In today’s world where ‘data is the new oil’ ( as said by Clive Humby), not giving proper attention to data-driven testing is not justified. If you have an application that needs data input in some form then it will require data-driven testing. 



Additionally, when during testing your application &#8211; there are testing scenarios that require multiple permutations/combinations of input data in your application, then you might have to think of using a test automation tool for automating them.



We seek help from automation tools for data-driven testing, because manually it may be tiring, time-consuming, outright boring, and prone to human errors. So we create a data repository where all of the data resides, separate from the test scripts. 



The data repository could be a CSV file, excel sheet, DB table, etc. Scripts and data are kept separate from each other to increase the maintainability, simplicity, and understandability for future use. The test results are a huge set of data and they need to be matched against the expected results, which are again stored in files.&nbsp;



Let us see a few scenarios where data-driven testing is useful in providing a quality product.



Scenario 1: Tabular data&nbsp;



Example: Registration forms that require email, password, and other information. 



It is a classic scenario where we require data-driven testing(DDT) to perform thorough testing on the input data. The registration form needs to be tested for all sorts of inputs such as &#8211; alphanumeric, alphabets, special characters, blank input, numerics, etc.&nbsp;



DDT needs to be performed for negative and positive test cases as depicted in the table below:



<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">Username value</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Password value</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Valid</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Valid</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Valid</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Invalid</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Invalid</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Valid</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Invalid</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Invalid</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Valid</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">NULL</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">NULL</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Valid</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">NULL</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">NULL</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



The steps will be:



<ul><li>Create and store the test data in a data repository. The data file will also contain the expected output and actual output.</li><li>The driver script will pick the input data from the files and fill in the input fields in real-time.</li><li>After performing the logic execution the driver scripts pick the actual output from the application and write the actual output in the data file.</li><li>Later the expected output and actual outputs are compared and the test results are recorded accordingly as Pass/Fail.</li><li>Repeat with the next test data.</li></ul>



A detailed DDT guide having useful and vast information is <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/data-driven-testing" target="_blank">here</a>.



Scenario 2: Data Arrays



Example: Travel itinerary/ Flight booking systems



For testing a travel/flight booking system, we would need many permutations and combinations of the test data. The bookings will vary according to the input data such as first name, last name, origin, destination, date of travel, etc.&nbsp;



&nbsp;Interestingly, in this example, the data is difficult to store in tabular form and will be best stored in arrays called ‘flight’ and ‘passengers’. There are so many input fields in this scenario, and we need to create data sets for each of the input fields accordingly. 



The driver script will read the data from the ‘flight’ and ‘passenger’ arrays and the logic of flight booking will be executed. Finally, the test results are generated based on the comparison of actual results and expected results.



Scenarios 1 and 2 are the ones used for end-to-end test automation mostly, and it is advisable to use an end-to-end test automation tool that supports data-driven testing. 



An example of <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-data-driven-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">such a tool is Testsigma</a>, a cloud-based tool that simplifies your test case creation along with your data-driven testing. Not only does Testsigma really eases the setup of your data-driven testing, being cloud-based gives you the ability to start with your automation soon after you signup. It’s not just that, Testsigma readily integrates with your CI/CD workflow.&nbsp; 



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Read about the simplicity of data-driven testing with Testsigma <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/data-driven-testing" target="_blank">here</a>.



Scenario 3: Load and performance testing



Example: E-commerce applications



During festive sales, the e-commerce applications get record hits by the users. The application/ website should be ready for this large user interaction, we achieve this by load and performance testing.&nbsp; 



Here, we need to create thousands of simulated user profiles, which will add the items/goods in their shopping cart and perform the purchase. For this purpose, we seek help from DDT, we will create such a huge amount of user data and user actions in the data repository. 



Since it is a huge dataset we will take the help of automation to create this test data. The driver script and load/performance testing automation tools will work in tandem to run these test cases.



Scenario 4: Image-based data-driven testing




Example: Image classification algorithms



Photo management applications, e-commerce websites, search engines, healthcare, disaster monitoring, robotics, etc. need image classification algorithms to recognize and search images. 



These algorithms are capable of learning about the image and eventually recognizing it. Based on this recognition the software executes the logic, for a great user experience.&nbsp;



The functionality of these algorithms is tested using the image-based DDT. A large dataset of images is used to verify that the algorithm can learn and recognize images correctly.



Read more about how to select test data for these algorithms <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://machinelearningmastery.com/how-to-choose-the-right-test-options-when-evaluating-machine-learning-algorithms/" target="_blank">here</a>.



Scenario 5: Data-driven Testing for testing NLP(Natural Language Processing) 




Example: Chatbots



In quest of providing an incredible user experience, organizations are creating their software to support NLP(Natural Language Processing). Most of the websites are providing chatbots to their customers for resolving their queries in Natural Languages.



How do chatbots gain such a high level of consistency, responsiveness, correctness?&nbsp;



Through qualitative research data is gathered using surveys, questionnaires, user observations, clickstreams, etc. Then this data is fed into the chatbot for machine learning purposes, and then we use this test data for data-driven testing. 



The data provider will provide the user queries into the chatbot and then we can verify the correctness of the response during testing. Also, we would like to test the response time of the chatbot using this DDT. 



Scenario 6: Spam detection algorithm



Example: email spam



No one wants to get many <a href="https://easydmarc.com/blog/why-are-my-emails-going-to-spam-and-how-to-fix-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emails in the spam folder</a>, so spam detection algorithms have been designed to identify such <a href="https://powerdmarc.com/what-is-spam-email/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spam emails</a>. For this purpose the data is collected, analyzed, and a data set is created for the algorithm. 



A part of this data will act as the training data for the spam detection algorithm and the other part will be used as test data.



The test data is then run on the algorithm to decide the accuracy, predictability, and precision of the spam detection algorithm. Here also we are using data-driven testing to test the accuracy of the email spam detection algorithm in the application.



Learn More: <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/positive-and-negative-testing-scenarios/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Positive and Negative Testing Scenarios</a>



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



Machine learning and Big Data are driving the major industry decisions today. We all know very well that in today’s scenario, data is the new oil. To test such a huge amount of data we need help from DDT and tools that support it.&nbsp;



Data-driven testing provides enormous benefits, and in many cases, it is the only option to perform testing. The benefits of DDT are reusability, simplicity, maintainability, better test coverage, etc. Read more about the benefits of DDT<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/top-benefits-of-data-driven-test-automation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)"> here</a>.

Scenarios when Data Driven Testing is useful

Scenarios When Data-Driven Testing Is Useful

There are a plethora of browsers available in the market for both web browsing and mobile browsing such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, etc. Now, the challenge here is that no one browser is similar to others or works in a similar fashion. A website may look and function differently on different browsers which can result in a loss in revenue. Thus, testing websites in different browsers is needed in order to ensure that your visitors see your application in the same way you want them to, irrespective of the browsers they are using to access it.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Importance_of_Testing_Websites_in_Different_Browsers">1 Importance of Testing Websites in Different Browsers</a></li><li><a href="#How_Do_You_Determine_Which_Browser_to_Test_the_Website_on">2 How Do You Determine Which Browser to Test the Website on?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Use_Testsigma_for_Automated_Cross-Browser_Testing">3 Why Use Testsigma for Automated Cross-Browser Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Test_Website_on_Different_Browsers_Using_Testsigma">4 How to Test Website on Different Browsers Using Testsigma</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">5 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">6 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#How_do_I_run_a_test_script_in_multiple_browsers">6.1 How do I run a test script in multiple browsers?</a></li><li><a href="#Is_it_important_to_check_your_website_on_all_browsers">6.2 Is it important to check your website on all browsers?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="importance-of-testing-websites-in-different-browsers">Importance of Testing Websites in Different Browsers</h2>



Most people have a default browser. Among the multiple options that are available, users frequent only certain browsers while searching the internet. The majority of people use Chrome, which boasts of having the largest market share. However, there are others who prefer Firefox, Edge, or Safari.



If you have a website, then testing beyond your default browser is right for your business. All these browsers work differently and display the pages as per their functioning. There is a slight chance that your website layout might look different or even malfunction at a few places. But the rectification is quite simple: test the website in all browsers. This is called <a href="https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-browser testing</a>.



Checking websites on different browsers also helps to unearth the problems early on before the users get to it.



But again, if there are multiple browsers, how do you decide which browsers to take up for testing? You can’t just take any random list of browsers and begin the validation process. It will be time-taking.



Here’s a way you can reduce the work while ensuring that your website runs smoothly on popular and most-used browsers.



<h2 id="how-do-you-determine-which-browser-to-test-the-website-on">How Do You Determine Which Browser to Test the Website on?</h2>



As a rule of thumb, start by picking out browsers that are popular in the market. Google Chrome. Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Opera are some of the options to look at.



Another way to decide on different browsers to test the website is to research your customers/users and see which browsers they regularly use. Take this a bit further by learning about the browser version and device they use to better formulate your testing strategy and test coverage. Prioritize the browsers that are most used and move downward to the ones that are least used.



Don’t forget to test every new update and regression on all these browsers before making the final release. And there are many <a href="https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing-tools">cross browser testing tools</a> you can avail for this activity.



Testsigma is a cloud-based cross-browser testing tool that lets you easily automate the end-to-end test cases for the web. These test cases can then easily be executed on different browsers available on the cloud. 



Testsigma also gives you the flexibility to choose from multiple cloud labs that host these browsers and devices for cross browser testing.&nbsp; 



<h2 id="why-use-testsigma-for-automated-cross-browser-testing">Why Use <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma for Automated Cross-Browser Testing</a>?</h2>



Here are some features that make Testsigma the best choice for automated cross browser testing:



i. Coding in Simple English: Testsigma does not require you to be a coding expert as it allows users to write automation scripts in simple English. It makes it really easy for anyone get started with the creation and execution of automated tests on the Testsigma platform.



ii. Instant Access to Thousands of Real Devices &amp; Environments: Testsigma provides you with instant access to thousands of different testing environments available on the cloud.



iii. Parallel Testing: The platform allows the users to add multiple environments to testing and run parallel testing seamlessly to save a significant amount of time and effort.



iv. Supports Continuous Integration: Testsigma offers easy integrations with all the popular CI/CD tools such as Jenkins in order to facilitate continuous integration.



v. Robust Reporting Features: The platform comes with powerful test analytics and reporting that is customizable according to the user’s requirements. The reporting includes screenshots, video recordings, logs, and detailed reports to cover on all grounds.



vi. Scalability: With Testsigma, you need not worry about scaling up or down your testing infrastructure as per your specific testing needs. Additionally, as soon as a new version of a browser or operating systems (OS) is released in the market, it gets added by Testsigma to the available test environments.



As discussed above, Testsigma lets you automate your test cases and execute them in parallel on unlimited devices with different resolutions, browsers, and operating systems to cover every possible combination.



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<h2 id="how-to-test-website-on-different-browsers-using-testsigma">How to Test Website on Different Browsers Using Testsigma</h2>



Let’s see how Testsigma tests a website on different browsers. We will start from the very basic.&nbsp; 



1. Prerequisites



These are some conditions that you will need to be fulfilled before you are able to create a test case on Testsigma. Don’t worry, these steps would only take a few minutes:



i. Create an account on Testsigma app if you don’t have one already.



You can sign up for a free 21 days trial <a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">here</a>. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/CGMQP4KsV4YAiKknlrYjoPfb9EfL10l4cNPI4_wRxmI9TvVkpHFXw9L-AGYtD1j78mFR8XWEq8mUvN95pI7_4gJDqxM3rgzb557-koCQVRiO9ke-v7sm6J9YejUInh7pWkEwknNt" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform"/></figure>



2. Create a Project 



Once you have registered and done with the initial setup, you can move forward and create your first project. With Testsigma, you can create and manage multiple projects. 



With every new Testsigma account, you get four sample projects having different sample test cases for web, mobile web, iOS, and Android application types. You can easily create a new project from your Testsigma dashboard present on the top left corner to get started with the project.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/eBjblQg9uTdwYN_kDkwxvIogFE6L46Zfs_1FkpONG08QE24z_V63Oa-0yqa8n5dfd3p6tjYT343BPVLTiQxmaFMR0sN0OJwgZRwqoZ7o0RPsDDIrG8YNcy48KEB2SGFfI6Go4gu2" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform"/></figure>



While creating the project make sure to select ‘project type’ as ‘web application’ because we are going to create a project for cross browser testing:



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/3W0wY3k5Tbx5Rw8EdFaHaPqPsXFyvqdoAVv0e8D_40h1e9hlaawE8I8stVeCNmS8yHcYtgfKqkUK60X0FbbXAXswbmtqByw0jQvj88f75IZ84kST_IsAQKOmdqBGp9L2lL8CjkkA" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform"/></figure>



3. Create UI Identifiers



In order to automate your tests, you need to interact with the elements or objects present on a given web page. To specify these elements in the tests, you need some specific details about them which are known as UI identifiers. 



These UI identifiers can be easily created using the Testsigma Chrome extension that lets you capture the details of elements easily when you interact with your web app in the browser. You can either create them by including <a href="https://www.w3schools.com/xml/xpath_intro.asp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">XPath</a> or attributes of the CSS elements or just by recording them in Chrome.



To read more about creating UI identifiers check <a href="https://testsigma.com/docs/elements/web-apps/record-multiple-elements/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



4. Create and Run Test Cases



Creating test case in Testsigma is as easy as using simple natural language along with the UI identifiers. Testsigma allows you to run a test case on one of the following Test Labs –



i. Testsigma Lab 



ii. Local machines



iii. Private Grid



iv. Third-party IaaS providers such as BrowserStack/Sauce Labs 



A typical test case on Testsigma looks like this:



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/s3GanWLL2ViDzRo8qkvQG_dvrD7G1wGp7PYDUB2O0fdt5KhVQRhd6vVVCQdBfzIdTxt8KnOfg66HlZdYBLTpvI8A5RO5GSaXYTC2wZzaQSQT7UssnWxQSyvuX0ObwA0suMGetOVj" alt="A typical test case on Testsigma"/></figure>



5. Create Test Plan



Once you are done with the test creation, you can move forward with creating your test plan for cross-browser testing. You need to enter some basic details such as name, description, test plan type, test suit, test environment etc. You have to make sure that you select ‘test plan type’ as cross browser testing:



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ESUUn_G_4VFE0MiZ4KL9ByhWuSUC3u8LELpGo4WevyXcoDpAKel3QL47s7fx2lgxMcd3mROGcX8Bt569_c9vU9yyTvmIeRHewLpMX13VVQO6ju7XgjJqHmyaOiwjwS4TfTbfFqo3" alt="Create Testplans"/></figure>



Once you have created the test plan, you can execute it by clicking on the run button.



It is crucial to test your website on multiple combinations of different browsers, operating systems, and devices to ensure good test coverage.



Below is how you can select multiple browsers for test execution:



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rebUwLvFC9Co31nWcUhW8zcppc_Ifb2jgu-uS1Mt8Z2VsetXgYSWwkFX2gfIPB9s9nV7jazZXsUNFQs3qR8vzR94afKHtWq158Tw_sLvFukrDWTJ3GI5vKE7LtlDbsR8vCkQ9POR" alt="select test machine with browser"/></figure>



6. Test Report Analysis



With Testsigma, you can get customizable reports as per your test requirements with reports accessible for individual test environments to help you locate the root failure causes much faster. It also lets you compare the test results on multiple browser-OS combinations in parallel.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/o7zXI4psOIPLkPL9PpUbOebV9rkDIBs210-rRt3lOmd9Z8FO6kAncVv4vkrqUifRxM4dzsfa3xgdhZguccTI7FtnfyNHYHG5sW_JA7_AxAGCZBaF1VfCowgmq9VHdbb-qdL3D-_M" alt="Test case result"/></figure>



Testsigma is one of the most comprehensive continuous<a href="https://testsigma.com/cross-browser-testing-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> cross-browser testing tools</a> available in the market today that gives you a quality app user experience on the cloud and also ensures your application’s compatibility across several devices and browsers. 



With Testsigma, writing automated tests is as simple as writing manual tests without any requirement for coding or knowledge of tools. 



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



To summarize, Testsigma is designed to simplify cross-browser testing for websites. Its cloud-based infrastructure allows for the creation of reusable test cases, making it easier to ensure consistent functionality across different browsers. The intuitive interface and robust features help streamline testing efforts, ultimately contributing to a better user experience.



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



<h3 id="how-do-i-run-a-test-script-in-multiple-browsers">How do I run a test script in multiple browsers?</h3>



There is more than one way to run test scripts in multiple browsers. You can use Selenium WebDriver&#8217;s cross-browser testing capabilities. Simply initialize WebDriver instances for each browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and execute the same <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/test-script/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test script</a> with each WebDriver instance, ensuring compatibility and consistency across browsers.



Another tool is Testsigma that leverages its cross-browser testing capability and easily configures test executions for various browsers, ensuring comprehensive <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/compatibility-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">compatibility testing</a> without the need for complex scripting or setup.



<h3 id="is-it-important-to-check-your-website-on-all-browsers">Is it important to check your website on all browsers?</h3>



Yes, it is a critical practice to test your website on multiple browsers. Differences in rendering engines and standards compliance can lead to variations in website appearance and functionality. Testing on popular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge helps ensure a consistent user experience across diverse browsing platforms. Differences in rendering engines and standards compliance can lead to variations in website appearance and functionality. Testing on popular browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge helps ensure a consistent user experience across diverse browsing platforms.



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<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Safari Emulator</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/emulate-safari</ts-linkurl-value>
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</customlinks>

How to Test a Website on Different Browsers using Testsigma

Test Website on Different Browsers using Testsigma

Comparison between Testsigma and Protractor alternatives

Top 6 Protractor Alternatives : Detailed Comparison With Testsigma

Devops and the need for cloud based solutions

Cloud Solutions for DevOps | How they Work Together?

Top 5 Angular Testing Tools List to Look For

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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Cloud-based testing advantages



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



Cloud-based testing disadvantages



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



Traditional testing advantages



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



Traditional testing disadvantages



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



<h2 id="h-when-to-move-to-cloud-testing">When to move to cloud testing</h2>



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



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







<h2 id="h-how-to-start-with-cloud-based-testing">How to start with cloud-based testing</h2>



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



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



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



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



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



<h2 id="h-what-roles-and-responsibilities-are-required-for-the-success-of-cloud-based-testing">What Roles and responsibilities are required for the success of cloud-based testing?</h2>



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



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



<h2 id="h-testsigma-as-a-cloud-based-test-automation-tool">Testsigma as a cloud-based test automation tool</h2>



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



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



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



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



Testsigma provides the below benefits during cloud-based testing:



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



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



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



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

Cloud-Based Testing - A tester's perspective

Cloud-Based Testing – A tester’s perspective

How to automate your web testing on real mobile and desktop browsers

Getting Started with Automated Web Testing on Mobile and Desktop

We, engineers, love automation! We love it so much that we devise new ways all the time to incorporate automation in each and every field of software development. Today, automation is like the fuel that keeps the project going and helps us finish within deadlines and allotted budget. 



But automation is most needed to manage the responsibility of something that is <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/245501/multiple-mobile-device-ownership-worldwide/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">14.9 billion in number</a> and has become the part and parcel of our lives; the mobile phone. Mobile applications are taking the world by storm. 2021 alone is seeing <a href="https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1262892/mobile-app-revenue-worldwide-by-segment">693 billion USD</a> in revenue from mobile apps. 



Web developers are moving their focus from desktop-first to mobile-first web design which further solidifies our understanding of how important this pocket device has become.



 When something steals the show by this nature and everyone begins to notice, it results in fierce competition and a race to be the most popular, on top, and the best! The frequent mobile app updates are living evidence of this claim. What could be the best choice to cut down the costs and gain speed to move the pipeline faster than test automation? 



Mobile devices are the most fragmented thing you will ever work with while developing software. From operating systems to versions to hardware specs, mobile devices stand unique even after being billions in number. 



Such a fragmented world is impossible to <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-convert-manual-test-cases-into-automated-test-cases-and-why/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">test through manual work and hence the call for test automation</a> in mobile becomes a necessity while developing an application. But this is not as easy as it may sound. 



Automation does bring out some fruitful benefits that reap throughout the season but implementing mobile test automation also puts up some roadblocks that are best to be considered before initiating the process. 



In this post, we shall go through the same challenges that <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank">mobile test automation</a> brings with itself and analyze the methods by which we can tackle them.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Variety_of_Device_Settings">1 Variety of Device Settings</a></li><li><a href="#Moulding_Automation_Approach_with_Application">2 Moulding Automation Approach with Application</a></li><li><a href="#Training_and_Selecting_Right_Tool_Stack">3 Training and Selecting Right Tool Stack</a></li><li><a href="#Collaboration_with_Multiple_Teams">4 Collaboration with Multiple Teams</a></li><li><a href="#Too_Frequent_Versions">5 Too Frequent Versions</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="variety-of-device-settings">Variety of Device Settings</h2>



Test automation in conventional software is straightforward. With fixed targets and no external factor to depend on, writing automation test scripts becomes easy. A mobile device is a different story though. 



The functionality and usability of applications on mobile devices can be influenced by multiple other factors. For example, checking the impact on functionalities because of the change in network bandwidth is an important scenario to judge the mobile application’s performance, and including it in the automation script could be a tough job. 



But testing this is essential too because data communication over the network cannot be eliminated by putting all the files into the device storage. That way the application becomes a heavy download (and update) for the user and also occupies a big space on one of the most precious things on a mobile device: the storage space. Some such similar challenges are: 



<ul class="list_style_disc"><li>Network Related Settings</li><li>Orientation Settings.</li><li>Side-By-Side View for multi-tasking.</li><li>Accessibility settings for challenged users.</li></ul>



Also, along with it, some mobile devices offer specific settings such as adjustable windows, etc.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/zlElgfgNSIp63V48hLIcAe5e0JYi2i9HUkDHVrfncT00QNPyZLAjF0oKsT_1r9meVZKjQCWaxSr_wHj8uYaNm4VSY0AfNe6DnGD0QoZXf9JM9Bp2Ygu0WL_mkrmtraNsiLo0NSsE" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform"/></figure>



Source: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.norebbo.com/google-android-illustrations/" target="_blank">https://www.norebbo.com/google-android-illustrations/</a>



Can we tackle this challenge in mobile test automation? Actually, only partially. Mobile devices are very diverse and so is their settings list. Practically, these settings are one of the top reasons that have kept manual testing alive in this area. 



But, on the other hand, things are progressing too. Online mobile test automation tools have started to develop setting-based software through which we can write scripts of network bandwidth being “4G” and for orientation of the mobile device. One such tool that can help you achieve the above tasks is <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank">Testsigma</a>. 



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With its latest release, Testsigma is set to change mobile test automation forever. Witness the change live on 11th August 
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To read more about mobile testing, check out the <a href="https://testsigma.com/mobile-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)">mobile testing guide here</a>. 



<h2 id="moulding-automation-approach-with-application">Moulding Automation Approach with Application</h2>



An important part of working in an organization based on a mobile application is that feedbacks are prompt and the team cannot ignore them. With such high competition in every field, the one who works on feedbacks leads the race in the market. 



To gather more and more feedback from the user, developers often use multiple ways for the same. For example, prompting the user regularly with a pop-up, emailing them regularly for feedbacks or picking the feedbacks from app hosting platforms such as the play store.&nbsp; 



An important part of working in a team that works on developing a mobile application is that the mobile application goes through multiple changes quickly. These changes are driven by user needs and feedback and are essential to keep up with the competition.



So, how does test automation relate here? When we work regularly on adding updates/feedbacks for a long time, the application might take a new form. There will be a lot of arrangements, new additions, deletions etc.



 With such a reformed application, the older automation scripts will not work properly. As a result, we can relate the test automation to a machine that needs servicing regularly with regular checks and regular updates into the system. 



If the feedbacks are too much, the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/factors-that-slow-down-automation-testing-test-automation-challenges/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">automation changes regularly and thus become a challenge for the organisation slowing</a> down every other process in the pipeline.&nbsp; 



This challenge is the easiest to tackle among all the others. The basic thing to remember is to write minimum cases and scripts that can easily be changed later to change to accommodate new changes. 



Practically, we can’t write cases that will never be changed even if the application has reformed with time. But keeping them to a minimum is the best way to go. 



Also, list down all those cases that have the potential to be changed later and the cases that have dependencies on them. Too many dependencies can lead to the same disastrous consequences that we are trying to avoid from the beginning.



<h2 id="training-and-selecting-right-tool-stack">Training and Selecting Right Tool Stack</h2>



Automation in mobile testing is a bit tough, as already portrayed in this post. It takes a bit of cost in the beginning too and the device settings make it more troublesome. Therefore, it is extremely important to <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-open-source-test-automation-tool/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">choose the tool stack that can fulfil all your mobile application test automation</a> needs. 



But there is a dilemma here. We cannot go ahead and choose the first tool we see as best. What if no one in our team is trained to operate on the tool? That’s an extra cost of training and delayed project deadlines right there!&nbsp; 



So the dilemma comes down to should we go ahead and choose the best tool and put a cost on training? Or should we choose the most known tool and put a cost on manual testing? 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Rj9xKfh7Rv60-HvV3SR10nRnB6GFowmWyuxqb8Fz8wZOqhkV0EJlMhW_8FpwFvOHeYyu1xI45yDd9SBzpSfs1MOPqHqn-xZvarSe5yK5-k81krFJZunalhTG7PecSzeYnfGCgnfW" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform"/></figure>



Source: <a href="https://www.greymatterrecruitment.co.uk/blog/only-half-of-marketers-have-training-in-key-skills/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">https://www.greymatterrecruitment.co.uk/blog/only-half-of-marketers-have-training-in-key-skills/</a>



Being in a good position in your testing team, such a question will definitely cross your path. The best method to tackle this challenge is to choose the best tool (because that’s the best bet in the long run) and the tool should have strong documentation that can help teammates learn on their own. 



Documentations are extremely important to pull you up whenever you get stuck in between or want to know what wonders the tool can perform. One such tool that can help you in mobile test automation and has solid documentation with step-wise processes is Testsigma. 



With Testsigma support, you can contact its support executives for any problems within seconds through the chat feature. Testsigma also gives you detailed documentation and examples to perform certain tasks such as creating a local tunnel etc.&nbsp;



<h2 id="collaboration-with-multiple-teams">Collaboration with Multiple Teams</h2>



As time passes, the mobile applications become complex and modules become diverse. As a result, the company hires more people and expands its wings in the market. These teams do not always know each other in person but a simple ticket is their only source of connection. 



In mobile test automation, while teams work on different modules, collaboration becomes a little difficult. There are a lot of people involved in writing the test cases, a different set of people setting them up in your CI/CD pipeline and then other people reading the error reports and working on them. All of them have to be in sync and hence it becomes a challenge for everyone.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/sRiCY21RJ25VJ-2TcDzdBb-tmJmx08DpD5XjAB0h94bkoP9T0fxsV8_dSTtmmS7X2tOHfsbtqV8wmB5T-zD-b20uzbI-dU_VdDRCSaoEGo1s1ttDdNE6irn4SdU0H1PtafNS3i45" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform"/></figure>



Source: <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.twitter.com" target="_blank">www.twitter.com</a>



The best method to tackle this challenge is the tool you choose for mobile test automation. Tools have evolved over the years to not only support the capabilities of a mobile device but also the teams working behind it to make it better. Collaborative tools are one such solution. 



Collaborative tools perform mobile automation with multiple people together on a single problem such as improving or writing automation test cases. Collaborative tools also help in sharing the final test reports with other team members or having a single central repo where all of them can look into (if they have rights).&nbsp; 



A mobile test automation tool with collaborative properties is the best way to go, this tool should allow you to share the reports and help write tests together as well. TestSigma helps you in such regards by allowing you to give different rights to different people in a project.



 With Testsigma, mobile <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/5-types-of-tests-that-can-be-automated-for-your-ios/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">test automation for iOS</a> as well as Android can be done from the same place. People<a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/blog/3-steps-automate-mobile-applications-using-testsigma/" target="_blank"> can easily automate</a> and collaborate to work together as a team on different assigned projects, generate reports and share them automatically. Also, this is completely cloud-based and the test automation can be started within minutes of signing up. 



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<h2 id="too-frequent-versions">Too Frequent Versions</h2>



Automation is costly in nature. From implementing to licensing, automation can take up a huge cost in the beginning but it eventually evens out with time. The only thing that mobile test automation takes up more than automation is maintenance. 



Different mobile devices keep coming into the market. With each new device, a new screen size, new hardware, and other new specifications arrive that need testing.&nbsp; 



Even if we leave aside the multiple devices, each year Android gets its new update, then iOS and other open-source operating systems too. With each new version, loads of new features arrive for which newer tests need to be written. 



Also, as these operating systems arrive in the market, we need to delete the older operating systems and their tests too. All this becomes a heavy challenge in automation as maintenance becomes very high. 



Unfortunately, this is one such challenge we will face in automation that is not easy to tackle. There will always be an influx of operating systems and versions and they will always ask for optimizations. There will always be code that will be old enough to delete and there will always be newer features that will ask for new code. 



All we can do is to visit this issue regularly in the organization and do not let the work pile up. Hence, there is no shortcut to bypass this challenge and hence if we are dealing with mobile applications, we will have to deal with this too.



This brings us to the end of this post that took us through some of the challenges in mobile <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/top-automated-testing-practices-to-follow/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">test automation and how they can be tackled using practical</a> examples. I hope with this post, you will be prepared better for your automation journey. 



Automation is a bit tricky but the results cut down our time and costs(which every organization loves). If you have any suggestions and comments, don’t forget to put them down below in the comment section. We will be happy to address them. Till then, happy mobile automation testing!!

Challenges of mobile test automation and how to tackle them?

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



Selenium-supported frameworks for mobile test automation are:



1. Selendroid



2. Appium



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



 <button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff"> Automate Mobile App Tests 10x faster using simple english- on the cloud </a></button> 



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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





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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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





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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



<h2 id="suggested-reading">Suggested Reading<gwmw style="display:none;"></h2>



<customlinks>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Challenges of mobile test automation</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/8-challenges-of-mobile-app-testing-and-how-to-solve-them/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>mobile testing implementation</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/signs-you-need-to-implement-mobile-test-automation/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Appium Alternatives</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/appium-alternatives/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Automation Tools For Mobile Testing</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/mobile-testing-tools</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Perfecto Mobile Alternatives</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/blog/perfecto-mobile-alternatives/</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
</customlinks>



<gwmw style="display:none;">

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

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

Mobile Web Testing: Testsigma vs Appium

Mobile apps are not just the following (or current) big thing. They have become a part of our lives — in a way, steering our choices and decisions. By merely sitting on our couch, we apply for jobs, manage our projects, talk to our friends, order essentials, and even pay our bills. The need to test real mobile devices has rapidly increased with such a significant trend.



The convenience is unsurpassable, and thanks to the user-friendly functionalities, even our grandparents seamlessly book cabs, play games, and video calls us.&nbsp; 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CNtoN8LsTqrjsrblN0NGq9DOc28gg84HUAUyV9HBveUr3ZAR_03J6PmavsE_txxTim_3eUbchX4u5wolViDwPDPyT--7Lkg7VN30leFc7Kzhw7ibuzSFtyiy85yBHkMTpe8wcJlB" alt="Meme on Mobile app"/></figure></div>



Mobile apps are here to stay. Imagine the possibilities. According to GoodFirm’s <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.goodfirms.co/resources/app-download-usage-statistics-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">global survey</a>, at least 31.85% of survey participants have 21-40 apps installed, while 8.87% have over 100 apps.&nbsp; 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TIohCgguMXGV3KWayGNrldFCEmW3oQ4CaP439ooZ0md7FXGy0_oJeQU9hAcVJ3H9o1q-Lc6ee5ZTm9U48AfdU7t5JFtdTOprmioLBb91zNiZkfcvtr37hY1ht2eLHSigcMIoyiu8" alt="No of Apps Installed in User's Mobile"/></figure></div>



The research also states that an average user consumes at least 13 apps in a day ranging from <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">software testing apps</a> to <a href="https://pora.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">skin care apps</a> and more. Another interesting statistic to look at is the surge in the mobile app revenue. Moreover, the global revenue in 2018 was 365 billion USD, projected to be 693 billion USD in 2021, according to <a href="https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1262892/mobile-app-revenue-worldwide-by-segment">Statista</a>. 



Besides, global users have shelled out a total of 28 billion USD on mobile apps by the third quarter of 2020, says <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.marketingcharts.com/digital/mobile-phone-115281" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marketing Charts</a>. Take a look at the following chart for a better understanding. 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5RaOqWuL9F60xeRwXjfgmq_pjG9F-4BCFQjsQ3SRNhhy_rB2hsaPO_HldA3zbOlqtOd0Z49K-nvqrRsUaQykoupkmaM6rBer5tYAdJ2eQ79IvyLPY2gyhRETBeabTg-WhBdqrgkx" alt="Global Mobile App Spending and Downloads"/></figure></div>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Why_is_Mobile_Device_Testing_Important">1 Why is Mobile Device Testing Important?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Do_You_Need_Real_Mobile_Devices_for_Testing">2 Why Do You Need Real Mobile Devices for Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">3 Conclusion:</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-why-is-mobile-device-testing-important">Why is Mobile Device Testing Important?</h2>



Now that we&#8217;ve understood the big picture, knowing what goes into building a successful mobile app remains. Mobile app testing is unarguably an imperative process for apps to perform the way it&#8217;s should. M<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/testsigma-as-a-mobile-testing-tool-how-can-it-help-me-achieve-roi-faster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">obile app testing</a> is unarguably a critical process. It fixes any potential errors before the apps go into the production server.&nbsp;



What could pose a challenge, though, is that users consume apps on different devices. Every device is differently wired, and some may not support a few apps due to outdated software, old processors, etc. 



A few mobile brands also have their software builds. According to <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://gs.statcounter.com/os-market-share/mobile/worldwide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Statcounter</a>, the worldwide market share of Android users is 72.48%, with iOS at 26. 91%. The <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://gs.statcounter.com/os-version-market-share/android/mobile-tablet/worldwide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stats</a> also show that Android versions like 4.4, 5.1, and 6.0 are still in use. 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZhvXjtu7mjwdvZ66XM3gLMRpxJ--RFpIDnlrVn-hMoT2Ja3yWGfdoLH_runM_TElbuImMUHsvTXkHZZ8ONhxcgjA2XbVPjaJNT-h_s6lVnvYC16zoJYv17PhdzMrGqtYo7yLwgLz" alt="Mobile and Tablet Android Version Market Share"/></figure></div>



You get the drift — the market is enormous. And you cannot possibly test your apps manually on different devices with different versions of OS. This is where automated mobile app testing comes to play. Offering you the flexibility to deliver faster in a test-driven development environment, automation testing is a proven work through. 



You can also read more details about Mobile testing in the guide <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/mobile-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.



We&#8217;ve talked about automation testing of mobile UI and how to perform it in-depth <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-to-perform-mobile-automation-testing-of-the-ui/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. We recommend looking at it if you&#8217;re starting on automated mobile app testing.&nbsp; 



<h2 id="h-why-do-you-need-real-mobile-devices-for-testing">Why Do You Need Real Mobile Devices for Testing?</h2>



Finally, let&#8217;s get to the core of our conversation — do we need real mobile devices?&nbsp;



With the speed at which technology advances, mobile users have developed zero tolerance for slow or buggy apps. And remember that our users consume our apps on real devices, and factors like low battery, poor WiFi, and outdated software can affect the app&#8217;s performance. 



While a few argue that emulators serve the purpose of testing an app, unless you&#8217;re only testing the UI, they are not sufficient. If your apps use cameras, additional sensors like fingerprint, ambient light, etc., you must try them on real mobile devices. After all, what&#8217;s the point of having a feature that doesn&#8217;t support all devices? 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/p2Om7HVKWJN15QnGoFJ2F0-B4KrRBiwSU-SBPqnl5Cg4krCc1QLXFY16QMcmQ-id8EInEp7BR17vc4LVCaX3DjvCHfU3FIf4agCEOmDs_9b-19TKkiRR66W8530iHiMipoKM4ujX" alt="Cartoon on Mobile App"/></figure></div>



It&#8217;s humanly impossible to test all the app features on different devices manually. Besides, it&#8217;s not cost-effective. Find this intimidating? Fret not — Testsigma offers a reliable <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automated mobile app testing tool</a> with the option to execute your tests on thousands of real devices efficiently. Testsigma isn&#8217;t just a mobile app testing tool. It is a unified test automation ecosystem for your web, mobile apps, and APIs that handle more than just mobile app testing. 



Our no-code tool offers testers a simple way of writing test cases. The tool lets you automate test cases written in English and can be integrated with various project management tools.&nbsp; 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/WmZ_MHdYJGjC20oOA78m2ypuzgGNxkoAYbd7s2rOtIH8Kd-CbAmSSZZFfnjpe_LtyPuGKoxvd5VRiimXXc4fED_qSAMLuCMA_rjdn-fJuvP9JeziTKeJMLi4Uc1ASMbPGonWPlNd" alt="Testsigma No Code Tool"/></figure></div>



We also recommend looking at our <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/blog/3-steps-automate-mobile-applications-using-testsigma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blog post</a>, where we take you through automating mobile apps using Testsigma. It&#8217;s that simple. While launching an app is one thing, handling its updates is a different ball game altogether. 



We use an AI engine that can handle ongoing updates without affecting the app. This engine can also detect errors that are shared in real-time through email, Slack, Teams, etc. Besides, all tests are carried out on a secure and scalable cloud, so scalability isn&#8217;t a problem. 



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



In closing, real mobile devices are required for automated mobile app testing; otherwise, <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/what-is-the-best-way-for-automated-mobile-browser-testing-on-real-devices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">real mobile devices are necessary for automated mobile app testing</a>; otherwise, all our efforts and tests are fragmented and futile. <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a> can empower you to build a competitive advantage in the evolving mobile app market.&nbsp; 



Sounds interesting? Let&#8217;s have a conversation; Testsigma is offering a free 21-day trial for you to experience the product. Check it out <a aria-label=" (opens in a new tab)" href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. 



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