Automation Testing | Its advantages and challenges

Software testing that uses automated technologies to discover software flaws and provide reports is known as automation testing. The goal is to speed up test execution, which will result in higher test coverage and ensure that the application operates as intended.

Once a test script is built, it enables code reuse without manual intervention for repetitive activities and regularly changing applications.

How Automation Testing Works?

A business engaged in automation testing frequently employs both human and automated testers as well as developers. To automate the execution of tests for diverse apps, testers write test scripts that cover every possible use case. Automation engineers and architects have a variety of frameworks and technologies at their disposal for development.

The IBM Rational Functional Tester, QTP/UFT, Selenium, WinRunner, TestComplete, SilkTest, and other automation tools are a few examples. The team chooses the operating system, browser, and other parameters necessary for script execution.

Scripts may be executed without human involvement at any hour of the day. The programme under review generates a report using the tools, and the outcomes are compared to the anticipated business needs or past testing. The code must be changed whenever a need changes in order to validate the application in light of newly created demands.

Types of Automation Testing

The QA department might combine several automated testing types to achieve the best results. Among the most common forms of automated testing are:

1. Functional Testing

You don’t need to be aware of the design or structure of the application being tested in order to evaluate the functioning of pieces against the requirements. Testing might also go by the names behavioural or black box. Integration testing, smoke testing, unit testing, and user acceptability testing are a few examples of functional testing.

2. Non-functional Testing

This testing, which comes after functional testing, evaluates a product’s usability, dependability, and other aspects of performance. Security testing, scalability testing, load testing, compatibility testing, and performance testing are a few examples of non-functional testing.

3. Keyword-driven Testing

In order for keyword-driven testing to function, a set of automatic actions for the application under test must be associated with certain keywords in data files. It does not require programming experience, is simple to maintain, and is compatible with any automation tools.

4. Data-driven Testing

In order to assess the consistency of results, this method of testing involves feeding many sets of external data stored in spreadsheet or table format into one test. It facilitates code reuse and saves time.

5. Regression Testing

You re-run functional and non-functional tests as part of this maintenance test to see if changes to the application code have had an adverse impact on functionality or performance.

Advantages of Automation Testing:

Faster and more dependable execution
In the case of unattended test scripts, no human involvement
Flexible and reusable when processes are documented
More effective bug discovery
Improves productivity and eases the workload for human testers
Long-term cost savings
Each unit is examined for faults

Challenges with Automation Testing:

High initial investment because of pricey automation tools
Visual insights for UI components like sizes, typefaces, contrast, colours, etc. are restricted
The extent of automation is constrained, and tools are not infallible
Frequent updates and debugging tools require expensive maintenance