DEV Community: satyaprakash behera

Assert and Verify in Selenium: Key Differences and Best Practices

satyaprakash behera — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 07:32:31 +0000

Automation testing has become an important part of modern software development, and Selenium is one of the most popular web automation frameworks. To build robust and reliable tests using Selenium, it is crucial to understand the correct implementation of assertions and verification. In this article, we will explore the concepts of assert and verify in Selenium, understand their differences, and see some practical implementations for the same.

What are Assertions?

Assertions are the conditions that a test must meet to pass. In case an assertion fails, the test halts immediately, and you can go back to check the issue before proceeding. Assertion is an easy way to validate if the actual output of the test matches the expected output. These can be applied at different checkpoints throughout the test execution.

For example, you might use an assertion to verify that a particular web element contains a specific text or check whether a button is enabled.

In Selenium, assertions are used through the testing framework being used, i.e., TestNG or JUnit, where you can use built-in assertion libraries that allow you to compare expected and actual outcomes. Consider the below example of an assertion where we try to compare the actual and expected page titles.

`import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
import org.testng.Assert;
import org.testng.annotations.Test;
public class MyFirstTest {

@Test
public void verifyPageTitle() {
    //Initialize webdriver
    WebDriver driver =  new ChromeDriver();
    driver.get("https://www.google.com/");

    //Get page title
    String actual= driver.getTitle();
    String expected = "Test title";

    //Assert that the page title matches with the expected title
    Assert.assertEquals(actual, expected,"Page title does not match!");

    //Clean up
    driver.quit();
}

Upon execution, you will notice that the test fails, with assertion error showing the failure as below-

When to use Assertions?
Critical Functionality– Assertions are suited for testing essential features where any failure invalidates subsequent steps.
Preconditions– When you need to establish the state of the application before performing further steps.
When an early failure should prevent the execution of the rest of the test.

Advantages of Using Assertions
Immediate Feedback—When assertions fail, you receive immediate feedback, which is helpful in debugging.
Clarity in Tests – Assertions make the tests more clear and readable by clearly stating what is expected.
Reliability – They help ensure that deviations from expected behaviors are caught early, hence maintaining reliability.

What are Verifications?

Verification, unlike assertions, checks conditions without halting the test execution. They are helpful in testing scenarios where you want to capture multiple errors during a single test run. Verification allows the test to continue and report all encountered issues instead of stopping at the first error.

For example, consider a scenario where you need to verify the status of the presence of multiple web elements on a page. Using verification, you can log the status of each element, and compile the list of discrepancies at the end. This comprehensive error log provides a holistic view of the application.

Though Selenium WebDriver does not provide a built-in verify command, modern testing frameworks offer ways to simulate verification behavior. For instance, TestNG offers a SoftAssert class that collects all the failures and marks the test as failed only after all the assertions have been validated. The below code is an example of SoftAssert in TestNG:

`import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
import org.testng.annotations.Test;
import org.testng.asserts.SoftAssert;

public class MyFirstTest {

@Test
public void verifyPageTitle() {
    //Initialize webdriver
    WebDriver driver =  new ChromeDriver();
    driver.get("https://www.google.com/");

   SoftAssert softAssert = new SoftAssert();
    //Get page title
    String actual= driver.getTitle();
    String expectedIncorrect = "Test title";
    String expectedCorrect = "Google";
//Assert that the page title matches with the expected title- this will fail
    softAssert.assertEquals(actual, expectedIncorrect,"Page title does not match!");
    System.out.println("Failure");

//Assert that the page title matches with the expected title- this will pass
    softAssert.assertEquals(actual, expectedCorrect,"Page title does not match!");
    System.out.println("Success");
    //Collect all soft assertion results
    softAssert.assertAll();

    //Clean up
    driver.quit();
}

In the above example, even when the first assertion fails due to an incorrect expected title, the test won’t stop executing. Only at the end, when assertAll() is called, all assertion results will be compiled, and the test result will be updated accordingly. Upon executing the code, the test results would look like below-

When to use Verification?

UI Testing – This involves verifying multiple elements or styles on a page when a single failure should not impact the entire test.
Comprehensive Reporting – When you need to capture and log multiple discrepancies to gain a holistic view of the application’s state.
Non-Critical Checks– When testing features where failures can be reviewed at a later stage and are not required for immediate attention.

Advantages of Using Verification

Comprehensive Error Reporting- Verification allows the capture of multiple issues in a single test execution, resulting in a detailed report.
Allows test continuity – Unlike the assertions where the test execution halts, verification allows for the continuation of the test through all checkpoints irrespective of any failure.
Enhanced debugging – Verification enables you to log multiple failures in a single run; developers and testers can address several issues in one go, thereby reducing overall debugging time.

Key Differences Between Assert And Verify

Best Practices To Implement Assertion And Verification

Use soft assertions when you need to verify multiple independent elements. However, avoid using them in critical test cases where a failure should prevent further execution of the test.
Provide descriptive error messages in your assertions and verifications to allow for easy debugging.
Automatically capture screenshots when an assertion or verification fails.
Implement explicit wait and fluent wait to handle dynamic content on web pages.
Ensure each test focuses on one specific aspect of the application.

Conclusion

Assertion and verification are two fundamental concepts of Selenium-based test automation. While assertions halt test execution upon failure, verifications are a lenient approach that allows tests to continue executing even when multiple discrepancies exist. Blending both ways judiciously can significantly enhance the robustness and maintainability of your tests. In this guide, we explored the details of assertions and verifications and the key differences between them. We have seen how by using certain best practices, we can enhance the efficiency of our test frameworks.

Source: This blog was originally published at testgrid.io

Test Automation Challenges You Can’t Ignore in 2025

satyaprakash behera — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 12:52:49 +0000

Test automation has always been a moving target. When you think you have the perfect setup, the best tech stack, and fail-proof frameworks in place, the industry witnesses a massive disruption that shakes your entire workflow.

In 2025, the pressure on software is even greater — you have to release products faster and use smarter systems for the job. Let’s also not forget the constant push for quality at scale. Regardless of how advanced your testing processes are, some challenges will keep surfacing.

But what are they?

And what’s the best way to keep them at bay?

In this blog post, we’ll break down this year’s top ten challenges in automation testing and actionable steps you can take to eliminate them.

Test Automation Challenges in 2025: Insights and Strategies

1. Maintaining test automation ROI

It’s no secret that test automation initially demands a high investment in tools, infrastructure, and developers. Sometimes, you may need to consider licensing expenses and costs incurred in tech training and team onboarding.

When it comes down to the actual work, keeping up with changing app codes is essential. Scripts can become brittle and require frequent updates. Moreover, as the test suite grows, execution times can increase, creating bottlenecks during development.

Such challenges faced in automation testing can quickly erode the ROI.

Here’s what to do:

Calculate the costs involved in setting up the automation framework and fixing production defects so you know what to expect
Consider using AI testing tools, regardless of whether you’re working on a small project or a big one
Break down the automation implementation into phases, prioritizing and budgeting for the most critical functionalities first

2. Network disconnection

One of the challenges in test automation is when the network connection gets lost or disrupted, making it hard to access databases and remote access VPNs, APIs, and other third-party services. The end result? The entire testing process gets unnecessarily delayed!

Here’s how to ensure test reliability:

Implement network health checks before running tests; use commands like ‘ping,’ ‘curl,’ or APIs to verify connectivity
Run multiple test environments so one failure doesn’t block others
Store previous test data and replay them when disconnected

In addition, you can use TestGrid to launch a robust testing environment where you can simulate numerous network states on actual devices. There’s no need to use emulators. Testing on our platform is more accurate and covers broader test scenarios.

3. Shaky data reliance

Data plays a vital role in test automation, so it’s natural to include its mismanagement as one of the software testing challenges. The data must be in a specific state when the test script is executed.

For example, in ecommerce testing, the checkout test script must start with items already added to the cart to avoid testing unrelated functionality like browsing or adding products. If testing discounts, a cart with items qualifying for discounts must be set up.

Considering how test scripts behave when executed simultaneously across multiple test environments and configurations is essential.

Will it fail if the same data is used in multiple instances of the script?

What if the data of a script is built up by the execution of another test script?

To boost data reliance, take the following steps:

When possible, use mock data or virtual services to reduce dependencies on external systems
Write test scripts in such a way that they create and clean all of the data needed for successful execution
Generate unique identifiers (such as timestamps or GUIDs) to prevent data collisions in case tests need to run in parallel

4. AI and ML integration testing

The global AI testing market, valued at $414.7 million in 2022, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.4% from 2023 to 2030.

Although this sounds impressive, here’s the deal: The outputs of AI and ML systems aren’t fixed, unlike traditional software where a set of inputs delivers predictable outcomes.

The two technologies adapt based on training data and may respond differently under similar conditions. For instance, an ML model trained to prioritize customer emails might perform well initially but degrade over time as customer behavior shifts or new patterns emerge.

It’s the dynamic nature that makes it difficult to test and maintain.

To address such AI/ML-focused challenges in test automation:

Ensure training data reflects real-world scenarios and includes edge cases. You should also look for and remove gaps or biases that could skew the output.
Create test cases that mimic production environments, focusing on variations the system might not expect.
Use explainability frameworks to help verify whether the system’s reasoning aligns with its intended design.

5. Poor team collaboration

Automation can only go so far without human insight. If all stakeholders — developers, software testers, business analysts, and project managers — work in silos without any common goal in mind, your test automation strategy will not fetch you the results you desire.

For example, an AI-powered tool might flag a visual alignment issue as critical, but a human tester could recognize that it doesn’t impact usability or the user experience.

Without someone to make that judgment, teams might waste time fixing something irrelevant while more important bugs go unnoticed.

To address this problem:

Try to make all identified risks transparent at the initial stage and communicate them as soon as possible
Don’t take outputs at face value; analyze test results, especially failures, to ensure they’re meaningful and actionable
Implement project management solutions like ClickUp or Jira to enhance teamwork

6. Hyper-automation complexity

Gartner reports that hyper-automation technologies help minimize operational expenses by 30%.

But what’s one of the common problems with automation?

It doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s very much a part of interconnected workflows. No wonder hyper-automation, where multiple systems and tools work together, is slowly becoming the norm.

However, such interconnectedness comes with complexity. For example, if your CI/CD pipeline integrates test automation frameworks, deployment tools, and monitoring platforms, a minor update to one tool could cause issues across the pipeline.

The worst part? The inefficiencies can be hard to trace and curtail.

To manage this complexity, it’s best to:

Design scripts that are independent of each other, so changes in one don’t require rewriting the entire suite
Map out how your automation setup so you know how each component interacts with each other
Set up systems to flag issues when automation workflows fail

7. Regulatory compliance and ethical constraints

Your test automation strategy should not overlook meeting compliance requirements, even if they are less straightforward than testing for performance or functionality.

Whether it’s GDPR, HIPAA, or any other industry — or region-specific regulation, your tests must validate that systems handle data and functionality in legally and ethically acceptable ways.

For example, you have an eCommerce platform handling user data. While your automated tests might verify the functionality of account creation, they might miss whether sensitive user data is stored or processed in ways that violate privacy regulations.

Here’s how you can manage this:

Extend automated test cases to perform checks on regulatory requirements, such as data encryption, consent handling, and access controls
Ensure your tests also validate inclusivity, accessibility, and bias-free performance, particularly for AI-driven systems
Verify that test environments don’t expose real user data and that any sensitive information is handled appropriately

8. Skills gap and upskilling needs

Automation testing tools and frameworks constantly evolve, but your team’s skills might not always keep up. You would want them to bring domain knowledge and critical thinking to the forefront while having the know-how in scripting/coding.

They must also be able to deal with unexpected technical problems.

To avoid poor automation adoption or ineffective implementations:

Provide focused learning opportunities in areas like scripting languages, API testing, or specific frameworks; platforms like Udemy, Pluralsight, or internal workshops can help
Assign team members time to explore new tools, attend webinars, or experiment with emerging technologies
Blend manual testers’ deep domain knowledge with automation specialists’ technical skills

9. Handling distributed systems

Modern apps often rely on microservices, cloud infrastructures, and edge services. They are complex, with components spread across different environments and communicating asynchronously.

This introduces a host of testing challenges in software testing, from service downtime to network latency.

For example, if you’re building a payment system on microservices, a delay in one service, such as fraud detection, can overturn the entire transaction flow. As discussed in hyper-automation, identifying such issues in an automated test environment isn’t straightforward.

Here’s what you can do:

Test the interfaces between services to ensure expected and unexpected inputs are handled properly
Simulate component outages to verify the system’s ability to degrade gracefully
Use logs, metrics, and traces to oversee how distributed components interact

10. Rising cybersecurity risks

According to WEF, 66% of organizations expect AI to have the most impact on cybersecurity in 2025, and only 37% have processes to assess the security of AI tools before deployment.

A compromised test automation framework can expose sensitive data or provide a backdoor into your application.

That’s why you must:

Use role-based permissions and multi-factor authentication to limit who can access automation scripts, pipelines, and test environments
Avoid using real user data in test environments; use anonymized or synthetic data instead
Regularly update and patch automation frameworks

Conclusion

In conclusion, while test automation is a powerful tool for modern software development, it comes with its own set of challenges. From maintaining ROI and managing data dependencies to navigating the complexities of AI integration and distributed systems, these issues require strategic approaches and smart solutions. As technology evolves, it’s essential to stay proactive by upskilling teams, adopting reliable frameworks, and ensuring robust security measures to overcome these hurdles. Embracing these practices will help optimize test automation and enhance its effectiveness in delivering high-quality software at scale.

Source: This blog was originally published at testgrid.io

GUI Testing: Best Practices, Tools, and Checklists You Can’t Miss

satyaprakash behera — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:40:14 +0000

As an experienced software tester, you already know this: the Graphical User Interface (GUI) is the most closely inspected part of any application. It’s where end users interact, review, and form opinions about it. It’s what they see.

Naturally, GUI testing is performed from the user’s perspective instead of the developer’s. But it’s more than just about making things look pretty.

It’s about ensuring that every visual and interactive element in the app — whether mobile or desktop — works exactly as it should — every time, for every user, and on every platform.

Does the layout break on smaller screens?

Does the login button work when it’s clicked?

Does the dropdown menu display the correct options?

These are the questions that Graphical User Interface testing answers for you.

Do you want to learn more about it?

This blog post thoroughly explores the essentials of GUI testing, covering how it differs from other testing techniques, best practices for writing compelling test cases, and top tools for this process. We also share a practical checklist you must have in your GUI testing toolkit.

Let’s begin.

Visual Testing vs. User Interface (UI) vs. GUI Testing: What’s the Difference?

All three terms are closely related, but they have distinct approaches to software testing.

Visual testing focuses on validating an app’s visual elements, ensuring their appearance matches design specifications and functions across different devices and resolutions.

UI testing evaluates interactions like entering text or clicking buttons on the app to confirm whether they meet user requirements.

So, what is GUI testing?

You could consider it as a subset of UI testing as it specifically deals with the graphical components of the interface, such as icons, menus, and windows.

The Ultimate GUI Testing Checklist to Elevate Your App’s Usability
Imagine you walk into a retail store.

You see, the aisles are disorganized, labels are missing, and signs are hard to read. You’d probably feel confused and leave the shop, right?

The same logic applies to apps and websites. Users who don’t get a polished, intuitive, and feel-good experience will go elsewhere. That’s why following this GUI checklist is a good idea — it lets you easily take care of the basics.

1. Functionality

It doesn’t matter how beautifully designed your app is; if its functionality is broken, it’s done. What if you have an eCommerce web app that looks great but has a checkout button that overlaps with other elements on smaller screens?

It will hinder the shopping experience.

So, in addition to checking UI elements don’t overlap or block functionality, you must:

Simulate network throttling to verify the proper loading of interactive features.
Test how UI elements behave during state changes (e.g., logging in or switching between accounts) in a single session.
Check navigation across dynamically loaded content.

2. Text and spelling

You won’t believe how much a typo can impact brand trust. Users equate spelling and grammar mistakes with carelessness. What if font scaling fails at 125%, 150%, or 200% on specific browsers? That’s something to ponder on, too.

Plus, you can never be too careful about whether text is truncated or displayed for non-English languages, such as Finnish or German.

Here are the core things to check:

Verify that headers and body text retain hierarchy and spacing at high resolutions or during zoom.
Confirm compliance with WCAG 2.1 contrast ratio guidelines (minimum 4.5:1 for standard text).
Validate that error messages are contextually clear and don’t overlap with other elements.

3. Compatibility and responsiveness

Your app’s design should stay consistent across devices, browsers, versions, and operating systems. Any differences in font sizes, colors, and alignment can disorient the users and dilute your brand identity. Let’s study the various test cases around this:

Responsiveness under varying resolutions, including uncommon aspect ratios (e.g., ultra-wide monitors or foldable devices).
Test layout adaptability using viewport resizing tools to identify breakpoints.
Platform-specific quirks (e.g., Safari on macOS vs. iOS).

4. Forms, fields, and dropdowns

Do you know where users actually interact with your app? Forms. Having broken fields or misplaced placeholders will invariably disrupt the flow and put them off. Besides having proper focus management for accessibility, you must remember to:

Test autofill functionality across browsers to ensure fields are correctly populated.
Verify that dropdown lists adapt to long values without breaking the layout.
Simulate mobile usage to confirm placeholder visibility and interaction.

5. Validation

Think of input validation as your app’s safety net. If error messages are unclear or specific validations are missing, your users will be left missing and possibly bouncing off. You must perform advanced checks that involve functional correctness and UX quality.

This is what you can do:

Test error handling for edge cases like SQL injection attempts or excessively long inputs.
Simulate scenarios where users intentionally bypass client-side validation to ensure robust server-side checks.
Validate error messages in multiple languages and colors (in red or green), providing actionable feedback, such as “Password must be at least eight characters” instead of “Invalid password.”

6. Spacing gaps

We are way into the middle of the 2020s. Website and app designs with spacing issues look cluttered, awkward, and sometimes amateurish. You have to pay close attention to padding, margins, and alignment. Here’s what you should take care of:

Audit spacing around interactive elements to confirm sufficient touch targets and prevent accidental clicks, especially on mobile devices.
Evaluate consistency in padding for buttons and text, even when labels vary in length.
Verify responsiveness for grid-based layouts, ensuring columns and rows adapt correctly.

7. Images

Aesthetics play a major role in your branding. You want your digital look and feel to be beautiful. No wonder images are the eye candy of your GUI. But if they’re blurry, misaligned, or improperly formatted, your overall app isn’t going to deliver the impact you desire.

Plus, images are often the heaviest assets in your interface. It’s best not to take them lightly during testing. Here’s what you can do:

Review lazy-loading behavior to confirm images load only when in view.
Test high-DPI images on Retina displays to ensure clarity without pixelation.
Verify color accuracy and consistency across devices and browsers for consistency.

Best Practices for Writing GUI Test Cases

To improve the quality and maintainability of your GUI tests, you must write test cases that help you achieve clear coverage, reusability, and scalability. Here’s how you can:

1. Keep test cases modular

Checking each element can become tedious, so breaking them into smaller, reusable test cases is best.

For instance, instead of writing one large test case for renewing subscriptions in a SaaS app, create individual test cases for actions like searching for pricing plans, choosing the monthly or annual options, and filling in credit card details.

This modular approach helps simulate real user behavior, where actions aren’t always performed in a set order.

2. Use heuristics for GUI test data

Heuristics can be defined as mental shortcuts that help us make decisions, solve problems, and form judgments quickly. You can apply the same principle to create more effective test data. For instance:

Review scenarios with no or multiple results (e.g., database queries).
Test the minimum and maximum values in input fields.
Check for empty fields.
This will ensure your GUI can handle a wide range of user inputs and system states.

3. Separate test data from test cases

Why? Because doing this enables you to update your test data without changing the structure of the entire test case. For example, you can store this data in an external file or database rather than hard-coding usernames or passwords directly into your test scripts.

This way, you can test with different datasets or adapt to changes in requirements without altering the underlying test logic. In addition, separating environment-specific information ensures that test cases remain flexible if you need to test across different platforms.

4. Write both positive and negative test cases

A positive test case verifies the app works as expected when valid data is entered, while a negative test case checks how the system handles invalid inputs or error conditions.

Top GUI Testing Tools in 2025
Graphical User Interface testing might feel overwhelming at first. However, it’s one of the most rewarding parts of software testing. Lucky for you, there are many tools to help you perform checks on your app interface. We’ve chosen the best five:

1. TestGrid

Imagine having a single platform that removes the headache from GUI testing, whether cross-browser compatibility, device-specific behavior, or ensuring visual perfection across updates. TestGrid offers exactly that.

This AI-powered end-to-end testing platform empowers you to perform cross-platform testing effortlessly, letting you run your app on a vast range of devices and browsers. Your users expect a consistent experience, and with TestGrid, you can guarantee it without second-guessing your QA processes.

What sets us apart is our no-code automation interface. Even if your team has varying technical expertise, you can easily create and run UI tests.

And when you need speed, TestGrid delivers: its parallel test execution feature allows you to run multiple tests simultaneously, slashing test cycle times without sacrificing quality.

Beyond functional testing, TestGrid excels in visual validation. Capturing screenshots and comparing them to baselines helps you spot and fix UI inconsistencies before your users encounter them.

Plus, with seamless integration into CI/CD tools like Jenkins and GitLab, your testing becomes a natural part of the development pipeline.

But the magic doesn’t stop there.

CoTester by TestGrid takes AI testing to a whole new level.

Unlike syntax-driven competitors, it understands your intent naturally. You can task it in plain language without rigid commands or predefined scripts.

Whether uploading user stories, pasting URLs for automated context building, or tweaking test cases on the fly, CoTester makes testing intuitive and efficient.

It even maintains a centralized repository for your files and assets, ensuring seamless knowledge management while keeping your data private and secure.

2. Ranorex Studio

Ranorex Studio is a test automation tool that supports desktop, web, and mobile app testing. It offers a user-friendly interface with codeless automation via a capture-and-replay feature and the flexibility for code-based automation using C# and VB.NET. Its robust object recognition capabilities ensure reliable identification of UI elements, even in dynamic software.

3. Katalon Studio

Built on top of Selenium and Appium frameworks, Katalon Studio is an AI-powered software quality management platform.

It caters to non-programmers and advanced testers by providing dual interfaces: a manual view for keyword-driven testing and a script for custom coding in Groovy and Java. To detect visual discrepancies, you can compare images of the app at various test stages.

4. TestComplete

TestComplete is a versatile automated UI testing tool. It enables keyword-driven and script-based testing and supports multiple scripting languages, such as JavaScript, Python, and VBScript.

Its robust object recognition engine accurately identifies UI elements across various platforms. It also facilitates distributed testing, allowing you to run tests across multiple workstations or virtual machines, enhancing test coverage and efficiency.

5. Applitools

Applitools specializes in visual UI testing and monitoring. It uses AI algorithms to detect visual anomalies in your apps. It captures screenshots during test execution and compares them against a baseline to identify differences, ensuring the UI appears correctly to your users.

6. Selenium

Selenium is an open-source framework for automating web browsers. It provides a suite of tools, including Selenium WebDriver, for automating web app testing across different browsers and platforms.

It supports multiple programming languages, such as Java, C#, and Python, offering flexibility for testers with coding expertise. Selenium also connects multiple systems to run tests simultaneously through Selenium Grid.

Wrapping Up

There’s something satisfying about knowing you’ve contributed to an app that users will enjoy without noticing the work behind the scenes. The key to successful Graphical User Interface testing is to think like a user. Be curious, be thorough, and don’t be afraid to explore the many GUI testing examples out there.

Source: This blog was originally published at testgrid.io

Hidden Costs of Ignoring AI Testing in Your QA Strategy

satyaprakash behera — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 13:56:23 +0000

At this juncture in economic history, AI has become a transformational force. It can predict possible bottlenecks, streamline processes, speed up operations with precise insights, and find inaccuracies within literal seconds.

The same stands true for Quality Assurance and software testing. Teams can no longer overlook AI’s advantages to their testing frameworks. While CFOs often hesitate at the initial setup and training costs, AI tools inevitably deliver higher ROI in the long run.

Additionally, ignoring AI will cause any team or company to drop in competitive value, as their peers leverage the advanced capabilities of AI engines. They will build better software, find bugs more efficiently, and release updates faster.

This article will expand on this point, diving into some of the hidden costs of ignoring AI testing in your QA strategy.

Missing out on AI testing is a “False Economy”

False economy describes a scenario in which an action/decision with apparent short-term financial savings leads to significant expenditure in the long run. Basically, it is the economic equivalent of “penny wise, pound foolish”.

Overlooking the pivotal role that AI will play in testing is a classic example of a false economy. While initial setup costs can be somewhat intimidating, the inclusion of AI and ML capabilities into test cycles has yielded overwhelmingly positive outcomes. On the other hand, the absence of AI often results in financial losses arising from low product quality, security gaps, and customer dissatisfaction.

What the numbers say
The greatest advantage of introducing AI in QA (or any other industry) is efficiency. A Formstack and Mantis Research report found that many organizations are bleeding to $1.3 million yearly due to inefficient tasks slowing down employees. Many companies have recognized this, especially in their QA processes.

According to Forbes, the global artificial intelligence market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030. It is projected to reach $1,811.8 billion by 2030.

TestRail’s survey shows that 65% of respondents already leverage AI in their QA processes. The 35% who have yet to do so are missing out on a critical component in modern QA strategies.

Another survey found that 77.7% of organizations are using, or planning to use, AI tools in their workflows. They use AI for:

test data creation (50.60%)

test log analysis and reporting (35.70%)

formulating test cases (46.00%)

AI engines are slated to intelligently automate 70% of repetitive testing. The role of software testers is quickly shifting to monitoring AI progress, modeling its workflows, verifying test results, and building test plans and strategies at conceptual and implementation levels.

What AI Testing brings to the table in QA strategy
Faster test cycles
AI can execute test cases at 10x the speed and accuracy of human testers and current non-AI automation tools. It can continuously build and run tests, adjust test code to accommodate UI changes, find bugs, and suggest fixes—all in fractions of seconds. This reduces the time taken between deployments and enables faster software releases.

For example, TestGrid’s CoTester comes pre-trained with advanced software testing fundamentals including comprehension of various tools, architectures, languages, and testing frameworks such as Selenium, Appium, Cypress, Robot, Cucumber, and Webdriver. That means it’s easy for your team to build tests in every language and framework without spending time training or picking up new tools.

The time eliminated at the test-building stage is significant enough to accelerate project releases by days, even weeks.

Wider Test Coverage
As AI can create sophisticated tests faster, it contributes directly to wider test coverage. The AI element can analyze massive datasets to create comprehensive test cases covering thousands of scenarios, including edge cases. With the right ML (machine learning) algorithm in place, these test cases can be designed to pick up on obscure bugs and push out the best possible product.

For example, Jenkins can integrate with AI testing setups to automatically initiate tests for each code commit.

Consider, as another example, an e-commerce platform under test. AI solutions like CoTester can analyze user behavior data, craft test cases for user scenarios matching different shopping patterns, and verify that the app works for users in all these scenarios. It can identify edge cases that the human mind is likely to miss and boost software quality – all at half the time required by humans/current automation solutions.

Faster & better feedback loops
While automation tools have sped up the rate of feedback reception in CI/CD pipelines, AI models can further speed up the process while also expanding on the number of insights.

For instance, AI models (like CoTester) can be specifically trained on data about an organization’s team members, team structure, tech stack, and code repo. Naturally, insights offered by such a tool will be more nuanced, comprehensive, and specific than more generalized insights from code-based automation tools.

By providing instant and better feedback on builds, AI capabilities unlock better test results and insights, which assist devs and QAs with finding and fixing bugs as early as possible in the SDLC.

Improved decision making
Unlike any other tool, AI engines can analyze large datasets of historical data to derive insights – a task too cumbersome for humans to accomplish. ML models, inherent in most AI protocols, can extract patterns and trends from previous bug reports. They can predict likely failure points, and create extra test cases to cover these areas of operation. It can also notify the team about common customer complaints and failure points, based on personal data.

In other words, AI models can assist testers with making better decisions during every stage of testing – planning, creation, execution, and analysis. By doing so within seconds (rather than days, as humans would), AI testing automatically brings greater quality to your QA strategy, while also cutting down on time between deployments.

Intelligent analytics and test prioritization
The mechanics of AI are capable of studying historical data and identifying likely issues and the components they will impact. IBM’s Watson is especially well known for providing insights into software modules that have historically faced bug-related failures.

This helps QA teams prioritize their testing efforts. It can also help rank tests based on preset criteria – code changes bug history, customer preferences, etc.

Improved test quality
One of AI’s core abilities in testing projects is being able to create self-healing tests. In other words, tests are automatically adjusted/updated to align with changes in the UI and source code. Consequently, testers don’t have to spend time updating individual tests with every change.

By taking human intervention out of the picture, AI engines don’t just speed up the process, but also keep tests consistent across the project lifecycle. All tests are automatically updated, which eliminates human oversight or inaccuracy — resulting in better test quality while reducing total time and effort.

Enhanced bug resolution
As bugs are captured via tests, AI engines can analyze logs, app behavior, customer preferences, and even predetermined requirements to identify root causes. Advanced root cause analysis is conducted automatically, and suggestions for bug fixes are presented to testers. Once again, this entire process takes minutes and supplements human testers’ evaluation of errors and their causes.

Dynatrace, a software observability tool, leverages AI to find the source of application performance issues automatically. It suggests possible underlying causes that minimize company costs arising from downtime.

Cost-Effectiveness
There is undoubtedly an upfront expense associated with implementing AI testing into your QA strategy. However, this expense pays for itself in the long run.

The many benefits of AI testing — increased automation efficiency, faster time to market, minimal defect-related costs, reduced test maintenance, improved test coverage, better resource optimization, and decision-making – all translate into higher software quality with less time and effort.

AI can be trained quickly on new technologies and protocols as compared to human testers. It makes fewer mistakes and works without rest. Depending on the tool, testers can follow a no-code or low-code approach to build fully capable tests, which reduces the need to hire many highly skilled QA professionals.

Conclusion
AI-driven testing is no longer optional; it is a necessity for modern QA strategies. The benefits—faster test cycles, wider test coverage, improved feedback loops, and intelligent analytics—far outweigh the initial investment. Companies that adopt AI will see enhanced software quality, reduced costs, and a competitive edge in the market. Ignoring AI in testing is a false economy, leading to higher long-term expenses due to inefficiencies, security risks, and lower product quality.

Source: This blog was originally published at testgrid.io

The Role of Device Farms in Maximizing Testing Efficiency

satyaprakash behera — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 14:27:57 +0000

With over 6.5 billion smartphones in use worldwide, developing a mobile app that provides a seamless user experience across all devices is not an easy task. Before releasing an app to the public, extensive testing is required to ensure compatibility across various operating systems, screen sizes, networks, browsers, and real-world usage scenarios. While in-house testing on a few devices is a good start, it is nearly impossible for a team to secure and test their app on the full spectrum of mobile devices. This is where device farms come in as an efficient solution for comprehensive mobile app testing.

Device farms provide developers with on-demand access to a vast array of real mobile devices and networks. By leveraging these remote testing labs, app creators can ensure functionality and usability on the thousands of device configurations in the market today. Additionally, device farms enable testing on both new and older model devices, as developers must account for consumers who don’t upgrade to the latest hardware each year. This article will explore the capabilities of device farms for mobile app testing, and how they can help developers release higher quality apps to the public.

What is Device Farm

A device farm is a cloud-based service that allows organizations to test their mobile apps and websites on multiple devices. This makes mobile testing more efficient and cost-effective as it eliminates the need to purchase or maintain physical device labs. Device farms can be maintained internally by a company or they can be hosted in the cloud.

Benefits of using device farms for app testing

Get instant access to broad device diversity instantly

With a device farm, you will get instant access to a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and different operating systems. This eliminates the need to physically procure and maintain a large inventory of devices.

Ensure cross-browser compatibility

Testing on a device cloud farm provides access to a variety of browser types and versions, both latest and legacy, for comprehensive compatibility.

Enable simultaneous testing

A device cloud eliminates the need for testers to wait for physical devices to become available. Multiple testers can simultaneously access devices in the cloud, allowing for efficient and uninterrupted testing.

Integrate with bug tracking and management tools

Device cloud farms can be integrated with continuous integration (CI) tools, allowing for automated testing and deployment. This helps streamline the development process and ensures that code changes are thoroughly tested on a wide range of devices.

Debug issues faster

Being able to debug issues faster means you can fix them before they become bigger problems, which can save you time and money in the long run.

Types of Device Farms

Device farms are a crucial component of software testing, enabling developers to test their applications on a wide range of devices and operating systems. There are three main types of device farms: cloud-based, on-premise and Hybrid.

Cloud-based device farms are hosted by third-party providers, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or TestGrid. These farms offer users access to a vast array of devices, including smartphones, tablets and desktops. Cloud-based device farms are a popular choice for businesses that need to test their applications on a variety of devices without having to invest in their own hardware.

Pros:

Highly scalable and flexible – can easily add or remove devices as needed
No upfront infrastructure costs – pay only for what you use
Easy to get started quickly without large capital investments
Automatic maintenance and updates are handled by cloud provider
Access to a wide variety of devices and OS versions

Cons:

Less control over hardware compared to on-premise farms
Reliant on internet connectivity and cloud provider uptime
Potential security and data privacy risks
Ongoing subscription costs rather than one-time upfront costs
Limited ability to customize environment compared to on-premise

On-premise device farms are hosted on a company’s own premises. These farms typically consist of a smaller number of devices than cloud-based farms, but they offer businesses more control over the testing environment. On-premise device farms are a good choice for businesses that need to test their applications on specific devices or operating systems.

Pros:

Greater control over data and security
Can be customized to meet specific needs
No ongoing costs for cloud access

Cons:

More expensive to manage
Can be time-consuming to set up and maintain
Less scalable than cloud-based solutions

Hybrid device farms combine the features of cloud-based and on-premise device farms. Hybrid farms typically use a cloud-based platform to manage the devices and run tests, but they also include a number of on-premise devices. Hybrid farms are a good choice for businesses that need a flexible testing solution that can be scaled up or down as needed.

Pros:

More cost-effective than on-premise device farms

More scalable than on-premise device farms

More flexible than on-premise device farms

Cons:

Less control over data and security than on-premise device farms

Requires more upfront planning and coordination

Elevate Your Testing with TestGrid’s Real Device Cloud

TestGrid gives you access to a huge collection of real devices over the cloud. These devices include many brands, models, and versions. TestGrid often adds the newest devices. This helps make sure testers can check how apps work on the mobile, tablet, and desktop devices that customers use.

In addition to its cloud-based device farm, TestGrid offers a dedicated device lab for organizations seeking a more controlled testing environment. This on-premises solution provides businesses with complete control over their testing infrastructure, enabling them to tailor their testing processes to their specific needs and security requirements.

TestGrid’s real device cloud offers several unique features that make it stand out from the competition:

Run tests across thousands of real mobile devices, browsers, and operating systems. TestGrid’s extensive device lab ensures your app works flawlessly across all endpoints your customers may use.
Regular addition of the latest devices to ensure testing on the latest hardware.
Integrates with all major CI/CD platforms. Pre-built integrations make it easy to integrate TestGrid into your workflows.
TestGrid supports popular testing frameworks such as Appium, and Selenium making it easy to integrate with your existing testing workflow.
TestGrid’s cloud-based infrastructure allows you to run tests in parallel on multiple devices, speeding up the testing process and reducing the time it takes to get your app to market.

Conclusion

Device farms provide an affordable and professional solution for automated testing across a wide variety of devices. However, you still need to write, manage, and update automated tests. In certain scenarios, a hybrid approach combining manual testing with automation may work better. Overall, device farms are a valuable tool as part of a comprehensive testing strategy, complementing in-house testing environments and enabling continuous testing across an expanding matrix of devices and platforms.

Source: This article was originally published at testgrid.io.

SAP Testing: A Comprehensive Guide

satyaprakash behera — Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:07:17 +0000

SAP is a widely used enterprise software package that helps organizations manage their business operations effectively. With its comprehensive suite of modules, It provides a robust platform for managing various business functions such as finance, human resources, supply chain management.
In this article, we will discuss a brief overview of SAP, importance of SAP testing, different types of testing, and best practices and challenges when testing SAP systems.

What is SAP

SAP stands for Systems, Applications, and Products is a leading provider of enterprise application software, offering a range of solutions. It was founded in 1972 by five ex-IBM employees, and has grown into a global powerhouse with a presence in over 180 countries and a customer base of more than 440,000 organizations.

According to 6sense, a technology research firm, SAP ERP has a market share of 10.66% in the ERP market. SAP’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions, such as

financial management
supply chain management
human capital management
customer relationship management.

What is SAP implementation?

SAP implementation refers to the process of integrating SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing) software into an organization’s existing systems and processes.

The standard SAP implementation involves the following steps:

Planning the scope of the project, identifying the business requirements, and creating a project plan.
The SAP software is installed on the server and client machines.
The software is then configured to meet the specific needs of the organization.
Existing data is migrated to the new SAP system. This includes data from legacy systems, spreadsheets, and other sources.
The SAP system is tested to ensure that it works correctly and meets the business requirements.
End-users are trained on how to use the SAP system.
The SAP system is deployed to production, and end-users begin using it to perform their daily tasks.

SAP customization

SAP customization refers to the process of tailoring the SAP software to meet the specific needs and requirements of an organization. SAP provides a wide range of standard features and functions, but sometimes these may not fully address the unique business processes or requirements of a particular company. In such cases, customization can help bridge the gap between the standard SAP functionality and the organization’s specific needs.

Consider this Scenario, a Company has a tiered sales commission structure:

For items 1 to 100 sold: 5% commission
For items 101 to 200 sold: 7% commission
For items over 200 sold: 10% commission This tiered commission structure needs to be integrated into Company’s SAP system to accurately calculate commissions for salespeople. Configuring this tiered system into SAP is part of the SAP implementation and configuration process.

What is SAP Testing?

SAP Testing refers to the process of verifying and validating the SAP software system. Different types of tests are conducted throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) of an SAP project, including unit testing, integration testing, system testing, acceptance testing, regression testing, performance testing, security testing, and user acceptance testing (UAT).

It is a critical part of the SAP development and deployment process, and helps to prevent errors and problems from occurring in production. Additionally, whenever changes or customizations are made, the new test cases need to be created to test the new functionality.

The Different Types of Testing for SAP Systems

Given the complexity and customization capabilities of SAP systems, various testing methods are used to provide extensive coverage and maintain quality standards. The following are the different types of SAP testing:

1.Unit Testing: The Unit testing focuses on individual units or components of the SAP software and ensures that each unit functions as intended. It is usually performed by developers either during the development process or immediately after a feature is written. When bugs are discovered during the integration phase of software development, it can be challenging to isolate and resolve them efficiently due to the interconnected nature of the system.

2. Integration Testing — After unit testing, Integration Testing is performed to ensure the seamless integration of SAP applications with other systems, interfaces, or external components.

3. Functional Testing — Functional testing in SAP ensures that all business modules operate as intended and align with the specified business requirements. It verifies that the various components of the SAP system, including the user interface, backend processing, and database operations, work together seamlessly to support the organization’s business processes.

For example — If a company uses SAP for its supply chain management. As part of functional testing, the company would test the following scenario:

A user creates a new sales order in SAP.
The sales order contains the following information:
Customer name and address
Product code and quantity
Price and currency
The user saves the sales order in SAP.
The sales order is approved by the designated approver.
The sales order is sent to the customer via email or EDI.

Regression Testing — Regression testing is typically performed after any changes, updates, or enhancements have been made to the SAP system. The purpose of regression testing is to verify that the changes made to the system have not caused any problems with the existing functionality and to ensure that the system still performs as expected.

User Acceptance Testing — After completing functional and regression testing, the next step is User Acceptance Testing (UAT). UAT verifies that the SAP system is easy to use and meets the needs of its intended users. End-users execute the UAT by running different test cases that cover business processes, features, and documentation, such as operating manuals and quick reference guides. By doing so, they can familiarize themselves with the new system.

Performance Testing — Performance Testing evaluates the SAP system’s ability to handle large volumes of data, high traffic, and peak loads without affecting response times or causing failures. It identifies bottlenecks and areas of the application that might be slowing down operations to optimize system configurations and performance.

Security Testing: With sensitive data and critical business processes involved, security testing is crucial for SAP systems. It is an important part of the overall SAP security strategy, and it helps to protect SAP systems from unauthorized access, data breaches, and other security incidents.

Companies hire experts to look for problems in the network, connections, and application. This helps us fix issues that other tests might miss. They examine high-risk areas like authentication, authorization, encryption, source code audits and access control to identify vulnerabilities.

Best Practices for SAP Testing

Understanding SAP ERP System and Modules:

It’s essential to have a good understanding of the SAP ERP system and its various modules, including their functionality and integration points. This knowledge will help you identify potential testing areas and create effective test cases.

Comprehensive Test Planning

Make a Comprehensive test plan and identify the functional and non-functional requirements of the SAP system to ensure that your test cases cover all critical business processes and scenarios.

Test in Different Environments

To ensure that the SAP system works correctly in different environments, test it in various configurations, including different operating systems, browsers, and hardware setups.

You can test Testgrid to test your web-based SAP Application in different environments. Testgrid is a cloud-based testing platform that allows you to run automated tests on a variety of operating systems, browsers, and hardware setups.

Look beyond UI

While user experience is important, SAP systems are primarily used by businesses for critical operations. Therefore, it’s essential to focus on functional testing and other aspects beyond the user interface. This includes testing the underlying logic, data processing, integrations, and performance.

Use Automation Testing Where Possible

Automation testing is an integral part of the SAP testing process, and it is considered a best practice for efficient and effective testing.

SAP systems are complex and interconnected, and any change or enhancement in one area can potentially impact other modules or functionalities. By automating regression testing, organizations can ensure that all previously tested functionalities are working as expected after any changes or updates.

SAP systems often interact with other applications and interfaces, and testing these integrations manually can be time-consuming. By automating integration testing, organizations can ensure seamless communication between different systems, validate data exchanges, and identify any compatibility issues.

Additionally, automation testing can greatly assist in performance testing for SAP systems. By simulating multiple users and load scenarios, organizations can assess the system’s performance under different conditions and identify any bottlenecks or performance issues.

TestGrid provides an end-to-end solution for SAP automation testing, including regression testing, integration testing, performance testing and Compatibility Testing. With TestGrid, you can automate your SAP tests and run them on a cloud-based infrastructure. This will help you save time and resources, and ensure that your SAP systems are always up and running.

Shift left testing

Shift left testing is a practice of moving testing activities to the left in the software development lifecycle (SDLC). This means that testing is done earlier in the process, closer to the development phase. This can help to catch defects earlier on, when they are easier and cheaper to fix.

Continuous Maintenance

After configuring, customizing, and deploying the SAP system, it’s crucial to maintain it. This involves monitoring and testing the system, identifying issues, and addressing them promptly.

Stay Updated

The SAP testing landscape is constantly evolving, with new methodologies, strategies, and tools emerging every year. It’s essential to keep track of the latest SAP release updates to ensure that your testing strategy is aligned with the latest software versions.

SAP Testing Tools

In order to perform the different types of testing mentioned, we will require an efficient tool that works in the specific domain for best testing results. We will explore the tools that SAP offers and other third party tools

Automation Testing for SAP Applications

TestGird

If your SAP application is web-based, you can use TestGrid’s AI-powered to codeless automation write and run automated tests in minutes. TestGrid uses natural language processing to convert your English-based test cases into executable actions and commands, so you don’t need to know any programming.

Here are some of the benefits of using TestGrid:

TestGrid can test your apps on hundreds of real devices ranging from Android, iOS, Samsung, Oppo, Pixel and more.
Users can perform codeless automation & save their time on testing complex use cases.
Integrate with custom scripts or code, which can give you more flexibility in your testing process.
It also offers AI-driven auto heal to reduce maintenance and automatically identify and fix defects.
Allows you to create custom dashboards to visualize your test results and get insights into the performance of your apps.
TestGrid integrates seamlessly with popular CI/CD tools, allowing users to automate their entire testing process.
Reserve a device for a period of time for exclusive access. This can be useful if you need to test a specific app or feature in a controlled environment.

eCATT

extended Computer Aided Test Tool (eCATT) to create and execute functional tests for SAP Applications. ECATT can be used to automate a variety of SAP testing tasks, including Functional testing, Regression testing, Data-driven testing and security Testing.

Features:

Test transactions, reports, and scenarios
can be used to Call BAPIs and function modules
eCATT can be used to check authorizations
eCATT can be used to test updates that includes the ability to test database changes, application changes, and GUI changes.
eCATT can be used to test the effect of changes to customizing settings that allows you to test how changes to the configuration of SAP affect the system.

IBM Rational Functional Tester

IBM Rational Functional Tester is an automated functional testing and regression testing tool that can be used to test SAP applications. It can be used to test the functionality of a new SAP module, you can use RFT to automate the execution of test cases that exercise the new functionality.

Selenium

Selenium is a popular open-source tool primarily used for automating web-based applications. While it is not specifically designed for SAP testing, Selenium can be employed for SAP testing in certain scenarios, particularly when SAP applications have web-based interfaces or when integration testing between SAP and web-based components is required.

Performance Testing for SAP Applications

JMeter

This is a popular open-source load testing tool that can test the performance of both dynamic and static resources, such as files, servlets, and databases. JMeter can be used to simulate a large number of users accessing the SAP application, which can help to identify performance bottlenecks.

LoadRunner

LoadRunner is a software solution for application performance and load testing widely used in the industry. LoadRunner puts your entire system through its paces to isolate and detect potential client, network, and server bottlenecks, allowing you to test new technologies alongside your legacy applications.

It can help to identify performance bottlenecks and improve the performance of SAP applications.

Common Challenges in SAP Testing

SAP systems are often large and Complex, which can make testing challenging. Testers need to understand the dependencies between different modules and how they interact with each other.
SAP environments are dynamic, with frequent updates, patches, and changes. Managing and testing these changes to ensure they don’t introduce new issues is a continuous challenge.
SAP testing requires a unique skill set, combining knowledge of the SAP platform with testing expertise. There’s often a shortage of professionals who possess both these skills, leading to potential oversights during the testing process.
With the increasing number of cyber threats, ensuring the security of SAP systems is paramount. Testing for potential vulnerabilities and ensuring data protection is a significant challenge.
SAP systems are often integrated with other systems, such as third-party applications, databases, and web services. However, integration issues can arise due to differences in technology, data formats, and communication protocols.

Conclusion

SAP is a non-arguably the top choice for ERP software, trusted by many large and small businesses around the globe. Its wide range of features and capabilities have made it a popular choice for organizations in diverse industries. We hope this article has provided you with a useful introduction to SAP Testing, which will come in handy for your future projects.

By investing time and resources into thorough SAP testing, organizations can reap numerous benefits, including improved system performance, increased user satisfaction, and reduced costs associated with fixing issues down the line.

Source: This article was originally published at testgrid.io.

findElement and findElements in Selenium: Use Cases with Examples

satyaprakash behera — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:19:00 +0000

When we want to interact with any web page, we use locators to identify the web elements and interact with them using locators. We use HTML elements on the web page while automating any web based application using Selenium WebDriver.

Selenium WebDriver has two methods for identifying the web elements, they are findElement and findElements.

1. findElement: This is used to uniquely identify any web element within the web page.
2. findElements: This is used to uniquely identify the list of web elements within the web page.
These methods are very important for locating web elements on a web page, but they serve different purposes and have distinct use cases.

Let us see what exactly the both methods are:

1. Find Element():

findElement() is a method in the WebDriver Interface in Selenium.
It is used to locate the first element that matches the specified locator strategy and conditions.
If no matching element is found, it throws a NoSuch Element Exception.
The result of findElement() is always a single WebElement object. The findElement() method returns an object of the type WebElement. It uses various locators such as ID, Xpath, CSS, Name and ClassName.

Below is the syntax of findElement command:

WebElement elementName = driver.findElement(By.LocatorStrategy("LocatorValue"));
Locator Strategy comprises any one of the locators. Locator value is the unique value that identifies the web element.

2. FindElements():

findElements() is a method provided by the WebDriver interface in Selenium.
It is used to locate all the web elements that match the specified locator strategy and conditions.
If there are no matching elements, it returns an empty list.
The return type of findElements() is a list of WebElement objects. The findElements() return an empty list if no matching elements are found on the web page.

Syntax in Java:

Below is the syntax of findElements command

List elementName = driver.findElements(By.LocatorStrategy("LocatorValue"));
Locator Strategy comprises any one of the locators. Locator value is the unique value that identifies the web element.

Now let us see the differences between both methods:

Difference between find Element and find Elements in Selenium

Now let us see use cases for each of the following methods:

How to use Selenium findElement

Let us see firstly how to use Selenium findElement method:

In the above screenshot, we are finding the unique locator for the Google Search text box.

As you can see , it has the unique ID , using the ID , we have created Xpath as below:

//textarea[@id=’APjFqb’]

Below is the code snippet in java:

driver.get("https://www.google.com/")
WebElement element = driver.findElement(By.xpath("//textarea[@id='APjFqb']"));

NoSuchElementException if no matching Element is found on the page.

Now let us see the use case of the findElements method in Selenium Java:

In the above screenshot, for the registration form of IRCTC application, we have a locator class with value “col-xs-12 inputBoxPad” which matches with 8 web elements on the web page.

Below is the code in Java Selenium:

driver.get("https://www.irctc.co.in/nget/profile/user-signup");
List elements = driver.findElements(By.className("col-xs-12 inputBoxPad"));
System.out.println("Number of elements:" +elements.size());
for(int i=0; i<elements.size(); i++){
System.out.println("Input field:" + elements.get(i).getAttribute("value"));

Multiple Locator Methods Using findElement Method:

Selenium WebDriver provides the findElement(By) method to locate and interact with web elements in a script. The find Element method uses the locator object “By”. There are many ways of using “By” with locators based on the requirement.

By ID:

driver.findElement(By.id())

By Xpath:

driver.findElement(By.xpath())

By Name:

driver.findElement(By.name())

By Class Name:

driver.findElement(By.className(“”))

By CSS Selector:

driver.findElement(By.cssSelector())

By LinkText:

driver.findElement(By.linkText())

Conclusion

understanding the differences between findElement() and findElements() in SeleniumWebdriver Java is essential. These two methods have different purposes and have unique use cases while automating web based applications.

In brief, findElement() is used to locate and interact with a single element, throwing an exception info Element is matching. findElements() is used to locate multiple elements, returning an empty list if none are matching.

Source: This article was originally published at testgrid.io.

Scriptless Test Automation: A Complete Guide

satyaprakash behera — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 11:19:28 +0000

Scriptless test automation is transforming software testing. You no longer need to rely on writing complex lines of code to validate your product. In the past, test automation required writing detailed scripts, making it both time-consuming and resource-intensive.

Scriptless tools simplify this process today, allowing even non-technical users to automate tests easily. As a result, many software development teams are shifting from manual testing to scriptless automation for greater efficiency and cost savings.

In this guide, you’ll learn what scriptless test automation is, its key features, and how you can leverage scriptless testing to achieve a better ROI.

What Is Scriptless Test Automation?

Scriptless test automation is a method to create automated tests using intuitive tools without needing any coding skills. It enables you to focus on business logic rather than getting bogged down by writing scripts.

In practice, scriptless test automation tools generate test scripts behind the scenes as you run tests on your websites or software. This saves you time, increases accuracy, and helps you achieve better ROI.

real-device-cloud-cta.jpg
The goal is to replace the need for dedicated test developers by offering a cost-effective and time-efficient solution. Even if you have zero programming experience, you can still use these tools to test your software effectively.

12 Key Benefits of Scriptless Test Automation

Let’s dive deeper into why scriptless test automation tools are gaining popularity among software teams.

1. No technical barriers

With scriptless test automation, you don’t need to worry about coding or complex integrations. You can design test cases by simply using drag-and-drop actions. The tool handles the coding in the background, allowing you to focus on testing logic rather than syntax.

2. Faster test design and execution

Scriptless automation tools enable your team to design, develop, and execute tests much faster than traditional manual or script-based approaches. This helps you identify bugs earlier, reduces project timelines, and allows you to take on more projects.

Scriptless testing empowers your team to achieve higher test coverage in less time, leading to quicker product releases.

3. Quick automation of large test suites

Scriptless testing tools allow you to automate even extensive test suites easily. By reducing the time needed for automation, you speed up your product’s time to market. This frees up your team to concentrate on expanding test coverage and catching critical issues early in the SDLC.

4. Lower your automation costs

Using scriptless automation testing tools cuts down costs associated with hiring specialized developers. Manual testers can handle automation tasks using intuitive tools, eliminating the need for complex coding.

Non-technical team members, like business analysts, can also participate in automation, reducing dependency on technical resources.

5. Reduce maintenance efforts

Scriptless automation simplifies the process of maintaining test cases. Instead of editing code, you make adjustments directly through a user-friendly interface. This approach keeps your test automation framework agile, allowing quick updates as your application evolves.

6. Achieve higher accuracy

Manual testing can introduce human errors, which scriptless automation helps eliminate. Instead of waiting until the end of development, scriptless automation enables continuous testing at every stage.

This helps you catch issues early and reduces the risk of delays, ensuring a smoother software development lifecycle.

7. Boost profitability

Scriptless automation lowers your overall testing costs by reducing reliance on manual testers and specialized coding experts.

This enables you to reinvest in more projects, helping you grow your business while maintaining quality. You can reuse your scriptless test automation framework across multiple projects, maximizing your ROI.

8. Simplify testing with intuitive tools

Many scriptless tools, such as TestGrid, feature user-friendly interfaces that require no programming knowledge. With one integrated platform, you can handle everything from basic smoke tests to more advanced scenarios.

Built-in cloud infrastructure and connectors let you manage your entire testing process in one place.

Advantages of Scriptless Testing Automation Over Script-Based Testing

Scriptless test automation offers significant benefits compared to traditional script-based testing. This can be a game-changer if you’re looking to streamline your testing process and enhance software quality. Here’s a comparison of the two approaches:

3 Common Myths About Scriptless Testing

As we’ve seen, scriptless automation testing offers massive advantages, but misconceptions about its capabilities often arise. Here are three common myths and the truth behind them:

Myth #1: Scriptless test automation doesn’t require scripts
While scriptless automation aims to minimize coding, a completely code-free approach isn’t always possible.

Complex applications or scenarios may require small custom scripts for handling edge cases or integrations. However, with scriptless test automation tools, most of the coding happens in the background, saving you time and effort.

Myth #2: Testers don’t need programming knowledge

Scriptless automation tools are designed for simplicity. However, some basic knowledge of software testing logic or programming concepts can be helpful.

For example, understanding objects or classes may make handling customizations in web or mobile testing easier. That said, tools like TestGrid and other scriptless testing tools are accessible to non-technical users, allowing you to automate without relying heavily on coding expertise.

Myth #3: Scriptless automation is just record and playback

Record and playback is a feature, but scriptless test automation tools go far beyond this functionality.

You can create data-driven tests, customize workflows, and integrate with other systems. Unlike static playback scripts, these tools support robust, adaptable testing workflows that evolve with your application.

7 Essential Elements of a Scriptless Test Automation Framework

Here are the key elements you need to include, along with examples of how they apply in real-world scenarios:

1. Input-driven automation

Your framework should allow you to define all test inputs—steps, conditions, data, and expected results—outside the code. Using simple keywords, templates, or visual interfaces eliminates technical barriers and makes test creation intuitive for everyone.

Using a tool like TestGrid, you can create a login test case by entering inputs such as “email,” “password,” and “login button” through a drag-and-drop interface. The tool converts these inputs into backend scripts automatically.

2. Customization flexibility

While scriptless automation tools minimize coding, your framework should allow advanced users to modify or extend test logic for unique scenarios. This flexibility ensures your testing solution adapts to even the most complex applications.

Suppose you’re testing a travel booking app. While the framework handles generic workflows like search and booking, an advanced user can customize scripts to test dynamic fare calculations during peak hours, ensuring accurate results under unique conditions.

3. Easy setup and configuration

Setting up and managing your framework should be straightforward. Templates, pre-filled values, and drag-and-drop interfaces allow you to get started quickly without needing extensive technical expertise. Simplicity is critical to encouraging adoption across your team.

With a pre-configured template, you can set up end-to-end testing for a shopping cart workflow—adding items, applying discounts, and checking out—without writing a single line of code.

4. Platform neutrality

Your framework should work seamlessly across platforms, including PCs, mobile devices, and various browsers. This ensures consistent test execution across environments, especially for applications that need cross-platform compatibility.

Using a scriptless test automation tool, you can simultaneously test a responsive eCommerce website on Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. This guarantees that the site performs uniformly across all browsers and devices.

5. Technology-agnostic design

Support for diverse technologies is critical. Whether you’re testing a web, mobile, or hybrid application, your framework should require minimal adjustments to handle different development stacks and environments.

For a banking application built using a hybrid framework like React Native, your scriptless automation tool can test both front-end UI interactions and backend APIs without requiring separate setups.

6. Comprehensive reporting and insights

A robust test output interface should generate actionable insights, including logs, dashboards, and defect reports. These outputs help you monitor test execution, track progress, and address issues efficiently.

For example, after running an automated test suite for a new product launch, the tool generates a report highlighting failed test cases, with detailed logs showing where and why the failures occurred. This allows your team to address the issues before release.

7 Essential Elements of a Scriptless Test Automation Framework

Your framework should support integrations with other tools, such as API testing or performance analysis. For example, testing an e-commerce site may require validating both web services and front-end user workflows. The ability to integrate ensures end-to-end testing coverage.

You can integrate a performance testing tool in an API-driven application to simulate high user traffic. This ensures that your application performs well under load while the scriptless framework tests the functionality in parallel.

How Scriptless Test Automation Works

One of the most common methods in scriptless testing is record and playback. It allows you to record your interactions with an application, and the tool automatically converts those actions into test scripts.

Common Scriptless Test Automation Examples

1. AI-driven testing
Leverage AI and Machine Learning (ML) to generate test cases and predict test data automatically. This reduces the need for manual test creation and maintenance.

For instance, TestGrid uses AI to interpret simple test scenarios written in English. You can focus on building workflows while the tool handles the script generation, allowing your team to test native and web applications quickly.

Example scenario:

Launch the Facebook website
Verify that the email field is visible
Enter “test@gmail.com” in the email field
Enter “test@1234” in the password field
Click the login button
Check if the “incorrect password” message appears

Output test case:

You can convert these steps into a fully automated test case without writing any code with scriptless test automation tools.

2. Record and playback
As you interact with your application, the tool generates test steps in real time that you can run across different browsers.

By automating various data inputs (both valid and invalid), you can test your application’s critical features more efficiently. Once you’ve created a test case, updating and automating as your development team makes changes is easy.

Consider a typical eCommerce workflow:

Register/Login > Browse Products > Add Item to Cart > Enter Shipping and Billing Information > Checkout & Payment > Confirm Order

With scriptless automation testing tools, you can record these interactions and automate the entire workflow, delivering a smooth experience regardless of browser.

3. Low-code automation
Low-code platforms provide a visual interface for creating automated tests without requiring you to write code. They include pre-built components you can drag and drop to create test cases, streamlining test data management and execution.

Conclusion

Scriptless test automation simplifies testing by enabling faster execution, reducing dependencies on coding, and improving efficiency, making it an ideal choice for agile teams seeking streamlined processes and better productivity.

Source: This article was originally published at testgrid.io.

Top 5 Alternatives to Playwright for Cross Browser Testing

satyaprakash behera — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 09:43:13 +0000

People have become massively dependent on digital devices and it is imperative to have reliable software testing tools. As of April 2024, there were 5.44 billion internet users worldwide, which is 67.1 percent of the global population. More and more users are now becoming aware and to meet their expectations in terms of performance or interface, companies must adapt to new techniques to provide users with the best apps.

Cross-browser testing ensures that a website is working optimally on different browsers, it improves overall efficiency while reducing unnecessary errors and saving time. There are several testing tools in the market. However, it may be challenging to find the best fit for your needs. While Playwright is a powerful testing tool, you must note that it has certain limitations due to which you may want to explore other effective alternatives.

This blog will walk you through the basics of Playwright for cross-browser testing. If you are looking for a new substitute tool to perform this test, this blog lists some of the best options available in the market that you can check out.

Learning About Playwright

Playwright is a widely used, robust testing tool developed by Microsoft. It is an open-source tool used by developers and testers worldwide, it is flexible and has excellent cross-browser compatibility.

Features:

Playwright facilitates cross-browser testing across Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit.
It is user-friendly and has an easy setup process which reduces the entry barrier for beginners.
It allows testers to comprehensively test websites and modern browsers using a single API.
It supports multiple languages, including Java, JavaScript, Python, C#, and TypeScript.
It enables you to capture screenshots and record videos of the test runs with a single line of code.
Playwright is accessible to many users and offers reliability. However, it has some drawbacks and may not be suitable for some testing projects, so you will need to look for alternatives.

Disadvantages of using Playwright:

It is specifically designed for web applications and is not suitable for native desktop or native mobile application testing.
People without coding knowledge will find it difficult to access Playwright.
It may not meet specific testing requirements related to integrations or support.
In this blog, we will learn more about the most used Playwright substitutes that you can find in the market.

Top 5 Playwright Alternatives

Check out these five tools if you are looking for easy and better alternatives to Playwright testing tool:

1. TestGrid:

TestGrid is a popularly used platform for scriptless test automation. It can be seamlessly used and managed by people who do not have coding knowledge. It fulfills all your testing needs while providing 100% security of your data and maximum accuracy.

Features:

It consists of a real device cloud, it runs cross-browser tests on multiple browsers and more than 1000 real devices.
It can conduct automated cross-browser testing on multiple browsers and OS simultaneously.
With the help of codeless testing and AI, it successfully speeds up cross-browser testing.
It enables you to perform geolocation testing using GPS. You can run cross-browser testing from different IP locations to check browser compatibility.
It has a performance tracking feature which helps in understanding the areas of concern as far as the performance of the application is concerned.
It can integrate with CI/CD tools for continuous testing, such as Jenkins and many others.
You can execute both manual and automated tests to ensure faster release time.
It is designed to handle both small and large scale test projects.

2. Cypress

A widely used open-source and comprehensive tool, Cypress offers a lot of flexibility, it supports cross-browser and cross-platform testing.

Features:

When it comes to Cypress vs Playwright, they are both effective tools for cross-browser testing. However, Cypress is faster and more reliable in conducting tests.
It is capable of executing tests across prominent browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.
Cross browser testing with Cypress helps testers identify any issues before the website or app is released to the public.
Cross-browser testing with Cypress enables you to test the front end of your web application.

3. Puppeteer

It is another excellent and capable open-source test automation framework developed and maintained by Google. It is a simple and reliable tool and is extremely easy to use.

Features:

It supports top browsers such as Firefox, Chrome, Chromium, and Microsoft Edge. It performs cross-browser and cross-platform testing as it is compatible with a variety of operating systems and programming languages.
It is easy to set up and configure, reducing the initial learning curve.
It is known for its swift test execution times, which improve efficiency.
It enables you to run Chrome extensions in headfull mode.

4. Selenium

Another significant alternative to Playwright, Selenium, is an open-source, popular cross-browser testing tool. It is capable of catering to different test automation needs and is used by many testers worldwide.

Features:

It is compatible with popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge, and Safari.
It aims to provide all users with a positive experience irrespective of their OS or browser version. It allows developers to test web apps across different operating systems and browser configurations.
During cross-browser testing, you can automate tests and explore an array of integrative tools for complex testing cases.
Selenium IDE is an add-on, which makes it easy to record and replay script interactions with browsers.

5. Watir

It’s a tool popular for web testing that offers free open-source libraries in Ruby for cross-browser testing. As it uses Selenium under the hood, it allows users to Selenium’s common API.

Features:

Is compatible with Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and IE
It supports the programming language, Ruby
Allows you to take screenshots of the tests when needed
Lets you easily test file downloads for websites

Conclusion

To choose the right alternative of Playwright for cross-browser testing, you must first identify your testing needs and assess your team skills. Each testing framework has its own set of strengths and drawbacks. Using efficient Playwright alternatives will boost an organization by enhancing the overall quality of its products and processing.

You must look for features such as testing simultaneously of various browsers, real device testing, and AI-powered testing, to provide users a high-quality, uninterrupted experience. This will not only help in the development of your organization but also allow you to innovate, expand and stay ahead of your competitors.

Source: This article was originally published at projectmanagers.net.

Everything you Need to Know about GUI Testing in Software

satyaprakash behera — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 08:46:48 +0000

What is GUI?

A computer usually has two types of interfaces- the CLI and the GUI. CLI stands for Command Line Interface, where the computer responds through the commands you put in. GUI stands for Graphical User Interface, which uses pictures to interact and communicate with the user instead of just simple text commands. GUI Software Testing ensures the application is attractive and error-free.

What is GUI Testing?

GUI (Graphical User Interface) testing is a critical component of software quality assurance that focuses on evaluating the visual elements and interactions of an application’s user interface. It involves verifying that the graphical components of a software application function correctly, appear as intended, and provide a seamless user experience.

GUI Testing Tools

GUI Software Testing thoroughly checks the application for a graphical interface. The primary purpose behind conducting a GUI test is to check the proper functioning of software screens and controls as per the given specifications. GUI is the page that users see and interact through with the computer. Unlike the Command Line Interface, which shows the complete source code, the GUI displays understandable texts, pictures, and other graphics instead of revealing the page’s skeleton, which is the source code. The GUI testing method checks these designs, structures, and much more of the graphical part.

The following are some of the most popular GUI testing tools available in the market

● Ranorex

real-device-cloud-cta.jpg
● Selenium

● QTP

● Cucumber

● SilkTest

● TestComplete

● Squish GUI Tester

Testing Guidelines

There are specific guidelines that GUI testers have to follow before conducting a GUI test such as:

● To check the various validations of a particular application screen.

● Verify all the possible navigation options in an application.

● Check the condition of the usability of the software.

● Verify all integrated sources of data for proper validation.

● Verify the objects and their subsequent states present in the application.

● Check and verify the date field and numeric field formats that the application uses.

Automation Tools

The open-source GUI automation tools along with their licensed vendors are listed below:

● AutoHotkey (GPL)

● Selenium (Apache)

● Sikuli (MIT)

● Robot Framework (Apache)

● Watir (BSD)

● Dojo Toolkit (BSD)
The commercial GUI automation tools along with their licensed vendors are listed below:
● AutoIT (AutoIT)

● EggPlant (TestPlant)

● QTP (HP)

● Rational Functional Tester (IBM)

● Infragistics (Infragistics)

● iMacros (iOpus)

● CodedUI (Microsoft)

● Sikuli (Micro Focus International)

GUI Testing Approaches:

Here are the prominent GUI Testing Approaches:

Manual Testing: This is the approach to manually check the screen to validate the functionality through the creation and execution of the test cases. In case the UI feature is ready, then this approach is useful to use.

Record and Replay Testing: The tools used for GUI record and replay are used to test the application for the great user interface. With the help of such tools, testers help in running the application and recording the user interface through the app.

Model-Based Testing: This is the type of GUI testing, where a model is created to understand and then evaluate the system’s behavior. This approach helps in the creation of accurate and reliable test cases.

Why Do You Need GUI Testing?

The main aim of modern applications and software is to be highly interactive for the users and make it customizable according to the users’ needs. Hence manufacturers pay special attention to graphic design and improving the overall interface to make it more interactive. This is where GUI testing comes to play. It closely checks and verifies each bit of detail and intricately carves out the dynamics of an application.

Here are the various components of a user interface to check through GUI software testing:

● Visual design

● Safety and security

● Compliance to standards

● Functionality

● Optimization criteria

● Performance of the overall application

Benefits of GUI Testing

GUI testing comes with a lot of benefits such as:

● Your application will be completely error-free.

● Increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the application.

● The application looks new and fresh. This testing enhances the overall quality.

What do we Check-in GUI Testing?

You can check the primary and extensive check for the general user interface in GUI testing. Here are other components to check the following:

● Testing the dimensions like size, width, height, and position of a particular visual or graphical element.

● Verifying and checking whether the appropriate error messages are displayed or not while error actions are taken.

● Testing every inch of the display screen containing texts, images, graphics, and other elements.

● Verifying the functionality and overall usability of the carousel arrows on the screen.

● Checking and testing all the navigation options available at the top of every screen for quick toggling between different pages.

● Checking the various displayed messages on the screen, frequency of the screen, and the content available on the screen.

● Testing the overall functionality of the filters present for display and checking the efficiency of the results.

● Check whether the radio buttons, drop-down menu buttons align with the screen scale.

● It is verifying the title mentioned on top of each page and its relative correctness with the content.

● Double-check all the colors present on the screen and their subsequent synchronization with the maintained theme of the screen and display units.

GUI testing is done before the launch of a particular application. Hence, it is crucial for every software to check all the elements present in the user interface. This ensures that the user has a seamless experience with the graphics. This method of testing mainly releases completely user-friendly software.

conclusion

GUI testing ensures that software interfaces are user-friendly, functional, and visually accurate. It improves user satisfaction by identifying design and usability flaws. By automating and regularly testing GUIs, businesses can deliver high-quality software, enhance user experiences, and maintain their competitive edge in an increasingly digital world.

Source: This article was originally published at testgrid.io.

How to Write and Handle Dynamic XPath In Selenium [with Tactics]

satyaprakash behera — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:16:28 +0000

It is critical for automated testing to be able to recognize the web elements of an Application Under Test (AUT). Learning how to find web elements and writing dynamic XPath in Selenium manually may take a long time and a lot of practice.

For example, we will show you how to manually and easily find web elements in Selenium using XPath.

Locators are one of Selenium’s valuable features. They enable us to locate web elements. For example, if the locators such as id, class name, name, link text, etc., do not find the web elements, we use XPath to find them on the web page.

What Is Dynamic XPath In Selenium?

XPath, also known as XML Path, is one of Selenium WebDriver’s most commonly used locators for navigating through a page’s HTML structure. It can be used to locate any element in a web page using HTML DOM structure in HTML and XML documents.

XPath is intended to allow XML document navigation to select individual elements, attributes, or other parts of an XML document for specific processing. For example, XPath generates reliable locators, but it is slower in terms of performance than CSS Selector.

The language XPath is used to select elements in an HTML page. Using XPath, you can find any element on a page based on its tag name, ID, CSS class, and so on. In Selenium, there are two types of XPath.

Different Approaches to Find Elements using Dynamic XPath in Selenium:

01 Absolute XPath

It is the most direct way to find the element, but the disadvantage of “absolute XPath” is that if the element’s path changes, that particular XPath fails.

The critical feature of XPath is that it begins with a single forward-slash (/), indicating that you can select an element from the root node using Dynamic XPath.

02 Relative XPath

A relative XPath is one in which the path begins at a node of your choice rather than the root node.

The benefit of using relative XPath is that you don’t have to specify the entire XPath; instead, you can begin in the middle or somewhere in between.

*Disadvantages: *

Identifying the element will take longer because we specify a partial path rather than an exact path.

If multiple elements are on the same path, it will choose the first element identified.

How to find XPath for dynamic elements in selenium?

From the context (current) node, the XPath axes search different nodes in the XML document. For example, it is used to find the node closest to that tree.

XPath axes are methods for finding dynamic elements that would be impossible to find using standard XPath methods that do not include an ID, Classname, Name, or other identifiers.

Axes methods are used to locate elements that change dynamically due to a refresh or other operation. For example, child, parent, ancestor, sibling, preceding, self, and other axes methods are commonly used in Selenium Webdriver.

They were modifying test scripts when the AUT changes are one of the most complex and time-consuming tasks in test automation, especially in the early stages of software development.

As a result, developers may frequently change identifiers and elements from one build to another. Furthermore, the AUT’s elements may change dynamically during execution.

To address these issues, automation testers should not set fixed XPaths for test case elements but instead script XPaths dynamically based on specific patterns.

11 Unique Ways to Create Dynamic XPath in Selenium:

Here are the 11 unique and different ways to create dynamic XPath in selenium:

real-device-cloud-cta.jpg

01 Using Single Slash

This mechanism is also known as Absolute XPath element discovery.

Syntax:

html/body/div[1]/div[2]/div[2]/div[1]/form/div[1]/div/div[1]/div/div/input[1]
A single slash is used to create an XPath with an absolute path, i.e., the XPath is designed for beginning selection from the document node/start node/parent node.

02 Using Double Slash

This mechanism is also referred to as finding elements with Relative XPath.

A double slash is used to create an XPath with a relative path, which means that the XPath can begin selection from anywhere in the document. Then, look for the preceding string across the entire page (DOM).

Syntax

//form/div[1]/div/div[1]/div/div/input[1]

03 Utilizing a Single Attribute

The syntax could be written in two ways, as shown below. HTML Tag inclusion or exclusion. If you want to exclude HTML tags, you must use *.

Syntax

//[@attribute_name='attribute_value']
or
//*[@attribute_name='attribute_value']

04 Using Multiple Attributes

Syntax

//[@attribute_name1='attribute_value1'][@attribute_name2='attribute_value2]
or
//*[@attribute_name1='attribute_value1'][@attribute_name2='attribute_value2]

05 Using AND

Syntax

//[@attribute_name1='attribute_value1' and @attribute_name2='attribute_value2]
or
//*[@attribute_name1='attribute_value1' and @attribute_name2='attribute_value2]

06 Using OR

Syntax

//[@attribute_name1='attribute_value1' or @attribute_name2='attribute_value2]
or
//*[@attribute_name1='attribute_value1' or @attribute_name2='attribute_value2]

07 Using contains()

Contains() is a method for identifying an element that changes dynamically and when familiar with some part of the element’s attribute value.

When familiar with the value of an element’s attribute (beginning with the specified text), we can use the starts-with() method to identify it.

syntax

//[contains(@attribute_name,'attribute_value')]
or
//*[contains(@attribute_name,'attribute_value')]

#08 use of text ()

This mechanism is used to find an element based on a web page’s text.

Last() selects the last element (of the specified type) from all input elements.

Syntax

//[text()='New look for sign-in coming soon']
or
//[text()='New look for sign-in coming soon']

09 Using position(),

The element is chosen from among all input elements based on the position number provided.

In the following XPath, [@type=’text’] will locate a text field, and function [position()=2] will identify a text field in the second position from the top.

Syntax

findElement(By.xpath("(//input[@type='text'])[position()=2]"))
or
findElement(By.xpath("(//input[@type='text'])[2]"))

10 Using an index

We could get to the nth element by putting the index position in square brackets. Then, we were able to identify the Last Name field using the XPath below.

Syntax

findElement(By.xpath("//label[2]"))

11 Using previous XPath axes

Except for ancestors, attribute nodes, and namespace nodes, this selects all nodes that appear before the current node in the document.

How Do I Select A Web element From A List In Selenium?

WebElement select = driver.findElement(By.id(“gender”));
List options = select.findElements(By.tagName(“Male”));
for (WebElement option : options) {
if(“Germany”.equals(option.getText()))
option.click();

How Does Selenium Handle Listbox?

using selectByValue()

Select listbox = new Select(driver.
listbox.
Select listbox = new Select(driver.
WebElement option = listbox.getFirstSelectedOption();
System.out.println(option.getText()); //prints selected option.
//Listing down all the selected options.
//Listing down all the options.

How To Write Dynamic Web Elements In Selenium?

A dynamic element is a Web Element whose IDs and not just IDs, but any attribute such as Class Name, Value, and so on, are not fixed.

Therefore, every time you reload the page, it changes. As a result, you cannot handle that element solely through the locator.

For example, the class name of Gmail Inbox elements changes with each login.

Database-driven or session-driven dynamic elements When you change a database element, it affects several application areas under test.

The dynamic elements are strictly content, with the formatting laid out in the design. Text boxes and buttons are commonly used with dynamic identifiers.

When you automate a dynamic website, the scripts will break as soon as the content changes, causing your test to fail. Then you need to update your test case each time, which is a time-consuming task.

We must always understand how these elements behave when the page is reloaded, or a new session is started. We can prepare a strategy to interact with these elements once we understand them.

#01 Relative Xpath with Starting Text

Similar to the partial link selector in Selenium, we can use Xpath search with the starting Text match element.

#02 Relative Xpath with Node Following or Preceding

All of the nodes that follow the context node are listed below. We can use ‘the following’ to specify the elements listed below in the web element list.

#03 Text Contains Relative Xpath

Few dynamic elements contain static values; based on those values; we can search for such elements using the ‘contains’ function. For example, there is a static string ‘Hstpl-12345’ in the above HTML button class name. For instance, we can use XPath to look for a button element with a class name that includes the word ‘Hstpl.’

#04 Indexed Element

When there are multiple elements in the DOM with similar attributes, it can be challenging to search for them, especially when they are dynamic.

For example, suppose there are ten buttons on a page, and you want to find the fifth one. Then we look for elements with the ‘button’ tag and go to the fifth index of the list of buttons to find that element.

#05 Method of Absolute Xpath

Absolute Xpath uses the entire path from the Root Element to the specific element. As shown below, an absolute Xpath begins with HTML and a forward slash (/). To generate Xpaths, use fire path (firebug).

However, they are more prone to regression because minor changes in the DOM cause them to be incorrect or refer to a different element.

Therefore, using absolute Xpath is not considered best practice in most cases, but it solves the Dynamic element problem.

#06 IWebElement Interface is being used.

Another method for handling dynamic elements is to find all elements with the same Tag name and then search for the required element based on whether it contains text, a value, or element attributes.

Conclusion

This article demonstrated how to use the XPath functions contains(), starts-with(), and text() with attributes and text to uniquely identify elements in the HTML DOM structure.

In Selenium, XPath is used to locate elements when other locators fail. There are two types of Selenium XPath: Absolute XPath and Relative XPath.

Source: This article was originally published at testgrid.io.

Testing Push Notification: Test Push Notification in iOS Simulator & Android

satyaprakash behera — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:10:34 +0000

Push notifications have become an important part of modern-day mobile applications, providing a convenient way for apps to communicate with users even when they are not actively using the app. However, implementing push notifications can be challenging, and testing them is essential to ensure their proper functioning. Fortunately, iOS and Android provide simulators that allow developers to test push notifications without the need for physical devices. This article will explore how to test push notifications in both the iOS Simulator and Android, providing developers with the knowledge they need to ensure their push notifications work as intended on these platforms.

Benefits of Testing Push Notifications in Simulator:

There is no need to set up a provisioning profile and certificate to test that Push Notification is functioning.
No third-party tools are required to push the payload.
It even includes background content fetch notifications.
It works remarkably with Rich notifications having videos, images, and controls.

Requirements for Testing Push Notification on the Simulator:

- Xcode 11.4 and above
- Mac OS 10.15.2 and above.

Confirming Xcode Version:

First, the most important thing is to confirm whether the version of Xcode is Xcode 11.4 or above. If not, please upgrade it first before continuing.

Creating an Xcode Project:

First, create an Xcode project, and then include the UserNotifications framework in AppDelegate.swift.

import UserNotifications

In application (_:didDiscardSceneSession:) in AppDelegate.swift, ask users for notification permission.

func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {

UNUserNotificationCenter.current().delegate = self

let options: UNAuthorizationOptions = [.alert, .sound, .badge]

UNUserNotificationCenter.current().requestAuthorization(options: options) { (granted, error) in

if granted {

print(“Permission is granted”)

} else if let error = error {

print(“Permission is not granted: (error)”)

}

return true

}

Then, implement UNUserNotificationCenterDelegate to receive Push Notifications. Add the following code in AppDelegate.swift.

extension AppDelegate: UNUserNotificationCenterDelegate {

func userNotificationCenter(_ center: UNUserNotificationCenter,

willPresent notification: UNNotification,

withCompletionHandler completionHandler: @escaping (UNNotificationPresentationOptions) -> Void) {

let options = UNNotificationPresentationOptions(arrayLiteral: .alert, .sound, .badge)

completionHandler(options)

}

func userNotificationCenter(_ center: UNUserNotificationCenter,

didReceive response: UNNotificationResponse,

withCompletionHandler completionHandler: @escaping () -> Void) {

completionHandler()

}

Finally, set AppDelegate to UNUserNotificationCenter.

func application(_ application: UIApplication, didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplication.LaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {

UNUserNotificationCenter.current().delegate = self

}

The project can now receive push notifications. Execute the project, and you can see that the App will request notification permission.

Sending Push Notifications to iOS Simulator:

The Release Note of Xcode 11.4 mentions how to send Push Notifications with simctl.

% xcrun simctl push com.example.my-app ExamplePush.apns

Where the parameters are:

: Refers to the identifier of the simulator device. Decide which simulator you use, and then you can find it by the way below.
com.example.my-app: This is the bundle identifier of the App to receive push notifications.
ExamplePush.apns: It is the content of push notifications you would like to send. To send push notifications to an iOS simulator, you can use the simctl command-line tool provided by Xcode. Here are the steps:

Ensure that your app is running in the simulator. You can launch it from Xcode or by opening the simulator app and selecting the appropriate device and app.
Then, you can open a terminal window and navigate to the directory where you have saved the push notification payload file (e.g., ExamplePush.apns).
Determine the identifier of the simulator device you want to send the push notification to. To do this, run the following command in the terminal:

xcrun simctl list devices:

This will display a list of all the available simulator devices and their identifiers. Choose the identifier of the simulator device you want to target.

Use the following command to send the push notification to the simulator device: xcrun simctl push com.example.my-app ExamplePush.apns

Replace with the identifier of the simulator device you want to target, com.example.my-app with the bundle identifier of your app, and ExamplePush.apns with the name of the file containing the push notification payload.
After running the command, you can see the push notification appear in your app’s notification center.

Testing push notifications in an Android:

Why do you need to test Push Notification in Android?

Push notifications are an integral part of mobile apps, and they provide an effective way to engage users with relevant and timely information. Testing push notifications in Android is crucial to ensure that they are working correctly and delivering the intended message to the user. Below, we will discuss why you need to test push notifications in Android and provide examples to illustrate their importance.

- Ensure the push notification is delivered on time
One of the primary reasons to test push notifications in Android is to ensure that they are delivered on time. In some cases, push notifications may be delayed or not delivered at all, which can have a significant impact on user engagement. By testing push notifications, you can identify and address any issues that may prevent them from being delivered on time.

For example, let’s say you have a food delivery app that sends push notifications to users when their food is ready for pickup. If the push notification is delayed, the user may arrive at the restaurant before their food is ready, leading to a negative experience. By testing push notifications, you can ensure that the notification is delivered on time, allowing the user to plan their visit accordingly.

- Verify the content of the push notification
Another reason to test push notifications in Android is to verify the content of the notification. Push notifications can include text, images, and links, and it is essential to ensure that the content is accurate and relevant to the user.

For example, let’s say you have a fitness app that sends push notifications to users to remind them to exercise. If the notification includes incorrect or irrelevant information, the user may become frustrated and disengage from the app. By testing push notifications, you can ensure that the content is accurate and relevant, providing a positive user experience.

- Test the functionality of the push notification
Another reason to test push notifications in Android is to test the functionality of the notification. Push notifications can include actions that allow the user to interact with the app without opening it, such as replying to a message or completing a task.

For example, let’s say you have a messaging app that allows users to reply to messages directly from the notification. If the reply functionality is not working correctly, the user may not be able to respond to messages, leading to a negative experience. By testing push notifications, you can ensure that the functionality is working correctly, providing a seamless user experience.

Requirements to test the push notifications on Android:

To test push notifications on Android, you will need the following:

Android device: You will need an Android device to test push notifications on Android. You can use a physical device or an Android emulator. 2.** Android Studio:** Android Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development. It includes tools for building, testing, and debugging Android apps.
Firebase project: Firebase is a mobile and web application development platform owned by Google. To test push notifications, you will need to set up a Firebase project and add your app to the project.
Google Play Services: Google Play Services is a set of APIs that provides features such as push notifications, location services, and authentication. To test push notifications, you must have Google Play Services installed on your device or emulator.
Implementation of Firebase Cloud Messaging: FCM is a cross-platform messaging solution that allows you to send messages and notifications to Android, iOS, and web applications. You will need to implement FCM in your app to receive push notifications.
A server to send push notifications: To send push notifications, you will need a server that can send messages to the FCM server. You can use the Firebase console or a third-party service to send push notifications.
Code to handle the push notification: You will need to write code to handle the push notification when it is received by the app. This code will be executed when the app is in the foreground, background, or closed. You will need to handle each scenario differently. By meeting these requirements, you can test push notifications on Android and ensure that they are working correctly.

Testing push notifications in an Android app:

To test push notifications in an Android app, you can follow these steps:

- Set up a Firebase project:
The first step is to create or select an existing Firebase project in the Firebase console. To create a new project, you need to sign in to the console using your Google account and then click on the “Add Project” button. Enter the name of the project and click on “Create Project”. Once you’ve created the project, add your app to the project by clicking on “Add App” and selecting “Android” as the platform. Follow the on-screen instructions to register your app.

After adding your app, you need to download the google-services.json file. This file contains the Firebase configuration details that your app needs to use Firebase services. To download the file, click on the “Download google-services.json” button on the Firebase console and place the file in the app-level directory of your Android Studio project.

- Add Firebase dependencies:
To use Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) in your app, you need to add the Firebase Messaging dependency to your app-level build.gradle file. You can do this by adding the following code to the dependencies block:

dependencies {

// …

implementation ‘com.google.firebase:firebase-messaging:22.0.0’

}

After adding the dependency, sync your project with Gradle files.

- Configure the Firebase Messaging service:
Next, you need to create a new class that extends FirebaseMessagingService and override the onMessageReceived method. This method is called when a push notification is received by the device. In this method, you can handle the received notification.

public class MyFirebaseMessagingService extends FirebaseMessagingService {

@override

public void onMessageReceived(RemoteMessage remoteMessage) {

super.onMessageReceived(remoteMessage);

// Handle the notification

}

In the above code, MyFirebaseMessagingService is the class that extends FirebaseMessagingService, and onMessageReceived is the method that is called when a push notification is received. You can customize this method according to your app’s requirements.

Register the service in the manifest file
After creating the FirebaseMessagingService class, you need to register it in the manifest file. To do this, add the following code to the manifest file:

In the above code, MyFirebaseMessagingService is the name of the service that you created in step 3.

- Test the push notification
Finally, you need to test the push notification. You can use the Firebase console or a third-party tool to send a push notification to your app. The onMessageReceived method in MyFirebaseMessagingService should be called when the notification is received.

Note that, to receive the push notification, your app needs to be in the foreground or background. If the app is closed, the notification will be handled differently by the system. Also, make sure that you have granted the required permissions to your app to receive the push notifications.

That’s it! By following these steps, you can test push notifications in your Android app.

Conclusion:

Testing push notifications is a crucial step in the development of any mobile application. In this article, we have covered the process of testing push notifications in iOS Simulator and Android, providing a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

Source: This article was originally published at testgrid.io.