Mobile app testing is a crucial process required for every mobile application. Mobile app testing ensures the products meet high-quality standards, provide every user with the best possible experience, and excel in the market. This guide explains how to test a mobile app in nine steps.
Outline the Process
The first step in mobile app testing is to outline the process. The outline will serve as the roadmap to communicate with teams and keep track of progress. Begin by identifying the use cases that need to be tested, describe the tests for each use case, and detail the results expected for each sprint.
Decide Between Manual or Automated Testing
For each test, it is important to determine if a manual or automated approach is best. The decision needs to be made based on what is most optimal and cost-effective. Remember that agile testing frameworks typically involve manual and automated testing. Manual testing helps replicate and fix bugs reported by Quality Assurance (QA) testers. Manual testing is also instrumental in making minor changes to mobile applications. On the flip side, automated testing is beneficial for frequently run use cases, tests with prescribed outcomes, and tests that need to run on different devices or operating systems.
Prepare the Tests for Different Functionalities
The next step is to define the test cases based on business goals and performance requirements. Determine the types of tests to run. This may include functional tests like unit testing, integration testing, system testing, interface testing, regression testing, and acceptance/beta testing. This may also include nonfunctional tests like security testing, volume testing, stress testing, performance testing, load testing, reliability testing, usability testing, compliance testing, and localization testing.
Conduct the Manual Tests
Manual testing is typically the first type of testing companies run because it does not require any initial investments. QA testers do two different types of mobile testing:
- Testing on simulators or emulators, which are tools that let the tester select the mobile device model, mimic the device, and run it on the computer system.
- Testing on a platform with an extensive Android and iOS mobile device range.
This approach is also referred to as starting a testing sprint with exploratory testing.
Conduct the Automated Tests
Automated testing typically follows manual testing, and it is an essential part of the process because the need for testing is usually too high and too extensive to handle alone. There are a few different types of testing automation solutions. Here are the most popular two:
Appium is a popular open-source mobile app testing framework that can test native and hybrid mobile apps. It uses the Selenium web driver interface to test Android, iOS, and Windows apps. It supports testing multiple programming languages, including Python, Java, C#, PHP, and Ruby. Conveniently, Appium allows testers to use the same API to test apps across multiple platforms.
Calabash is another open-source mobile testing framework that can work with multiple programming languages and test both native and hybrid apps on iOS and Android. It is appealing because it is purported to be easier to understand by non-technical staff. It is commonly used for automatic user interface (UI) testing.
Evaluate Usability
Now, it is time to shift the focus to the user experience (UX). Conduct beta testing to understand what features a user will need and use this to shape the app's direction. Test the app’s features to verify that they work and are perceived as convenient to the user. Assess that the app is satisfying, efficient, and effective.
Test the Performance
Determining the application’s reaction and constancy under a specific workload is crucial. The performance testing phases include:
- Load testing to see how much the load can take under normal and extreme conditions.
- Stress testing to see if the app works as expected, even under stress.
- Stability testing to see if the app can work well over a long period.
- Volume testing to see how the app performs with vast volumes of data.
- Concurrency testing to see how many users can use the app at the same time before it stops working
Test Security
To test the mobile app's security, assess and analyze the risks to hacks, viruses, and unauthorized access. Identify vulnerabilities in the app’s code and design that could be exploited. Generate a comprehensive report to guide development teams in addressing the issues and updating the app’s security.
Test End-to-End
This is the final step in mobile app testing that considers the app as a whole. End-to-end testing aims to ensure the app works well on the back end and is ready to be uploaded. Look for significant bugs and fix any that are found. Repeat end-to-end testing until the results are clear.
Mobile App Testing with Encora
Fast-growing tech companies partner with Encora to provide flawless mobile software. We are experts in the various disciplines, tools, and technologies that power the emerging economy, and this is one of the primary reasons that clients choose Encora over the many strategic alternatives that they have.
To learn more about mobile testing, read our blogs:
Crucial Elements of Mobile Testing
How to Choose the Right Testing Tools for a Mobile Application
Types of Tests for Mobile Applications
To get started with mobile app testing, contact Encora today.
