Automated Testing in Software Development

Software testing is a very important part of developing your application/website. However, as your software gets more complicated, it can be time-consuming to make sure every feature is working properly. Using automated testing can help your development teams use specialised tools to speed up finding any issues.

Using automated test can improve the efficiency of building a website, mobile application, or business software. This reduces tedious manual tasks and can help speed up your releases.

What is Automated Testing?

Automated testing is a type of software test that uses tools, scripts, and testing frameworks to ensure your application works as intended. Instead of manually testing every test, you can write instructions for your computer to carry out.

For example, if you had an online shopping website, you could use automated test to check users can create an account, add items to their shopping basket, pay for items, and receive confirmation of their orders.

Automated tests will compare the results against what was expected. If there is an issue, then the testing tool will show an error so the developers can look into the issues.

Benefits of Using Automated Tests for Software

There are many benefits to using automated test in your software.

1. Saves Time
   The biggest benefit of using automation for your software is that you can run many tests quickly. Manually testing involves doing the same task over and over again. Automated scripts can help reduce tedious testing by carrying out the same checks. This means your testers can spend more time on more complex tasks.
2. Improve Software Quality
   By using testing, you can find any bugs, performance issues, and unexpected issues. If you run the tests regularly, then you can pick up on any issues quicker. If a developer makes changes to the checkout process in an online store, previous tests can be run to ensure all the login, shopping basket, and payment functions are working.
3. Reduce Human Error
   Sometimes manual testing can cause errors. Automated test carries out tasks based on set instructions. This helps ensure the same tests are carried out each time and no key steps are missed.
4. Speed Up Releases
   Many businesses want to get updates and new features out as quickly as possible. Using automated test can help pick up issues quicker by running tests when changes are made to the code.

Types of Automated Testing

There are various types of testing you can implement.

Unit Testing

Used to test individual pieces of code or small parts of your code. Developers can use this to ensure specific functions are returning the correct results. For example, you can use unit testing to check a function to calculate discounts is returning the correct discounted price for a product.

Integration Testing

Used to test that different parts of your software work well together. This can be useful if your application needs to interact with multiple services/databases. For example, if you have an online store, you may want to check the shopping basket interacts well with the payment service.

Functional Testing

Used to check that the application functions work as intended. This doesn’t look at how the code behind the scenes is working, just what the application does. This can include checking login forms, registration pages, search functions, and payment.

Regression Testing

Ensures that any changes to the code don’t break any existing functions. When developers make changes to an application, it can cause previously working functions to no longer work as intended. By using automated regression tests, your teams can check key functions after major changes.

Popular Tools for Automated Testing

There are many tools and frameworks available to help you create automated tests. Choosing the right one will depend on what programming language, application, and requirements you have. Some popular ones include:

• Selenium – Popular tool for automating browser activity.
• Cypress – Testing framework for modern web applications.
• Playwright – Can be used for browser automation (Chromium, Firefox, Webkit).
• JUnit – Popular framework for creating tests in Java applications.
• Appium – Can help automate testing mobile applications (Android/iOS).

When choosing a tool to use, think about what is compatible, easy to use, the features, and how it integrates with your development environment.

Best Practice When Automating Tests

Having tools to carry out testing won’t necessarily mean you get better results. Having a clear strategy will help you get the best out of testing. Some tips:

• Start with repetitive tests – Use automation to carry out repetitive tasks such as checking logins and submitting forms.
• Use appropriate testing frameworks – Choose testing frameworks that fit your application and requirements.
• Keep scripts clear – Ensure your scripts have clear names and are easy to maintain.
• Run tests regularly – Have tests in place to pick up any issues quicker.
• Investigate failed tests – Don’t ignore any errors.
• Use a mix of testing – Use automation for repetitive tasks, but keep manual testing for usability testing.

Automated Test vs Manual Test

Both are important but serve different purposes. Manual testing involves manually testing the features within your software. This can be useful for discovering new features, usability, and finding any unexpected usability issues.

Automated testing is better for repetitive tasks and frequent regression testing. You could manually test how easy it is to navigate through a mobile application, whilst automatically testing the login and registration functions.

Using a combination of both will give a more balanced approach for ensuring your software is high quality.

Conclusion

Automated test can help your development teams create more reliable software by reducing tedious tasks, finding errors quicker, and speeding up your development. There are many ways you can test your application such as unit testing, integration testing, functional testing, and regression testing to ensure your application is of a high quality.

However, it is best to use automated testing with skilled testers, planning, and regular maintenance. By using the right tools for your business, you can create a more efficient development process and give your users a better software experience.