UI testing or user interface testing is a crucial part of the blueprint development process of the test.
Any product or application is made use of by the end-user, and the user interface is what they interact with while using the product. Therefore, it is vital to test the visual elements of your product and validate that they meet the standards required.
Factors affecting User Interface
Ensuring correct data types, field width limits, valid menu items, the correct type of navigation buttons, etc., are things that you verify in user interface testing. Improvements that can be made with respect to the user interface could be to show progress bars, enable type-ahead in lists and headers in tables.
Features like logging of errors, proper functionality of shortcuts is proper, or the appearance of Confirm button every time users want to delete or save an item go a long way in improving your user interface.
The following are the most commonly tested attributes in user interface testing.
Visual Design
The aesthetic appeal of the application, like the color schemes, layouts, fonts, and images used on the interface, comes into this category. Be it menus, radio buttons, checkboxes, colors, or fonts, every element plays a role in the look and feel of your user interface. Having a good visual design for your website is like having a nice and friendly receptionist at your office.
Functionality
To state the obvious, your website must perform its intended functions. This bare minimum requirement of any application must be tested.
Performance
Once you make sure your application meets its functional requirements, you have to think about making it run smoothly and without any delays. The faster your application responds, the better the consumer base it can make.
Usability
If the application is easy to use, the number of people likely to use it will also be more. Therefore, it is necessary to observe how test subjects from different demographics feel about using your website.
Compliance
This category involves the testing that ensures your application meets industry standards. ETSI, W3C, or IEEE usually define the regulations.
How to perform UI testing?
Manual
When we personally perform operations to verify if the application works as intended, it is called manual testing. It consumes a lot of time and covers very few test scenarios. Also, the testing quality depends solely on the expertise of the team that performs the testing.
Record and playback
In record-and-playback testing, a UI testing tool recordings all the tasks and interactions with your application. The application is then made to re-run the same tasks, and the result is compared with the recorded behavior. This process is repeated for several different data sets.
Model-based
This method builds graphic models of the system behavior, which help generate very efficient test cases. The inputs and outputs determined from the model are later used to run the tests. Since this method of testing encourages a high level of automation, the coverage is high.
Concerns in UI testing
Trends in UI
Applications need to be upgraded often, and performing comprehensive tests on the user interface becomes challenging at such a quick pace.
Increasing complexity
With features like maps, flowcharts, diagrams, and other elements embedded into applications these days, UI testing is not a piece of cake.
Time taking
Creating as well as executing effective user interface test scripts, especially without using the right tools, can be very time-consuming.
Maintenance of test scripts
When developers keep making edits to their scripts, maintaining the scripts becomes tedious.
Handling several errors
Fixing errors in between creating scripts in tight timelines is very challenging.
ROI computation
With a constantly changing UI, the tests that need to be performed also change constantly. And as the time spent on UI increases, delivery of the product gets late, making it difficult to calculate ROI on these tests.
Tips for UI testers
Select the right tools
It is necessary that the tool chosen for UI testing can seamlessly integrate into your workflow. The tool must be capable of recording and playing the test, supporting the re-use of tests, and not needing much maintenance. Ensure that it supports reporting and can track defects.
Object repositories
Having a shared repository can minimize test maintenance and its associated costs. Initially, it is advised to have fewer test cases, and then as you advance into the higher stages, increase your test coverage.
Codeless automation
Your testing tool should preferably have the capability to perform codeless automotive so that you don’t have to make repetitive changes in your test code.
Coding culture
In your organization, you can train your teams on top-notch automatic practices and set up criteria for reviewing or modifying code. This will eliminate confusion and enable teams to address challenges in the application’s development cycle efficiently.
