What is test automation approach?
In the world of software testing, there are many types of testing methods, with the most popular being manual testing and automated testing. Both are based on the same thing: run a test case and compare the current results with the expected results. Companies typically have their staff for this type of testing or, in some cases, involve a QA agency to strategize and perform manual testing and test automation.
What is Manual Testing?
Manual testing requires significant human effort to ensure that the software solution does everything it is supposed to do.
This method is best used when it comes to testing new changes to systems, but when trying to ensure that these changes don’t affect functionality that has been experienced in previous iterations.
What is Test Automation?
Modern software development consists of successive development cycles that require repeated testing of the same set of tests (also called test cases). Test case testing is a laborious and time-consuming process when done manually.
Test automation comes in handy to solve this problem. Many types of test automation have been introduced since its inception, and robust testing tools have enabled testers to do more work, including writing and rewriting test scripts, freeing up valuable resources, and increasing productivity. This guide covers the most popular test automation approaches that every tester should know.
Test Automation Approaches
Test cases must provide information about the operations executed on the system under test (SUT). These settings can be documented in the test procedure or implemented in the test script. In addition to operations, automated test cases must also specify test data for interaction with the SUT and include verification measures to ensure that the system achieves the expected result.
Well-established methods for test automation include:
Capture/Playback Approach (also known as Record and Play):
An extremely simple form of animation. A test script is written for each test case, which records and plays a clip on the screen. Thus, the name “record and play.” Due to its simplicity, it is ideal for small teams and teams new to test automation.
Structured Scripting Approach:
The main difference between the structural scripting method and the record and play method is the introduction to the script library. It contains reusable scripts that perform a sequence of statements typically required in a test suite. Good examples of such scenarios are those that communicate, for example, SUT interface operations.
Data-Driven Testing Approach:
Data-driven test automation framework; the test script focuses on the logic and separation of test data. Using it, we can bypass different data sets in test automation scripts. In addition to MS Excel sheets, MS Access tables, MySQL databases, XML files, etc.
Keyword-Driven Testing Approach:
Keyword testing is a scripting technique in which data files contain keywords related to the tested application. They describe the set of actions required to complete a particular stage. Keyword-based tests include high-level and low-level keywords, including keyword arguments, designed to describe the test case process. Keyword-based testing is also known as table-based testing or action word-based testing.
With this method, a set of keywords is first identified, and then the action (or function) associated with those keywords is associated.
Conclusion
I hope this brief description of the various test automation approaches will help you better understand how test automation works and what it involves.