In the software development life cycle, QA or Quality Assurance is the part that determines whether the product or service meets specified requirements and can be delivered to the end user.
When automated testing tools are used to run and report tests on the application that is being developed, the QA process is said to be automated. It allows time-consuming manual tasks to be carried out in seconds by software automatically.
How to Perform QA test automation?
There are many ways to include QA automation into your business.
You can either develop tests from scratch with the development team you have in-house and then automate them or use the codeless test automation software that is designed for those who don’t code.
Alternatively, you can outsource all your tests to an external QA service.
Stages in QA Test Automation
- Defining the Scope
We first figure out what exactly we aim to test and check the feasibility of the process. We then categorize these tests into those that can be fully automated and those that require manual work. Lastly, we consider the budget, personnel, and their expertise.
- Choosing Automation Tool
Based on the application that you are testing, you can choose a tool that fits your requirements. Be it cost, flexibility, intuitiveness or functionality, multiple factors go into deciding your automation tool.
- Designing the Strategy
A test plan is created keeping in mind the approach and desired end-goal of the project. Ensure that a suitable framework that has all common practices, standards, and testing tools is chosen. The framework can be data-driven, keyword-driven, modular testing and linear scripting.
- Setting the Environment
In order to maximize the test coverage, it is important to create a good test environment. All the activities involved in setting it up- like installing the hardware or software and the development of test bed scripts- are scheduled.
- Writing scripts
Based on the defined requirements and standards, we then write scripts that can perform the tests planned. It is advisable that the scripts written are structured, reusable, and easy to understand.
- Executing Tests
QA testing can be automated in one of two ways. Graphical User Interface testing imitates the experience of the user with the help of softwares like Radview TestAutomation. You can either run the same tests every time or use each test to verify a different feature. API testing, on the other hand, tests the application programming interface.
- Analyzing reports
The automation tool will present a report when the execution of all our tests is completed. Components containing defects or bugs will be shown and additional testing can be done if necessary.
Benefits
Rigorous testing is vital before the rolling out of any product or service. Automated testing not only saves time and money but also delivers a high level of accuracy for any business. It enables the QA team to focus on more advanced testing and improve test coverage.
In order to ensure continuous integration and continuous delivery, automated testing is extremely important. This is because the development, testing, and destruction of software happens several times daily.
As long as you pick the right tools and do the required planning and maintenance of tests, automation can do nearly everything for you. Alongside a little bit of manual testing, automation gives you the best chance at catching bugs and defects.