Automation Testing Tutorial : All You Need to Know to Get Start

Introduction

Testing has become a need of the hour. There used to be times where a product or the software was tested once it was completed. But far gone are those days. In today’s world, companies conduct testing at almost every stage of the product development lifecycle. 

Today we will help you explore one of the highly preferred fast testing techniques for easy and efficient software testing during software development life cycle. 

Can you guess which testing we are talking about?... yes its none other than Automation testing.

A survey on automation testing found that organizations that adapted automated testing has faster their testing cycles by 88 percent, improved test coverage, and the ability to catch bugs earlier. In this automation tutorial, we will discuss Automation testing, test automation benefits and various nuances related to it, and most important a credible Automation Testing Certification for beginners. The blog covers the following topics-

• What is Automation Testing?
• Why is Automation Testing Required? 
• How is Automation Testing Critical in the Software development Life Cycle?
• What are the  Benefits of Automation Testing
• Types of Automation Testing
• What Are the Best Automation Testing Tools? 
• Scope of Automation Testing
• Career Outlook of Automation Testing

Let’s start by understanding what automation testing is.

What is Automation Testing?

Automation Testing is a software testing technique wherein automated tools are used to write and execute test cases, including testing characteristics such as loading, stress, and performance. Automation testing is designed to provide higher efficiency, effectiveness, and accuracy, especially useful for handling repetitive tasks as well as functions that prove difficult & time-consuming for manual testers.

Automation testing is a procedure to approve that product capacities suitably and meets necessities before it is discharged into creation. This type of programming testing utilizes scripted successions that are executed by testing tools.

Automation tests can run over and over whenever of day. This methodology fits in with nonstop testing just as consistent mix and constant conveyance (CI/CD) programming improvement rehearses, which plan to carry code changes to creation without doors that require manual interference. Thereby an automation tester is a very critical resource for any organization. Learn about how to become an Automation Testing Expert and the career path.

Why is Automation Testing Required? How it is critical in software Development life Cycle?

With growing digitalization & increasing number of apps released every day, there’s a need for a convenient, efficient way to conduct software testing. Automation testing technique not only improves efficiency, and accuracy but also reduces time, effort and cost, whilst reducing manual errors. Once automated tests are created they can easily be repeated and can be extended to perform tasks more efficiently that is  impossible with manual testing.

Automation testing is an ideal testing technique for running many tests repeatedly and simulateniously handling a lot of the work that human testers would consider boring and repetitive. 

How Automation Testing  is Critical in Software development Life Cycle?

Automation test is the most important part of the SDLC because manual testing takes a long time and it's expensive. Test automation not only allows developers to deliver software faster but also ensure higher quality.

During software development life cycle, there might require execution of same test suite repeatedly. Using a test automation tool, it’s possible to record this test suite and re-play as many times as required within minimum time without any human intervention. Thus it reduces chances of human error, because if issues are missed the customer impact is huge. 

Automation software testing has for some time been viewed as basic for enormous programming improvement associations yet is frequently thought to be excessively costly or troublesome for smaller organizations to execute.

Let’s move on to the next section of this automation testing tutorial for beginners and see major benefits of automation testing.

Major Benefits of Automation Software Testing

Here are the Major Benefits of Automation Testing-

Test Automation Benefits: Automation Testing Saves Time and Money

Programming tests must be rehashed regularly amid improvement cycles to guarantee quality. Each time the source code is changed programming tests ought to be rehashed. For each arrival of the product, it might be tried on all upheld working frameworks and equipment arrangements. Physically rehashing these tests is exorbitant and tedious. Once made, mechanized tests can be kept running again and again at no extra expense, and they are a lot quicker than manual tests. Computerized programming testing can diminish the opportunity to run dull tests from days to hours. A period of investment funds that interpret of legitimately into cost reserve funds.

Test Automation Benefits: Vastly Increases Your Test Coverage

Automation software testing can build the profundity and extent of tests to help improve programming quality. Protracted tests that are regularly abstained from amid manual testing can be run unattended. They can even be kept running on numerous PCs with various setups. Robotized programming testing can glimpse inside an application and see memory substance, information tables, record substance, and inward program states to decide whether the item is carrying on not surprisingly. Test robotization can without much of a stretch execute a huge number of various complex experiments amid each trial furnishing inclusion that is incomprehensible with manual tests.

Test Automation Benefits: Testing Improves Accuracy

Indeed, even the most upright tester will commit errors amid tedious manual testing. Robotized tests play out similar advances unequivocally every time they are executed and always remember to record point by point results. Testers liberated from dreary manual tests have more opportunity to make new mechanized programming tests and manage complex highlights.

Test Automation Benefits: Automation Does What Manual Testing Cannot

Indeed, even the biggest programming and QA offices can't play out a controlled web application test with a large number of clients. Computerized testing can recreate tens, hundreds or thousands of virtual clients associating with a system, programming and web applications.

Test Automation Benefits: Automation Testing Helps Developers and Testers

Read: What is JIRA? JIRA Tutorial Guide for Beginners

Shared Automation tests can be utilized by designers to get issues rapidly before sending to QA. Tests can run consequently at whatever point source code changes are checked in and inform the group or the designer if they fizzle. Highlights like these spare developers time and increment their certainty.

Test Automation Benefits: QA and Dev Team Morale Improves

This is difficult to gauge however we've encountered it direct. Executing redundant errands with robotized programming testing gives your group time to spend on all the more testing and compensating ventures. Colleagues improve their ranges of abilities and certainty and, like this, pass those additions on to their association.

Knowing the multiple benefits of automation testing and how organizations are always on the lookout for certified automation testers, enrolling in an industry-recognized QA Testing Certification course is imperative.

In next section of this automated testing tutorial, we are going to discuss on how you can select test cases for automation.

What Are Test Cases to Automate?

It is difficult to computerize all testing, so it is critical to figure out what experiments ought to be Automation first.

The advantage of robotized testing is connected to how often a given test can be rehashed. Tests that are just played out a couple of times are better left for manual testing. Great experiments for computerization are ones that are run as often as possible and require a lot of information to play out a similar activity.

Here is how do you select test cases for automation, You can get the most advantage out of your Automation testing endeavours via automating:

• Repetitive tests that keep running for various forms.
• Tests that will in general cause human blunder.
• Tests that require numerous informational collections.
• Frequently utilized usefulness that presents high hazard conditions.
• Tests that are difficult to perform physically.
• Tests that keep running on a few diverse types of equipment or programming stages and arrangements.
• Tests that require a lot of exertion and time when manual testing.

Accomplishment in test automation requires cautious arranging and configuration work. Begin by making a mechanization plan. This enables you to distinguish the underlying arrangement of tests to mechanize and fill in as a guide for future tests. In the first place, you ought to characterize your objective for robotized testing and figure out which kinds of tests to computerize. There are a couple of various kinds of testing, and every one has its place in the testing procedure. For example, unit testing is utilized to test a little piece of the planned application. To test a specific bit of the application's UI, you would utilize usefully or GUI testing.

In the wake of deciding your objective and which sorts of tests to computerize, you ought to choose what activities your robotized tests will perform. Don't simply make test steps that test different parts of the application's conduct at one time. Expansive, complex robotized tests are hard to alter and investigate. It is ideal for partitioning your tests into a few sensible, little tests. It makes your test condition increasingly reasonable and sensible and enables you to share test code, test information and procedures. You will get more chances to refresh your computerized tests just by including little tests that address new usefulness. Test the usefulness of your application as you include it, as opposed to holding up until the entire element is executed.

Automation Testing Process: How is Automation Testing Carried Out?

Process of Automation Testing

Test Automation expands endeavours required for conveying test results and abbreviates test execution cycles. Propelled tests and ideal inclusion help to convey programming of superior quality. Also, test computerization is a well-customized process with characterized stages.

Any procedure begins with definition, so before applying to test mechanization, you ought to characterize the computerization scope. When beginning tests improvement, a tester should, as a matter of first importance, decide request as indicated by the tests' need rate.

Everything matters in extension definition.

Read: How To Make Software Testing More Effective

Having very significant involvement in robotization testing, I can say that, Automation tests should cover the most steady piece of usefulness alongside the one that gets rather frequently tried for around 3-4 times each week. When in doubt, a smoke test is picked for that very reason or another piece of relapse tests.

When the degree is characterized, a tester moves to the determination of mechanization instruments. The tried interfaces characterize the bundle of connected devices. Distinctive kinds of interfaces assume diverse apparatuses' range; there is no general choice. Having settled on the instruments, testers get to structure execution.

Here are the steps to follow for successful test automation

• Step1: Selection of tools
• Step2: Define the scope of Automation
• Step3: Planning, Design & Designing
• Step4: Test Execution
• Step5: Maintenance

Automation Testing Process, Step1: Selection of Tools

a). Understand your  project requirements thoroughly

Keeping up the virtue of an application by conveying a sans bug item is vital for the accomplishment of any undertaking. Mechanized testing can help improve the nature of a task and increment scope and profundity of the tests. For this, get a profound comprehension of your venture necessities, for example, venture type (web/work area/versatile), the extent of the undertaking, and existing group's quality on code language before you begin the procedure. There is no such instrument that is positive or negative, yet the ROI of any apparatus depends on the need, for example, what does one have to mechanize and what measure of experiments needs automation?

b). Consider your existing test automation tool as a benchmark

Let us say that you considered the Selenium Test Automation Tool as a benchmark to assess and decide the best mechanization apparatus for their venture. The favorable circumstances and downsides of Selenium Web Driver structure should be comprehended before assessing different apparatuses.

Selenium is a free, open-source apparatus accessible to test web applications and sites. It gives the record-playback apparatus to create and record playback test contents. It gives language backing to C# Ruby, Java, JavaScript, Python, and Node.js however needs appropriate client bolster administrations. Testing groups influence Selenium if they are alright with coding procedures and they test web applications through the UI. Support would be a bad dream with Selenium for a lone tester who must administer both Manual and Automation Testing and may likewise require a full-time Developer for upkeep. Program similarity is the other test with this device.

c). Identify the key criteria suitable for a project

  There are many key focuses one ought to consider before choosing the best-fit mechanization apparatus for a venture. Here is the rundown of a few key criteria that was utilized to assess the best apparatus for our situation.

• Ease of Developing and Maintaining the Scripts: Development and upkeep of test contents ought to be as basic as conceivable to diminish the human and time asset usage.
• Ease of Test Execution for Non-Technical user: The test suite execution ought to be basic for any venture part to run them effectively as and when required. Additionally, it ought to be simple for manual testers who have next to no or no specialized information.
• Support to Web, Desktop & Mobile application: Leveraging three distinct instruments for three sorts of stages for test robotization is a confounded undertaking to deal with. It is smarter to choose an apparatus that bolsters all three stages.
• Intuitive Test Report: Test reports builds certainty; thus the reports should be natural and straightforward for the supervisory crew to see effectively.
• Cross Browser Testing: Support to Cross program testing is an unquestionable requirement when there are numerous end-clients and no specific program confinement.
• Support for Keyword & Data Driven Testing: Keyword driven testing goes about as an augmentation to the information-driven testing structure. At the point when a venture ends up complex, the test system should be broadened.
• Technical Support and Assistance: Automation Engineers unquestionably need assistance while taking care of basic issues of a venture. The apparatus that gives specialized help and help would be of extraordinary help.
• Language Support like C#, Java, Python, and others: Every test situation can't be recorded. At times, the tester must compose the code. Along these lines, the apparatus that underpins the expected language to compose the tweaked contents would be useful.
• TFS DevOps integration with builds: Support to coordinate with Continuous Integration apparatuses for computerized fabricates and arrangements is fundamental.
• Pricing: Depending on the above characteristics and venture cost gauges, assess the cost contrast among the other accessible automation tools.

Read: Roles and Responsibilities Of Selenium Test Automation Engineer

Automation Testing Process, Step2: Define the Scope of Automation

The extent of mechanization is the region of your Application Under Test which will be computerized. Following focuses help decide scope:

• The highlights that are significant for the business
• Scenarios which have a lot of information
• Common functionalities crosswise over applications
• Technical plausibility
• The degree to which business parts are reused
• The multifaceted nature of experiments
• Ability to utilize a similar experiment for cross-program testing

Automation Testing Process, Step3: Planning, Design, and Development

Read: How Can I Become A Manual Tester In Just 30 Days?

Amid this stage, you make an Automation methodology and plan, which contains the accompanying subtleties

• Automation instruments chose
• Framework plan and its highlights
• In-Scope and Out-of-scope things of mechanization
• Automation testbed arrangement
• Schedule and Timeline of scripting and execution
• Deliverables of Automation Testing

Automation Testing Process, Step4: Test Execution

Let’s first understand , test execution is.

Test execution is the way toward executing the code and contrasting the normal and real outcomes. Following variables are to be considered for a test execution process:

• Based on a hazard, select a subset of a test suite to be executed for this cycle.  
• Assign the experiments in each test suite to testers for execution.
• Execute tests, report bugs, and catch test status constantly.
• Resolve blocking issues as they emerge.
• Report status, modify assignments, and rethink plans and needs day by day.
• Report test cycle discoveries and status

Automation Testing Process, Step5 : Maintenance

Once done with test cases execution, the next step is to create reports so that the actions performed & consecutive results obtained during testing are recorded. As new functionalities get added to the software that you are testing with every successive cycle, automation scripts need to be added, reviewed, updated after each release of cycle. Maintenance becomes necessary to improve the effectiveness of test automation. So, you can follow these steps when performing Automation Testing to get efficient results. Brush up your understanding about QA testing, take this QA Testing quiz now!

Next section of this automation testing tutorials for beginners, we are going to discuss about different test automation frameworks.

Test automation frameworks

An organization implements test mechanization with a structure that incorporates regular works on, testing apparatuses and measures. Information-driven and catchphrase driven test computerization systems are normal, as a structure for straight scripting and particular testing.

The direct scripting structure suits little applications since it empowers the utilization of a test content with small arranging; however, does not bolster reusable contents. In particular testing structures, a product tester makes contents as little, autonomous tests to diminish excess, yet this procedure ordinarily expends more opportunity to set up. Information-driven structures empower programming testers to make contents that work for numerous informational collections for wide quality inclusion with fewer tests than particular choices. Watchword driven testing systems utilize table organizations to characterize catchphrases for each capacity and execution strategy; programming testers without profound programming information can work with the catchphrases to make test contents. Half breed driven systems consolidate at least two practices to have the advantages of both.

What Types of Testing Can Be Automated?

Unit Tests

The largest portion of your mechanization tests comprises of your Unit Tests. Unit Tests will be tests that are quick, solid, and just test little bits of code rationale. Since mechanized Unit Tests rush to create and can be effectively fused into your Continuous Integration process, these tests involve the biggest segment of your robotized tests. I would urge your product engineers to make loads of Unit Tests and to perform test-driven advancement with all new programming code.

Integration Tests

Next, have your testers make Automation Integration Tests for all zones that can't be Unit Tested. These tests are considerably harder to compose, run all the more gradually, and require a great deal of coding. Given the colossal assets required, it's basic to organize which Integration Tests to mechanize utilizing an organized mechanization overabundance. At any rate, make a mechanized Smoke Test to add to your Continuous Integration process. A Smoke Test is an abnormal state, fundamental test to uncover straightforward disappointments extreme enough to dismiss an imminent programming discharge.

GUI Tests

The Graphical User Interface (GUI) likewise should be mechanized to practice all the usefulness and ways of the application. GUI computerization is precarious because it's typically contained various conditions. For instance, some users of the framework may just be cultivated by following an unpredictable succession of GUI events. Since the GUI may change essentially crosswise over adaptations of the application, GUI tests can every now and again break, so this bit of mechanization should make up the littlest level of your Automation tests.

Read: Automation Testing Basics For Beginners.

Automation Testing Tools

Here is a list of a few very famous automation testing tools

Read more about software testing tools.

Lets see possible barrier in successful test automotion.

Barriers to Successful Automation Testing

In this section on this automation testing guide we are going to see the most common pitfalls to consider for while adopting a test automation.

• Slow & Repetitious Test Creation: Creating automation test scripts is the most significant barrier.
• Unacceptably low test coverage :  Due to low test coverage, it leaves systems vulnerable to damaging bugs.
• Inadequate or bad test data: For rigorous automation testing, test data must be accurate and available in etiquette quantity. Bad test data can undermine the speed and test automation frameworks.
• Weaker Test Maintenance: Test maintenance is arguably the greatest barrier to successful test automation adoption.

Despite of these core barriers, scaling test automation simplifies the entire testing process. Most automation test tools makes it easier to develop and organize test scripts and testing environments, as well as to track and share test results across teams. 

Scope of Automation Testing : Career Outlook

According to a research, the automation testing industry is expected to grow at 14.2 R during the forecast period from 2021 to 2026, this cleary indicates the growth opportunities in this industry would probably high.

Automation testing career is full of growth opportunities, QA automation is highly desirable career, provides different roles and good pay. It also provides flexibility to switch roles across different  industries.

• Read: How to Become An Automation Testing Expert.
• Read: Know the Key Difference Between Waterfall vs Agile vs Scrum vs Kanban!

Final Thoughts On Automation Testing

In this blog, we have covered quite a few basic related to automation testing for beginners . You now know how to select test case, how to plan, what testing frameworks are, what should be the tool selection criteria, etc. We hope you found this test automation tutorial informative and it has helped in adding value to your knowledge. 

Automation testing is an integral part of any testing ecosystem, without moving to an automation setup, efficient testing becomes difficult. If you are looking to plunge into testing career, there is a vast pool of growth opportunities. All you need to join professional aAutomation testing training, hone you coding & analytical skills, get testing certification and that’s it !!

If you have any queries related to cloud testing tutorial or anything you want to explore, please mention it in the comments section 

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