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Manual testing is when we do not use any kind of tool to test the performance of the software. It involves a human tester who creates code, tests the software, and gives the final report about its performance.
Automation testing involves the use of automation tools to test the performance of the software.
Below is a comparative analysis of both forms of testing.
| Parameter | Manual Testing | Automation Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | It involves human testers manually executing test cases, observing and verifying software behaviour | It involves the creation and execution of test scripts or programs that automate test case execution |
| Efficiency and speed | Time-consuming and resource-intensive, especially for repetitive tests or large-scale projects | Significantly speeds up test execution, allowing for repeated and comprehensive testing with reduced effort |
| Human Bias | Susceptible to human errors, inconsistencies, and subjectivity in evaluating test results | Provides consistent and reliable results, minimizing human errors and inconsistencies |
| Flexibility and Adaptability | Allows testers to adapt quickly to changes, explore uncharted scenarios, and employ exploratory testing techniques | Automation testing, with predefined test cases and scripts, may be less adaptable to changes and less effective in exploring uncharted scenarios or employing exploratory testing techniques |
| User Perspective | Offers the advantage of evaluating the software from the user's perspective, providing valuable insights and user experience feedback | Lacks the ability to provide insights and user experience feedback from a human perspective, in evaluating software usability and user-centric aspects |
| Early-stage Testing | Can be beneficial in early development stages when rapid iterations and frequent changes occur | May require additional effort to adapt to rapid iterations and frequent changes that often occur in the early development stages |
| Time and Resource Savings | involves executing test cases and evaluating the system's behavior manually, requiring human effort and time | reduces manual effort, allowing testers to focus on more critical tasks and increasing overall productivity |
| Programming Knowledge | No need | Knowledge of programming language is must |
Humans are susceptible to mistakes, especially when the concerned software is lengthy. This is where automation testing has us covered.
Following are the scenarios where automation testing proves to be a saviour:
Automating the testing process enables better collaboration among all the stakeholders, i.e., coders, designers, and testers. Thus, there is instant clarity as to which aspect of the software needs to be worked on.
Manual testing involves writing test scripts, which is time-consuming, especially in the case of regression testing, as it involves running the same test cases multiple times. Also, it is prone to errors. Automation testing reduces the possibility of all such scenarios creeping into the picture as it enables testers to detect bugs during the early stages of software development.
Once written, the scripts can be used repeatedly with minimal, or sometimes even no, changes.
Contrary to manual testing, automation testing doesn’t require testers to be physically present in their workspace. The tests can be scheduled in advance, and they are thus conducted at their scheduled time. Once the test is run, testers receive the test reports.
In the case of manual testing, at a given time we can execute one test case only on one system, whereas automation testing allows us to execute one test case simultaneously on a number of systems (devices, OS, or browsers).
Automation testing eventually guarantees a higher return on investment as it doesn’t include human intervention in the execution of the tests and saves time and money with every run.
Automation testing tools are software applications that help in designing, executing, and managing automated test cases. These tools provide various functionalities and features to streamline the automation testing process.
They have user-friendly interfaces and support different programming languages.
Automation testing tools provide a range of functionalities such as test script creation, test data management, test execution, result analysis, and reporting.
They improve testing efficiency, accuracy, and scalability by automating repetitive tasks, reducing manual effort, and facilitating faster test execution.
Following are some of the popular automation testing tools:
Selenium is an open-source (free) automation testing tool. Selenium test scripts can be created using multiple programming languages like Python, Java, and C#. Selenium testing is when we use selenium testing tools to test our software.
It is not a single tool but a set of software where each software fulfils different needs of software testing for an organisation. This set includes tools such as Selenium Integrated Development Environment (IDE), Selenium Remote Control (RC), WebDriver, and Selenium Grid.
Currently, Selenium RC and WebDriver together comprise Selenium 2, whereas Selenium 1 refers to Selenium RC alone.
Appium is an open-source automation testing tool.
It supports various programming languages like Java, Python, and C#. It is specifically designed for mobile applications, which facilitates the testing of applications across different platforms like Android, iOS, and Windows.
TestComplete is a comprehensive automation testing tool designed to automate the testing of desktop, web, and mobile applications. It supports testing across different platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Test scripts can be created using multiple programming languages like Python, Java, and C#.
An automation testing framework is a set of guidelines, incorporating both practises and tools, that helps QA professionals test more efficiently.
They often include coding standards, test-data handling methods, object repositories, processes for storing test results, or information on how to access external resources.
Though it is not mandatory to strictly follow them, there are several benefits to following a testing framework, such as Improved test efficiency, lower maintenance costs, minimal manual intervention, maximum test coverage, and reusability of code.
Moreover, proceeding in an organised fashion prevents us from missing out on any important aspect crucial to the functioning of the software.
Following are the six types of test automation frameworks:
In a linear automation framework, testers target a particular functionality of the software to be tested. Once the test is run, it proceeds to test the next in the sequence. This process includes capturing all the tests, like navigation, inputs, etc., and playing them back repeatedly to conduct the test.
The modular testing framework is basically about dividing the entire testing process into different modules, functions, or units. Each module focuses on testing a specific aspect of the application. These are then carried out in isolation and eventually combined to cover the complete testing application.
The library architecture framework identifies similar tasks within test scripts and groups them by function. These parts are focused on common objectives. Then these functions are stored in a library sorted by their objectives, and test scripts call upon this library to obtain different functionality when testing.
It is an ideal testing framework where the same internal logic needs to be tested on different datasets.
In this framework, values in the form of inputs and outputs are passed as parameters to the test scripts from external data sources, such as databases.
The keyword-driven framework separates data and logic by storing both externally. It utilises keywords associated with actions to test the GUI, referencing them during test execution. Users prompt keyword-based actions through code, which triggers the corresponding script in the test.
A hybrid testing framework isn’t a defined framework but a combination of the previously mentioned frameworks.
As the software domain is evolving, opting for one particular framework might not necessarily cater to all our testing needs. Thus, this framework leverages the advantages of all the other frameworks while mitigating their disadvantages.
Each of these frameworks has its own architecture, advantages, and limitations. It is important to proceed with the framework that suits us best when carving out a testing plan.
In conclusion, automation testing is a powerful approach that can significantly improve the software development process. It offers the potential to reduce testing time, increase accuracy, and enhance overall productivity. By embracing automation testing, organisations can achieve better software quality, a faster time to market, and higher customer satisfaction.
With the ever-increasing demand for software applications, there is a growing need for automation testing professionals. As businesses continue to adopt automation testing, there will be a continuous demand for experts who can design, develop, and maintain automation scripts.
Therefore, pursuing a career in automation testing is a wise choice for individuals who are looking for a stable and fulfilling career.
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