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Best automation testing tools
An integral part of software product development is testing, which can be manual or automated. The quality of software can be improved through test automation and thus the user experience can be enhanced. In this article you will learn about automated testing and we will discuss the best tools for automated testing.
Software testing automation is handled by an IT tester (read more about what does a software tester do) who performs software testing using scripting sequences to ensure software security and functionality according to predetermined requirements. Based on the found information, IT tester then compares the data with the results of previous tests. The goal of automated testing is to find all possible bugs, flaws, problems and potential risks that could have a negative impact on the final product.
In addition to the automation tester, the QA tester for automated software testing is also involved in QA (Quality Assurance ). He is in charge of designing the test scripts, while he already works with test engineers and developers on testing using testing frameworks such as JUnit for Java and Pytest for Python.
There are five types of automated testing
Each test environment as well as test case are unique. Therefore, the automated testing tool needs to be adapted to them as well, depending on the product or application being tested:
- Code analysis – consists of various testing tools and is used to obtain an analysis of a specific area in the context of the source code. With it we can, for example, find potential security vulnerabilities, check usability, and so on.
- Unit tests – they focus on testing each software component during the development phase and provide immediate feedback on the written code.
- Integration tests/end-to-end tests – used to test larger parts of the software as a whole to ensure that the individual components work together according to the specified requirements.
- Acceptance testing – is a verifying of correct functioning of the product based on user requirements. Its purpose is to assess whether the software is ready for release and later use.
- Smoke testing – used to check the stability of software after a new software release.
How does automated testing work?
As part of the software testing automation process, the tester performs several steps. Before testing begins, the tester chooses the test tool to be used, taking into account its suitability for the specific testing area. He then determines the scope of automation based on the main testing objectives, the complexity of the test, technical feasibility and the number of resources.
The third step is the planning phase, which consists of preparing a test strategy with defining the goals, framework features and how to use the test tool. In addition, a plan for scripting and executing test cases for the development team needs to be created. The implementation phase already includes the actual testing of the product, followed by ongoing maintenance to keep the test scripts and tools up-to-date.
Benefits of test automation in software development
Unlike manual testing, it does not need to be performed manually, so it comes with several benefits. Automated testing can be carried out at any time and is extremely efficient. It reduces overall testing time and the software development lifecycle itself, reduces errors caused by inattention or inaccuracy and also helps automate monotonous tasks. This allows testers to perform multiple tests at once, more frequently, without more effort and with more accurate results. Other benefits of automation are listed below:
1. Faster feedback cycle
By automating testing, organizations can reduce the time it takes to complete the feedback cycle for new software features. If testers can provide software input to the development team faster, then the development team can fix bugs in the code faster. By increasing the speed of the feedback cycle, companies can eliminate the risk of releasing defective software.
2. Parallel testing on multiple platforms
Cross-browser compatibility is an important feature to check during the software development process. As there are many browsers available on the market, manually testing the software on all browsers is a lengthy process. Using test automation tools, testers can create a wider variety of test cases to perform cross-browser testing. Therefore, the testing team can quickly and simultaneously complete the testing of the software application across different browsers, operating systems and devices.
3. Reusability of test scripts
Since test case development requires a lot of time and effort, reusability of test scripts is a major advantage of automated testing. To test new operating systems or devices, testers must always create different test scripts for each test across browsers. The reusability of automated test scripts allows testers to better optimize their testing time.
4. Maximum test coverage
Achieving 100% test coverage for complex applications is very challenging for testers. This is even harder for manual testing because it is difficult to handle many test cases at the same time. A suitable solution to this problem may be to automate the testing processes. Test automation tools can help testers by providing additional test coverage and assisting them in testing features such as user interfaces, databases, and servers. These tools will allow testers to improve the quality of applications without affecting their functionality.
5. Test execution 24×7
Compared to manual testing, a significant advantage of test automation is the flexibility to perform testing at any time of the day. Since manual testing requires human effort, it is not possible to perform 24X7 testing. Automated testing allows testers to schedule automated remote test execution at any time of the day. Using automated testing tools, test teams can generate detailed reports with overview on tests performed to analyze applications at any time of the day at their convenience.
6. Scalability
When organizations have to manually execute a large number of test cases, they need to expand their workforce accordingly. However, in the case of automated testing, the process is highly scalable. An efficient and scalable test automation strategy leverages AI/ML to dynamically select scope, detect bugs, improve test coverage, and offer better control and transparency over the testing process while reducing testing cycles, security concerns and risks.
7. Low business costs and better use of human resources
Although automating testing processes can be a big investment for businesses, it can reduce their overall operating costs through efficient use of resources. Thanks to test automation tools, businesses need very little human resources to carry out the testing process. As enterprises lack the manpower to perform high-level tasks such as planning and product management, enterprises can use their workforce to perform such tasks. These factors will help organisations achieve greater efficiency and profitability.
8. Better Regression Testing
Performing manual regression testing of applications is a tedious process. In this type of testing, testers must repeatedly test a set of similar test cases to ensure that the bug is removed. This has been a critical pain point for developers and testers for so long. Repeated testing can cause delays in software releases and reduce the effectiveness of testers. Automated regression testing is the perfect solution to this problem.
The best tools for automated testing
Automated testing tools are also the important part of software test automation, helping to speed up the overall testing process. The most popular automated testing tools include Katalon, Selenium, Appium, LambdaTest, Perfecto, Cypress, TestNG, Robot Framework, Playwright, Tosca, TestComplete, Ranorex Studio, Leapwork, AccelQ, AVO, Parasoft and Kobiton.
The versatile Katalon platform
This platform is a handy tool for automated testing of APIs, mobile, web and desktop applications. Katalon (official site) provides a number of useful features such as keyword-based testing, cross-browser and cross-platform testing, automatic retry of failed tests, parallel and sequential test execution, and a dual scripting interface that allows junior and non programmers to use the platform.
Selenium tool to automate web testing
Selenium focuses on testing web applications. It supports many browsers as well as several programming languages, such as Java, C#, JavaScript, PHP, Python, Groovy or Ruby. This open-source framework allows testing on local and remote devices, as well as running tests in parallel and executing tests between multiple browsers. Find the official Selenium website here.
Appium testing for mobile apps
Unlike Selenium, the open-source tool Appium specializes in automated testing for mobile applications. It supports Java, JavaScript, C#, Python, PHP, Perl and Ruby programming languages and has features such as cross-platform testing using the same test scripts and APIs or test automation on both real and simulated devices. Here is the official website for Appium .
Cloud testing with LambdaTest
A great tool for cloud-based testing of desktop and mobile applications is LambdaTest (official site). It allows parallel scripting and testing across multiple browsers and devices and integration with various CI/CD testing frameworks and tools such as Jenkins or Circle CI.
Perfecto cloud platform for web and mobile applications
Perfecto (official site) is used to automate testing for web interfaces and mobile apps. With this platform, you can perform automated parallel testing across environments and platforms, integrate with multiple frameworks and CI/CD tools, as well as create scriptless tests for the web and perform advanced test analysis.
TestComplete for efficient UI testing
TestComplete can automate functional UI testing for desktop, mobile and web applications. With built-in support for more than 500 controls and third-party frameworks, TestComplete can process and identify dynamic UI elements across most available technologies. You can read more on their official website.
Ranorex Studio for testing web, desktop and mobile applications
Ranorex(official site) is a test automation tool for web, desktop and mobile devices. This tool provides a number of benefits, such as creating tests without the need for programming, recording and playback of test phases, and reusable test scripts. It is a good tool for beginners (since Ranorex provides a codeless interface) and for more experienced ones, who for example can handle open APIs and have a full-featured IDE at their disposal. In addition, Ranorex integrates tools such as Git, Jenkins, TestRail and Bamboo.
Leapwork for codeless test automation
Leapwork is a code-free test automation software that enables teams to create, maintain, and extend automation faster and more efficiently using AI-powered visual test automation. The tool also helps users to effectively plan, manage, document and report their testing activities and results. You can read more on their official website.
AccelQ – a tool for everything (API, mobile, desktop, web, backend tests)
ACCELQ(official site) is an AI-powered tool that enables test automation across web, mobile, desktop, API, and backend systems. Its strength is its ability to support continuous test automation and provide certainty in business processes. Key features include the fastest test automation development with minimal maintenance requirements. Enables unified seamless testing across web, API, mobile apps and desktop apps. Integrating automation directly into iterations enables support for DevOps and Agile methodologies. ACCELQ does not require programming skills, allowing manual testers to automate test tasks.
AVO for visual testing of web and mobile applications
AVO is a specialized automated visual testing tool that focuses on verifying the visual aspects of web and mobile applications. It captures screenshots of the application interface and compares them to the baseline images to detect any visual inconsistencies. It is a code-free tool. However, users will need to understand programming concepts in order to create and maintain test cases. This makes AVO a great tool for developers who are familiar with the principle of programming for test automation. You can read more about AVO on their official website.
Parasoft for integration, API, UI, performance and compatibility testing
Parasoft (official site) is an automation tool designed for functional and unit testing, providing organizations with the resources to ensure the reliability, performance and security of their applications. Its key features include powerful static code analysis, enabling the detection of defects, security vulnerabilities and more. Within testing, it offers efficient test data management, enabling accurate and comprehensive testing. Parasoft also simplifies the process of setting up and configuring test environments, making it easier to work with test scenarios. Its ability to seamlessly integrate with popular development environments contributes to smoother testing processes in software development. In addition, the tool generates detailed reports that provide important insights into testing efforts, enabling effective decision making in the final stages of development.
Kobiton for mobile testing
Kobiton is a cloud-based platform that can perform both manual and automated mobile testing. It uses AI-based approach. Without the use of scripts, it can automate performance, visual and UX, functionality and compatibility testing. In addition, Kobiton offers automated system failure detection to ensure comprehensive quality. Kobiton also provides CI/CD integration (GitHub, TeamCity, Jenkins, etc.) and supports Selenium WebDriver, Katalon Studio and Appium. This tool excels in fast mobile app testing process; thus, it is a great tool to keep up with the DevOps speed. Other features include the ability to capture user interactions and screenshots, as well as the ability to record videos. If you’re interested in Kobiton, you can find more information on their website.
Whatever test automation software you choose, always choose one based on the software’s predetermined requirements and criteria. Automated testing can make your work significantly faster and more efficient, and it’s better value for money than manual testing.
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