#selenium automation framework

It is essential for business organizations, offering QA Services to conduct software testing before launching the product in the market. Software testing is done to measure the reliability, effectiveness and efficiency of the software at the rapid space. Automation framework provides a scope to the software tester with lesser experience to conduct sophisticated software testing within a shorter period.

Software testing framework refers to a set of different rules and guidelines which play an integral role in making the testing process effective and efficient. A test automation framework comprises of the combination of different test practices and tools which are designed in making QA testing services efficient.

Software test frameworks contribute to being an indispensable part of the testing process. Such kind of framework provides the opportunity to the software tester having no or little experience to perform sophisticated testing in no time.

Importance of software testing frameworks

Software testing automation frameworks are beneficial in different situations in which it is necessary to conduct multiple test cycles for a wide assortment of test cases. 

The software testing framework enhances the test speed and efficiency of the team and decreases the test maintenance costs. Such a software testing framework is useful in bringing an improvement in the test accuracy. It is essential for performing effective test automation.

Also, they play an integral role in making the testing of different applications and processes more reusable, scalable, readable and maintainable. These kinds of software frameworks are beneficial in running different scripts and command different types for the validation of test applications and outputs.

Advantages of software testing frameworks

Software testing frameworks help the tester to reuse the test codes for different scenarios. Frameworks are beneficial for hassle-free maintenance as changes are introduced in the product, under the test.

 As different people work on the same type of suite, the frameworks are beneficial in writing the scripts in the standard format. It is possible to integrate the framework with different APIs and the generation of the report.

Types of software testing framework

Here is a list of the various kinds of software testing framework:

Linear Automation framework

It is recognized to be a test automation framework of basic level, which is available in Record and Playback form in the linear fashion. In such a kind of linear automation framework, it is possible to create and execute different test scripts individually for different test cases. 

The tester while working with this framework record different steps, like user input, navigation, checkpoints after which they will play the script for the automatic performance of the test. Such kind of framework is beneficial in testing the applications of small size.

Library Architecture Testing Framework

Such kind of software testing framework depends on the modular framework. Here, the application is not divided into the test scripts. 

Instead, the application is divided into different common functions which are used by different parts of the app. The scalability and maintenance of the test case of this software testing are easier and involves a reduced cut off from the pocket.

Modular testing framework

It is another popular software test framework, which is based on OOP or object-oriented programming methodology. This framework makes use of the abstraction concept. During software testing, the specific app is divided into various modules, where every module comprises of separate test scripts.

The modules separation is done with the aid of the abstraction layer. So, any such change will not have an impact on the other modules. The software framework boasts of modularization level, which decreases expenses and makes maintenance easy.

Keyword-driven testing framework

It is recognized to be an application framework which makes use of self-descriptive keywords and data tables. Here, the framework boasts of the external input data file which reveals the functions through different directives that are present in the test scripts. 

Such directives are referred to as keywords. This kind of testing contributes to being the data-driven framework extension. It includes the reuse of the keyword in several test cases. It is effective in decreasing the total number of test scripts. It makes use of the least amount of the codes for the generation of test cases.

Data-driven software testing framework

It is one of the most popular test automation frameworks in which the required inputs, along with the expected output results, get stored in different data files. In this framework, a singular driver test will perform the execution of the required test cases along with various data set. A driver script comprises of different function, such as the reading of the data files, and navigation through the whole program.

This framework decreases the total number of test scripts, which are necessary for the implementation of the test cases. It helps in creating test data before the setting of the test implementation. This specific software framework assures better flexibility during the fixing and maintenance of bugs.

Learn more about: Vulnerability testing services

SAFs or Selenium Automation Framework

SAFs contribute to being open-source, customized and widely used framework which is used for conducting automated web application testing. It is effective in decreasing the initial coding efforts. 

This framework enhances the efficiency of automation manifolds, compared to the other frameworks. It helps the enterprises in boosting the testing mechanism speed with the use of the accelerators in the test design layer. Besides this, it offers a comprehensive report strategy to manage the tests.

This framework is equipped with a user-friendly and intuitive interface which is useful in the execution and creation of test suites. It is robust and flexible and helps in carrying test automation on different sets. It allows potential users to perform several testing processes for different web applications.

Top 5 Ways To Effectively Apply Selenium Test Automation

The pressing need for testing a software to ensure its quality and consequent user acceptance has encouraged companies to explore the open source platforms. The reasons testers prefer the use of an open source platform vis-a-vis a licensed one are due to the former’s flexibility, ease of writing automated test scripts and cost advantage, amongst others.

A licensed platform, on the other hand, usually confines the testers to the use of specific languages only. Amongst the many open source testing platforms, the advantages of Selenium clearly outweigh others as far as test automation of applications is concerned.

This brings forth the importance of test automation to ensure the quality of software. It does so by enlarging the test coverage area and by carrying out repetitive testing. We have no doubts that test automation is better at identifying glitches in the shortest possible time. In doing so, it also ensures faster time to market, a better user response, and further cost benefits.

The market has many testing tools that developers leverage to meet the objectives of quality, speed and time. Amongst many Test Automation tools, Selenium has proven to be the best suited to carry out performance, regression and functional testing, amongst others.

Top 5 best practices to consider for Selenium Test Automation

Although test automation has many advantages it cannot be implemented for each and every test case. Testers need to optimize Selenium automation testing to achieve better test outcomes. Let us find out the top 5 ways to implement Selenium test automation effectively.

1. Choose the IDE/browser/language: Since the Selenium automation framework provides the option of choosing the IDE/browser or language, the testers should use the one that suits the application or product the most. Also, during the testing of a web application, the focus should be on ensuring the web application’s compatibility with browsers.

2. Train the human resource: One of the primary objectives of using test automation through a Selenium automation testing framework is to speed up testing. Hence, the testing team should not use the crucial testing time for learning about the various features of the tool. The team should instead get quickly well versed with the Selenium tool and its many features before executing the test.

3. Carry out performance, regression and functional testing: The effective functioning of any application depends on a slew of factors. The factors include how the application performs when the load is increased beyond the specified limit or its apparent behaviour when certain changes are made. Hence, Selenium automation testing must effectively write and run test automation scripts for performance, regression and functional testing.

4. Plan the test outcomes: Test automation involves repeated execution of test scripts wherein inputs are checked for specified outcomes. These expected outcomes should be decided beforehand in consultation with the developers. The outcomes willdecide if the functioning of an application is in accordance with the defined parameters or stated objectives. Selenium automation testing is also about generating a good test data for future reference. The test data gathered would be of help during any future testing exercise by reducing the test time. The time saved would be on account of understanding the test scenario beforehand and as a consequence, doing the actual test quickly.

5. Use the reports and dashboard effectively: The testing process generates various reports, which should be leveraged to strategize the next round of testing.

Conclusion

The effective run of Selenium automated testing ensures early and effective bug detection, resulting in faster time-to-market. The flexibility of Selenium with its multiple use of languages, browsers and IDEs makes it an ideal open source testing platform.

Developing and executing test automation scripts have become an important part of the total quality assurance process. An automated test script does the job of manual testing, but with the built-in advantages of speed, coverage of a large test area, and repetition. Considering the benefits of test automation, writing test scripts that suit each and every development environment can be tricky and time consuming.  

This challenge can increase further while integrating the test scripts with some widely used programming languages. As a result, testers have found Selenium to be the perfect platform to undo all the niggling issues related to test automation. In other words, Selenium automation testing has become the new buzzword for the QA team.  

Let us first understand why Selenium is one of the most preferred platforms for Test Automation.  

It is an open source and free to use platform that is backed by a team of active developers.

It is highly portable. In other words, test scripts can be written for any platform (OS & browser).

There is no specific test script to be used for Selenium automation framework. For example, a tester can write the test script by using any of the programming languages such as Java, C#, Ruby, Perl, PHP, etc.

Selenium automation testing entails an easy integration of various processes, functions and their functionalities in a web application. This fulfils the criteria of CI in an Agile testing environment, where development and code testing takes place simultaneously.

It is highly resilient, flexible, and provides an excellent test automation platform for Web Application testing that is very much scalable.

Given the immense benefits of using a Selenium automation framework, the process of implementing the same is listed below.  

#Know the web application

While writing the test scripts for Selenium automation testing, the test team should focus on the browsers that are likely to be used to access and run the web application. The test strategy should be formulated to check if the browsers are compatible with the web application.  

#Get in sync with the tool

Among the many reasons justifying the use of a Selenium automation framework, quicker testing of web application arguably stays at the top. Hence, the team of testers should be updated with the entire range of Selenium features. The aim should be to minimize the learning curve and instead speed up the testing process.  

#Create the test environment

The following ways can be utilized to create a test environment.

Choose a browser like Chrome or Firefox

Choose a programming language and IDE to write the test script

Choose a GUI testing tool like Selenium WebDriver

Create the test scripts to check end to end flow of the application

#Divide testing tasks based on expertise

Writing test scripts for Selenium automation testing can be a complex exercise. In other words, given that each member of the testing team has a different level of expertise, it should be made use of while carrying out Selenium test automation. This can be done by assigning the task of writing the test script to someone who is adept at it. And follow it up by assigning the task of performing the actual test to another expert.  

#Identify good test data

To get the best test outcomes in carrying out Selenium test automation, selecting the right set of test data is crucial. The test data should be able to check each and every functionality and process of a web application. The task before the QA team is to retrieve the right test data and validate the same by running the test scripts.  

#Get reports

Selenium automation testing can generate a host of reports highlighting issues in the web application. These reports can be made use of by the testing team to figure out the next step of action and to ensure a quicker test outcome.  

Conclusion

Selenium automation testing can be used effectively by the QA team to achieve higher test coverage, meet the CI requirement as far as Agile is concerned, faster turnaround time, and ease of running it against any browser. These can be some key highlights of using Selenium. Ultimately, it is important to shorten the testing cycle, but by ensuring quality of the software/application.

Selenium, one of the most preferred Open Source Test Automation platforms, seems to have caught the fancy of testers worldwide for offering a seamless and user-friendly Selenium test automation platform. It facilitates an easy to plug and play Selenium automation framework for testing web applications. In this highly competitive nature of online business, companies are under tremendous pressure to release websites and web applications at a quicker rate than their competitors. Reaching faster to the market is critical, but ensuring quality is equally business critical.

Quality is needed to ensure that customers get the desired experience and they keep coming back to the application. Eventually, the application is able to achieve its ultimate business objectives. This is where the role of test automation comes into play, as manual testing can leave much to be desired in terms of time taken, high input cost, and a lack of test coverage area.

Specifically, carrying out test automation on web applications would mean writing test scripts for various browsers and OS platforms. This, even though is far better than following a manual regression testing, is very much time consuming. The reason being, writing test automation scripts for various processes and functions by following the standards can be a challenging exercise. How can Selenium Test Automation add value in this context? Why are testers and developers specifically preferring Selenium specifically in an Agile context?

Why choose Selenium in an Agile environment?

Agile environment demands quick codes, faster turnaround, shorter testing cycles, and frequent releases powered by faster feedback. Selenium enables the Agile approach by offering a browser compatible platform that offers round-the-clock assistance for frequent releases. Selenium is an open source testing platform that facilitates an easy way of writing Selenium test automation code, across various browsers and OS platforms.

Moreover, it has an active developer community that helps in updating the platform from time to time by removing hidden glitches. Also, the GUI based environment makes it convenient to write Selenium test automation codes to validate different web applications and their functionalities.

Benefits of using Selenium automation testing in an Agile set-up

1.      Open Source: The open source Selenium automation framework makes it ideal for enterprises to carry out test automation without sourcing it from a single licensed vendor. Moreover, since it comes free of cost, enterprises can save a substantial amount on writing automation scripts for validating functional efficiency of the web application. Given the number of dedicated Selenium developers working on the product, the platform remains seamless and relatively glitch free. You can even receive assistance from a community-based group anytime.

2.      Portable across platforms: Selenium gives a high level of flexibility for writing test scripts for the Selenium automation framework across platforms and browsers. By using it’s easy to use interface, testers can write test scripts without bothering about the platform or browser. This incidentally is not the case even with expensive test automation tools.

Read more at Medium.com -  Benefits of Selenium Test Automation with an Agile approach

In today’s age of technical advancement, the methods of business have changed quite significantly. Opening of an online store has become the most favorite headline of local newspapers. Establishing a business has become much easier than it was earlier. In earlier times, business owners used to maintain records of their consumers, while in today’s so called ‘advanced technical’ age, everything is computerized, they connect with their customers through internet. Since businesses connect with their customers via internet, hackers, the new-age antisocial elements, are at large, looking for ways to attack those businesses, and gather their client and consumers’ details.

Hackers are the biggest threat for an online business of the present age. The security of critical data, as user information, data bases, bank account details, etc. is at great risk. Website and application developers strive hard to provide their users and visitors with optimum security. However, even after such provisioning, the news of New York Times and Pentagon website hack is also heard repetitively.

If we specifically talk about online shops and bank websites, and the mobile applications of these streams, they are most vulnerable to be attacked by hackers. Website and applications of such enterprises should be developed under strict surveillance and checked for probable security threats on regular intervals.

Data, Consumer & Network Security Data, consumer and network security are three extensive strives for most businesses of the present generation. An online business, say a multi brand online shopping store, can not survive, if contact information of all its consumers and suppliers has been hacked and changed by some crazy hacker. A bank would not be a bankable destination, if its website would experience hack and downtimes. Hackers might also transfer the credits of a bank’s customers in his account - which is the most terrifying threat for a bank as well as for its customers. Additionally, some hackers enter a corporate network, and corrupt the entire website, and intranet and extranet conversations.

Security Testing Services Security testing at regular stages and period breaks has become essential, nowadays, for any online business. Software, QA, and Security testing exercises should be deployed from the very first stage of the website and application development. There are many security testing services that help developers create a safer and more secure web and application environment. These agencies deploy several tools, as Soapui, Webcoder, WebInject, Samie, Spira Test, HP Quality Center, Stress Tools, and Selenium Automation Framework.