A Detailed Overview on Cloud Testing: Benefits, Types and Tools

When it comes to creating a high-quality application or software, there are many testing methods leveraged by testers to ensure the application or software meets the best possible quality standards. Each testing method covers different functional and non-functional areas, such as performance, usability, compatibility, and security. 



System Testing and End to End Testing are the two popular types of software testing. These terms are sometimes used interchangeably to describe the same thing, but they are, in fact, quite different. Therefore, it is critical to understand what sets these two testing methodologies apart and how these processes ensure the highest quality standards.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#System_Testing_vs_End_to_End_Testing_8211_Overview">1 System Testing vs End to End Testing &#8211; Overview</a></li><li><a href="#System_Testing_vs_End_to_End_Testing_8211_Key_Differences">2 System Testing vs End to End Testing &#8211; Key Differences</a></li><li><a href="#System_Testing_vs_End_to_End_Testing_Which_is_better">3 System Testing vs End to End Testing: Which is better?</a></li><li><a href="#Summary">4 Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">5 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#Is_system_integration_testing_and_end-to-end_testing_the_samenbsp">5.1 Is system integration testing and end-to-end testing the same?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_difference_between_system_testing_and_functional_testing">5.2 What is the difference between system testing and functional testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="system-testing-vs-end-to-end-testing-overview">System Testing vs End to End Testing &#8211; Overview</h2>



What is System Testing?



System testing validates the entire system to ensure that all the components of the ecosystem, including hardware and software, perform as per the expectations. Simply put, it reflects if the application or software performs from a technical and business standpoint, validating the requirement specifications against the system specifications.



This testing is usually performed post-integration testing as the final check before the application is forwarded for <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/guides/acceptance-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acceptance testing</a>. Though it is a <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/guides/black-box-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">black box testing</a> method, system testing may be performed as a blend of white and black box testing based on the project requirements.



System testing imitates the end users and uses the application as they would in real life. Testers check if elements of the system hamper the application’s performance or if the application fails to perform under unfavourable conditions. Errors and bugs, which remain unnoticed in other forms of testing, are identified and reported in system testing. These may be bugs that are associated with performance, security, and so on.



Read here &#8211;<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/guides/system-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> System Testing</a>.



What is End-to-End Testing?



Digital systems today are more complex than ever and are interconnected with many third-party integrations. Failure of a single component may lead to a hampered user experience or even crash the entire ecosystem. This is where end-to-end testing comes into the picture and prevents the system from crashing or unexpected failure.



End-to-end testing is a software testing process in which the flow of the entire application is validated to ensure the end results meet the desired expectations. This testing primarily aims to verify the user experience by simulating scenarios similar to the real world, validating the application and its components for ease of usage and expected user experience.



Read here &#8211; <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/end-to-end-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">End-to-End Testing</a>



<h2 id="h-system-testing-vs-end-to-end-testing-key-differences">System Testing vs End to End Testing &#8211; Key Differences</h2>



System testing and end-to-end testing go hand-in-hand and are sometimes considered the same as both are performed to test the application behaviour. However, both vary in the purpose and metrics of testing. 



The given table depicts the key differences between system and end-to-end testing:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse"><tbody><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">System Testing</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">End-to-end Testing</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">In system testing, the entire software or application is tested at a time.</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">In end-to-end testing, the behavioral flow of the application is tested.</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Validates specific software systems.</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Validates the software system as well as other connected systems.</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Checks the application functionality.</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Checks the user flow from end to end.</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Tests the app according to the pre-defined specifications.</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Tests all interfaces of application.</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Testers may not know the interconnected systems</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Testers need to know about the interconnected systems.</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">It’s carried out after integration testing.</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">It’s carried out after system testing.</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Can be performed both manually and automated.</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Usually performed manually.</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">A superset of end to end testing.</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">A subset of system testing.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="h-system-testing-vs-end-to-end-testing-which-is-better">System Testing vs End to End Testing: Which is better?</h2>



There is no denying that system testing and end-to-end testing are often considered the same, but as we saw above, that is not the case. Both <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/the-different-software-testing-types-explained/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">types of testing</a> are different and cater to dedicated <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/test-coverage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test coverage</a>. 



While testers perform end-to-end testing to validate the application flow from the beginning to the end by incorporating the dependencies, system testing validates the same features over different responses.



As it is clearly described above, neither of the two <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/guides/test-process/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing processes</a> is better than the other. Both testing methodologies are performed to validate different functions and features of the application and yield different test results. 



The argument as to which system and end to testing is best comes from the misconception that both methods are alike. It is recommended not to prioritize system testing over end-to-end testing or vice versa, as it may lead to overlooking the critical features of the application.



Automate your tests for web, mobile, desktop applications and APIs, 5x faster and from the same place with Testsigma



<button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Try Testsigma</a></button>



<h2 id="h-summary">Summary</h2>



When performing system testing, testers should act like real users and validate the integration of each functionality. In the case of end-to-end testing, testers should analyze the process flows of the application. 



Both testing types have a critical role to play in ensuring high-quality application releases while helping testers uncover crucial bugs and errors in different categories.



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



<h3 id="is-system-integration-testing-and-end-to-end-testing-the-same">Is system integration testing and end-to-end testing the same?<a href="https://www.headspin.io/blog/primary-difference-between-integration-testing-and-end-to-end-testing#:~:text=Scope%3A%20Integration%20testing%20spans%20multiple,of%20both%20hardware%20and%20software.">&nbsp;</a></h3>



System integration testing focuses on how system parts work together, while end-to-end testing verifies the entire system workflow from start to finish. In short, <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/guides/integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">integration testing</a> checks connections, and <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/end-to-end-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">end-to-end testing</a> checks the whole journey. 



Check Out &#8211; <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/integration-testing-vs-end-to-end-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">End to end testing Vs integration testing</a>



<h3 id="what-is-the-difference-between-system-testing-and-functional-testing">What is the difference between system testing and functional testing?</h3>



System testing checks the entire system&#8217;s functionality, while <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/guides/functional-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">functional testing</a> focuses on individual features working as expected. One validates the whole product, and the other validates its building blocks.



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System testing vs End to End Testing: What's the Difference?

System Testing vs End to End Testing: What’s the Difference?

As rapid technological advancements drive the digital era, providing customers with the latest and most intuitive applications has become a necessity. To ensure high application quality and reliability, businesses need to leverage testing and staging environments. Where a testing environment ensures each application component does its job, the staging environment ensures the components still perform well when deployed in a live environment. Let’s have an overview of the staging environment vs test environment, their best practices, and more.
<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_a_Test_Environment">1 What is a Test Environment?</a><ul><li><a href="#Elements_of_Test_Environment">1.1 Elements of Test Environment</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Why_Do_You_Need_a_Testing_Environment">2 Why Do You Need a Testing Environment?</a></li><li><a href="#Best_Practices_for_an_Effective_Test_Environment">3 Best Practices for an Effective Test Environment</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_a_Staging_Environment">4 What is a Staging Environment?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Do_You_Need_a_Staging_Environment">5 Why Do You Need a Staging Environment?</a></li><li><a href="#Best_Practices_for_a_Reliable_Staging_Environment">6 Best Practices for a Reliable Staging Environment</a></li><li><a href="#Staging_Environment_vs_Test_Environment_What8217s_the_Difference">7 Staging Environment vs Test Environment: What&#8217;s the Difference?</a></li><li><a href="#Summary">8 Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">9 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_difference_between_staging_and_QA">9.1 What is the difference between staging and QA?</a></li><li><a href="#What_comes_first_UAT_or_staging">9.2 What comes first, UAT or staging?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_different_types_of_testing_environments">9.3 What are the different types of testing environments?</a></li><li><a href="#How_many_environments_are_there_in_QA">9.4 How many environments are there in QA?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="uoip">What is a Test Environment?</h2>
Every application developed needs to be validated to ensure it performs as per the end user’s expectations. <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/test-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Test environments</a> are platforms that help design and run multiple test cases on the application as well as the associated hardware and network configurations. This environment consists of all the required resources needed to execute the tests, such as OS, servers, drivers, and so on.
Basically, a test environment is a setup that brings together hardware, software, data, and a combination of configurations to perform testing. These are configured according to the needs of the software being tested to ensure it performs well in all conditions.
Test environments are not one-size-fits-all in nature. It is the component that dictates the environment setup. The main aim of setting up a test environment is to enable QA teams to validate the application and find underlying bugs that are fixed to prevent any negative user experience.
<h3 id="5899g">Elements of Test Environment</h3>
Certain factors are required to perform testing in a test environment. These are mentioned below:
Servers and Databases for Testing
Servers are environments where <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/what-are-the-kpis-of-software-testing-and-qa-testsigma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">software is deployed for testing</a>. Databases store massive datasets in the form of test results from the executed tests.
Team of Testers
A setup for a testing environment features different types of people who create test cases to find all possible bugs and defects. These are:
<ul>
<li>Dev team, which develops the software</li>
<li>Testers who run various <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/top-software-testing-trends-to-look-out-for-in-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tests to validate the software</a></li>
<li>System admin, who provides backend support.</li>
</ul>
Network for Testing
The network acts as a channel to transfer test data. The <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/test-management-process/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">software testing process</a> generates a significant amount of data in the form of inputs, outputs, simulation data, etc. An ideal testing network features a network, LAN setup, or private network.
Tools for <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/bug-report-template/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reporting Bugs</a>
Reporting the bugs is as critical as detecting them. The test environment should use reliable and effective defect-logging tools so that the developers can easily understand what needs to be fixed. Some examples of popular bug-reporting tools are Bugzilla and JIRA.
<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/test-management-tools" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Managing Test</a> Environment
Management of the test environment is critical to ensure they can be utilized whenever required. This includes test beds according to the needs of the QA team. Test management also includes setting up a test repository and supporting software and ensuring these are updated through version control. Test environment management also means creating adequate documentation for the setup details, testing history, and outcomes. This helps in making future test cases and may be used as reference points in fixing similar bugs.
<h2 id="86b1a">Why Do You Need a Testing Environment?</h2>
A well-designed test environment is essential to ensure the investment in creating robust test cases pays off. A test environment enables testers to have comprehensive feedback about the application quality. In other words, a test environment provides teams with the necessary setup to run the test cases.
A test environment further helps in providing a dedicated environment to isolate the code and verify the application&#8217;s behavior. This ensures that no other activities that can influence the output of the tests are running on the server.
Moreover, a test environment can replicate the production environment, which is crucial for being confident about the testing outcomes. The testing engineer needs to ensure that the application behaves the same way in the test environment as in the production environment.
<h2 id="88a5j">Best Practices for an Effective Test Environment</h2>
Creating a software testing environment is essential for any organization that wants to ensure the quality of its software applications. This helps testers run various tests to identify and fix defects early in development.
Setting up a proper test environment needs experience, resources, and effort. Here are a few best practices for setting up an effective <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/test-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">software testing environment</a>:
<ul>
<li>Define the testing goals. It should be clear what the testers want to achieve with testing.</li>
<li>Identify what <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/the-different-software-testing-types-explained/">types of testing</a> would be required. Some of the critical kinds of testing are Unit testing, Integration testing, Acceptance testing, Regression testing.</li>
<li>Determine the scope of software testing. It should be clear which parts of the software will be tested.</li>
<li>Create test cases while keeping in mind the requirements and features.</li>
<li>The test environment should feature a comprehensive software, hardware, and network configuration setup.</li>
<li>Ensure the testing environment is secure.</li>
<li>The environment should be scalable to incorporate the increasing volumes of user traffic and app data.</li>
<li>Ensure the code changes are validated periodically before the updates are pushed to production.</li>
<li>Ensure the test environment is updated and includes the latest software and hardware configurations.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="e4eh5">What is a Staging Environment?</h2>
Staging environments consist of software, hardware, and configuration similar to the production environments. It is through these similarities testers can mimic the real-world production environment.
Staging environments are replicas of the production environments. It imitates the production environment as closely as possible to ensure application quality. The purpose of setting up a staging environment is to validate the application approaching the production stage to ensure the app will perform well post-deployment.
Simply put, it is a stage where Dev and QA teams can perform various tests on the software and identify its best version. It ensures that the users are always provided with the best software experience.
<h2 id="1d6kj">Why Do You Need a Staging Environment?</h2>
Working with a staging environment allows testers to verify all assumptions made before development and ensure that application deployments are successful. Also, testing new changes takes care of the risk of bugs hampering the end-user experience because the bugs are resolved before going to the live environment.
It is also recommended to deploy the staging environment as part of a release. This ultimately allows the Dev and QA teams to identify any coding, integration, or data bottlenecks.
There are several benefits of using a staging environment:
<ul>
<li>A staging environment allows the testers to validate the application in a near-production environment.</li>
<li>A staging environment offers a medium for performing QA checks to ensure the application is of the best possible quality.</li>
<li>The developers release the new versions of the application in the staging environment to ensure everything is working as intended.</li>
<li>This environment may be used to share product and services demos with the customers.</li>
</ul>
<h2 id="c18qa">Best Practices for a Reliable Staging Environment</h2>
Have a dedicated database server
The database features the entire content of the application. Hence, it is crucial to prevent the staging database override over the live database. It is recommended to use a dedicated database server for staging. Testers can refresh the staging database from scratch if they make any mistakes.
Ensure comprehensive testing
When updates are made to software, it is critical to ensure that they do not break anything. Testing assures that the updates and modifications made in the staging environment do not break the live product. A comprehensive <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/test-strategy-vs-test-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">test strategy plan</a>, which includes both automation and manual testing, should be made before making any updates to the staging environment.
Monitor the testing environment
Monitoring bears many benefits in a pre-production environment, the foremost being ensuring that code updates do not hamper the production environment. Testers can know the possibilities of failure when the code is deployed by monitoring the testing environments and cases. It is difficult for testers to follow every possible user path and bug. Here, monitoring enables error tracking and ensures quicker code modifications.
Perform debugging and testing
Effective testing and debugging procedures ensure that high-quality code is produced consistently. These include <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/test-automation-by-smes-qa-analysts-for-continuous-delivery-and-devops/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">automated testing</a>, regular logging, and bug tracking.
Clone the exact infrastructure
When creating the staging environment, ensure that the same resources are used. These include:
<ul>
<li>Cloud provider</li>
<li>Virtualization tools</li>
<li>API gateways</li>
</ul>
Ensure a secure environment
Since a staging environment imitates a production environment, both share the same data. If a staging environment is compromised, it may also put the production environment at risk. To prevent any security incidents, testers should use a different domain for staging with restricted access. Data should be encrypted in transit, and complex credentials should be utilized to access the staging environment.
Create backups
When working with a staging environment, any data loss in the staging environment can lead to data loss in the production environment. Hence, it is critical to have data backups of the staging environment to enable quick data recovery in case something goes wrong. <a href="https://docs.aws.amazon.com/aws-backup/latest/devguide/whatisbackup.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">AWS backup is a recommended way</a> to create effective data backups for staging environments.
Above we have discussed all about Test environment and staging environment, best practices and more , now lets look into staging environment vs test environment differences.
<h2 id="1qsa2">Staging Environment vs Test Environment: What&#8217;s the Difference?</h2>
A staging environment and a testing environment differ in the levels of resemblance these provide to testers. In a staging environment, versions are kept up to date to ensure everything resembles the live version except for the recently pushed updates from the Dev environment. This allows testers to deploy the software updates to a live environment while ensuring that nothing breaks in the process.
This may only sometimes be the case with a testing environment. Rather than testing everything end-to-end, testers often work on assumptions of how the software will work and test the changes made to the source code. The testing environment ensures that the code updates are tested faster and without needing to imitate the entire live environment, as in the case of staging environments. Now lets check out the table given below with staging environment vs test environment differences.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
Staging Environment VS Test Environment
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>A staging environment mimics the production environment to perform final QA checks on application.</td>
<td>A test environment validates each component of application under test.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>It replicates all requirements and configurations of the production environment.</td>
<td>It is dynamic and requires specific configurations to test each component.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>It validates the complete application. </td>
<td>It tests the Individual components or functions.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2 id="dscsk">Summary</h2>
Both testing and staging environments play a critical role in ensuring the application performs as expected in real-life scenarios. On the one hand, the testing environment ensures each application component performs its job well. On the other hand, the staging environment ensures the application&#8217;s features work well with everything connected around it.
<h2 id="6fsjh">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
<h3 id="7s9is">What is the difference between staging and QA?</h3>
The significant differences between staging and QA are found in the scale of the test as well as the agenda of finding bugs. The staging environment replicates the requirements and configurations of the production environment, whereas the testing environment validates a particular part of the product.
<h3 id="3s9sj">What comes first, UAT or staging?</h3>
UAT comes first in a software development life cycle, followed by staging.
<h3 id="dn7nj">What are the different types of testing environments?</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Dev environment &#8211; This is where apps are deployed and <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/unit-test-vs-e2e-test/">unit tested</a> by the Dev team.</li>
<li>Test/QA Environment &#8211; In this environment, the versioned QA builds are deployed, followed by testers executing the tests and reporting test results to the Dev team.</li>
<li>Staging Environment &#8211; It validates the application approaching the production stage to ensure the app will perform well post-deployment.</li>
<li>Production Environment &#8211; This is a live environment where real users use the app.</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="9gqqh">How many environments are there in QA?</h3>
There are four QA environments: the Development environment, Test environment, Staging environment, and Production environment.
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Staging Environment vs Test Environment: Differences You Should Know

Automation testing has become a cornerstone for ensuring efficiency, reliability, and speed in delivering high-quality software. It not only saves time but also mitigates the risk of human errors. Understanding the diverse landscape of automation testing becomes crucial with the demand for faster release cycles and higher efficiency.



In this blog, we will talk about various facets of automation testing in software testing, exploring different types, their best practices, and more.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Automation_Testing">1 What is Automation Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Types_of_Automation_Testing">2 Types of Automation Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Types_of_Automation_Testing_Based_on_the_Type_of_Testing">3 Types of Automation Testing Based on the Type of Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Types_of_Automation_Testing_Based_on_the_Phase_of_Testing">4 Types of Automation Testing Based on the Phase of Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Types_of_Automation_Testing_as_Per_Tests">5 Types of Automation Testing as Per Tests</a></li><li><a href="#Automation_Testing_Frameworks">6 Automation Testing Frameworks</a></li><li><a href="#How_can_Testsigma_Help_You_Automate_Your_Test_Cases">7 How can Testsigma Help You Automate Your Test Cases?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">8 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">9 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_are_the_Different_Methods_of_Automation_Testing">9.1 What are the Different Methods of Automation Testing?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Suggested_Readings">10 Suggested Readings</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what-is-automation-testing">What is Automation Testing?</h2>



Automation testing refers to the use of <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/qa-automation-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation tools</a> and test scripts to verify software quality. It eliminates human intervention while running the test cases or reporting the results.&nbsp;<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-testing">Automated testing</a> helps save the time and effort required to perform repetitive and resource-heavy tasks that are difficult to do manually.



<h2 id="e3cdf">Types of Automation Testing</h2>



Automation testing has multiple types as per different categories. Here we are going to discuss three types of automation testing: based on types, phases, and tests. It might sound confusing right now, but when you read about them, you will understand the differences and why they are categorized like such.



<h2 id="types-of-automation-testing-based-on-the-type-of-testing">Types of Automation Testing Based on the Type of Testing</h2>



Automation can be classified into two, based on the type of testing, as follows,



<ul><li>Automation of Functional Testing</li></ul>



Functional tests check the logic behind the working of an application. Automated functional testing includes writing test cases and running them using a suitable tool like Testsigma to verify that the application is working per user expectations.



<ul><li>Automation of <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/non-functional-testing/">Non-Functional Testing</a></li></ul>



Non-functional aspects of an application include everything else that does not come under functional. Anything that is not related to the logic of how the product is working is non-functional. It also includes creating and executing test cases using automation tools.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/tmGRn7Be2lhzp9FBjx2TvaohnqOtpbumYM6y_nfGDuswQwXw6VIwiB2o_b4QUHzidVq7uKPxiQ4mWX4_ql1ipjVWze7PnMEkNOzwqh9-O2j5yi_VscxNfXlCZjvXcPtPaoghDqStKusepENfkn4rYTM" alt="Types of Automation Testing" /></figure>







<h2 id="types-of-automation-testing-based-on-the-phase-of-testing">Types of Automation Testing Based on the Phase of Testing</h2>



Here, we will discuss the automation testing types that are categorized based on the phases of testing,



<ul><li>Automation of Unit Tests</li></ul>



Automated unit testing is a type of automation testing developers run to check the code of the application. Coders can easily write unit tests and automate them to check the program in the development phase.



<ul><li>Automation of UI Tests</li></ul>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/automated-gui-testing/">Automated GUI testing</a> refers to checking the look and feel of the application. It includes validating the business logic and functionality of the product, but only after the complete development is over.



<ul><li>Automation of API Tests</li></ul>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-api-testing">Automated API testing</a> helps check if different nodules/programs of the system are communicating properly. These tests verify the logic as per the request and response of programs that are running the application.



<h2 id="types-of-automation-testing-as-per-tests">Types of Automation Testing as Per Tests</h2>



Let&#8217;s discuss several types of automated testing as per tests.



<ul><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/regression-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Regression testing</a>: They are ideal for automation testing because of their repetitive nature and huge test suite size.</li><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/unit-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Unit testing</a>: The smallest units of code are tested using automation during the early development stages.</li><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/guides/integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Integration testing</a>: They help to certify the seamless interaction between modules and are really critical for any software.</li><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/smoke-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smoke testing</a>: Checks that the major functionalities of the software are working when an initial new build is deployed.</li><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/performance-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Performance testing</a>: These tests help test the speed, responsiveness, and stability of the application under test, and most can be performed only with the help of an automation tool.</li><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/data-driven-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Data-driven testing</a>: Huge data inputs, outputs, and results are easily managed through automation testing, which would otherwise incur enormous manual time and effort.</li><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/keyword-driven-framework/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Keyword-driven testing</a>: They are popular today because of the flexibility, reusability, and clarity keyword-driven tests provide.</li></ul>



<h2 id="automation-testing-frameworks">Automation Testing Frameworks</h2>



An automation testing framework is a platform that integrates various hardware, software, and tools that enable streamlined design and development of test scripts. With efficient test scripts, testers are able to perform an analysis of the detected bugs of the AUT.



QA engineers effectively leverage automation testing frameworks to find objects and sort them so that they may be reused in test scripts, perform the desired fix on the identified objects, and ensure the objects deliver the desired results.



<ul><li>Linear Frameworks</li></ul>



The linear framework is record and playback-driven, which is always achieved linearly. It is more commonly named the record and playback model. Typically, <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/guides/test-script/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test scripts</a> are created and executed individually in this scripting-driven framework. The automation scripting takes place incrementally, where new interactions are added to the automation tests simultaneously.



<ul><li>Modular Frameworks</li></ul>



Test scripts are developed based on modules or clusters in a modular automation framework. These are formed by dividing the entire application into smaller, self-sufficient blocks. Thus, individual test scripts belonging to a particular module or group are created.&nbsp;



These scripts belonging to these isolated modules can be integrated and driven by a master driver script to perform integration testing among the modules. All these are achieved with the help of shared function libraries used while developing modules&#8217; scripts.&nbsp;



This framework adheres to the concept of abstraction, wherein test data is added to the test scripts. Test scripts need to be directly updated if there is a need to test with a different combination of test data. The smaller modules in the framework hierarchically communicate with each other to form a large script capable of testing an entire scenario.



<ul><li>Library Architecture Frameworks</li></ul>



The library architecture framework is similar to the modular framework but provides more benefits. Rather than segregating the AUT into different scripts, identical tasks within the script are combined by function. These functions are placed in a library and are called upon by the test scripts when required.&nbsp;



Similar to the case of the modular framework, utilizing library architecture enables greater modularization, leading to simplified <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/test-maintenance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test maintenance</a> and higher scalability. Library architecture is highly scalable due to the availability of a standard function library that multiple test scripts may use.



<h2 id="how-can-testsigma-help-you-automate-your-test-cases">How can Testsigma Help You Automate Your Test Cases?</h2>



Testsigma is a robust, low-code, AI-driven, cloud-based test automation tool that allows you to create and run automated tests of web, mobile, and desktop apps and APIs in one place. It allows you to automate your test cases for all types of automation testing quickly and efficiently.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/qIt9rCUnAtWL2_Izao79M4LycfoxwXlKoU05PGZt4GFEfrmPN3GcixT3v39A4e3EqD16xhrhJpZaT7Xa0L_1bLDEDcEAh-s-s5DkAhidcezTtbXV35ixjPbIQqRjSUT6p5ox5sFo-4bsM5lEwolUFp0" alt="Testsigma for different types of automation testing" /></figure>



Here are some of its key features,



<ul><li>The tool is entirely cloud-based, which saves the costs and efforts of procuring and setting up the infrastructure for testing.</li><li>It supports both codeless and code-based automated testing tools. It is a perfect tool for both technical and non-technical users, which makes testing accessible for everyone on the team.&nbsp;</li><li>You can create test cases in simple English using NLPs. There is no need to learn coding or complex programming languages to start automating.</li><li>You can create custom test scripts using Java for testing complex scenarios that require coding.</li><li>Supports Record feature, using which you can record user interactions and run them as automated tests on the cloud.</li><li>It provides a built-in <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/test-case-review/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test case review</a> management capability.</li><li>Object recognition can be done automatically or manually. The objects are scanned to save the most crucial information. If there is any structure change, the recognized object is not lost.</li><li>If there are any failures in any test cases, Testsigma also suggests affected resources for fixing the failed issues using the auto-healing capability.</li><li>It easily integrates with product management tools, bug-tracking, collaboration, and CI/CD tools.&nbsp;</li><li>The tool provides detailed test reporting and analytics via video recordings, screenshots, and logs of the complete test case execution or the failure, enabling easy debugging.</li><li>It offers 24×5 extended customer support via chat, email, call, and community.</li></ul>



<button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Accelerate your testing 5x faster with Testsigma. Sign up to start automating tests in less than 2 minutes.</a></button>



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



One cannot overstate the benefits of automation testing. Given the customer demand for new features every few weeks, organizations must incorporate automation testing. Since a terrible user experience will almost certainly get any application uninstalled and downvoted by customers, automation testing plays a critical role in ensuring the desired customer experience. Without it, developing software that appeals to users becomes significantly more difficult.



<h2 id="4upu6">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="do2st">What are the Different Methods of Automation Testing?</h3>



<ol type="1"><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/unit-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Unit Testing</a></li><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/guides/integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Integration Testing</a></li><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/smoke-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Smoke Testing</a></li><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/regression-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Regression Testing</a></li><li>Keyword-driven Testing</li><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/data-driven-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Data-driven Testing</a></li><li><a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/performance-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Performance Testing</a></li></ol>



<h2 id="suggested-readings">Suggested Readings</h2>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/ai-driven-test-automation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI-powered, codeless test automation tool</a>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/most-popular-tools-for-cloud-automation-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Most Popular Tools For Cloud Automation Testing</a>&nbsp;



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/modern-tools-for-automated-testing-of-your-web-applications/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 3 Website Application Testing Tools</a>

Types of Automation Testing | A Comprehensive Guide

Web Application Testing Checklist & Template [2022 Updated] cover

Website Testing Checklist & Template [Updated]

Mobile testing has been a long and arduous process for many companies across the globe. Testing an app on hundreds of devices is a bit mind-boggling. Many companies have hesitated to adopt these ideas as they are caught in a vicious circle. They cannot decide whether to use a mobile testing lab or test their apps on real devices.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_a_Mobile_Testing_Lab">1 What is a Mobile Testing Lab?</a></li><li><a href="#The_Need_For_Mobile_Testing_Lab">2 The Need For Mobile Testing Lab</a></li><li><a href="#Key_Considerations">3 Key Considerations</a><ul><li><a href="#1_Compatibility">3.1 1. Compatibility</a></li><li><a href="#2_Device_Infrastructure">3.2 2. Device Infrastructure</a></li><li><a href="#3_Internet_and_Power_Supply">3.3 3. Internet and Power Supply</a></li><li><a href="#4_Automated_Testing">3.4 4. Automated Testing</a></li><li><a href="#5_CICD_Integration">3.5 5. CI/CD Integration</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#But_Is_The_Investment_Necessary">4 But Is The Investment Necessary?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Does_Cloud_Testing_Make_Sense">5 Why Does Cloud Testing Make Sense?</a></li><li><a href="#Get_Your_Own_Cloud_Mobile_Testing_Lab_Todaynbsp">6 Get Your Own (Cloud) Mobile Testing Lab Today&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Choose_Testsigma">7 Why Choose Testsigma?</a><ul><li><a href="#1_Continuous_Testing">7.1 1. Continuous Testing</a></li><li><a href="#2_Enhanced_Coverage">7.2 2. Enhanced Coverage</a></li><li><a href="#3_Simplified_Testing_Interface">7.3 3. Simplified Testing Interface</a></li><li><a href="#4_Parallel_Execution">7.4 4. Parallel Execution</a></li><li><a href="#5_Choose_Your_Devices">7.5 5. Choose Your Devices</a></li><li><a href="#6_Real-Time_Reporting">7.6 6. Real-Time Reporting</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">8 Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what-is-a-mobile-testing-lab">What is a Mobile Testing Lab?</h2>



<a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://code.facebook.com/posts/300815046928882/the-mobile-device-lab-at-the-prineville-data-center/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Facebook&#8217;s mobile device testing lab</a> at the Prineville Data Centre has Android and iOS devices that test Facebook applications and Instagram. Thousands of mobile devices are racked for testing apps that would soon launch into the real world. The high-tech lab is remotely operated and specifically targets device behavior regarding speed, memory usage, and battery consumption.



This spirit of delivering the best user experience amidst which Facebook came up with a multimillion-dollar mobile testing lab is worth the applause. A dedicated mobile testing lab will go a long way if you share the same business goal.



In this blog, we will explain how mobile testing labs work and how you can use them to test your mobile device.







<h2 id="the-need-for-mobile-testing-lab">The Need For Mobile Testing Lab</h2>



A <a href="https://firebase.google.com/docs/test-lab/android/available-testing-devices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">reliable testing facility</a> ensures that no stones are left unturned &#8211; this is possible when you run your app on all possible devices. Here are the key reasons why it makes sense to have a dedicated mobile device lab:



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Find and fix bugs at the earliest</li><li>Reduce the time-to-market</li><li>Launch more features per app release</li><li>Cover all possible mobile devices</li><li>Agile and DevOps methodology</li></ul>



<h2 id="key-considerations">Key Considerations</h2>



<h3 id="1-compatibility">1. Compatibility</h3>



Speaking of Android OS, in 2019, there were around 2.5 billion devices. These devices ran on various OS versions, screen resolutions, and network types. So, your lab must be capable of embracing the maximum number of devices.



<h3 id="2-device-infrastructure">2. Device Infrastructure</h3>



Once you have chosen your target devices, consider the architectural aspect of your hardware. Having solid and reliable servers to manage mobile devices and execute test scripts would be best. These servers should be able to collect the requests by Dev and QA teams, process and execute these requests, as well as deliver the results &amp; reports to the respective stakeholders.



<h3 id="3-internet-and-power-supply">3. Internet and Power Supply</h3>



These are the lifelines of any test lab. As the devices in a test lab add up, the WiFi bandwidth must also be updated. You would struggle with timeouts or slow server responses with weak Wi-Fi points. Next comes the batteries of your mobile devices. Batteries overheat and degrade over time which may need regular replacements and repairs.



<h3 id="4-automated-testing">4. Automated Testing</h3>



The clear takeaway of embracing automation testing for mobile apps is that you simultaneously test various devices, operating systems, and network types. A single test script lets you save on your QA spending, enhance coverage, and fasten the bug resolution.



<h3 id="5-ci-cd-integration">5. CI/CD Integration</h3>



Today, almost every online business has a mobile app. For some, the mobile app is their first step or the only platform where they interact with their new and existing customers. To streamline the regular app updates, it is imperative to adhere to Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) protocols.



<h2 id="but-is-the-investment-necessary">But Is The Investment Necessary?</h2>



Not really.&nbsp;



A dedicated test lab only makes sense when you have a realistic budget and infrastructure at the place. You need to be prepared for the fact that your mobile device may get outdated within days and you would have to update your repository every now and then.



Here is a quick rundown of mobile testing on real vs virtual devices:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;"><td style="width: 100px;border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;" class="pb-10">&nbsp;Criteria</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px; border-collapse: collapse;">Real Devices</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Simulators &amp; Emulators
</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;"><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Cost</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Very costly</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Minimal cost</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;"><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Reliability</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;"> Exhibit accurate results</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Mimics real devices and provides reliable results</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;"><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Processing</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Testing is much faster</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Testing is slower</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;"><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Debugging</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Debugging and capturing defects is tricky
</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Easy to debug and capture defects</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;"><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;
 border-collapse: collapse;">Cross-Platform Testing</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse;">Time-consuming</td><td style="border: 1px solid black; padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse;">Needs less time</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Hence, for many ‘practical’ reasons, building your own data center with physical devices is not ideal. New devices will launch more rigorously in the near future and you would always find yourself struggling to keep your hardware up to the minute.



<h2 id="why-does-cloud-testing-make-sense">Why Does Cloud Testing Make Sense?</h2>



<a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.mobilecellphonerepairing.com/top-mobile-phone-manufacturers-in-the-world.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mobile phone m</a>anufacturers<a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.mobilecellphonerepairing.com/top-mobile-phone-manufacturers-in-the-world.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> compete with each other </a>to launch feature-rich devices. This is a treat for the users; these regular enhancements make it quite a task for testing companies to validate the applications in the dynamic ecosystem.



Investing and maintaining a dedicated lab is not feasible. A reliable and convenient alternative to achieve quality goals is a cloud platform. <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/benefits-cloud-based-automation-testing-cloud-test-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Cloud-based testing </a>offers access to a large or possibly every device and network type for application testing. And with the rapidly evolving mobile technology, the need for mobile cloud solutions will rise.



<h2 id="get-your-own-cloud-mobile-testing-lab-today">Get Your Own (Cloud) Mobile Testing Lab Today&nbsp;</h2>



Testing apps on real devices is imperative unless you become a tech giant like Facebook, and it is not practical to buy every device to test your app. That&#8217;s why investing in an automated testing tool that gives you access to a cloud-based mobile testing lab enables you to perform comprehensive mobile testing without burning a hole in your pocket. 



One such test automation tool that gives you access to an <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">exhaustive mobile testing lab and is cloud-based is Testsigma</a>, let&#8217;s read more about Testsigma in the section below.



<h2 id="why-choose-testsigma">Why Choose Testsigma?</h2>



<h3 id="1-continuous-testing">1. <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/continuous-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Continuous Testing</a></h3>



Testsigma is just the right thing for you if you&#8217;re working in a distributed environment. With its robust cloud-based test management, stakeholders across different locations can work together by logging in from any device and anywhere.



<h3 id="2-enhanced-coverage">2. Enhanced Coverage</h3>



Testsigma’s mobile testing lab comes with pre-configured architectures. These highly advanced environments are free of any issues with unstable configurations and enable you to execute continuous and parallel test cases.



<h3 id="3-simplified-testing-interface">3. Simplified Testing Interface</h3>



Testsigma offers a comprehensive ecosystem to plan, design, develop, execute, analyze, and report for continuous testing in Agile and DevOps. With Testsigma, <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/why-choose-testsigma-for-continuous-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">you get simplified integrations </a>with your other CI/CD, bug tracking, and collaboration tools that lets you bring all your testing resources together.



<h3 id="4-parallel-execution">4. Parallel Execution</h3>



When collaborated with the right test automation tool, parallel execution will let you simultaneously execute test scripts on multiple devices. You are no longer restricted to device usage as per the number of USB ports in your system. And helps you save on the crucial test execution time. With Testsigma, you can automate your mobile test cases from one place quickly and then just need to choose the type and number of devices to begin your testing.



<h3 id="5-choose-your-devices">5. Choose Your Devices</h3>



Leverage <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/test-lab" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Testsigma’s centralized device lab</a> that enables the project managers to assign and reassign the <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/platforms-browsers-mobile-devices" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">testing devices of choice</a>. There are instances when you need to prioritize testing devices like resolving a bug on a particular screen resolution. Testsigma’s cloud testing infrastructure allows you to choose your devices easily, with just a click.



<h3 id="6-real-time-reporting">6. Real-Time Reporting</h3>



Testsigma’s cloud-based testing environment showcases real-time testing results. Hence, you can review the bugs and errors even when the tests are still running. Your Dev and QA team can work together on the test case and have the issues fixed on the go.



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



Thus, even though having a mobile testing lab is imperative if you are developing a mobile product. It is not really a big task if you go for one of the readily available solutions for mobile test automation and execution. One such <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/best-cloud-based-test-automation-tool-continuous-delivery-demands/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">solution is Testsigma</a>.



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Mobile Testing Lab How to decide which way to go

Mobile Testing Lab: How to Decide Which Way to Go?

How do you feel when an application on your device starts breaking but it works just fine on your friend’s smartphone? You reload the browser for browser check and wait for the website to load. When it does, it does not feel right. All the features are not visible or you cannot click them.



Eventually, you will find yourself in the middle of two roads:



 1. Consider that the site is facing an issue and maybe come back later. OR



2. Look for another site as this one is broken.



Such incidents are probably the first encounters of compatibility challenges. Even though most of the web browsers adhere to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_standards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Open Web Standards</a> and render HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, it does not guarantee constant performance throughout browsers.



Enters Cross Browser Testing, a comprehensive way of finding and fixing compatibility bottlenecks. Browser check for compatibility ensures that your audience is not alienated from the amazing features of your web app–simply because it didn&#8217;t work on their device. Before moving on to how to check browser compatibility ,we can go through the need of responsiveness.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#The_Need_For_Responsiveness">1 The Need For Responsiveness</a></li><li><a href="#What_Is_Covered_Under_Cross_Browser_Compatibility_Testing">2 What Is Covered Under Cross Browser Compatibility Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Check_Browser_Compatibility">3 How to Check Browser Compatibility?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusionnbsp">4 Conclusion:&nbsp;</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="the-need-for-responsiveness">The Need For Responsiveness</h2>



Responsiveness is the ability of an application to adapt according to any screen resolution or size. The need for responsiveness has become of utmost importance ever since the rise in mobile web use.&nbsp;



A <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">report by Statista</a> has revealed that there would be around 4 billion smartphone users by 2021. This has urged the application developers to ensure that their website serves equally well on all kinds of web browsers and OS versions.



Along with the browser, the “<a href="https://www.w3schools.com/css/css_rwd_viewport.asp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Viewport</a>” is also a key aspect of cross browser compatibility testing as it plays a critical role in how the application will display. If an app ill-performs due to browser or viewport – the user experience is severely hampered.



<h2 id="what-is-covered-under-cross-browser-compatibility-testing">What Is Covered Under Cross Browser Compatibility Testing?</h2>



If you’re targeting compatibility testing, you would have to check the website for literally everything.&nbsp;



However, you might not always have the right amount of time for that.



To maximize test coverage and get it done the first time, a specification list comes in handy. This list guides you on the areas to test, the browsers, versions, operating systems to consider, the benchmarks to meet, as well as time and budget allocation.



<h2 id="how-to-check-browser-compatibility">How to Check Browser Compatibility?</h2>



Here is your comprehensive roadmap to cross browser testing:



Begin With Chrome



A recent report by W3Counter revealed that <a href="https://www.w3counter.com/globalstats.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">65.3% of the global web browser </a>market share belonged to Chrome. So, Chrome is your go-to browser when you flag off compatibility testing. Perform all the design and functionality tests on Chrome first in order to have a better picture of how the application is intended to behave in front of the end-user.



Shortlist Your Browsers



Rather than merely going with your instincts, it is recommended to choose the browsers on some logical grounds. Prioritize testing the browser-OS combinations that are most popular among your target audience. Check out <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-compatibility-testing-what-browsers-you-should-test/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">this post for comprehensive details</a> on choosing the right web browsers.



Test The Primary Feature



Ensure that the key functionality of the application performs well on all the possible browser-OS combinations. The main areas you should consider for testing are:



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Menu bars and dialog boxes function as desired</li><li>Form fields are populated correctly</li><li>Application syncs well with cookies</li><li>Ensure inputs are seamless for all device types</li></ul>



Utilize Automation Testing



It is a no brainer that there’s a lot to test when checking cross browser compatibility for websites. If you <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/cross-browser-testing-manual-vs-automated-browser-testing/" target="_blank">intend to manually tes</a>t across all the possible environments, you will end up draining a lot of resources. Eventually, automated cross browser testing is a practical approach in order to implement continuous testing along with continuous delivery. You may <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/6-steps-automate-cross-browser-testing-continuous-delivery/" target="_blank">read this post to get started with automated cross browser testing</a>.



Infrastructure



You need a variety of devices to track and audit the application behavior when browsers are running on different operating systems. You would be choosing either of the following ways when setting up your cross browser testing infrastructure:&nbsp;



<ul><li>Use emulators or simulators and test browsers on these. Although you will heavily slice down the costs, these virtual machines are not scalable, and unreliable.</li><li>If you do not have any budget constraints and can procure real devices and keep them updated &amp; running over time, you may set up your dedicated device lab.&nbsp;</li><li>The final and highly recommended way is to utilize a cloud-based testing infrastructure that can enable you to run tests on a remote lab of devices and browsers. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank"></a></li></ul>



<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank">Testsigma </a>is a renowned <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/cloud-based-cross-browser-testing-tools-advantages/" target="_blank">automated cross browser testing tool</a> that helps you to easily create and run tests for your applications. The cloud-based tool offers a wide range of 1000+ desktop browsers as well as real iOS and Android device browsers.



Accessibility



The <a href="http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) revealed that 15% of the global population have a disability, making accessibility testing a critical aspect of app testing. Aim for compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) in order to cater to the custom needs of the differently-abled users. 



Responsiveness



When auditing the <a aria-label="responsiveness of the application (opens in a new tab)" href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/how-to-test-responsive-web-design-cross-browser-compatibility/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">responsiveness of the application</a>, consider how your end-users would access the application &#8211; this information, along with the data from the <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/selecting-a-cross-browser-testing-tool-questions-to-ask/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test on the Right Devices</a> report will help you shortlist the target web browsers.







<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="945" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-staging.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/Infographic-for-Here-is-How-to-check-browser-compatibility-for-website-BLOG.png" alt="Testsigma Cross Browser Combatibility Testing" class="wp-image-14480"/></figure>



<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion:&nbsp;</h2>



Cross browser testing can be quite daunting for a QA engineer. The biggest pain is accessing all possible devices and browser versions on which the app might run. If you need a comprehensive tool which can cater to all your testing requisites and ensure compatibility across devices and browsers, <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">Testsigma, an automated cross browser testing tool </a>is the best bang for your buck. With the ease of writing automated tests and ability to test over 2000+ browsers, Testsigma stands out as a one-stop tool for cross browser testing. 



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How to check browser compatibility for website

Check Browser Compatibility For A Website – A How-To Blog

Every mobile application, irrespective of its category, has a common goal of creating an impeccable user experience. App users want to see something new and innovative. And even though the great user experience is the most important, it only comes with quality.&nbsp;&nbsp;To make your mobile app work efficiently, make sure these mobile app testing checklists are followed.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Checklist_for_Mobile_App_Testing">1 Checklist for Mobile App Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Test_your_app_for_cross-platform_Compatibility">2 Test your app for cross-platform Compatibility</a></li><li><a href="#Test_your_app_against_all_possible_settings_and_configurations">3 Test your app against all possible settings and configurations</a></li><li><a href="#Base_your_test_cases_on_the_type_of_app_you_are_testing">4 Base your test cases on the type of app you are testing</a><ul><li><a href="#i_Web_app_testing">4.1 i. Web app testing : </a></li><li><a href="#ii_Native_and_Hybrid_app_testing">4.2 ii. Native and Hybrid app testing : </a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Step_4_Test_the_GUI_of_your_app_thoroughly">5 Step 4: Test the GUI of your app thoroughly</a></li><li><a href="#Step_5_Test_your_app_for_back-enddatabase-related_functionalities">6 Step 5: Test your app for back-end/database-related functionalities</a></li><li><a href="#Step_6_Test_your_app_for_all_positive_and_negative_test_cases_around_storagememory_in_use">7 Step 6: Test your app for all positive and negative test cases around storage/memory in use</a></li><li><a href="#Step_7_Test_your_app_on_all_types_of_networks_that_the_users_may_use_on_it">8 Step 7: Test your app on all types of networks that the users may use on it</a></li><li><a href="#Step_8_Test_your_mobile_app_for_the_user_journeys_8211_the_path_a_real_user_might_take_while_using_your_app">9 Step 8: Test your mobile app for the user journeys &#8211; the path a real user might take while using your app</a></li><li><a href="#Step_9_Mobile_App_Automation">10 Step 9: Mobile App Automation</a></li><li><a href="#Step_10_Make_sure_your_app_is_safe_and_secure_for_the_users">11 Step 10: Make sure your app is safe and secure for the users</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">12 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_Does_Mobile_Application_Testing_Include">12.1 What Does Mobile Application Testing Include?</a></li><li><a href="#How_Do_You_Conduct_a_Mobile_App_Test">12.2 How Do You Conduct a Mobile App Test?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_Basics_of_Mobile_Testing">12.3 What are the Basics of Mobile Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_Different_Types_of_Mobile_App_Testing">12.4 What are the Different Types of Mobile App Testing?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Suggested_Reading">13 Suggested Reading</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="checklist-for-mobile-app-testing">Checklist for Mobile App Testing</h2>



To ensure quality, mobile app testing is essential. In this blog, we will discuss a step-by-step mobile app testing checklist.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-test-your-app-for-cross-platform-compatibility">Test your app for cross-platform Compatibility</h2>



Your Android application may run fine on Oreo (Android 10), but the same might not be true with Marshmallow(Android 6.0). This is where cross-platform testing comes into the picture.&nbsp;



You should test your application on all the possible combinations of operating systems, screen sizes and resolutions that the app users might be using. This ensures that the app will behave uniformly across all devices.



<h2 id="test-your-app-against-all-possible-settings-and-configurations">Test your app against all possible settings and configurations</h2>



A mobile app interacts with many features – both in-app and mobile device based. The app should be compatible with all the possible settings and configurations. These may include screen resolution, orientation, different versions of operating systems, camera, motion sensor, etc.&nbsp;



<h2 id="base-your-test-cases-on-the-type-of-app-you-are-testing">Base your test cases on the type of app you are testing</h2>



A mobile app generally falls under three categories &#8211; native, web, and hybrid.



<h3 id="i-web-app-testing">i. Web app testing : </h3>



Optimized for mobile browsing and server-driven, the web apps should be tested for UI to ensure all the app elements are aligned for different screens and resolutions. Since the mobile apps have limited storage space and power supply, test for memory and battery usage. Avoid excessive usage of JavaScript&nbsp; &#8211; this might drain the mobile’s battery.



<h3 id="ii-native-and-hybrid-app-testing">ii. Native and Hybrid app testing : </h3>



Although driven by different technologies, native and hybrid apps share similar functionality and hence, their approach to testing. Functional testing is the key player here&nbsp; &#8211; run functional tests to validate key aspects such as screen orientation, gestures, compatibility, connectivity, performance, and interruptions such as calls and push notifications.



<h2 id="step-4-test-the-gui-of-your-app-thoroughly">Step 4: Test the GUI of your app thoroughly</h2>



Front-end testing validates the features available on the UI of an app &#8211; testers check the functionality of the mobile app’s GUI. This includes testing the menus, dropdowns, navigation buttons, and gestures, forms, and other features used by the end user.&nbsp;



Front-end testing will ensure that the app under test will perform on different browsers and devices. Perform unit, regression, performance, integration, and acceptance tests on the app for comprehensive front-end testing.



<h2 id="step-5-test-your-app-for-back-end-database-related-functionalities">Step 5: Test your app for back-end/database-related functionalities</h2>



Back-end or database testing deals with the server side of the mobile app. Today, most mobile apps are API-driven. Data is populated via REST APIs displayed in the UI. Use a proxy to track the app’s requests and responses. Perform SQL, performance, and security testing to prevent deadlock, data loss, etc.



<h2 id="step-6-test-your-app-for-all-positive-and-negative-test-cases-around-storage-memory-in-use">Step 6: Test your app for all positive and negative test cases around storage/memory in use</h2>



Mobile users want to have all their essential apps on the go. However, the devices do not have enough storage to fulfill the need of installing high-resolution apps.&nbsp;



Keep an eye on the app size with every release. You should not be in a situation where the end-user might not download the app only because of its large size.



<h2 id="step-7-test-your-app-on-all-types-of-networks-that-the-users-may-use-on-it">Step 7: Test your app on all types of networks that the users may use on it</h2>



Run the app on different network conditions to measure its performance under weak signal and data transition. To <a href="https://www.solarwinds.com/network-performance-monitor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test for network performance</a>, consider the following aspects:



<p id="i-jittersoccurs-during-a-delay-in-data-collection-as-the-data-travels-in-the-form-of-packets-these-packets-may-disperse-while-moving-from-the-sender-to-the-receiver-hence-the-data-becomes-scrambled-and-this-is-called-jitters-in-such-cases-the-app-should-notify-the-user-to-either-resend-the-data-or-wait-for-the-system-to-respond">i. Jitters Occurs during a delay in data collection. As the data travels in packets, these packets may disperse while moving from the sender to the receiver. Hence, the data becomes scrambled, and this is called jitters. In such cases, the app should notify the user to either resend the data or wait for the system to respond.



ii. Packet Loss During complete packet loss, ensure the app resends the data request or notify the end-user. Rather than keeping the user waiting, the app should prompt the app user to try again.



iii. Network Speed and Type Network speeds vary from time to time &#8211; ideally, this should not hamper the user experience. Check the app on different networks and speeds. Validate how the app behaves when the mobile app moves from mobile data to WiFi and vice versa.



<h2 id="step-8-test-your-mobile-app-for-the-user-journeys-the-path-a-real-user-might-take-while-using-your-app">Step 8: Test your mobile app for the user journeys &#8211; the path a real user might take while using your app</h2>



A good mobile app flow is the one that needs no explanation and can be understood on the first go. The user flow can vary based on how the app responds to different devices and operating systems.



For example, to log in to an app, a user may choose from fingerprint, face identification, or login via username and password. Validate all the possible capabilities to ensure the best possible digital experience to the users.



Now, Testsigma supports inspection as well as execution of your <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile test cases</a> without any kind of setup at your end. See how it is done in the webinar recording <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/webinars/reimagined-mobile-test-automation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. 



<h2 id="step-9-mobile-app-automation">Step 9: Mobile App Automation</h2>



Automation can increase the productivity of your testing process by manifolds. Tools like <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://website.testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma </a>enable you to create custom IDEs, in-house scripts, and cloud-testing frameworks to detect bugs and errors. 



<h2 id="step-10-make-sure-your-app-is-safe-and-secure-for-the-users">Step 10: Make sure your app is safe and secure for the users</h2>



Due to the diverse operating system components, mobile app security can look quite intimidating. However, you can follow these common steps to mobile app security.



i. Secure the source code and database



ii. Perform Input Validation



iii. Perform Penetration Testing



iv. Use Cryptography



v. Prevent Client Side Injection



vi. Implement HTTPS – SSL/TLS Security Layer



vii. Protect Local Storage Data



<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-regular"><table style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse" class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
 <tr><th colspan="2" style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse" class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Common Types Of Mobile App Testing</th></tr>
 </thead>

<tbody>
<tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse" class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Usability Testing</td>
<td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse">Ensures that the app is easy to use and offers the desired user experience.</td></tr>

<tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse" class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Compatibility Testing</td>

<td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse">Ensures that the app performs well on different devices, browsers, screen sizes, and OS versions.</td></tr>

<tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse" class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Interface Testing</td>

<td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse">Testing of menu options, navigation, gestures, transitions, buttons, history, and settings.</td></tr>

<tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse" class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Services Testing</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse">Testing the online and offline modes of app.</td>

</tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse" class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Low-level Resource Testing</td>

<td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse">Validating local database issues.</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse" class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Performance Testing</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse">Testing the app performance by switching to and from mobile data to WIFI, data sharing, battery usage, etc.</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse" class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Operational Testing</td>

<td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse">Testing of backups in case of data loss during app upgrades.</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse" class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Installation Testing</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse">Validating the installation and uninstallation of the app.</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse" class="has-text-align-left" data-align="left">Security Testing</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse">Testing the data protection capability of the mobile app.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



What do you think about this mobile app testing checklist? Would you like to add a point to this list? If yes, which one? At Testsigma, we have a team of highly experienced QA engineers who are well-versed with the latest tools and technologies to take care of all your mobile app testing needs. Want to see the ROI of <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile app testing </a>with Testsigma?



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



<h3 id="what-does-mobile-application-testing-include">What Does Mobile Application Testing Include?</h3>



Mobile application testing involves analyzing mobile apps across multiple devices for visual appeal, consistency, usability, compatibility, responsiveness, performance, security, and user experience. It&#8217;s crucial to ensure that the app meets quality standards and delivers a seamless experience. Testsigma&#8217;s low-code automation platform can help streamline the <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile application testing </a>process and ensure high-quality outcomes.



<h3 id="how-do-you-conduct-a-mobile-app-test">How Do You Conduct a Mobile App Test?</h3>



To conduct a mobile application test, create a list of the agenda of your application covering the requirements across aspects like usability, functionality, consistency, and visual appeal, and then conduct testing either manually or automated, ensuring all these components are satisfied.



<h3 id="what-are-the-basics-of-mobile-testing">What are the Basics of Mobile Testing?</h3>



Network functionality, OS compatibility, Screen size and display resolution, UX and UI, and Content relevance are a few basics of mobile testing.



<h3 id="what-are-the-different-types-of-mobile-app-testing">What are the Different Types of Mobile App Testing?</h3>



The different types of mobile app testing are:



<ul><li>Functional Testing&nbsp;</li><li>Security Testing</li><li>Usability Testing</li><li>Localization Testing&nbsp;</li><li>Speed Testing&nbsp;</li><li>Interruption Testing&nbsp;</li><li>Memory Leak Testing</li></ul>



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



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/mobile-testing-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">11 Best Automation Tools For Mobile Testing</a>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/8-challenges-of-mobile-app-testing-and-how-to-solve-them/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">8 Major Mobile Testing Challenges &amp; Solution</a>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/how-to-perform-mobile-automation-testing-of-the-ui/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to perform Automated Testing of a Mobile UI?</a>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/mobile-automation-testing-tools-appium-testsigma-testcomplete-and-more/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mobile Automation Testing Tools</a>

How to Perform Mobile App Testing: A Comprehensive Checklist

If you are working in an agile environment, you may have come across the term ‘code review’. It is a strategic operation where you break the source code into snippets in order to audit the code before it moves to the testing phase.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Code_Review">1 What is Code Review?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_are_Code_Reviews_Important">2 Why are Code Reviews Important?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_Benefits_of_Code_Reviews">3 What are the Benefits of Code Reviews?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_Disadvantages_of_Code_Reviews">4 What are the Disadvantages of Code Reviews?</a></li><li><a href="#Role_of_a_Software_Tester_in_Code_Reviews">5 Role of a Software Tester in Code Reviews</a></li><li><a href="#4_Different_Code_Review_Approaches">6 4 Different Code Review Approaches</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">7 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs">8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_Code_Review_in_SDLC">8.1 What is Code Review in SDLC?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_Code_Review_Tools">8.2 What are Code Review Tools?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_a_Good_Code_Review">8.3 What is a Good Code Review?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Suggested_Readings">9 Suggested Readings</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what-is-code-review">What is Code Review?</h2>



Short definition: It is a two-way communication between a coder and a reviewer. The agenda is to learn from one another, understand the application, detect bugs, and ensure that the code follows quality standards.



Long definition: It is a quality assurance process in which a tester analyzes the source code of the application under review. You can either perform this manually or with the help of automated tools. The process ensures that bug detection and resolution happen early to give the best possible code quality.



<h2 id="why-are-code-reviews-important">Why are Code Reviews Important?</h2>



You may wonder why you would need code review when you have a <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/test-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing plan</a> in place.<gwmw style="display:none;">



Following are the key benefits that will enable you to understand the importance:



1. Find More Bugs: It lets you detect bugs at the primary stages of development. As a result, you save a lot of hours and effort during testing. True is the fact that automation testing will help you do the same thing. However, a human perspective is sometimes necessary to find and fix logical errors.



2. Stay Agile: Given the strict quality guidelines and timelines we need to work in, you must have, or would soon be adhering to, the agile methodologies. This means you need to deliver the best results while meeting the cost and time constraints. With code review, you can create bug-free prototypes and share them with the stakeholders.



3. Quality Compliance: It let you abide by the predefined coding rules and standards.



4. Collaboration: Frequent review sessions will bring out the best in your developers and testers. Team members can discover their peer’s strengths and also assist them in improvements.



<h2 id="what-are-the-benefits-of-code-reviews">What are the Benefits of Code Reviews?</h2>



When you think about it, it is just another set of eyes looking for possible human error. But for just one benefit, is it advisable to spend time and more resources on this practice?



Well, here are a few benefits :



<ul><li>Identifying code issues early</li><li>Ensuring to comply with standard code regulations</li><li>Increasing software security</li><li>Implementing a consistent design and development process</li><li>Improving team collaboration and cohesion</li></ul>



<h2 id="what-are-the-disadvantages-of-code-reviews">What are the Disadvantages of Code Reviews?</h2>



With every advantage comes a few disadvantages that you must know about. Only looking at the benefits and deciding on starting code reviews will do your business more bad than good. If you don’t prepare your team to tackle the issues related to code review, they are more likely to stay oblivious to the problems.



Know about the disadvantages here:



<ul><li>Time and resource constraints</li><li>Not every developer consists of knowledge about every project</li><li>Not necessary for every feature or simple applications</li><li>You cannot do a code review when developing a prototype product.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-role-of-a-software-tester-in-code-reviews">Role of a Software Tester in Code Reviews</h2>



A software tester might find the code a bit intimidating in the beginning. It is best to pair up with an experienced developer for code reviewing. Gradually, when the tester is able to identify the patterns and business logic, things start making sense eventually.



It enables the testers to understand the core functionalities of the project and share their wisdom to resolve the bottlenecks.



Here are a few tried-and-tested ways by which you can begin your code-reviewing experience:



1. Synchronous Review: An informal review where the developer stands next to the reviewer.



2. Asynchronous review: Specialized tools are used to review the code.



3. Instant Review: Developer and reviewer pair-up on a single system.



4. Once-a-while: Developer shares the code with the reviewers who meet and discuss the updates.



As a software tester, you would ask the following questions during your code reviewing session:



1. How was this code written?



2. Are there any patterns used for coding?



3. Is the code easy to understand?



4. Are there any logic errors?



5. Is the code secure?



6. Is the log file for debugging available?



7. Are there any third-party integrations?



8. Are <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/unit-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unit tests</a> included?



9. What amendments are being made?



The best part is that you don’t have to be an expert in order to take part in a code review session. You can review a code even if you are at the basic level of coding. What would be your role? You need to see what changes have been made to ask questions.



Before you dive in, get used to the process by initiating with minimal changes.  Understand more about them and when you doubt any change, add your comments and question the coder. Given the benefits, you would want to include code reviewing as one of the key phases of the process. This will ensure that you deliver a quality product that adds value to your end-users.<gwmw style="display:none;">



<h2 id="4-different-code-review-approaches">4 Different Code Review Approaches</h2>



Get to know about different approaches in detail.



Formal 



It&#8217;s based on a formal process where testers follow a structured process to find issues in the code. It is also used to <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/7-top-tools-for-responsive-web-design-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">find design defects</a>.<gwmw style="display:none;">



Under formal review, one of the most popular adoptions is the Fagan inspection. It follows a six-step process: Planning, Overview, Preparation, Inspection Meeting, Rework, and Follow-up. This holds the basic idea of defining output requirements for each of the steps mentioned. And while executing the process, you check each step&#8217;s output and compare it to the expected output. Subsequently, you decide to move on to the next step if the current step is working properly.



Lightweight 



These reviews are mostly followed by developers, not testers, when they are reviewing a code that is not life-threatening in nature, I.e., it does not impact the software quality to a great extent.



There are four types of lightweight reviews:



<ul><li>Instant code review or pair programming</li><li>Synchronous or over-the-shoulder code review</li><li>Asynchronous or tool-assisted code review</li><li>Code review once in a while or meeting-based code review</li></ul>



We have discussed these four types above.



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



If review is done right, can prove to be an effective way to share knowledge and understand your application. With time and experience, you will eventually start realizing the patterns, know more about the nuts and bolts of the codebase, and have a comprehensive perspective of the application.



Just like code reviews, tests are also reviewed. <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/manual-testing-vs-automation-testing-which-one-should-you-choose/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Manual test</a> cases can be reviewed by peers, developers, and managers. Similarly, <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/how-to-convert-manual-test-cases-into-automated-test-cases-and-why/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automated test cases</a> can be reviewed too. Sometimes, the processes for reviews of automated test cases are the same as that for code reviews, as automation may also be done via code. You can also read more here on <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/how-to-convert-manual-test-cases-into-automated-test-cases-and-why/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how to convert manual test cases to automated ones</a>.



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma, a cloud-based test automation tool</a>, has also simplified the process of test reviews. In addition, it also simplifies the process of test automation. Thus, in <a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/software-test-automation-what-to-expect-near-future/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation</a> and reviews – non-technical members of the team can be involved too.



<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions-faqs">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</h2>



<h3 id="what-is-code-review-in-sdlc">What is Code Review in SDLC?</h3>



In SDLC it is a critical part that attempts to identify and resolve code issues before the testing phase. It involves going through the developer’s code to find mistakes and fix them before moving on to testing the application.



<h3 id="what-are-code-review-tools">What are Code Review Tools?</h3>



A code review tool is usually an online tool that integrates seamlessly with Engineering Workflow Management source control and work items. It offers you the capability to add output to your work items to present it to your team and stakeholders.



<h3 id="what-is-a-good-code-review">What is a Good Code Review?</h3>



It observes all the code changes and looks at the reasons why this happened. It is clear and does not overlook even the slightest of mistakes that are common when writing code. It covers code correctness, test coverage, and functionality changes and follows the coding guides and best practices.







<h2 id="suggested-readings">Suggested Readings</h2>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/software-testing-strategy/">Software Testing Strategy</a><gwmw style="display:none;"></gwmw>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/top-software-testing-trends-to-look-out-for-in-2022/">Top Software Testing Trends</a><gwmw style="display:none;"></gwmw>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/software-testing-interview-questions/">Software Testing Interview Questions</a><gwmw style="display:none;"></gwmw>



<a href="https://website.testsigma.com/blog/the-different-software-testing-types-explained/">Different Software Testing Types</a><gwmw style="display:none;"></gwmw>

Role Of A Software Tester In Code Reviews

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