What is Automated testing?
Automated testing is the process of executing test case suite using an automation tool. In automated testing software tool executes pre-scripted tests on a software product before its delivery. Basically, manual testing is performed by a human with careful execution of the test plan. The main objective of automated testing is to reduce testing efforts with a minimum set of scripts. Automation in testing is the only way to increase the effectiveness, efficiency, and coverage of software testing.
Need of Automated Testing
First of all Automated software testing saves time and money. As we know software tests have to be repeated in the development phase to ensure the software quality. Whenever the source code is modified the test must be repeated. Manual testing of this test case is costly and time-consuming. Apart from this manual testing can become boring and hence error prone. As we know manual testing is done be human and we know no one can give his/her hundred percent because no one born perfect. Automated testing can reduce the time to run repetitive tests from hours to minutes. Automated testing is a time-saving strategy which translates it into the cost saving.
Other than this, Automated software testing vastly increases your test coverage. It can efficiently execute thousands of different complex test cases and during every execution, it provides test coverage that is impossible with manual tests.
Decide What Test Cases to Automate
It is impossible to achieve hundred percent automation, so it is important to determine what test cases should be automated. Test cases which are repeated number of times must be included in automation. Test cases that are only performed a few times are better left for manual testing. Therefore, good test cases for test automation are those which run frequently and require large input data set for testing. Test cases for automation can be selected using the following:
- Test Cases that are very tedious to perform manually
- Repetitive tests that run for multiple builds.
- Tests that serve to cause human error.
- Tests that take a lot of effort and time when manual testing.
Automated Testing Tools
Selecting a right tool for test automation is one of the essential things to do. There are a lot of testing tools available in the market but it is important to choose a right tool which fulfills your test requirements. An automated testing tool is able to playback pre-recorded and predefined actions and compares the results to the expected behavior. Apart from this, it must report the success or failure of these manual tests to a test engineer. You can use AppPerfect Web Test which is fully automated functional testing and regression testing solution. At the heart, AppPerfect Web Test provides support for recording web browser events and replaying them automatically. If you want to get more information about the testing tool then click here.
Comments by Steve Young