Testing Methodology and tools for mobile test automation

Nowadays, test automation is an integral part of the testing process. It improves functionality, helps to refine UX, and enhances the overall consistency of the application. In fact, test automation is now a new testing standard, with 91% of companies employing some form of automation to test their applications. The testing automation framework is responsible for defining formats, crafting the mechanism for test driving and reporting.

Both web and mobile applications can be automated by using test automation. But there’s a difference in testing them as they both are used differently by the users. Web applications don’t need the capability to handle too many user environments and interactions at once.

But with 4.43 billion mobile users worldwide, your mobile app should be able to handle a lot more traffic than web applications. Also, since there is a lot of variation on the OS, screen sizes, and functionality of mobile devices, the developers and testers have to perform various test runs before submitting an application to the corresponding store.

There’s a set methodology for testing mobile applications through the test automation framework. First, you need to plan the test, i.e., which application, OS, and module require testing. You also need to choose the languages and set up the environment for running the tests.

Then you need to set up the actual tests such as performance, usability, security, memory, and compatibility tests. Finally, you need to do a compliance test to ensure that the application fits within the standards and guidelines defined by your organization.

Once that’s done, your app is ready to roll out. The main issue with most companies is the lack of experienced resources to handle all mobile testing phases. Since you need someone who knows how to test your application within the defined parameters and guidelines (maybe even on the cloud), the best course of action is to use a QA outsourcing vendor to handle the workload.  

Now that you know the methodology for test automation, you need to select a tool to do it. Let’s look at the test automation tools and frameworks that you can use to test your applications.

1.   Perfecto

Perfecto is one of the finest tools for mobile automation testing. Perfecto provides test authoring and maintenance along with boosted test execution. It also has options for remote access debugging. It can simulate all major user decisions and test quickly, allowing you to schedule your releases faster.

Perfecto offers dedicated 24/7 access to mobile testing devices. You can also use advanced features such as emulation testing, FaceID enrollment, and network variation checking.

2.   Eggplant

Eggplant is also a very promising tool for mobile test automation. This GUI test automation tool implements AI and machine learning algorithms to perform tests. It also facilitates open-source product testing.

It has low maintenance scripting and can run tests 4-5 times faster than other tools. It also can run multichannel tests and can use image and text search algorithms to drive testing.

3.   Espresso

Espresso is an open-source tool that combines all the important elements of Android testing. It provides a compatible user interface through which you can conduct AI tests to improve performance. It also has test authoring and maintenance features.Espresso has an integrated mobile cloud that can perform accelerated test executions. It also has seamless test failure analysis and reporting.

4.   Appium

Appium is a robust, open-source test automation framework for mobile testing. It converts Selenium web driver commands into UI automation sequences. You can use it for native, hybrid, web, and mobile app testing. The tool also has detailed documentation and a strong online community for support.

You can run parallel tests through Appium. It supports cross-platform testing and is compatible with most languages. It has a client-server architecture, and automation is done via sessions. You can also test without source code and library.

5.   Selenium

Selenium is one of the most used tools for mobile testing. It’s an open-source tool that allows you to test hundreds of devices at once. It’s quick and has excellent reporting features.

Through Selenium, you can perform cross-device testing and cross-browser compatibility testing. You can run the tests by integrating both simulators and devices using this tool. Selenium also has adequate training documents and community support for new developers.

6.   TestComplete

TestComplete is a powerful mobile testing tool that you can use to run tests on different devices and platforms. It comes with useful features such as auditing, automated UI scripting, and keyword-based testing.

TestComplete supports various languages like C++, C#, JavaScript, and Python, among others. You can choose to run your tests on emulators or virtual systems. It can integrate with popular CI/CD tools for easy access and availability. It also has record and display features for testing and uses AI-powered object recognition to identify UI elements.

Conclusion

Mobile apps are much more widely used than web apps and require a more detailed and precise testing approach. Mobile test automation tools greatly help this process by automating parts that don’t require manual intervention. There may be some adaptation issues in automation tools, but their involvement will smoothen the mobile testing process, making the final product more usable, cost-effective and efficient.