A comprehensive end-to-end testing tutorial that covers what E2E testing is, its importance, and how to perform it.
OVERVIEW
End-to-end testing, also known as E2E testing, validates a software application's workflow from start to finish from the user's perspective, ensuring all integrated components and dependencies function as intended. With E2E testing, developers and testers can identify defects during the interaction of different application components, ensuring overall functionality, reliability, and performance.
Considering the increasing intricacy of modern software applications, end-to-end testing plays a critical role. The modern software applications often involve multiple components interacting simultaneously, which can lead to challenges even if each component functions perfectly on its own.
This complexity arises from potential miscommunications between these components. Therefore, end-to-end testing becomes essential in ensuring the smooth flow of information within the Application Under Test (AUT).
Testers aim to achieve thorough coverage through end-to-end testing. This means that they want to test all components of the software application, including the user interface, application server, database, and any external systems the software application uses. By this approach, they ensure everything works as expected.
End-to-end testing is essentially the process of ensuring that your software application functions seamlessly from the moment a user starts using it until they reach the end of their intended actions.
It's mimics how real users will interact with the software application to make sure everything runs smoothly. This comprehensive testing approach evaluates the software from the user's standpoint to confirm that all the components work in sync as they should. Typically, end-to-end testing happens after integration testing and right before the software is ready for release.
Performing complete user workflow checks in end-to-end testing is more thorough than unit testing or integration testing methods. Typically, this involves running the software application with all potential dependencies, such as the database, external services, performance metrics, logging, and so on. This helps in replicating real-world scenarios as closely as possible.
In an ideal end-to-end testing scenario, you validate all components and dependencies instead of only a specific set of features, as in integration testing. End-to-end testing can be conducted manually by human testers or through automated scripts.
To know how end-to-end testing differs from integration testing, check out this article on end-to-end testing vs integration testing.
Modern software applications are complex, with multiple components and dependencies. This complexity can lead to unpredictable issues, especially when different systems interact. To ensure quality, it's crucial to test how the end user experiences the final application, including all its components and dependencies. This means running tests that cover everything from simple actions to complex workflows.
These tests mimic user behavior, which can be observed during usability testing. They help find issues before releasing the product to users and assist product managers in setting priorities for development tasks. End-to-end testing also improves the user experience by creating test cases with user expectations, especially for software applications that require a lot of user interaction, like web and desktop apps.
The end-to-end testing approach offers various benefits in ensuring that software applications meet user expectations, perform as expected, and handle real-world scenarios effectively. However, it is essential to consider the potential challenges associated with E2E testing, such as execution time, maintenance overhead, and others.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Now that we understand what is E2E testing, and its pros and cons, let’s understand with an E2E testing example.
Scenario: Customer purchases a product from the website, pays for it, and receives a confirmation email.
Objective: Verify that the entire purchasing process functions as expected.
Test Cases:
Product Selection:
Customer Information:
Payment Information:
Payment Processing:
Order Confirmation:
Email Contents:
Order History:
Component Integration:
Outcome:
The end-to-end testing life cycle consists of several phases that ensure a comprehensive approach to testing an entire software application from start to finish—here are the key phases of the E2E testing life cycle.
Test pyramid is a software development framework that can foster high-quality code by minimizing the time required for developers to determine if changes affect the existing code. It also aids in developing a more robust test suite.
The testing pyramid is a model that provides a structure for the types of tests to be performed. It also defines the order and frequency of such tests. The purpose is to provide rapid feedback to ensure that code changes do not impact existing functionality.
The test automation pyramid has three levels: unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests.
In this pyramid layer, the team conducts both pre-commit and post-commit tests, with developers triggering them. Using virtual devices like simulators and emulators for these tests is highly recommended. They provide feedback quickly and cost-effectively.
These tests check how the code interacts with external components like external services (APIs), databases, web services, and more. Integration tests ensure that the software communicates well and retrieves accurate data—integration tests are usually slower due to their interaction with external sources and require a pre-production environment.
The best approach to end-to-end testing is to think like an end user. Testers consider how users may interact with the app, their aims, and potential issues to create test cases based on these actions.
End-to-end testing is at the top of the test automation pyramid and is typical the most time-consuming phase. It may also rely on less reliable external dependencies, like integration tests. Using real devices that simulate physical smartphones is crucial here since real users encounter issues on real devices, not virtual ones.
End-to-end (E2E) testing plays a crucial role in ensuring the functionality and performance of an entire software application from the user's perspective. This comprehensive testing approach simulates real-world user scenarios and covers various components and interfaces to verify the smooth flow of the application.
Two primary ways to perform E2E testing are horizontal and vertical testing, each with its advantages and disadvantages.
In end-to-end testing, you test all layers or components of an application - from the user interface (UI) to the database. The following are some of the layers involved in E2E testing:
E2E is not just about testing the user interface because a user interface is made of numerous distinct components. For example, the website's content may be fetched from a database via an API. Therefore, the front-end design, the database, and the API must be tested independently and in conjunction in this situation.
To ensure comprehensive E2E testing, consider the following checklist:
In end-to-end testing, measuring and tracking various QA metrics is important to track your testing efforts and ensure your software application works as intended. Here are some of the most commonly used metrics in end-to-end testing:
Let's look at the detailed difference between end-to-end and system testing.
End-to-End Testing | System Testing |
---|---|
End-to-end testing includes testing the behavioral workflow of the software application. | System testing includes testing the software application as a whole. |
The focus is to test based on user experience and business requirements. | Technical aspects of the software/application are only tested. |
Usually performed by testers who are familiar with user experience. | Usually performed by testers who are not involved in the development process. |
It includes regression testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing. | It includes functional testing, performance testing, security testing, and usability testing. |
It helps in validating the interfaces of the software application. | System testing validates the software system's compliance with standards, specifications, and other requirements. |
It is usually performed manually. | Performed both manually and automated. |
Both end-to-end and functional testing are crucial components of software quality assurance. While they share some similarities, they have different focuses and objectives. Here's a breakdown of their key differences:
End-to-End Testing | Functional Testing |
---|---|
Evaluates the software application as a whole, including all components, subsystems, and dependencies. | Focuses on verifying specific functions or features of the software application in isolation. |
Ensures that all integrated parts of the software work seamlessly together and that the application delivers the expected output. | Ensures that individual functions or features of the software application meet their intended purposes and function correctly. |
Generally more complex and time-consuming due to testing the complete application workflow. | Typically, it is less complex because it isolates specific features for testing. |
Provides extensive coverage by testing the application across different layers and interactions. | Offers targeted coverage by testing specific functionalities or features. |
It often involves simulating user behavior, using real or simulated data, and testing the software under various conditions to mimic real-world scenarios. | It usually requires black-box testing, where testers examine the software's behavior based on input and expected output without considering the internal workings. |
Several frameworks and tools are available for performing end-to-end (E2E) testing, each offering different features and benefits. Here are some of the most popular options:
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For test automation, LambdaTest integrates with a wide range of automation testing frameworks, including Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Puppeteer, Taiko, Appium, Espresso, and XCUITest.
End-to-end testing with Cypress is the go-to choice for testing the integration between two or more systems. Doing so can ensure that various dependencies of an application are working accurately and that accurate information is being communicated between multiple system components.
With Puppeteer, no special configuration is needed to get started. When you download Puppeteer, it installs its version of Chrome. But if you prefer to use a browser you already have installed, you can install the puppeteer-core package.
To create an effective end-to-end (E2E) test cases, here’s a roadmap to guide you through the process:
End-to-end testing is a complex process that requires proper planning and coordination between the development and testing teams. You can follow these steps to ensure your system meets the requirements and functions correctly.
When it comes to E2E testing, there are two options: testing on a local machine or conducting tests in the cloud. Each approach has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Opting for local machine testing gives you control over the testing environment. This means teams can customize the infrastructure and tools according to their specific requirements. Therefore, testing cycles become faster due to reduced network latency. However, this approach may require more resources to handle larger scenarios and is expensive.
On the other hand, cloud-based testing offers virtually limitless resources and scalability without hardware limitations. This method is cost-effective as teams only pay for the resources they need.
E2E testing in the cloud is testing websites and mobile applications on cloud-based servers. Using a cloud-based platform offers several advantages that streamline the testing process. One such benefit is scaling up or down the testing environment based on specific requirements. Additionally, accessing the web or mobile application from any location with an Internet connection promotes remote collaboration, enabling teams to work seamlessly across different geographic locations.
AI-powered test orchestration and execution platforms like LambdaTest offer end-to-end (E2E) testing in the cloud. It allows you to perform manual and automation testing across a wide range of real browsers, devices, and operating systems.
Moreover, LambdaTest integrates seamlessly with popular automation testing frameworks such as Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Appium, and more. This integration lets users conduct automated tests on a secure, scalable, and reliable automation cloud platform.
LambdaTest offers two E2E testing approaches: real-time (manual) and automated testing.
Step 1: Sign up for a free LambdaTest account and log in.
Step 2: From the user Dashboard, go to Real Time from the left sidebar menu.
Step 3: It will land you on to the Browser Testing console.
Step 4: Enter the URL that you need to test. Select your desired browsers, versions, OS, and resolutions. Then click on START.
This action will launch a cloud-based machine for conducting E2E testing based on your specified configuration.
LambdaTest online Selenium grid offers access to over 3000 desktop environments. You can also run automated tests using frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, and more.
Here's how to perform automation testing on the LambdaTest platform:
Step 1: Follow the same login process as mentioned earlier.
Step 2: Navigate to the Automation > Web Automation from the in the left menu, which provides options for Demo Project or Configure Test Suite.
Step 3: Choose Configure Test Suite to set up and run your tests with your preferred automation testing framework.
Step 4: Configure your test settings and start your automation testing process.
End-to-end testing has several advantages, but some present some challenges discussed below.
To overcome this, developers and testers can leverage end-to-end test orchestration clouds like HyperExecute to execute their test suites at a blazing speed that is up to 70% faster than traditional cloud grids.
End-to-end testing is the type of testing that mimics the experience of a real user using the application. Here are a few best practices to get the best out of end-to-end testing:
End-to-end testing is essential for assessing user interaction with your software applications. Evaluating the user experience from beginning to end provides more assurance regarding the quality of your application than simply testing if a button function or a model appears.
By implementing a well-defined end-to-end testing strategy, you can significantly improve the quality of your software and deliver a superior user experience. This comprehensive guide has provided you with a solid understanding of end-to-end testing concepts, implementation methods, and available resources.
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Salman Khan
Salman works as a Digital Marketing Manager at LambdaTest. With over four years in the software testing domain, he brings a wealth of experience to his role of reviewing blogs, learning hubs, product updates, and documentation write-ups. Holding a Master's degree (M.Tech) in Computer Science, Salman's expertise extends to various areas including web development, software testing (including automation testing and mobile app testing), CSS, and more.
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Shahzeb Hoda
Shahzeb currently holds the position of Senior Product Marketing Manager at LambdaTest and brings a wealth of experience spanning over a decade in Quality Engineering, Security, and E-Learning domains. Over the course of his 3-year tenure at LambdaTest, he actively contributes to the review process of blogs, learning hubs, and product updates. With a Master's degree (M.Tech) in Computer Science and a seasoned expert in the technology domain, he possesses extensive knowledge spanning diverse areas of web development and software testing, including automation testing, DevOps, continuous testing, and beyond.
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