Automation testing is a process used by a broad spectrum of professionals (from developers to businesspeople, product owners, and testers) to test their applications for functionality and performance. By automating testing processes, teams can save time and resources while ensuring the quality of their products. In this article, we will provide a high-level overview of the basics of automation testing.
What is Automation Testing?
Automation testing is the process of using software tools to perform repetitive testing tasks that would be time-consuming or difficult to do manually. This type of testing is usually performed in conjunction with manual testing, which is carried out by human testers. Test automation is often used for regression testing, which is the process of verifying that changes to an application do not introduce new bugs or problems.
Why Use Automation Testing?
There are several reasons why automation testing is being adopted:
Time-saving
Automation testing can save time by reducing the time and effort required for manual testing. However, some test automation solutions can take more time to learn, build and maintain than others. Code-based test automation tools, like Selenium, typically require the largest time investment. Visual test automation, on the other hand, is quicker to learn, build, maintain, and scale than traditional options.
Improved Accuracy
Automated tests are less prone to human error than manual tests, which can result in more accurate results.
Consistency
Automated tests are run the same way each time they are executed, which helps ensure consistency.
Cost-effective
Automation testing can be less expensive than manual testing in the long run. However, this is very dependent on the type of automation solution you choose. The initial investment into the tool and setup can only be offset if the solution that you choose is easy to learn, build, maintain, and scale. If there are heavy maintenance requirements, long onboarding times, and the tool can only be used by a few technical resources, this investment becomes difficult to recoup.
What are the Different Types of Automation Testing?
There are several types of automation testing, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The most common types of automation testing include:
Unit Testing
This type of testing focuses on individual units or components of an application, such as a specific function or method. Unit testing is typically tested on a code level.
Integration Testing
This type of testing focuses on the interaction between different components of an application, such as between a front-end interface and a back-end database.
End-to-End Testing
This type of testing focuses on testing the entire application as a whole, from start to finish. It can also include testing across applications if a process spans across application types.
Acceptance Testing
This type of testing is used to determine whether an application meets the requirements and expectations of the stakeholders. Functional testing is most often carried out by business users, testers, and product owners.
What Tools are Used for Automation Testing?
There are many tools available for automation testing, each with its own set of features and capabilities. Some of the most popular tools include:
- Selenium: A widely used open-source tool for automating web application testing.
- Appium: An open-source tool for automating mobile application testing on Android and iOS platforms.
- TestComplete: A commercial tool for automating web, desktop, and mobile application testing.
- Jenkins: An open-source tool for automating build and testing processes.
Test Automation Is Essential
Automation testing is an essential part of the software development process, and its use is becoming increasingly popular in the world of web and app development. By automating testing processes, developers can save time and resources while ensuring the quality of their products. This article has provided a high-level overview of the basics of automation testing, including its benefits, types, and tools.
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