Cloud-based testing has become quite integral these days. Most businesses have already done the shift towards cloud-based testing. The main reason is &#8211; it is faster, inexpensive, flexible, and requires no maintenance. 



The best part is that we do not own it, can easily lease it from a service provider, can easily scale up and scale down according to requirements and only have to pay for the amount of time we use the cloud resources. 



&nbsp;The traditional testing that was done on the software installed on local servers is now slowly fading away. With cloud-based testing, everything resides on the cloud and therefore the testing approach also changes where all testing related activities are done on the cloud and IT is delivered as a service. However, the primary goal of traditional testing and cloud-based testing remains the same i.e., to deliver high-quality and efficient software.&nbsp; 



Cloud-based testing comprises cloud-based test automation as well. To facilitate cloud-based test automation, there are different types of tools. Here is an article that will help you ascertain if you need to implement cloud-based test automation in your organization: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/signs-you-need-to-invest-in-a-cloud-based-test-automation-tool/" target="_blank">6 signs you need to invest in a cloud-based test automation tool</a>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#How_is_cloud-based_testing_different_from_traditional_testing">1 How is cloud-based testing different from traditional testing</a></li><li><a href="#When_to_move_to_cloud_testing">2 When to move to cloud testing</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_start_with_cloud-based_testing">3 How to start with cloud-based testing</a></li><li><a href="#What_Roles_and_responsibilities_are_required_for_the_success_of_cloud-based_testing">4 What Roles and responsibilities are required for the success of cloud-based testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Testsigma_as_a_cloud-based_test_automation_tool">5 Testsigma as a cloud-based test automation tool</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">6 Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2>How is cloud-based testing different from traditional testing</h2>



Let’s see the differences between cloud-based testing and traditional testing in detail:&nbsp; 



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="border: 1px solid black;
 border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Traditional testing</td><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Cloud-based testing</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Configuration may take many days.</td><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;
 border-collapse: collapse;">No configuration required, just choose the environment and start testing.</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Set-up is manual and susceptible to human errors.</td><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Set-up is automatic and free from manual errors.</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Expensive as real devices are purchased.</td><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Inexpensive as real devices are not purchased.</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse;">Executed on the local servers of the organisation.</td><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Executed on third-party servers of the service providers.</td></tr><tr><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse;">Data is present on the local server and hence cannot be accessed from everywhere.</td><td style="padding:15px;border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse;">Data is present on the cloud hence can be accessed from any location.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Let us explore the advantages and disadvantages of cloud-based and traditional testing. 



Cloud-based testing advantages



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>The environment is dynamic and scalable.</li><li>Provides better testing speed, since it can run 24*7.</li><li>Services provided by a cloud-based vendor are inexpensive.</li><li>It provides better and simple disaster recovery because the process is automated.</li><li>Accessible from any location hence supports mobility.</li></ul>



Cloud-based testing disadvantages



<ul class="list_stye_disc"><li>Bandwidth can be an issue because the cloud servers are shared resources.</li><li>May pose security issues, since the data is handed over to a third party during testing.</li><li>Requires very good internet connectivity.</li><li>Limited control and dependency on the service provider.</li></ul>



Traditional testing advantages



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Secure since it is executed on local servers.</li><li>No internet connectivity is required for testing since it is executed locally.</li><li>Provides full control and there is no dependency on third-party service providers.</li></ul>



Traditional testing disadvantages



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Expensive because real devices are purchased.</li><li>Scalability is an issue since it needs to be addressed manually.</li><li>Can not be executed from global locations.</li><li>Configuration of the real devices and environment is time-consuming.</li></ul>



<h2>When to move to cloud testing</h2>



Every project/ software/organization is different and have different requirements. We need to answer the below questions when we think about adopting cloud testing in a project. 



1. Is there a possibility that moving testing to the cloud may lead to a change in the test strategy or foundation of testing? The Foundation of testing is always going to remain the same &#8211; the testing skills, curiosity, enthusiasm are a few of them.2. Do we need to learn new skills? Definitely, cloud testing will involve some new technology and the testers will need to learn them.3. How is it going to affect the current testing tasks? Will it be beneficial or pose problems?4. What are the different testing types that will be needed to execute?5. What are the tools that will be required to perform cloud testing?6. What risks should be considered?







<h2>How to start with cloud-based testing</h2>



When we decide to start cloud-based testing in a project then we need to decide how we are going to manage the whole process of cloud-based testing. What are the areas which will be affected and need proper planning and management during this process? Few major points to think about will be: 



1. Process: Chalking out the strategy to make a move to cloud-based testing.



2. Activities: Evaluation of the testing activities that will need to move to the cloud. Examples are Agile testing, TDD, automation testing, regression testing, etc. Together with the evaluation of the testing activities, we need to estimate the cost involved as well.



3. Technology: We need to decide what technologies we will be using for cloud testing. Examples are DevOps, AWS, Big Data, Testing as Service, testing environments.



4. People: What people in the team will need to quickly adapt to cloud testing by learning new technologies. Testers need to perform testing on many levels &#8211; unit, integration, UI, services, security, governance. It becomes necessary to provide them with proper training and knowledge to be a perfect fit for starting cloud testing.



<h2>What Roles and responsibilities are required for the success of cloud-based testing?</h2>



With the advent of cloud testing, we will require below roles and responsibilities in the team. However, they may differ from organization to organization but these are the standard ones: 



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Developers: To perform unit and integration testing, apart from development.</li><li>Test Analyst: To implement the cloud testing strategy in the project</li><li>Technical test analyst: To perform the actual manual/automated testing of the applications</li><li>Customer: To perform acceptance testing</li><li>IT department: To monitor, analyze the cloud and they will act as a point-of-contact to the cloud provider</li><li>Cloud provider: To provide the service level agreements, services testing</li></ul>



<h2><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Testsigma as a cloud-based test automation tool</a></h2>



To ease the process of using and setting up cloud-based testing, we should use tools that mitigate the complexities involved. The inconvenience of setting up a test lab all by ourselves is real and should be avoided if possible. 



By using cloud-based testing tools like Testsigma, which provide an easy use cloud-based test automation tool that also integrates with different device labs on the cloud, we can save ourselves from exorbitant prices and set-up time. 



Testsigma is an AI-driven, cloud-based testing tool that is built for DevOps and Agile teams. It is a unified platform for running the below types of testing parallelly on browsers and mobile devices, without any installation or set-up.



<ul><li>Continuous testing</li><li>Web application testing</li><li>Mobile app testing</li><li>Regression testing</li><li>Cross-browser testing</li><li>Data-driven testing</li><li>Functional testing</li><li>Regression Testing</li></ul>



Testsigma provides the below benefits during cloud-based testing:



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Pay according to the environment and time period of usage.</li><li>All environments/ resources are available 24*7.</li><li>Can be accessed from anywhere in the World, the team can be present in different geographical locations.</li><li>Provides scalability since the environments are on the cloud and there is no limit to them.</li><li>Parallel testing can be done 24*7, which results in faster delivery.</li></ul>



<div class="bg-primary cta">

Try Testsigma for completely cloud-based automated testing of your application, the easy way
<div class="d-flex mb-1" style="justify-content:space-evenly">
 <button class="btn cta-btn bg-white"><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sign up Now </a></button></div>
</div>



<h2>Conclusion</h2>



Cloud-based testing solves the problem of remote testing very conveniently since we are relying on cloud computing here. This type of testing accelerates the testing process immensely, which is the need of the hour. 



One example of a cloud-based testing tool is Testsigma which is a SaaS(Software as Service) based unified platform. Where the users can directly write the test cases using plain English.

Cloud-Based Testing - A tester's perspective

Cloud-Based Testing – A tester’s perspective

Can Selenium Be Used for Mobile Testing? The answer would be &#8220;No&#8221;; we cannot directly use Selenium for automated mobile application testing. However, we have frameworks supported by Selenium to automate mobile application testing.



Selenium-supported frameworks for mobile test automation are:



1. Selendroid



2. Appium



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Should_You_Automate_Mobile_Application_Testing_Using_Selenium">1 Should You Automate Mobile Application Testing Using Selenium?</a><ul><li><a href="#Test_Script_Development">1.1 Test Script Development</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Management">1.2 Test Management</a></li><li><a href="#Backward_Compatibility">1.3 Backward Compatibility</a></li><li><a href="#Gestures_Testing">1.4 Gestures Testing</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Selendroid">2 Selendroid</a><ul><li><a href="#Features_of_Selendroid">2.1 Features of Selendroid:</a></li><li><a href="#Components_of_Selendroid">2.2 Components of Selendroid:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Appium">3 Appium</a><ul><li><a href="#Features_of_Appium">3.1 Features of Appium:</a></li><li><a href="#Components_of_Appium">3.2 Components of Appium:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#How_to_Automate_Mobile_Application_using_Selenium">4 How to Automate Mobile Application using Selenium</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">5 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#Can_We_Automate_Mobile_Device_Testing">5.1 Can We Automate Mobile Device Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Which_is_the_Best_Automation_Tool_for_Mobile_Testing">5.2 Which is the Best Automation Tool for Mobile Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_Difference_Between_Appium_and_Selenium">5.3 What is the Difference Between Appium and Selenium?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_Mobile_Testing_in_QA">5.4 What is Mobile Testing in QA?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Suggested_Reading">6 Suggested Reading</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="should-you-automate-mobile-application-testing-using-selenium">Should You Automate Mobile Application Testing Using Selenium?</h2>



Now we understand that directly we cannot use Selenium to write automated test scripts for mobile application testing. Hence, we need to use Selenium-supported frameworks like Appium and Selendroid.



The testing process for using Appium and Selendroid has the below steps:



<h3 id="test-script-development">Test Script Development</h3>



This step means writing the automated test scripts in programming languages. If you know Selenium, writing the test scripts will not require learning new skills. However, we know well that writing automated test scripts ourselves is time-consuming, and to receive ROI(Return On Investment), we need to wait longer.



<h3 id="test-management">Test Management</h3>



We understand that Selendroid and Appium are open-source automation tools. For this reason, the test management they provided is not so impressive.&nbsp;



Selendroid records the element clicked and then saves the locator and command. Appium also has a recorder that works only for iOS mobile applications.&nbsp;



Hence, we only receive the test locators and commands; in any case, test scripts are not recorded. Therefore, if we are using any of these two frameworks, then we need to add a third-party test management tool ourselves.&nbsp; 



<h3 id="backward-compatibility">Backward Compatibility</h3>



Appium works on <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/android-device-testing-a-no-hassle-guide-for-testers/">Android devices</a> with Android 4.0 and above. To solve this problem nowadays Appium comes integrated with Selendroid to provide backward compatibility. 



However, this is not as effective as the original Selendroid framework. So to provide backward compatibility for Android devices with lower API versions(API 10-17), we should use Selendroid.



<h3 id="gestures-testing">Gestures Testing</h3>



Mobile device applications work on hand gestures, and therefore Appium and Selendroid must recognize these gestures efficiently. The happy news is that they both do it effectively via dedicated APIs. Selendroid is a winner in this case because it provides ‘Advanced User Interactions API’ which is useful for complex gestures as well.



Efficient and seamless testing lies in embracing tools and methodologies that can alleviate the pressures of manual testing while enhancing the effectiveness of the process. <a href="https://testsigma.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a> is a platform that simplifies testing with a low-code approach, making test automation accessible, fast, and efficient. With Testsigma, testers can automate most testing and free up time to focus on critical test cases that require expertise. The platform is backed by strong AI algorithms that enhance tester skills and efforts while providing direct access to thousands of environments without any setup hassles, thus saving the cost of setting up a cross-browser test lab.



Moreover, Testsigma cloud &#8211; supports the inspection and execution of mobile test cases without any setups. It <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing">automates mobile application</a> testing without coding and allows us to write test cases in plain English. The platform covers parallel and compatibility testing, making it ideal for various testing requirements. With Testsigma, you can redefine what&#8217;s possible in QA and achieve improved efficiency, coverage, and team collaboration while ensuring a high ROI.



 <button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff"> Automate Mobile App Tests 5x faster using simple english- on the cloud </a></button> 



Therefore, when deciding whether to automate mobile application testing, it is crucial to consider the specific requirements of your testing project and your team&#8217;s expertise. By doing so, you can make an informed decision that will improve the quality and speed of your testing process. If you are interested in learning more about Testsigma and how it can benefit your mobile application testing, feel free to reach out to our team for a demo



Let’s now learn about Selendroid and Appium tools in detail.



<h2 id="selendroid">Selendroid</h2>



Also known as ‘Selenium for Android’, this is used to test mobile applications for Android. It uses JSON Wire protocol and provides backward compatibility with the older Android versions. However, by using an iOS driver it can be used to test iOS mobile applications as well. 



<h3 id="features-of-selendroid">Features of Selendroid:</h3>



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Works on Android applications (Native, Hybrid)&nbsp; and Mobile web applications.</li><li>Used for parallel testing of a mobile application on multiple devices simultaneously with the help of Selenium Grid.</li><li>It is open-source, hence free to use.</li><li>‘Hotplugging’ is a feature where Selendroid can detect and recognize new devices plugged into it. Hence, we can remove and add new devices on the go, i.e., while tests are running.</li><li>It can inspect the elements on the <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/how-to-perform-mobile-automation-testing-of-the-ui/">UI</a> with the help of a built-in inspector.</li><li>It supports <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/strings-in-javascript/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Selenium WebDriver</a> compatible programming languages- Java, C#, Python, etc.</li><li>Provides a built-in Android Driver Webview App to test mobile web applications.</li><li>Supports testing of gestures on the mobile device via the Advanced User Interactions API. Example- single tap, double-tap, down, up, etc.</li><li>Selendroid can be used on emulators and real mobile devices for automated testing.</li><li>Supports ‘Dynamic Extendability’, which means that the test script can be added, edited, or modified while the tests are running.</li></ul>



<h3 id="components-of-selendroid">Components of Selendroid:</h3>



<ul><li>Web Driver Client&#8211; a Java client library that is installed on the computer where test scripts will be written.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Selendroid Server&#8211; Runs on the mobile device(real or emulator) where the application under test(AUT) is running.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Android Driver Webview App is a built-in driver to test the mobile web.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Selendroid-Standalone- It is used to install AUT and Selendroid Server.</li></ul>



Read detailed architecture <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://selendroid.io/architecture.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. 



<h2 id="appium">Appium</h2>



It is a more popular choice for mobile automation testing because it supports iOS, Windows desktop, and Android mobile applications. Appium has a built-in Selendroid mode for testing older versions of Android applications. It also uses the JSON Wire Protocol like Selendroid. 



<h3 id="features-of-appium">Features of Appium:</h3>



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Appium works on a client-server architecture.</li><li>It has an HTTP server written in Node.js and helps communicate between clients and mobile devices. The clients are Ruby, PHP, C#, Python libraries, which provide commands to the mobile device.</li><li>Provides automated testing for iOS and Android (Hybrid, Native, and Web applications). Also, it can be used for testing Windows desktop applications.</li><li>Since it works on iOS, Windows, and Android, it is used for cross-platform testing.</li><li>The same test scripts using the same API can be used for iOS, Windows, and Android. Hence, it allows code reusability.</li><li>Appium is more popular; hence it has a large and active user community.</li><li>If there is a small code change in the application, then we are not required to re-install the application for testing with Appium. The reason is that it does not access the application&#8217;s source code. Other automation tools such as Selendroid and Robotium require reinstallation/rebuild when any small changes are made to the application under test(AUT).</li><li>Appium also supports parallel testing of test scripts on multiple devices.</li></ul>



<h3 id="components-of-appium">Components of Appium:</h3>



<ul><li>Appium client&#8211; The automation test scripts written in Java, C#, Ruby, Python, etc. are clients for Appium.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Appium server&#8211; It is written using Node.js. It receives connection and command requests from the client written in JSON. After receiving the requests, it executes them on the mobile devices. Appium server creates sessions to communicate with the devices on which the mobile application is installed.</li></ul>



<ul><li>End device&#8211; These are the mobile devices (real or emulator), the automated test scripts are executed on the end device.</li></ul>





Now we know that Appium and Selendroid have their share of benefits and usage. They are used according to the specific project testing needs. Appium is a good choice for automating functional, regression, compatibility, and integration testing of Android and iOS applications. 



If we are testing Android version 10-17, we should use Selendroid since it provides backward compatibility. Also, if we need better community support, better would be Appium. 



If you are looking for an end-to-end automation tool for mobile testing with a stable mobile inspector, you may try Testsigma. You need not write the test scripts in programming language and will have many environments to choose from!



 <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3000+ real devices to test in real-time &#8211; on the cloud</a>



<h2 id="how-to-automate-mobile-application-using-selenium">How to Automate Mobile Application using Selenium</h2>



To automate mobile applications using Selenium, the following points should be kept in mind:



1. Install the Appium server: Appium is an open-source test automation framework that allows developers to automate mobile applications. To use Appium, you need to install the Appium server on your machine.



2. Install the Selenium client library: The Selenium client library is a set of libraries that allows developers to write scripts in their preferred programming language. These scripts can then be executed on the Appium server.



3. Set up the environment: Set up the desired capabilities for the mobile application that you want to test. Desired capabilities are a set of key-value pairs that define the properties of the mobile application that you want to test.



4. Write test scripts: Write test scripts using the Selenium client library. These scripts can be written in your preferred programming language and can be executed on the Appium server. The test scripts can interact with the mobile application and perform actions such as clicking buttons, entering text, and navigating through different screens.



By following these steps, developers can automate mobile applications using Selenium and ensure that their applications are thoroughly tested before their release



While Selenium is a powerful testing framework, it can be challenging for beginners to set up and use. Additionally, maintaining the test scripts can be time-consuming and require significant effort. Testsigma is a cloud-based testing platform that provides an intuitive interface for test creation and execution. 



It uses natural language processing to convert test steps into automated test scripts, making it easier for beginners to get started with test automation. Testsigma also offers advanced features such as cross-browser testing, parallel testing, and integrations with popular tools such as JIRA and Jenkins. 



With its ease of use, advanced features, and cloud-based architecture, Testsigma is a reliable testing solution that can help developers ensure that their <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile applications</a> are of high quality..





<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="can-we-automate-mobile-device-testing">Can We Automate Mobile Device Testing?</h3>



We can automate mobile devices using frameworks such as Appium. Using the WebDriver protocol, developers can automate the testing of native or hybrid iOS and Android apps. Or the easiest and most efficient way would be to use a unified automation testing platform like Testsigma, where you can <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automate your mobile devices</a> in simple English with 3000+ devices to test on.



<h3 id="which-is-the-best-automation-tool-for-mobile-testing">Which is the Best Automation Tool for Mobile Testing?</h3>



The best automation tool for mobile testing is Testisgma, which supports API and Mobile testing with ease of setup, seamless integration with the CI/CD tools, and a scriptless option for test creation.



<h3 id="what-is-the-difference-between-appium-and-selenium">What is the Difference Between Appium and Selenium?</h3>



Appium is a mobile, web, and hybrid application testing automation tool. It is free and open-source software written in the C# programming language. Selenium is an open-source browser automation tool licensed under Apache License 2.0 that includes numerous libraries for web application testing. It can automate practically all web browsers.



<h3 id="what-is-mobile-testing-in-qa">What is Mobile Testing in QA?</h3>



QA engineers test the mobile app&#8217;s behavior against particular performance requirements and scenarios. QA specialists ensure that an app works under varying but expected load conditions.



<h2 id="suggested-reading">Suggested Reading</h2>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/challenges-of-mobile-test-automation-and-how-to-tackle-them/">Challenges of mobile test automation and how to tackle them?</a>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/signs-you-need-to-implement-mobile-test-automation/">8 signs you need to implement mobile test automation</a>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/appium-alternatives/">We tried 6 Best Appium Alternatives [In-depth Comparison]</a>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/mobile-app-automation-testing-tools-an-exhaustive-list/">11 Best Automation Tools For Mobile Testing</a>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/perfecto-mobile-alternatives/">Perfecto Mobile Alternatives : 8 Best Tools For Test Automation</a>

Selenium and Mobile Test Automation - Can Selenium Be Used for Mobile Testing?

Selenium And Mobile Test Automation – Will Selenium Make The Cut?

A quote from Tim Cook says- &#8220;When you care about people&#8217;s happiness and productivity, you give them what brings out the best in them and their creativity. And if you give them a choice, they&#8217;ll say, &#8216;I want an iPhone,&#8217; or &#8216;I want a Mac.&#8217; We think we can win a lot of corporate decisions at that level.&#8221; It is a fact that we all use smartphones and mobile apps on a day-to-day basis. Whether at a cafe, commuting by train, or sitting on the beach staring at the waves while surfing the Internet, we are all connected no matter where we are. And with technological advances, everything has become more straightforward andaccessible. But let&#8217;s face reality: not everything can be made better with just an engineering tweak here or there; the user experience is essential for successful applications across all platforms, and for that, we need &#8220;Automated iOS Tests.&#8221; 



This says a lot about the love for the iPhone we all have! So how do the testing community ensure that this love for iPhone and iOS apps grows manifolds with time? True! With quality testing and automation, we can ensure the iPhone provides the best experience to its loyal users.&nbsp; 



In this article, we will be looking at <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://website.testsigma.com/mobile-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile testing</a> for iOS. More specifically, 5 types of tests that are recommended to be automated if you are doing iOS testing. 



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Types_of_Tests_for_Automated_iOS_Test_with_Scenarios">1 Types of Tests for Automated iOS Test (with Scenarios)</a><ul><li><a href="#1_Unit_Testing">1.1 1. Unit Testing</a><ul><li><a href="#Scenario">1.1.1 Scenario:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#2_UI_Testing">1.2 2. UI Testing</a><ul><li><a href="#Scenario-2">1.2.1 Scenario:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#3_Compatibility_Testing">1.3 3. Compatibility Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Types_of_compatibility_testing">1.4 Types of compatibility testing</a><ul><li><a href="#Scenarionbsp_nbspnbspnbspnbsp">1.4.1 Scenario:&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#4_Continuous_Integration">1.5 4. Continuous Integration</a><ul><li><a href="#Scenario-3">1.5.1 Scenario:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#5_Regression_Testing">1.6 5. Regression Testing</a><ul><li><a href="#Scenario-4">1.6.1 Scenario:</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-types-of-tests-for-automated-ios-test-with-scenarios">Types of Tests for Automated iOS Test (with Scenarios)</h2>



<h3 id="1-unit-testing">1. Unit Testing</h3>



Unit testing is really important for an application because we test the smallest units or components in it. We test an independent module in isolation during unit testing. These are small tests where the input is provided to the small unit of the app and the output is checked against the expected values. 



Since they are small tests they can be executed quickly in less time. However, unit tests are the most ignored tests when it comes to app testing. If utilized properly they help in reducing the defects immensely because the bugs are caught at the unit level itself. 



Therefore, unit tests are the ideal candidates for automation because they execute quickly and are huge in number. Usually, the unit tests are the specific condition in a class, where the class is independent of other classes. Unit tests provide documentation of the testing at the unit level and hence during any code changes we know already which code may cause issues. 



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://developer.apple.com/swift/" target="_blank">Swift</a> is a modern and latest programming language for writing code for macOS, iOS, watchOS, etc. It is safe, fast, compatible, open-source, and easy to learn. To write Swift code we use an IDE(Integrated Development Environment) or toolkit called <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://developer.apple.com/xcode/" target="_blank">Xcode</a>, they both are backed by Apple. 



Interestingly, Xcode provides a testing framework called <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://developer.apple.com/documentation/xctest" target="_blank">XCTest</a> to write unit tests, performance tests, and UI tests. The test cases are defined using the primary class &#8211; XCTestCase, while the test cases are managed and executed using the abstract base class &#8211; XCTest. 



The test cases are run and asserted(checked) against the expected results. A few of the assertions used in XCTest are:



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Boolean assertions</li><li>Nil/ Non-Nil assertions</li><li>Equality assertions</li><li>Error assertions</li><li>Comparable value assertions</li></ul>



<h4 id="scenario-1">Scenario:</h4>



Rare conditions are better tested using unit testing. Example: Consider an e-commerce app that is running an offer of providing 50% off on the next order to the customer. To win this offer, the customer should have bought 1000 orders from the app. 



To test this, the tester should either manually place 1000 orders and wait if the customer receives a 50% off or not. Or just run an automated unit test to check the results are as expected.



<h3 id="2-ui-testing">2. UI Testing</h3>



User Interface testing is vital for the success of any app, be it Android or iOS. In UI testing, we test the visual behaviour of the application during user interaction. iOS-based gestures, user interactions, screen rotation, text input, buttons, etc, should work as expected on the iOS app. Unlike unit tests which are tested in isolation, UI testing is performed on the integration of the multiple classes. 



The common frameworks and tools for performing automated UI testing on iOS are &#8211; UIAutomation, <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Testsigma</a>, XCTest, MonkeyTalk, KIF, etc. 



We should automate the UI testing due to the below reasons:



1. Saves time&#8211; Manual testing is time-consuming and we want to save our precious time to do some other useful stuff like &#8211; exploratory testing, ad-hoc testing, etc.



2. Documented testing&#8211; With automation testing tools/frameworks, it is easier to have the whole testing process documented with screenshots, reports, test results, test run time, etc. We can use these documented statistics to improve the testing and application performance.



3. Testing on real devices&#8211; These automation testing tools, provide access to thousands of real devices to run test cases. Particularly in the case of iOS, we would want the test cases to be run and the application tested on actual real devices.



4. Parallel testing&#8211; Automated testing tools provide the privilege of testing the iOS app on multiple devices in parallel. This helps us in wrapping up the testing tasks quickly.



<h4 id="scenario">Scenario:</h4>



Screen orientation (portrait, landscape) related testing is really important when we are talking about UI testing. Example: A new functionality is added in a gaming iOS application and is unit tested successfully. Next, regression testing is performed on the app using an automation tool to detect any regression bugs. 



It is observed that when the layout is changed from landscape to portrait during the game then the application crashes unexpectedly. Such layout related issues can be detected during automated UI testing.



<h3 id="3-compatibility-testing">3. Compatibility Testing</h3>



During compatibility testing of an application, we check the compatibility of the application with multiple devices, hardware, software versions, network, operating systems, and browsers, etc. During backward compatibility testing we will ensure that the latest application version is compatible with the older devices/ browsers/ hardware. 



Similarly, during forward compatibility testing, we ensure that the latest application version will be compatible with the new patches and updates to the device software. 



<h3 id="types-of-compatibility-testing">Types of compatibility testing </h3>



1. Operating System



The application should work on all intended Operating Systems and their versions &#8211; Android, iOS, Mac OS X, Windows, etc. Here we are talking about iOS, so the app should work on all common iOS versions, providing backward and forward compatibility. 



2. Hardware



We would want the iOS app to work on all probable and commonly used hardware configurations like- memory, device-specific hardware, camera, etc. 



3. Software



The app should support the software components like APIs, videos, voice, images, etc. present on the device without undergoing any application crash or hanging. 



4. Browser



Safari is the native browser for all Apple products, however, we can use Google Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera Touch, Dolphin, etc. on an iOS device. Therefore, we would want to test all the possible alternatives of the browsers for our iOS application. 



5. Device



We would want our iOS app to be compatible with other external devices like printers, memory cards, scanners, speakers, GPS, USB devices, etc. 



6. Network



The iOS app should work well on the networks of different bandwidths, speeds, data transfer rates, etc.&nbsp; 



<h4 id="scenario-2">Scenario:&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</h4>



An iOS movie streaming application should be compatible with all the Apple devices- iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod Touch, and their different versions. We can achieve this by testing the compatibility of the streaming application on all these devices using cloud-based automation tools. Such tools provide thousands of real devices to test the application. 



<h3 id="4-continuous-integration">4. Continuous Integration</h3>



The software world is following Agile and DevOps rigorously today. We cannot think about software development without these, and therefore it is imperative to have mobile app testing follow suite. Continuous Integration helps in providing early feedback, quick delivery, and better quality without any manual intervention. 



CI/CD pipeline works on the strong base of various automation tools. We are using Jenkins and other CI/CD tools to trigger testing whenever a new build is pushed in web application development. 



How do we achieve the same impact in mobile app testing?&nbsp; Many automation tools support integration with Jenkins to provide the Continuous Integration and testing of the iOS app. E.g. Testsigma



Read more details and benefits of Continuous Integration and Testing <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/how-continuous-testing-supercharges-your-automation-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">here</a>. 



<h4 id="scenario-3">Scenario:</h4>



Continuous testing requires help from automated tools like &#8211; GitHub as a repository, Jenkins as CI tool, XCTest for unit testing, etc. CI/CD helps in delivering applications more frequently by the use of extensive automation throughout the application development cycle. 



Whenever a piece of code is pushed in the repository the unit tests are supposed to run automatically. We cannot think of CI/CD without automation tools. For example, the security of the iOS application, signing the application code with proper certificates and entitlements can be taken care of by automation easily.



<h3 id="5-regression-testing">5. Regression Testing</h3>



During software development, regression testing has always been the best candidate for automation. We do not want our application to break after new enhancements and feature development. So how can we ensure that the app is intact and in great shape? By running automated regression tests after every change. 



By automating the regression tests we can run them in the nightly cycle without manual intervention when everyone is off work. This helps in reducing the testing time and provides faster delivery of the software. The same holds for iOS apps. E.g., We can use XCode’s XCTest to perform regression test cases.



Proper maintenance of the regression suite- by adding relevant test cases and removing the obsolete test cases is required. This way we can benefit from the automated regression test cases to the maximum. 



<h4 id="scenario-4">Scenario:</h4>



Whenever a new version of the iOS operating system is released, the customers want their mobile apps to work efficiently on it. We do not want to upset the customers just because our iOS app is not able to function on the newly released iOS version. 



Therefore, it is the most important scenario where we need to run the regression test suite through automation tools. This instils a sense of confidence among the developers and testers, regarding the mobile application.



Can we skip the testing for iOS devices if the application is already tested on Android? Absolutely no! We need to test the app on both environments separately. We can leverage the help of <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">automated testing tools and frameworks for mobile like Testsigma</a> to speed up the testing and provide a quality product to the end-users. 



Testsigma, an automated testing tool, has transformed the automation world in mobile by making it easy for real. Check out <a href="https://support.testsigma.com/support/solutions/articles/32000023580-ios-native-application-adding-automated-test-steps" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">how to automate your test cases on a native iOS application with Testsigma.&nbsp;</a> 



<div class="bg-primary cta">

Try out the easy way to automate your test cases on mobile devices
<div class="d-flex mb-1" style="justify-content:space-evenly">
 <button class="btn cta-btn bg-white"><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Signup for Testsigma</a></button></div>
</div>

5 types of tests that can be automated for your iOS

Automated iOS Test: 5 Tests Types You Should Never Miss out (2022 Updated)

12 different types of mobile testing with real life examples

12 Types of Mobile Testing With Real-life Examples

The software market is growing at a very fast pace today and so are the devices, browsers, and OS. It is vital for any business or software to provide a great user experience to a broader user base. An application should work on different devices like mobile, laptop, tablets, and smart televisions according to the purpose of the application. Also, all possible browsers and OS combinations possible. 



In case the application does not support an environment then it should provide the basic functionality with minimum features. In this way, we will be able to make the application functional for all the targeted users.&nbsp;



How can we achieve this? We can do so by focusing on Cross-Browser compatibility issues.&nbsp;



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#How_to_Avoid_Cross_Browser_Compatibility_Issues">1 How to Avoid Cross Browser Compatibility Issues?</a><ul><li><a href="#1_Validate_HTML_and_CSS">1.1 1. Validate HTML and CSS</a></li><li><a href="#2_Maintain_Layout_Compatibility">1.2 2. Maintain Layout Compatibility</a></li><li><a href="#3_Use_CSS_Resets">1.3 3. Use CSS Resets</a></li><li><a href="#4_Provide_Support_for_Basic_Features_of_the_Application">1.4 4. Provide Support for Basic Features of the Application</a></li><li><a href="#5_Check_JavaScript_Issues_to_avoid_the_Cross-Browser_compatibility_issues">1.5 5. Check JavaScript Issues to avoid the Cross-Browser compatibility issues</a></li><li><a href="#6_Check_DOCTYPE_tag">1.6 6. Check DOCTYPE tag</a></li><li><a href="#7_Test_on_Real_Devices_to_Avoid_Cross-Browser_Compatibility_Issues">1.7 7. Test on Real Devices to Avoid Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues</a></li><li><a href="#8_Use_Frameworks_and_Libraries_that_Support_Cross-Browser_Compatibility">1.8 8. Use Frameworks and Libraries that Support Cross-Browser Compatibility</a></li><li><a href="#9_Cross-Browser_Test_Early">1.9 9. Cross-Browser Test Early</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">2 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">3 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#How_do_I_fix_Cross-Browser_Compatibility_Issues">3.1 How do I fix Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues?</a></li><li><a href="#How_Does_Selenium_Handle_Cross-Browser_Compatibility_Issues">3.2 How Does Selenium Handle Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Suggested_Reading">4 Suggested Reading</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="how-to-avoid-cross-browser-compatibility-issues">How to Avoid Cross Browser Compatibility Issues?</h2>



To avoid Cross Browser compatibility issues in the production environment we can follow below points-



<h3 id="h-1-validate-html-and-css">1. Validate HTML and CSS</h3>



Different browsers read, interpret, and handle the code differently. It is quite expected that developers may omit certain ‘closing tag’ or ‘semicolon’ in the syntax while writing code. While most of the browsers may auto-correct such syntax errors few older browsers may not do so. Such errors may pose problems while rendering for old browsers like Internet Explorer. Read here about <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/internet-explorer-testing/">Internet Explorer Testing</a>



While coding such errors can be avoided by adopting the below steps &#8211;



<ul><li>Writing well-aligned code</li><li>Inserting comments wherever required</li><li>Indentation and matching the opening-closing braces</li></ul>



Also, to make it easier there are validation tools available in the market. To handle such situations developers use the below tools for code validation-



<ul><li>W3C HTML validator</li><li>Jigsaw CSS validator</li><li>JS Formatter for HTML</li><li>CSS Lint</li><li>JS Lint</li></ul>







<h3 id="2-maintain-layout-compatibility">2. Maintain Layout Compatibility</h3>



We need a responsive application which works on all devices, platforms, and browsers including all versions. The layout of the application should appear perfect and standard in all the environments where it will be used after release.



Read more on <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/how-to-test-responsive-web-design-cross-browser-compatibility/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Cross-Browser compatibility testing of responsive applications</a>. 



The reasons for layout incompatibility can be &#8211;



<ul><li>The layout design is unresponsive on <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/automated-mobile-app-testing-do-you-really-need-real-mobile-devices/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile devices</a>.</li><li>Differences in the rendering of layout design by modern browsers.</li><li>Modern browsers do not support some layouts.</li></ul>



&nbsp;Methods to maintain layout compatibility-



<ul><li>HTML viewport metatag&#8211; It ensures that the content is properly spanned across a mobile screen.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>CSS Multi-Column layouts&#8211; It helps in maintaining the proper layout of multiple column content according to the layout of the container.</li><li>CSS Flexbox and Grid&#8211; These techniques help in laying out child elements based on their content and the space available for rendering.</li></ul>







<h3 id="3-use-css-resets">3. Use CSS Resets</h3>



Browsers have a default design layout which is applied to the website running on them. In order to apply another design layout to the application, developers need to override the default design. If this is not done then the same application will be rendered differently on different browsers.&nbsp;



This CSS reset is done in code by using CSS reset style sheets by developers. This way any layout design issue can be avoided. 



Examples of CSS reset style sheets are-



<ul><li>Github based Normalize.css</li><li>HTML5 Reset</li><li>Eric Meyer’s Reset CSS</li></ul>



<h3 id="4-provide-support-for-basic-features-of-the-application">4. Provide Support for Basic Features of the Application</h3>



We should cross-check the application for providing the native features across different sets of browsers. If a browser doesn&#8217;t support the code then our application should be in a position to provide a different set of code which will run on that particular browser. This will ensure that the application’s basic features are available to the users in any case.



This concept is called feature detection where we are safeguarding the application against an event where the browser doesn&#8217;t support the code. Therefore we provide an alternate code to run on the browser to provide a seamless experience for the user. Additionally, to ensure a smooth and efficient user experience across all browsers, testing with a reliable <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-compatibility-testing-what-browsers-you-should-test/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-browser automation tool </a>like Testsigma can help identify potential issues before they arise in production. 



We can implement feature detection in code by-



<ul><li>Write your own feature detection code for CSS and JavaScript.</li><li>Use feature detection libraries- e.g. <a href="https://modernizr.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Modernizr</a>, Polyfill, etc.</li></ul>







<h3 id="5-check-javascript-issues-to-avoid-the-cross-browser-compatibility-issues">5. Check JavaScript Issues to avoid the Cross-Browser compatibility issues</h3>



Below steps can be taken to avoid the Cross-Browser compatibility issues related to JavaScript-



<ul><li>Judicious use of JavaScript library, to make sure that the library supports browsers and features of the application.</li><li>JavaScript code using the latest features of ES6/ECMAScript may not work on older browsers. JavaScript Transpiling converts the ES6/ECMAScript based code into a code which can run on older browsers as well.</li></ul>



<h3 id="6-check-doctype-tag">6. Check DOCTYPE tag</h3>



The DOCTYPE keyword is used to define the rules we want to use in the code. We should define DOCTYPE in the code so that the web browser knows the rules and does not go haywire.



Older versions of Internet Explorer check for the DOCTYPE tag at the beginning of the code. If the tag is not found then the application is not properly rendered. 



A browser works in three modes they are-



<ul><li>Full standard mode- There are stricter checks by the browser in full standard mode. <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/check-browser-compatibility-for-a-website-a-how-to-blog/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Browser checks</a> for the errors according to the W3C specifications.</li><li>Almost standard mode- A very few quirks are implemented.</li><li>Quirk mode- It provides backward <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/features-testsigma-the-best-cross-browser-compatibility-testing-tool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">compatibility to older browsers</a>. In a quirk, mode browsers do not perform error checks. The layout emulates non-standard behaviour.</li></ul>



Therefore when a code misses a DOCTYPE tag the browser moves to quirk mode and then stops performing error checks and behaves in a non-standard manner. Hence, it is important to add the DOCTYPE tag at the beginning of the code.







<h3 id="7-test-on-real-devices-to-avoid-cross-browser-compatibility-issues">7. <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/android-device-testing-a-no-hassle-guide-for-testers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test on Real Devices</a> to Avoid Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues</h3>



Although we can test an application on virtual machines and environments. For more effective testing real devices are the perfect platform. To avoid Cross-Browser compatibility issues later we should test the application on real desktops, mobiles, tablets, and laptops. 



To set up a real device lab manually is impossible, in such cases we take the help of <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-compatibility-testing-what-browsers-you-should-test/">Cross-Browser testing </a>tools. While there are tools that let you execute your cross browser test cases manually or lets you automate them and then execute them, you need to decide what is it that you need. Testsigma, an automated cross browser testing tool, provides immediate access to thousands of browser-OS combinations to the users. You can run test cases in parallel across the real devices in less time. You may choose from the thousands of environments available on the cloud or test on the local machines present in our office premises. 



<h3 id="8-use-frameworks-and-libraries-that-support-cross-browser-compatibility">8. Use Frameworks and Libraries that Support Cross-Browser Compatibility</h3>



We should use frameworks and libraries which are standard and which support Cross-Browser compatibility to make our life easier.



1. For JavaScript :



<ul><li>jQuery</li><li>AngularJS</li><li>ReactJS</li></ul>



2. For CSS:



<ul><li>Bootstrap</li><li>Foundation</li><li>960 grid</li></ul>







<h3 id="9-cross-browser-test-early">9. Cross-Browser Test Early</h3>



It is advised to start <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/testsigma-as-a-cross-browser-testing-solution/">Cross-Browser testing</a> as soon as one page of the application is ready to check whether app is cross browser compatible. It will help uncover the compatibility issues early in the development cycle and will be fixed quickly. We should not wait till the later stages of the development cycle to start testing. 



Since Cross-Browser compatibility testing requires test coverage of a number of environments. Hence, we should try to minimise the stress and challenges in the later part of the cycle. 



<div class="bg-primary cta">

Check out a tool that lets you automate your cross browser compatibility testing from the very start.
<div class="d-flex mb-1" style="justify-content:space-evenly">
 <button class="btn cta-btn bg-white"><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Signup for a free trial now</a></button></div>
</div>



<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



We will be able to avoid most of the Cross-Browser compatibility issues following the above steps. However, the supporting step for all these precautions is through Cross-Browser compatibility testing. For effective testing, we should use automated Cross-Browser compatibility testing tools. 



They are easier to use, provide thousands of environments immediately, provide parallel testing, are scalable, provide testing on real devices, and provide better reporting and logging. Hence, automated Cross-Browser testing tools like Testsigma are essential for effective and faster Cross-Browser compatibility testing of the application.



 <button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff"> Automate cross-browser tests 5x faster &#8211; on the cloud </a></button> 



<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="how-do-i-fix-cross-browser-compatibility-issues">How do I fix Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues?</h3>



To address cross-browser compatibility issues, ensure that your website adheres to web standards, utilizes CSS frameworks like Bootstrap, and tests it on different browsers, making necessary adjustments to code and styles as needed. Automation testing tools like Testsigma offer a comprehensive test automation platform for web, mobile, and desktop applications that ensures <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-compatibility-testing-what-browsers-you-should-test/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-browser compatibility </a>with its extensive browser coverage.


<h3 id="how-does-selenium-handle-cross-browser-compatibility-issues">How Does Selenium Handle Cross-Browser Compatibility Issues?</h3>


Selenium handles cross-browser compatibility issues by ensuring that web programs look and perform the same regardless of the browser through which they are visited by employing test scripts written in various programming languages such as PHP, Python, Java, and others.



<h2 id="suggested-reading">Suggested Reading</h2>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-compatibility-testing-what-browsers-you-should-test/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cross Browser Compatibility Testing – what browsers you should test?</a>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/7-tips-for-successful-cross-browser-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">7 tips for successful cross browser compatibility testing</a>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/how-to-test-responsive-web-design-cross-browser-compatibility/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to Test Responsive Web Design Cross-Browser Compatibility</a>



<a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/8-essential-elements-automated-cross-browser-testing-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> 8 essential elements of an automated cross browser compatibility testing tool</a>.

9 Tips To Avoid Cross Browser Compatibility Issues from the start

9 Tips To Avoid Cross Browser Compatibility Issues from the Start

According to Wikipedia, <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/data-driven-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Data-Driven Testing(DDT)</a> is a software testing methodology that is used in the testing of computer software to describe testing done using a table of conditions directly as test inputs and verifiable outputs as well as the process where test environment settings and control are not hard-coded.



 In the simplest form, the tester supplies the inputs from a row in the table and expects the outputs which occur in the same row. The table typically contains values which correspond to boundary or partition input spaces.” 



If done manually, the process of data-driven testing is really time-consuming. It is usually used for <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/regression-testing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">regression testing</a> or with test cases where the same test scripts are run by providing huge test data as input, sequentially. 



Therefore, the requirement of automating the process of data-driven testing arose and today we have several automation-testing tools and automation testing frameworks for this purpose.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_data-driven_automation_testing">1 What is data-driven automation testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Advantages_of_data-driven_automation_testing">2 Advantages of data-driven automation testing</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">3 Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what-is-data-driven-automation-testing">What is data-driven automation testing?</h2>



In <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-data-driven-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data-driven automation testing</a>, the test-script/ test case code is kept separate from the test data set. This separation is usually made by storing them at different locations and by having no dependency on each other. Test scripts and test data both are independent of each other and can be stored, modified, added and deleted without any implications on each other.



The order of actions in a DDT (Data-Driven testing) process is as below&#8211;



1. Read the input data from the data source, using parameterised variables in the automation test script.



2. Fill in the input test data in the AUT(application under test).



3. Perform the action according to the test script



4. Compare the expected and actual output



5. Mark the test case pass or fail



6. Continue the above steps with the next input test data from the data source.



The expected output is also entered in the test data sheet or file. So that the automation script reads the expected output, compares it with the actual output and accordingly marks the test case – Pass or Fail.



Test data storage can be achieved by any of the below options-



1. Excel files



2. CSV files



3. XML files



4. Database tables



5. Arrays



6. Text files



Tools/ frameworks for data-driven automation testing-



1. Selenium, TestNG, Apache POI (for reading and writing in Excel sheet)



2. QTP



3. <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a>



4. Katalon Studio



5. TestComplete



<h2 id="advantages-of-data-driven-automation-testing">Advantages of data-driven automation testing</h2>



Let us discuss the top benefits of using a data-driven automation testing framework or any DDT tool.



1. Reusability



&nbsp;Once we have test scripts ready, the same test script can take any number of test input, present in the files as test data. There is no need to make any changes to the script since it will just read the test data from the file and execute the test case. Whereas, if the test data is hardcoded in the test scripts, the lines of code increase tremendously and such coding practices compromise on the reusability of the program.



2. Enhanced clarity



Since there are separate folders/locations of the test data and test scripts, there is clarity in the development and maintenance of both. If test data needs any changes then it can be done easily without referring to the testing scripts and vice-versa.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/SvRcQMx99B8R3EZNq3GqkqaRFTdi7ruUfQsaa8fTYqt1cp7_9zdyvrEnj5rxRSm4KkKWcnRpycJYzLTZdNHu4hYLLHcSX4_xN1ehGmY5YCYuiORc0U-pJdw6QJDuTbaHYpAUf9m8" alt="Testsigma - Enhanced clarity" /></figure>



&nbsp;Image shows separate Test Data and Test Scripts.



3. Maintainability



If there is any update required either in test scripts or test data, it is hassle-free because both test data and test scripts are placed separately with no dependency on each other. While the automation test engineer is working on the test scripts, any team member with knowledge of AUT can maintain and update the test data file without any dependency on the test scripts.



4. Broader test-coverage



With high-quality test data which perfectly reflects the real production data, we can achieve a very good test-coverage. This helps in achieving high quality and better stability of the application. The result will be a very few defects in the production environment because all the possible data is already tested and issues have been fixed accordingly.



5. Time-efficient



The automated test-run can be set up for a nightly run when there is no one working. The results can be verified in the morning, and hence a great amount of time can be saved in the testing activities. Also, if compared with manual testing, data-driven automation testing is faster because all the benefits of automation testing are underlying.



6. Reduced manual error



Unlike, manual testing the test-data is read from the files and not manually entered in the application. Human error is unavoidable when a large amount of data is being entered. Data-driven automation testing reduces the chance of manual error to a great extent and a high-quality product is a result.



7. Reduced test scripts



Because we are not hard coding the test data in the script logic, the size of the code written is reduced considerably. The same test script can be used for a huge set of test data. 



8. Better use of human skills



The redundant work of manually entering the test data is monotonous and time-consuming. Human skills can be used for better purposes like exploratory testing when data-driven automation testing is in place.



9. Faster decision making



Due to the faster speed of automation and quick execution of a broader data set, the management and defect-related decisions could be concluded faster. In the Agile and DevOps environment, shorter development cycles need quick decisions and quick resolution of issues. The data-driven automation testing aids the Agile and DevOps intricacies to a great extent.



10. Independent of application development



The data-driven automation testing framework can be developed in parallel or before the actual application development. Since, we will be dealing with parameterised variables, independent test data sheets or files and separate test scripts. 



The framework development is independent of the actual AUT. If an automation tool like testsigma is being used for the DDT, this process becomes easier. To create test scripts for reading/writing test data from files and scripts of test functions need expertise and effort.&nbsp;



11. Minimum technical knowledge required for test data creation



We have separated the test scripts and the test data in the data-driven automation testing process. The scripting part requires expertise and technical knowledge; however, the test data creation does not require any technical expertise. A person who has knowledge of the AUT and domain would be able to fill in the test data values in the sheet/file. 



<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



As the name suggests, data-driven testing (DDT) means testing which is driven by data. Data is of the extreme importance here in data-driven automation testing. A judicious selection of the test data thus becomes imperative in this case. 



Simply running the automation scripts on a massive test data set, without a proper vision is such a waste of time, effort and resources. A proper understanding of the AUT and a very good domain knowledge prepares the background for a great test data set.



In current times data is everything- Big Data, AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine learning) endorse this fact with the highest splendour.



Testing can not be any different, to cover a broader spectrum of scenarios in the software testing – a diligent selection of test data is needed. So that any possible defect is already taken care of during testing and the risk of any potential defect in production is minimised.



<div class="bg-primary cta">

 Improve test coverage with positive and negative test data sets using Testsigma
<div class="d-flex mb-1" style="justify-content:space-evenly">
 <button class="btn cta-btn bg-white"><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-data-driven-testing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Check how Testsigma manages data sets</a></button></div>
</div>







<a aria-label="Testsigma, a tool for data-driven testing (opens in a new tab)" href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-data-driven-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma, a tool for data-driven testing</a>, has greatly simplified data-driven testing and made it very easy for anyone to get it going. Check how Testsigma does it here: <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/data-driven-testing-simplified/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Data Driven Testing Simplified!</a>

Wait a second...Did you try Testsigma?

Wait a second...
Did you try Testsigma?