tests in a really quick time frame.

What are the types of automation testing?

Automation testing is broadly classified in two categories namely functional testing and non-functional testing which further are divided into their own various types.

• Functional testing: The goal is to validate the systems capabilities, features and system interactions with different components. Functional testing involves software testing like software’s input, output, manipulation of data, user interactions, and system’s response to various conditions. Few examples are Unit testing, Integration testing, Smoke testing.

• Unit testing: Unit testing is a software development process in which these units which are testable parts of an application are individually examined carefully for proper operation. It is the very first stage of testing, it gives a closer view of how the code is performing and typically carried out manually by the developers. It has a faster execution time as testing is done in smaller parts(units).
• Integration testing: Integration testing is a type of software testing where components of the software are gradually integrated and then tested as a unified group. These components are already working well individually, but they may break when integrated with other components. With integration testing, testers want to find defects that alter the output due to code conflicts between software modules when they are integrated with each other.
• Smoke testing: Smoke testing is also one of the prior steps of software development, this test focuses on testing the major aspects of the application as, is functioning as per the requirement or there must be some alteration that needs to be attained. In this test if there are any drawbacks which need to be fixed, they generally send the application back to the development team. This ensures the proper functioning of the application and gives confidence to the developer, hence this step is also called ‘Build Verification Testing’, ‘Build Acceptance Testing’ or ‘Confidence Testing’.
• Non-functional testing: This type of testing where all non-functional elements of an application as in its performance, reliability, compatibility, etc, of the product are tested and ensures that the customer’s satisfaction is met. In non-functional testing the main concern is about the product performance or investigation, as what the product does and how well it performs. Few examples are Security testing, Performance testing, Regression testing.
• Security testing: As the name goes security testing protects the software system or application from threats, risks, cyber attacks, or any malware practice that may cause any kind of loss. Security testing is focused on finding all possible loopholes of a system that may weaken the system. Security testing identifies vulnerabilities and potential threats and ensures that the system is protected against unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security-related issues.
• Performance testing: Performance testing is carried out to check the stability, speed, response time and reliability when performed under pressure. While developing an application it is bound to have some hurdles which eventually lag the performance of the application. It is mandatory to attain the problem that is aroused to optimize and deliver the best result.
• Regression testing: Any application is updated with the enhancement of software, configuration changes are made and bugs are fixed, leading to a new code then regression testing is carried out. Regression testing involves re-running of functional and non-functional tests to see if the software is working the same way as before and after coding. If the performance is not the same then the software is said to have regressed. Regression testing is the type of testing that falls under the maintenance testing category.

What are the steps to start Automation Testing?

The structured automation testing life cycle is a multi-stage process that covers the tasks necessary to use and introduce an automated test tool, run test cases, develop test plans and scripts, execute and maintain the data.

1. Identification and selection of the right tool

The selection of the correct automation testing tool is a basic and important step. The accuracy, efficiency of the application completely depends on choosing the right tool. While selecting the tool one has to have the clear vision of knowledge and finance required for the tool that will be used and advancement that will be utilized in the venture.

Examples of tools which can be used are LambdaTest, Selenium, Appium, Cucumber, etc.

2. Planning, designing, making a strategy and environment.

Once after deciding the right tool that will be chosen to automate tests. First of all one has to break down the test cases into smaller, logical tests, then create test scripts and test suites, which are run sequentially through automation. This is produced by building a test in a framework similar to a library with numerous test cases.

The next thing in Automation Testing includes setting up a machine or distant machine where test scripts will be executed. There are a few main areas while building the environment that should be taken care of, like multiple browsers, automation framework, tool configuration and license, selection of area whether live or staging.

3. Testing of script execution

Automation Scripts are tested in this stage. The scripts require test input data before they can be set up to execute. After running, if there are any bugs found then they are debugged by automation tool. A detailed report on each test is made after the final execution for other tests to use the report as a reference. When the test scripts are developed effectively these steps should be carried out check the correctness of the same

• A test that involves all practical angles as indicated by the experiment.
• It is important to run scripts in numerous conditions and over different stages.
• Batch execution to be performed to retain time and attempt.

4. Maintenance

It is the last phase of the automation testing. The maintenance is an automation testing stage that is used to test the new functionality of the software to validate whether the new functionality added to the product is working as desired or not. It is implemented when any new scripts are added and require inspection and need to update the present automation scripts. Each cycle requires new, updated, and maintained automation scripts. For instance, after writing code, we check it to see if there are any bugs or if any failure happens. As a result, it locates the problematic code section, corrects it, and runs the entire program from scratch. Therefore, maintenance is crucial, which improves the necessity of automation scripts.

What are the different types of automation testing tools and frameworks?

Having designed and developed the software or application, one should test whether it meets the requirements and goals of the project. Here are some common software testing tools.

• LambdaTest: LambdaTest is a cloud-based test orchestration and execution platform that uses AI to help teams scale up their test coverage with speedy parallel, cross-browser, and cross-device testing. It supports online Selenium Grid on the cloud of over 3,000 devices, browsers, and operating systems. It also supports parallel and cross-browser executions for Cypress test scripts. In simpler terms, LambdaTest helps teams test their software on a wide range of devices, browsers, and operating systems, quickly and easily. It does this by providing a cloud-based platform that includes a large library of devices and browsers, as well as AI-powered tools to help teams automate their testing and identify and fix bugs.

• Selenium: Selenium stands as a leading open-source framework for automating web testing. It comprises a trio of essential components: Selenium WebDriver, Selenium Grid, and Selenium IDE. It extends support to various programming languages, including Java, C#, Python, JavaScript, Ruby, PHP, and more. Furthermore, it seamlessly interacts with a wide range of web browsers, encompassing Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Safari, and many others.
• Cypress: Cypress is a user-friendly automation tool designed with developers in mind for thorough web testing from start to finish, specifically tailored to JavaScript frameworks. What sets it apart is its innovative architecture, enabling it to work seamlessly within the browser’s run-loop alongside your application. This unique approach provides direct access to webpage elements and significantly speeds up test execution.
• Playwright: Playwright is a reliable test automation framework specifically designed for modern web applications. It allows for the automation of tests across different languages, browsers, and platforms using a single API.
• Appium: Appium serves as an open-source automation testing tool, designed exclusively for mobile applications. It leverages the mobile JSON wire protocol, empowering users to create automated UI tests for native, web-based, and hybrid mobile apps across both the Android and iOS platforms.
• Cucumber: Cucumber is a popular open-source test automation tool that promotes behavior-driven development (BDD) by allowing stakeholders to collaborate and define tests in a human-readable format. It supports multiple programming languages, making it accessible to a wide range of developers.
• TestNG: TestNG is a powerful testing framework that offers advanced capabilities and flexibility for automating tests in Java-based applications. It provides extensive annotations, assertions, and configuration options to create robust and maintainable test suites.

Conclusion

To sum up, automation testing plays a vital role in every software development endeavor. It offers the advantage of saving time and resources, providing efficient outcomes aligned with the desired product goals. It guarantees superior quality and dependability for applications while diminishing the time and effort invested in comparison to manual testing. This blog is your go-to resource for a fundamental comprehension of automation testing, its advantages, different types, and a variety of frameworks.