What Are Automation Testing Tools? 9 Types & Examples
What Are Automation Testing Tools?
An automation testing tool is a piece of software that lets you define testing tasks and then takes over to perform the tests for you. Ideally, this happens with minimal human oversight.
Test automation is the process of testing various parts of new software with little to no human involvement. Essentially, it makes sure every aspect of a software design works without a human sitting in front of a computer devoting hours to manual tests.
There is a wide range of automation testing tools to test across multiple platforms, including smartphones, mobile devices, and desktop computers. Through testing automation, performance testing can run without human intervention, which provides the ability to test code 24 hours a day if needed, speeding up the test execution process.
But that’s not the only thing automation testing tools can do. Let’s take a closer look at why using an automated testing tool is often the best approach.
9 Types Of Automation Testing
Generally, there are two types of testing. Functional testing tests the real-world applications of the software while non-functional testing tests different software requirements, like security and data storage.
Many specific types of testing fit into these categories, and some of them may overlap. The types of automated testing include:
1. Unit Testing
Unit testing is testing small, individual components of the software. It’s the first stage of testing, and while it’s usually done manually, it can be automated, so I wanted to include it here.
2. Smoke Tests
A smoke test is a functional test that determines whether or not a build is stable. It verifies the function of essential features to make sure the program can endure further testing. The name comes from the idea that this test prevents the program from catching fire if it’s not ready for additional testing.
3. Integration Tests
These functional tests make sure that all of the individual pieces of software test are well when operating as a whole.
4. Regression Tests
Regression tests are both functional and non-functional, ensuring that no part of the software has regressed after changes are made.
5. API Testing
The application programming interface or API acts as the conduit between all the other systems that your software needs to function. It’s usually tested after software development to make sure that everything is working together as it should.
6. Security Tests
Security tests are also functional and non-functional. Their purpose is to check everything for security weaknesses that can be exploited.
7. Performance Tests
Non-functional performance tests evaluate stability and responsiveness. They ensure that the software can handle stress and deliver a better and more reliable user experience.
8. Acceptance Tests
Acceptance tests are functional tests that try to determine how end-users will respond to the final product. This test must be passed successfully before the product can be released to end-users.
9. UI Tests
User interface tests are one of the last tests in the process. This test is designed to accurately replicate a typical user experience. It ensures that the end product that users interact with works as it should.
Test Automation Frameworks
Once you know what kind of automated testing you need to do, the next step is to choose a framework to organize the testing process.
The biggest benefit of doing this is that it standardizes the testing process, which provides a structure so that everyone applying automated testing to the project is on the same page.
Some of the most common types of test automation framework are:
Linear Framework
This type is sometimes called Record and Playback. Testers create a test script for each test case. It’s a very basic approach that’s more suited to a small team that doesn’t have a lot of experience with test automation.
Modular Based Framework
This framework organizes each test case into small, independent modules. Each one has a different scenario, but they are all handled by the framework’s single master script. This approach is very efficient, but a lot of planning is required, and it’s best used by testers who have experience with automation testing tools.
Library Architecture Framework
Library Architecture Framework is an expansion of the modular-based approach, with a few differences. In a Library Architecture Framework, tasks are grouped within the test script according to common objectives.
These functions are then stored in a library so they can be quickly accessed when needed. This framework is very flexible, but creating the scripts takes time, so experience in automated testing is beneficial.
Benefits Of Automation Testing
Automated testing has many benefits over manual testing, but some cases really exemplify its worth, including:
- Multilingual sites
- Test cases that are repeated
- Tedious cases
- Cases that are broad and expansive
While these tests can be performed by a human, they are quite complex and are therefore prone to errors. For example, someone testing a site in a foreign language is bound to make mistakes, especially if the site is sizable. In instances like this, it's easy to see why automation testing is the right option.
That said, there are some instances where manual testing is better, including:
- New test cases that have not yet been executed manually
- Test cases where the criteria are always changing
- Test cases that are not routine
In these instances, you can see why it would be beneficial to have a pair of human eyes on the testing. For example, the first time a test code is written, it should be run manually to ensure that it delivers the expected result. Once this is verified, it can then be used as an automated solution.
In the cases where automation testing is appropriate, you’ll see some specific benefits, (perhaps even more so if you are already using AI in test automation) including:
- Speed
- Wider test coverage
- Consistency
- Cost savings
- Frequent and thorough testing
- Faster time to market
Now that you know when to use an automation tool and the reasons why you should, let’s look at how to choose the right tool for your needs.
Conclusion
QA is trending more toward automated testing so that teams can focus more resources on more nuanced and involved projects instead. With the help of automation testing tools, it’s possible to remove some—or all— of the grunt work associated with repetitive or expansive testing.
Don't forget, you can also outsource your testing to automation testing services through vendors like A1QA, TestGuru, and TestingXperts. Some companies find that this increases the quality of their tests and quickens time-to-market.
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