LambdaTest https://www.lambdatest.com/blog Learn everything about cross browser testing, selenium automation testing, along with latest and greatest on web development technology on at LambdaTest blog. Fri, 22 Dec 2023 10:26:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.15 How To Perform Storybook Visual Testing https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/storybook-visual-testing/ Thu, 21 Dec 2023 14:12:05 +0000 https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/?p=62972 Continue reading How To Perform Storybook Visual Testing ]]>

Consider working on a website to provide customers with the best possible user experience and seamless flow. While testing the website, you might find all automated tests passing on all browser and platform combinations with zero issues. However, as soon as the website goes live, bug reports come in large numbers.

These bugs are not related to the website’s functionality but to its user interface and user experience. They affect the website’s appearance, making it less user-friendly regarding its usability, navigation, and visual appeal. This is because automation testing typically only checks the flow, not whether the user interface (UI) appears correctly. Automation testers have been greatly concerned about this and are looking for ways to deal with it.

The solution to this problem is visual testing. It helps to verify the visual behavior of the AUT (Application Under Test) and checks if the visual aspects of the website, such as the shape, size, color, and positioning of the elements on the webpage, are correctly placed and aligned as per the expected design on different browsers and their versions, operating systems, and screen sizes.

This is important because each platform, browser, and screen size has different properties, such as resolution and support for different fonts and colors. These properties must be verified to ensure the website looks and functions correctly on all platforms and devices, thus not restricting customers to certain platforms.

One of the most popular visual testing tools is Storybook, which we will implement in this blog. Storybook is an open-source tool for developing and testing user interfaces (UIs) in isolation from the rest of an application. Each piece of UI in Storybook is an independent component.

One advantage of components is that we don’t need to load the entire application to test a specific UI component. We can render the component in isolation and test it before moving on to the rest of the application. This helps us focus on each variation of a visual component, even the hard-to-reach edge cases. It also ensures that the component behaves consistently across platforms and versions.

In this blog on Storybook visual testing, we will learn about visual testing and its importance for web applications. We also know about Storybook, how it works, and how to integrate it with web projects. To demonstrate Storybook visual testing, we will use a cloud platform like LambdaTest to access various browsers and operating system versions to test the web interface for the best results.

Let’s get started.

What is Visual Testing?

Visual testing is a software testing technique that verifies and validates an application’s Graphical User Interface (GUI). It focuses on the visual aspects of the GUI, such as layouts, colors, fonts, images, and overall aesthetics, to ensure that they are consistent, correct, and visually appealing across different platforms and devices.

Consider a scenario of login screen version 1 like the one below:

visual testing

Source

This screen was updated to accommodate two new buttons, but that leads to alignment issues like in below version 2:

new buttons

Such visual issues can be more prominent while working with web applications and lead to a bad user experience.

Conducting visual testing helps to enhance the user experience, maintain brand consistency, and prevent visual defects in applications, ultimately leading to a more polished and user-friendly product.

It can also identify issues related to responsiveness and multimedia elements, such as logos, icons, videos, and animations. Human testers can perform visual testing manually or using automated scripts and tools like Storybook. Automated visual testing compares the UI under test with reference images or expected results to detect discrepancies.

detect discrepancies

Conducting visual testing helps to enhance the user experience, maintain brand consistency, and prevent visual defects in applications, ultimately leading to a more polished and user-friendly product.

Info Note

Run automated visual tests in a click with SmartUI CLI. Try LambdaTest Today!

How is Visual Testing different from Functional Testing?

Visual and functional testing are two types of testing that verify different aspects of an application. Visual testing focuses on the appearance and user interface, while functional testing focuses on the application’s features. Functional testing verifies that the application works as expected, while visual testing verifies that the application’s visual elements appear correctly on different devices, browsers, and operating systems.

Visual testing is often used in conjunction with functional testing to ensure that an application is both functional and visually appealing.

Visual Testing Functional Testing
Focus Evaluates the visual aspects of the application, such as layout, design, and UI elements. Focuses on verifying the functions, features, and behavior of the application.
Objective Ensures the visual consistency and appearance of the user interface across different browsers and devices. Verifies that the application functions correctly according to specified requirements.
Types of Issues Detects visual defects like misalignments, styling errors, and image rendering problems. Identifies functional issues such as incorrect calculations, data processing errors, and logical flaws in the application.
Automation Possibility Requires visual testing tools to capture and compare screenshots. Often automated using testing frameworks for repetitive functional scenarios.
Execution Time It may take more time due to the need to capture and compare images. Generally faster as it focuses on specific functionalities.
Use Cases Ideal for applications with a strong emphasis on visual aesthetics, such as websites, marketing pages, and design-heavy interfaces Suitable for applications where functionality is critical, such as eCommerce, banking, or enterprise applications.

How does Visual Testing Work?

Visual testing works by comparing screenshots. It does this by comparing the actual UI to a base screenshot of the page.

The base image is captured and is used as a reference whenever the visual test is executed. Each test run generates a new screenshot, which is then compared to the base screenshot. If any differences are found, the test is marked as failed. Otherwise, it is passed.

base image

In the comparison above, the first image perfectly matches the baseline and passes, while the second image fails because of the many visual differences. These differences are all major and cannot be ignored, so the visual test is marked as failed.

However, these differences can sometimes be minor, such as a slight change in color tone due to resolution differences or a different font due to an unsupported font on some platforms or versions. In these cases, the tool or framework used for visual testing should ideally have some built-in intelligence in the comparison algorithm to avoid such failures and only highlight major UI variations.

Why is Visual Testing Important?

Visual testing, like other software testing techniques, is integral to working with web applications. It provides numerous benefits when performed and helps produce more visually reliable results. These include:

  • Browser – Device Compatibility and Responsiveness
  • Visual testing ensures an application’s user interface (UI) looks and behaves as expected across different devices and platforms. This includes checking on various operating systems (OS), browsers, screen sizes, and orientations.

  • Consistent User Experience
  • Visual testing ensures the visual aspects of a user interface (UI) are correct and consistent. It helps to identify and fix issues with the layout, colors, fonts, and other visual elements of a UI, which can lead to a better user experience and satisfaction.

  • Verify Images & multimedia
  • Verifying that all images and other multimedia elements are displayed correctly and in the intended resolutions is useful. This includes checking that the images are not pixelated or blurry on different platforms and screen sizes and that the videos play smoothly.

    Additionally, visual testing helps ensure that the images and videos are aligned correctly with the surrounding text and other elements on the page. By doing so, visual tests help to make web applications visually appealing and user-friendly.

  • Testing Localization
  • Visual testing is strongly advised when developing applications for international customers with diverse languages, cultures, and formats. It aids UI testing and ensures element consistency for different locales with minimal effort.

All the advantages of visual testing strongly advocate its usage while working with web applications to be used with a wide, varied customer base.

When performing visual testing, it is essential to know its limitations. Visual testing is only suitable for certain types of applications, as it is limited to UI verification. Additionally, it can be time-consuming and resource-intensive for larger applications, which can add to maintenance overhead. Being mindful of these helps one make an informed decision on the extent of visual testing.

What is a Storybook?

Storybook is an open-source tool that lets you build, organize, and test user interface (UI) components in isolation. It is commonly used in web development, especially for building and testing components in JavaScript and related frameworks like React. Storybook allows testers to visualize, test, and debug the different states of UI components independently from the rest of the application.

Storybook

In Storybook, each webpage is considered a story. A story represents the state of web elements in different environments. In a Storybook project, the first execution is always stored as-is, and the images from it are considered the base images or baseline. In this case, no screenshots or images are compared, and all are marked as approved. In subsequent runs after this one, you can see passed/failed stories based on the mismatch percentage, as screenshots are compared to this baseline.

The Storybook community is thriving with an impressive milestone. The Storybook Monorepo has surpassed 81,200 GitHub Stars, solidifying its position as one of the most popular repositories ever.

What is a Story?

In Storybook, each webpage is considered a story. A story represents the state of web elements in different environments. It captures the rendered state of a UI component.

What is a component?

Each piece of UI in Storybook is an independent component. With components, we don’t need to load the entire application to test a specific UI. We can render the component in isolation and test it before moving on to the rest of the application.

How does a Storybook compare different components and stories?

In a Storybook project, the first execution is always stored as-is, and the images from it are considered the base images or baseline.

base images

In this case, no screenshots or images are compared, and all are marked as approved.

screenshots or images

In subsequent runs after this one, you can see passed/failed stories based on the mismatch percentage, as screenshots are compared to this baseline.

mismatch percentage

Advantages of Using Storybook

There are many reasons why Storybook is the best choice for visual testing. Some of them are:

  • Component Development and Isolation
  • Storybook allows you to create, showcase, and test individual UI components in isolation. A component is a small piece of UI. This is especially useful when working with complex applications, as it allows you to focus and test a single component at a time without navigating through the entire application.

  • Component Documentation
  • Storybook encourages the documentation of UI components by creating stories for each component. A story represents a component’s state and can include different variations for different environments. These stories serve as living documentation for the components, making it easier to understand and test how these should be used and how they look.

  • Automation and Regression Detection
  • Visual testing in Storybook can be automated using various tools, such as Chromatic or custom scripts. When code changes are made to the UI, visual testing tools can take screenshots and compare them to baseline images. If there are any differences, such as unexpected layout changes or styling issues, the tool can flag them, which helps to catch visual bugs early in the development process.

  • Collaboration
  • Storybook is a tool that can be used by developers, designers, and testers to collaborate on projects. Testers can use it to perform visual tests to verify the UI, designers can use it to see how components will appear in the final application, and developers can use it to receive feedback and bugs and iterate on them more effectively.

  • Integration with Other Tools
  • Storybook can be integrated with various testing tools and platforms, including cloud-based platforms like LambdaTest SmartUI, which we will use in this blog. It can also be integrated with version control systems, continuous integration (CI) pipelines, and design systems to ensure consistency and quality in UI development.

Demonstration: How to perform Storybook Visual Testing?

Having understood and learned the basics about visual testing and Storybook, it is time to move to the demonstration. This section will show how Storybook visual testing can be performed for your application.

As mentioned previously, to perform Storybook visual testing, we will use SmartUI, a tool provided by the cloud-based LambdaTest platform.

LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that lets you run manual and automated tests at scale with over 3000+ real devices, browsers, and OS combinations.

SmartUI is a LambdaTest tool that combines the robustness of cloud-based platforms with the accuracy of visual testing. It helps automate identifying and tracking visual changes in the user interface (UI) over time, which helps release more consistent applications. SmartUI uses cloud benefits to provide precision, collaboration, and scalability. Using LambdaTest enables you to test your application on a combination of 3000+ OS and browser versions, ideally serving the aim of Storybook visual testing for the visual elements.

Subscribe to the LambdaTest YouTube Channel and stay updated with detailed tutorials on Visual Regression Testing, including Visual Regression Testing with Selenium and Visual Regression Testing with Playwright.

To perform successful visual regression tests, start with SmartUI using Storybook on LambdaTest.

Let’s start with setting up Storybook visual testing on LambdaTest SmartUI.

Pre-requisites

Install Storybook

Install Storybook using the below command. You can check more details on installation on its official website.

npx storybook@latest init

Make sure you install a version higher than 6.4.0 for best results. Refer to Storybook recent releases for more information on Storybook release versions.

Install Node.js

Install Node.js on your system by downloading the installer from the official website. For compatibility reasons, ensure the installed version is higher than 14.15.0. If you need more details on the previous versions, you can check here.

LambdaTest SmartUI credentials

Create your account on the LambdaTest platform to access SmartUI and perform Storybook visual testing.

SmartUI Project Setup on LambdaTest

After completing the prerequisite setup, the first step is to create a SmartUI Project on LambdaTest. In this project, we will combine all your executed builds for our Storybook visual test cases.

Step 1. Login to your LambdaTest account and select Smart UI.

Smart UI

Step 2. Click on the New Project button to create your SmartUI Storybook project.

new project

Step 3. For Storybook tests, select the platform as Web. Add project name, approvers for the changes, and tags for filters or easy navigation.

web

create project

Step 4. Click on Submit to create your first project. You can see no build and the token is available inside the project.

submit

This token will be used in the next steps to link the project execution results on SmartUI.

Storybook Code Setup and Execution: Creating Baseline

For this blog demonstration on performing Storybook visual testing, we will reference the code from the GitHub repo below. This is a sample project to execute your first Storybook SmartUI project for visual testing.

Step 1. Clone the project from this GitHub repo.

git clone https://github.com/LambdaTest/smartui-storybook-sample.git

github

Step 2. Install the required NPM dependencies for LambdaTest Smart UI Storybook visual test execution.

npm install @lambdatest/smartui-storybook -g

NPM dependencies

Step 3. Verify that the .storybook directory is added to your main.js project. It should contain the following code. If not, add the same to it.

module.exports = {
   features: {
     buildStoriesJson: true,
   },
 };

Step 4. Install the Storybook node module inside your project using npm.

npm install

Once this is done, you should see @storybook under your < current-dir >/node_modules folder like below.

module

Step 5. Configure the SmartUI project token for the demo project that we created initially.

export PROJECT_TOKEN="123456#1234abcd-****-****-****-************"

Step 6. As mentioned, LambdaTest SmartUI provides configurations to execute visual tests on several available browser + OS combinations. These configurations are defined inside smartui.json.

Execute the following command to generate this configuration JSON.

smartui config create .smartui.json

configuration

Once the smartui.json file is created, you can see the default configurations in the same.

{
 "storybook": {
   "browsers": [
     "chrome",
     "firefox",
     "safari",
     "edge",
     // Add more browser configuration here
   ],
   "viewports": [
     [1920, 1080]        // Add more view ports to capture here
   ],
   "waitForTimeout": 0, // (Optional) Add wait time for the page to load
   "include": [],       // (Optional) Only compare limited stories
   "exclude": []        // (Optional) Don't compare the stories
 }
}

GitHub

The configurations can be modified as per your requirements by changing the key-values on this JSON.

Step 7. Build your Storybook application, in this case, the repo code, as a static web application. Storybook will create a static web application capable of being served by any web server for your code, which can be previewed locally on any system by sharing the application code.

npm run build-storybook

Executing this command should create an output directory /storybook-static/ from which the code will be built for execution on SmartUI.

output directory

Step 8. Finally, we execute the Storybook visual tests on the SmartUI cloud using the storybook static build created in previous steps.

smartui storybook ./storybook-static --config .smartui.json

This command would trigger the run to create a Baseline, as this is the first execution. All stories would be approved automatically for this execution.

Baseline

You can view the created baseline for Storybook visual tests on SmartUI by navigating to your project on the LambdaTest Dashboard. This build will be created on the master branch.

LambdaTest Dashboard

projects

With this, we have created a baseline for the stories to be executed further to perform Storybook visual tests. Let’s move forward to change any story, re-execute the run, and see results.

Storybook SmartUI Execution: Committed Code Changes

In this section, we see how SmartUI triggers the storybook visual test on changes committed to the existing code.

Step 1. Open src/stories/Page.stories.jsx story file and make some changes to it. For this demonstration, I have updated the value from Log in to Log out.

updated the value

Step 2. Add the file with changes to GitHub. SmartUI uses the GitHub commitid for the comparison.

git add src/stories/Page.stories.jsx

Step 3. Commit the changes with a proper commit message. This message will be visible on the LambdaTest SmartUI project to identify the execution of a particular commit.

git commit -m "Demo blog changes in Page.stories.mdx"

Step 4. Execute the Storybook visual tests on the SmartUI cloud again as previously done. This time, it will give the comparison results and highlight failures if any mismatches occur.

smartui storybook ./storybook-static --config .smartui.json

You can see the output results on the CLI below.

output results

Execution results on the SmartUI dashboard can be viewed for the particular commit.

Execution results

With this, we have learned how Storybook visual testing works with LambdaTest SmartUI. So, use this powerful integration of tools and platforms to build a robust visual testing architecture for your static web applications.

Conclusion

This concludes our blog on how to perform Storybook visual testing. In this Storybook testing tutorial, we learned about visual testing, its advantages and disadvantages, and why it is needed in web software development. We also understood about Storybook and its benefits for visual testing. Lastly, we saw how Storybook visual tests can be configured and executed on the LambdaTest SmartUI cloud platform to take advantage of a cloud platform and execute on various OS and browser combinations. It’s time for you to get started and perform Storybook visual tests on SmartUI for the best results and performance. Happy testing!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a Storybook in testing?

Storybook is a tool used in software development and testing to facilitate the isolated development and testing of UI components in a modular and interactive manner. It is a development environment where developers and testers can create, view, and interact with UI components independently of the application’s integrated environment.

In the context of testing, Storybook allows for the creation of visual tests for individual UI components. Testers can document, showcase, and test each component’s visual appearance and behavior in isolation, making it a valuable tool for UI testing and design consistency. Storybook supports various frameworks and libraries, making it versatile for different tech stacks.

What is the difference between visual testing and snapshot testing?

Visual and snapshot testing are two distinct approaches with purpose and methodology. Visual testing verifies a user interface’s visual appearance and layout (UI). It checks whether the UI components, such as images, text, and layouts, look as expected across different browsers and devices. Snapshot testing is a technique often associated with unit testing in software development. It captures a snapshot (serialized representation) of the expected output of a component or function and compares it against the actual output during subsequent test runs.

What is Storybook used for?

Storybook is an open-source tool for developing UI components in isolation. It is a sandbox environment where developers can design, build, and test individual UI components independently of the larger application.

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What is Regression Testing: Definition, Types, Examples https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/regression-testing-what-is-and-how-to-do-it/ https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/regression-testing-what-is-and-how-to-do-it/#respond Thu, 21 Dec 2023 00:00:21 +0000 https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/?p=16434 Continue reading What is Regression Testing: Definition, Types, Examples ]]>

What is Regression Testing

Updating a large and complex codebase can be challenging. When adding new features, fixing bugs, or improving what’s already there, there’s a chance of accidentally affecting the application’s working, whether it’s a mobile app, a web application, or a website. Developers often perform automated unit testing to prevent these issues, but these tests don’t always catch everything. That’s where regression testing becomes very important.

Regression testing is a type of software testing that ensures recent code changes have not adversely affected existing features. It involves retesting the software after modifications to confirm that previously developed and tested functionality still performs correctly. This process helps identify bugs that might have been introduced into existing areas of a software application due to new changes or enhancements. Not identifying these issues can negatively impact how users feel about your software and can also affect your profits.

In this blog, we will learn what regression tests are, its types, and how it works.

What is Regression Testing?

Regression testing is a systematic quality control process that verifies whether recent changes or updates to software have inadvertently introduced new errors or negatively impacted previously functional aspects. The primary goal of running regression tests is to ensure that modifications intended for improvement do not disrupt the established performance and reliability of the software. By conducting regression tests, software teams ensure the stability and seamless functioning of their products, fostering confidence in their ongoing development efforts.

Every time a change is made, regression tests are put into practice to make sure that it does not unintentionally cause any functional or performance problems. By performing this kind of testing, developers hope to find and address a persistent issue: the reappearance of old defects brought on by the adoption of fresh code changes. Regression tests essentially serve as a safety net, assisting in maintaining the dependability and stability of the software during its cycle of ongoing development.

Example of Regression Testing in practice

Here is an example of Regression tests needed for the Tesla website. This company generates billions of dollars in annual revenues from its Website. Hence their websites must always be up and running – functionally, reliably, and with good performance.

Example – Tesla

On the front page of Tesla.com, you can see all Tesla’s products.

Tesla

When Tesla releases their next product, i.e., the Cyber Truck, the developers at Tesla will add a new entry to the Website, most likely next to Model Y. But a lot of care needs to be taken to ensure that even though new UI flows are added to a new “Cyber Truck” entry on the main page, the rest of the product UI flows continue to work functionally as before. A Regression test suite is executed for this purpose. These Regression test cases can be manually executed or automated using a prevalent test automation framework called Selenium.

Let’s say one of the Regression tests fails; this means that an existing function of the Website broke while adding a new product flow. This bug needs to be immediately logged and fixed. This Regression test suite should be executed every time a minor or a significant UI flow addition/changes are made to the Website.

Similarly, the Regression test suite should also be enhanced to cover more UI flows with the help of newer test cases. This ensures that the Website is always up and running; any time there is a breakage, it is immediately detected and flagged with the help of a Regression test suite.

In the next section, we will talk about different Regression testing tools.

Why is Regression Testing important?

When software developers fix a bug, add new functionality, or modify an existing feature or functionality, they must change the program code. Even a slight change will likely result in a plethora of new bugs. In such a scenario, a test engineer can reveal and pinpoint undesirable side effects through regression tests. A properly executed regression test suite is vital. It is imperative that after a bug fix, the original product does not stop working.

Check out our UI comparison tool to easily capture and compare UI screenshots.

The below graph depicts the importance of the Regression test:

importance of the Regression test

When to perform Regression Testing?

When new features or enhancements are deployed to an existing codebase or application, Regression testing is required. It ensures that any new functionality or update to an existing application works properly without any bugs or defects. Developers and testers often struggle to trace every code thread, with significant chances of code incompatibility issues. As a result, executing regression tests of their codebase (or application) allows them to detect defects earlier and ship applications with fewer risks.

It can be used when a deployment takes longer than expected. In this case, the tester should run Regression tests daily. Also, it is better to run Regression tests after functional testing for weekly releases.

When some functionality is overhauled, Regression test becomes even more critical as it may risk the codebase’s present functionality. Furthermore, repairing one defect can sometimes lead to another. In this case, you can use a blend of best debugging tools and regression tests to ensure that everything works as intended.

How to perform Regression Testing?

Regression tests can be executed both manually and in an automated manner. Test Engineers primarily use special techniques and methods to perform Regression tests.

techniques and methods to perform Regression testing

Below are the phases involved in Regression testing –

  1. Test Case Selection: The selection of test cases is determined by the component, one with a massive number of code modifications. Testers can split the tests into two categories: reusable test cases and obsolete test cases. Reusable test cases will be used in future Regression test cycles, but obsolete test cases will not be considered in further Regression test cycles.
  2. Time Estimation: Following the selection of test cases, the next step is to estimate the test execution time. Test case generation, test case evaluation, and other factors impact test execution time.
  3. Automate Test Cases: Testers should select between manual and automated Regression testing based on the number of test cases after time estimation.
  4. Test Case Prioritization: In this step, testers prioritize test cases based on recent code changes, minimizing Regression time and effort. The test cases with high priority are executed first, followed by medium and low priority.
  5. Test Execution: Finally, all test cases are run in the order of priority to find flaws and ensure that the application is functioning correctly. Automated regression testing tools like Selenium enable you to reduce test execution time and automate your Regression test suites more quickly.

Developing Regression Testing strategy

If you want to make the most of your Regression test suites, it is essential to plan a proper strategy by keeping certain factors in mind. This section, discusses some ways to help you create a winning Regression tests strategy:

  • Execute all existing tests once again: After the product release, Test Engineers must check problem areas again. Many times this can be a challenge, especially when it comes to executing manual testing.
  • Run high-priority tests first: About 50% of time spent on regression tests should be devoted to repeating tests that concern the application’s essential functionality.
  • Check the complicated features next: Many applications have sophisticated and complicated parts, which can cause problems. Although the functionality is complicated to understand/comprehend, the quality of their functionality must be excellent.
  • Execute Exploratory testing: While learning the software version’s new features, design new tests for them and execute them. In the course of this testing, many new bugs will be found.

Boost productivity and reduce time/efforts spent on running tests with the help of automated testing. Using automation scripts, it is possible to perform tests much quicker and in a more effective way.

Finally, it is imperative to perform random testing. A software tester assumes the role of a user and tests randomly. Because there is always some problem or another, it is important to perform random testing.

Regression Testing Tools

Here are some tools that can be useful for creating and executing Regression tests. However, the requirements of each product should be thoroughly studied before deciding which ones to use.

LambdaTest

lt-home-page

LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that lets you run manual and automated tests at scale with over 3000+ real devices, browsers, and OS combinations. LambdaTest incorporates screenshots and video recordings, as well as collaborative and responsive testing options. It is extensively used in the DevOps context for complete cross browser compatibility testing.

Selenium

selenium-page

Selenium is an open-source web automation testing tool to test websites and web apps. It is considered one of the top automated Regression tests tools for web application testing. Selenium supports different browsers and platforms for automated browser testing. You can run your automated visual regression tests with Selenium on LambdaTest across 3000+ real browsers and OSes. LambdaTest also allows you to perform Selenium Visual Testing on Cloud that capture and compare screenshots and deliver seamless user experience.

Watir

Watir, short for Web Application Testing in Ruby, is a free tool that uses the Ruby programming language for testing web applications directly. It doesn’t require a separate server, making it straightforward to use. Watir is user-friendly, allowing people to write test code easily without having to go through a lot of instructions.

watir-page

This tool is compatible with various browsers and operating systems. One of its key features, the Attach Method, keeps the original application window connected even when a new window from a linked domain is opened. Additionally, Watir is versatile in simulating user actions on websites, such as clicking links, filling in forms, and checking if texts are correct.

Serenity

Serenity BDD stands out as an open-source framework designed to enhance the quality of automated regression and acceptance testing. Its flexibility and ease of maintenance are key features that make it a preferred choice for many developers. Beyond just facilitating test creation, Serenity BDD excels in providing detailed test reports. These reports are not only comprehensive but also user-friendly, offering clear insights into the testing process.

serenity-page

One of the standout aspects of Serenity BDD is its ability to give a clear picture of the application coverage. It informs you about which parts of your application have been tested, helping you identify any gaps in your testing strategy. This feature is particularly useful for ensuring that all critical functionalities of your application are thoroughly tested and validated.

Silk Test

silk-test

Silk Test is a versatile automated testing tool designed for enterprise-level software. It specializes in functional and regression testing, ensuring that applications perform as expected after updates or changes. Silk Test is particularly effective for cross-platform testing, making it suitable for applications that run on multiple devices and operating systems. Additionally, it supports localization testing, which is crucial for verifying that your mobile applications, including web, native, and hybrid apps, are tailored correctly for different languages and regions. This tool streamlines the testing process, making it more efficient and reliable for a wide range of software applications.

QA Wizard

qa-wizard

QA Wizard Pro is an automation tool designed for functional and regression testing across web, Windows, and Java applications. It also excels in conducting load testing for web applications, ensuring they can handle high user traffic without compromising performance. This tool streamlines the testing process, making it more efficient and effective in identifying potential issues in various types of applications. Its versatility in handling different testing scenarios makes it a valuable asset for ensuring software quality and reliability.

Apache JMeter

Apache JMeter is a free Java-based tool used for testing the load, performance, and functionality of web applications. It has also been developed to test other aspects, like how efficiently a server handles multiple user requests at the same time.

jmeter

JMeter has a user-friendly graphical interface, created using the Swing graphical API, making it easy to operate. It works on any system that can run a Java virtual machine, such as Windows, Linux, and Mac. This makes JMeter an excellent choice for conducting functional performance and regression testing across various technologies.

IBM Rational Functional Tester (RFT)

IBM’s Rational Functional Tester (RFT) is a software automation tool designed for various types of testing, including functional, regression, GUI (Graphical User Interface) testing, and data-driven testing. It is versatile and supports a wide range of applications, such as web-based, .NET, Java, Siebel, SAP, applications based on terminal emulators, and PowerBuilder.

idm-rft

RFT is equipped with a script editor that uses natural language, making it easier to visualize and edit tests. It also provides screenshots to help users see exactly what the tests are doing. One of its key features is ScriptAssure technology, which helps create tests that remain effective even when there are frequent changes in the user interface.

Furthermore, RFT includes a feature to record user actions, offering various customization options and capabilities for maintaining scripts. It also facilitates collaboration among team members by allowing them to share functional tests. These tests can be run in hybrid environments, adding to the tool’s flexibility and utility in diverse testing scenarios.

Regression Testing techniques

Depending on your Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and the new feature or update you aim to deploy, you can implement various types of regression tests. However, it is essential to understand the several regression tests types to choose the right one.

Below are the different types of regression testing –

Corrective Regression Testing

Corrective Regression testing is one of the simpler forms of Regression tests requiring minimal effort. Corrective Regression testing involves no changes to the existing codebase and adding new functionality to the application. You simply need to test the existing functionality and the test cases that go with it rather than creating new ones.

Unit Regression Testing

Unit Regression testing is an integral part of Regression tests in which the code is tested in isolation. All other interactions, integration, and dependencies are disabled while performing unit Regression testing, and the emphasis is on single unit code. Typically, this testing is done during low traffic and off-peak hours.

Selective Regression Testing

Selective Regression testing analyzes the impact of existing code and the effect of both new and existing code. Common elements like variables and functions are incorporated into the application to identify quick results without affecting the process.

Progressive Regression Testing

Test cases are created based on the requirements of a progressive regression test. When there are only minor product improvements, the new test cases are designed without affecting the existing code of a product.

Complete Regression Testing

Some minor or significant changes might have a massive impact on the product. Complete Regression testing is used in this instance when there are significant modifications to the current code. It aids in the repair of any modifications made during the testing process.

Partial Regression Testing

When new code is added to an existing codebase, partial Regression testing is conducted. This aids in the discovery of critical bugs in existing code and allows them to be tested without affecting the system.

Retest-all Regression Testing

Re-test all Regression testing is the process of re-executing all the test cases to ensure that there are no bugs due to code changes in an application. This type of testing needs immense effort from the QA front.

How much Regression is required?

In the previous section, we touched upon selecting the regression test cases. Now let’s look at how much regression is required.

The amount of regression required solely depends on the extent of an application’s new features or updates. If the fix or upgrade is major, extensive Regression tests of all application test cases is required. Since the update is significant, the test cases will also be huge; therefore, you can perform automated testing of all repetitive test cases. For the newly added functionality, the test suites require constant upgrades.

The next step is identifying appropriate Regression test cases in order to cover all of an application’s functionality. However, when the app’s changes are substantial, the most effective approach is to find relevant test cases based on the upgrades and the affected sections of the application. It will help you in cutting costs, time, and effort.

Retesting and Regression Testing: Difference

In this section, we will explore how Retesting is different from Regression testing.

If you are a beginner in the test automation domain, these two-term Retesting, and Regression testing might sound similar. However, both are different from each other.

Retesting is the continuous process of testing specific test cases to ensure that the bugs are fixed and the web product’s functionality works fine in the final execution. The same set of unit tests is repeated in re-testing to verify the code’s functionality. In other words, re-testing is executing the same manual or automated tests to validate that the new build is working flawlessly.

Regression testing is a technique to verify the new build whenever any code commit takes place. In this process, a tester’s job is to verify that no new bugs are included in the code due to software modification and adjustments. Once the Regression test suite is developed, you can automate it using an automation testing tool. However, this does not apply to retesting.

Let’s look at the detailed comparison of Retesting vs. Regression testing

Retesting
Regression testing
It is a technique to ensure the test cases are bug-free and run flawlessly in the final execution after the bugs are fixed. It is a technique to ensure that the code functionality remains unaffected after the application’s adjustment or modifications,
It is performed for failed test cases. It is performed for passed test cases.
It ensures the original bug in the build is fixed. It tests the code for unintended side effects.
Automated Retesting of tests is not possible. Automated Regression testing is possible.
It is also known as planned testing. It is also known as generic testing.
It can’t be performed in parallel with Regression tests due to its high priority. It can be performed in parallel with re-testing due to its lower priority in a few instances and resource availability.
It doesn’t include bug verification as a part of testing. It includes bug verification as a part of testing.
It is performed across all software releases. It is performed across a few latest versions of software.
It is less time-consuming. It is more time-consuming as it involves a detailed analysis of what went wrong in previous software versions.

Selecting Test Cases for Regression Testing

End-to-end testing is crucial for running your application smoothly across all browsers and operating systems. However, it has been observed that a substantial number of defects leak into an application during the deployment stage. This could be critical from the customer’s standpoint since it could increase turnover and create a terrible customer experience. Therefore, it’s vital to select the test cases wisely based on the customer requirements.

Below are the steps to select regression test cases –

  1. Select test cases with frequent bugs: A simple code commit can sometimes break an application’s complete functionality. As a result, testers should keep these factors in mind while selecting test cases that involve frequent defects. They can also choose the test cases depending on their prior knowledge and experience with the Regression test cycle.
  2. Select test cases with critical core features: To ensure that the application runs smoothly across multiple platforms, testers should first focus on choosing test cases that cover the essential key functionalities of an application. For example, an e-commerce application must include multiple payment methods, website navigation, extensive search functionality, etc.
  3. Select test cases with recent code updates: When new code or features are incorporated into an application, the probability of defects rises, and code must be modified multiple times. As a result, it is critical to prioritize test cases and choose those that involve frequent codebase adjustments and upgrades.
  4. Select test cases based on the user interface: Testers need to choose test cases based on the areas visible to users. The user interface’s visible elements are the brand logo, images, button text, and so on. However, these issues have low priority, yet they are crucial from the user’s perspective.
  5. Select integration-based test cases: End-to-end testing ensures an application runs smoothly across different platforms. There may be instances where one component’s functionality is dependent on another. For example, if the function of component C2 is dependent on C1 and C2 is modified, the behavior of C1 may be impacted. Therefore, running regression tests of such bugs is crucial to validate integration-based test scenarios.
  6. Select complex test cases: Complex test case execution can result in app crashes and poor performance. Testers must use various techniques to test complexity and ensure that all sophisticated test scenarios are addressed.
  7. Incorporate risk-based testing: In the risk-based testing method, testers prioritize the test cases based on the recent code changes, thereby reducing Regression time and efforts.

The priorities of regression test cases can be classified into three categories –

  1. High priority: It covers an application’s critical and core functionality, recent code modifications, and components with a significant chance of bugs.
  2. Medium priority: It involves aspects like field validations and other negative test scenarios.
  3. Low priority: It includes other functionality like user-interface areas like brand logos, button text, etc.

Advantages of Regression Testing

The software market growth relies heavily on the success of Regression tests. Besides functional tests, Regression tests must be performed at each stage to ensure application stability. DevOps teams can utilize Regression tests in their software development lifecycle and ensure their existing code isn’t affected by the newly added updates and features.

Below are a few advantages of Regression testing:

  • It ensures smooth business operations by ensuring the new features are not affecting the existing codebase, dramatically improving the overall product quality.
  • Regression tests may be used during the integration testing phase also. In this case, they will help detect bugs across different systems when putting two systems together.
  • Manual test cases can be automated, and this automation principle can be applied to Regression checks. Automated Regression testing can help you cut down test execution time by multiple folds.
  • A successfully executed Regression test suite ensures that the bugs are detected and fixed early and eventually helps achieve a high Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI).
  • It thoroughly validates that the code modifications do not impact the correct functionality of already tested code – detect every side effect of any code change.

Challenges of Regression Testing

It helps uncover bugs while introducing new features or updates in an existing codebase and facilitates mitigation of app crashes and performance bottlenecks. However, while running a Regression test, a tester faces different challenges.

Shown below are a few of the challenges faced by testers –

  • Test suite cost and time: A Regression test suite requires continuous improvement when new features are deployed. As a result, the number of test cases varies, and new tests must be re-run with older tests, which require a lot of time to complete. Incorporating parallel testing can be a viable solution as it allows you to run test cases concurrently across multiple browsers and OS combinations, reducing lead time by multiple folds.
  • Complex test cases: As the project or application becomes more complex, the number of test cases and their complexity also rise. Thus, consuming a significant amount of time and resources.
  • Maintenance: As the application grows in size, the complexity of test cases in Regression test suites increases. Therefore, proper maintenance is vital to handle the complexity and execution time.

Best Practices of Regression Testing

Some challenges were covered in the previous section. Now, let’s look at some of the best Regression testing practices.

  • With the introduction of newer upgrades, it is best to keep your Regression test suites up to date. Include tests to see whether the old feature is still functional.
  • Check for the features and capabilities of applications used by users, and then include a test case to check whether that specific functionality is working as expected.
  • Use Regression testing frameworks in your project to save additional maintenance.
  • Update your test designs based on devs and testers requirements.
  • Automated Regression testing can help you save time, cost and deliver products faster.

It helps identify bugs ahead of the deployment deadline. However, as your application becomes more complicated, the number of test cases will expand. As a result, you need a cloud-based testing infrastructure that can scale as your testing requirements grow.

AI-powered test orchestration and test execution platforms like LambdaTest help you achieve that. It offers a cloud-scalable infrastructure of 3000+ real browsers, devices, and OS combinations for your test automation needs. With LambdaTest, you can harness the power of the online Selenium Grid to execute thousands of parallel tests in a jiffy, thereby cutting down your test execution time and getting faster feedback on code changes.

Subscribe to the LambdaTest YouTube Channel and stay updated with the latest tutorial around Selenium testing, Cypress E2E testing, Mobile App Testing Tutorial, and more

In addition to web testing, you can perform mobile app testing on an online device farm of 3000+ real Android and iOS devices.

Conclusion

We hope you now have a good gist of what is Regression testing.

In short, Regression tests is to be executed when any change -big or small is made to code.

It can be done in many ways, including Corrective Regression testing, Progressive regression testing, Retest-All Strategy, and Selective Strategies. Some tips for strategies pertaining to Regression tests include Running High priority tests first, executing exploratory testing, etc.

Even though Regression tests consumes vast amounts of resources, it saves your effort and time. It eases the lives of devs and testers in their agile software development lifecycle and yields maximum output.

Don’t forget if you think Regression testing is complex; there are always products like LambdaTest to help you. You can also kick start your visual regression testing journey with LambdaTest for pixel-by-pixel comparison and identify Visual UI mismatches.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is regression testing?

Regression testing is the retesting of modified software to ensure that existing functionalities are not adversely affected.

What is regression testing in Agile?

Regression testing in Agile ensures software stability and high-quality delivery with each product increment. By validating existing functionality against new code modifications, it maintains software integrity and reliability.

What is regression testing and retesting?

Regression testing combines retesting of fixed defects and testing of unchanged functionalities to ensure the overall stability and integrity of the software.

What is visual regression testing?

Visual regression testing is a technique that compares screenshots of the application before and after changes to identify any visual discrepancies.

Why do we do regression testing?

Regression testing is conducted to validate that changes to the software have not introduced new defects or caused any regression in existing functionalities.

Why is regression testing important?

Regression testing is important to ensure that changes or updates to the software do not introduce new defects or cause regression of existing functionalities.

What is a regression test example?

Regression testing is carried out each time a change is made. For example, consider a situation where a tester finds an issue with the login button. After developers fix this issue, the login button is checked to make sure it works as it should. At the same time, tests are also done on other features that are connected to the login button to ensure everything else is still functioning correctly.

What are types of regression testing?

    Regression testing can be categorized into several types, each serving a specific purpose:

  • Full Regression Testing: This involves testing the entire application to ensure that new code changes have not affected any existing functionality. It’s comprehensive but can be time-consuming.
  • Partial Regression Testing: This type tests a particular subset of the application where changes have been made, along with any areas that might be affected by these changes.
  • Unit Regression Testing: This focuses on individual units or components of the software to check if small changes in the code have caused any issues.
  • Progressive Regression Testing: Used when there are significant changes in the original code. It focuses on testing the new functionality along with related areas but does not retest the unchanged parts.

What are the 3 techniques of Regression Testing?

The following three techniques can be used for regression testing:

  • Re-testing all test cases
  • Select test cases for Regression
  • Prioritize test cases

What are function regression tests?

Functional testing is usually done at certain times during the development process, like after a new feature is added or just before a big release. On the other hand, regression testing is done regularly throughout the development cycle, especially after any changes are made to the code. This is to make sure that the changes don’t affect the existing features of the software.

What is regression test selection?

Regression test selection techniques involve using existing tests from a test suite to check a program that has been modified. There are many different methods for selecting regression tests, but comparing and evaluating them can be challenging. This is because each technique has its own specific objectives.

What is Regression Testing vs UAT?

In UAT, the question to be answered is: Will the user be able to, or even want to, use the product? UAT has little to do with the actual functionality of the software. Before UAT is performed, all features and functionality are largely completed, tested, and approved by the organization.

How to do regression testing?

​​Regression testing can be done by creating test cases that cover critical functionalities, executing them after each change, and comparing results with previous test runs.

How to do regression testing manually?

Manual regression testing involves executing test cases and comparing results manually, ensuring that critical functionalities are not impacted by the changes made.

What is the best time to perform regression testing?

The best time to perform regression testing is after making changes to the software, such as implementing new features or fixing bugs, to ensure that existing functionalities remain intact.

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21 Top Static Site Generators for 2024 https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/top-static-site-generators/ Wed, 20 Dec 2023 11:18:24 +0000 https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/?p=62899 Continue reading 21 Top Static Site Generators for 2024 ]]>

When it comes to developing a web application from scratch, a lot of people choose the path that they have heard about the most. For instance, WordPress is something that almost everyone knows today. And why shouldn’t they? It is a proud manufacturer of 43% of all the websites available on the Internet today (that accounts for around 810 million).

WordPress is something that almost everyone knows

However, the problem with this approach is that WordPress (or any other such CMS framework) is built to address requirements that implement logic and databases. Not every website requires static site generators, and static websites can be built on CMS systems. However, the ease of the process is often overlooked when static site generators are not used.

Static site generators not only act as a facilitator in developing and hosting the website but also solve the problem of maintenance and, most of all, the architectural designs of the application.

In this article, we explore the top static site generators available in the market today and their relevant strengths.

What is a Static Site Generator?

A static site generator (SSG) is the software that generates a static site. It takes a file as input, which can be in any supported language, and generates an HTML page that can be hosted directly on the Internet.

The main idea behind using a static site generator is to minimize coding efforts and reduce the maintenance of web applications as much as possible. To achieve this, generally, static site generators use a templating engine. These engines have their own syntax to define a template on which code can be reused after the developer has written it in a single place. So, a template can reuse a code on 300 pages by taking references from a single page.

Moreover, some static site generators take input as a text file (or JSON) and produce the web page accordingly. Although, this is hard to put into a template and only works for a single page. Due to their ease of use and quick-to-implement behavior, static site generators are on the rise today.

In addition, they do not contain any back-end, and therefore, the complexities of producing a website and post-production (such as hosting and data management) are eliminated. This makes them a favorable choice for developers looking to publish a static website.

Why Use Static Site Generators?

When a static site generator is used to develop a static site, the developer and the team get the following benefits:

  • High performance: Static site generators are high in performance due to being lightweight. This means they can be fetched from the server extremely quickly, give minimum lag, perform high on network metrics, and are easy to use on any kind of network, slow or fast.
  • Economical: Static site generators involve few components and are easily designed. Moreover, they only need a small team to work on the application. All this makes SSGs an economical choice to consider.
  • SEO friendly: Sites generated by static site generators are fast to load and serve each request in minimum time. Due to this, these applications are prioritized by search engines and appear in better rankings than they would on a CMS without any work.
  • Low maintenance: A site that is made lighter will also remain lighter when some changes are required in the future. Similarly, when there is a bug, it can be easily detected, debugged, and rectified on a static site. Hence, these elements make these websites low maintenance, something every developer would want.
  • Customizable: Static site generators allow developers to customize their templates as they would want. Unlike CMS, which provides ready-made templates, developers here can be creative and design the websites as per their choice.
  • Highly scalable: A website with minimum components asks for minimum effort when these components need to be extended or new ones need to be created. Websites generated with static site generators are highly scalable and can create complex components in no time if required.
  • Secure: Static websites do not have any backend or data centers. These are the two most crucial elements a hacker would want to breach. The information on a static website is visible on the webpage, and there is no personal data. Hence, static sites are not vulnerable to attacks like dynamic websites, which need extra work to enhance security.

Before we discuss the top static site generators, let’s look at the difference between static and dynamic sites.

Static vs Dynamic Sites: Key Differences

Here is the comparison between static and dynamic websites.

Features Static Website Dynamic Website
Content Fixed, doesn’t change without manual intervention. Dynamic can change in real-time

Based on user interaction.

Technology HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Use server-side scripting languages like Java, Python, and PHP
Page Loading Faster, as pre-built HTML pages are presented directly to the user. Slower, as content is generated dynamically and may require server processing.
Database Interaction Limited or none; content is static and doesn’t change frequently. Often, it uses databases to store and retrieve dynamic content.
Content Management Manual updates; typically require technical knowledge for modifications. Allows for easier content management through CMS systems.
Scalability Generally less scalable for large or frequently updated websites More scalable for handling increased traffic and content changes.
Examples Brochure websites, landing pages eCommerce sites, and news websites.

In the next section of this article on the top static site generators, we will see the benefits of static site generators.

Benefits of Static Site Generators

A static sitе generates prе-gеnеratеd HTML pagеs. In contrast, othеr platforms usе thе contеnt еntеrеd into the CMS, procеssing information from thе databasе along with a tеmplatе or multiplе tеmplatе partials. Thеy dynamically assеmblе thе pagе bеforе dеlivеring thе HTML to your browsеr.

Let’s delve into the advantages of static site generators.

  • Pеrformancе: Static sitе gеnеrators rеndеr pagеs faster as thеy don’t dеpеnd on sеrvеrs for contеnt procеssing. Thеy primarily focus on contеnt rеndеring and arе typically prе-gеnеratеd, contributing to thеir quick pеrformancе.
  • Enhancеd Sеcurity: In contrast to Contеnt Managеmеnt Systеms, static sitеs work without sеrvеrs. Although all wеbsitеs arе suscеptiblе to cybеr attacks, static sitеs boast incrеasеd safеty duе to thе absеncе of a sеrvеr, making it morе challеnging for attackеrs to idеntify potеntial vulnеrabilitiеs for еxploitation.
  • Dеpеndability and Efficiеncy: Static sitеs have rеliability and capablе of handling traffic and dеlivеring content consistently. With minimal dеpеndеnciеs, static sitеs offеr highеr chancеs of contеnt accеssibility compared to dynamic countеrparts. Thеir simple functional modеl incurs lowеr pеrformancе ovеrhеad.
  • Cost Efficiеncy: Static sitеs provе cost-еffеctivе, primarily due to their affordablе hosting. Unlikе dynamic sitеs that may require paymеnt for pеrformancе-rеlatеd еxpеnsеs, static sitе gеnеrators oftеn еnjoy frее hosting on platforms such as GitHub pagеs and Amazon S3.
  • Vеrsatility and Pеrsonalization: Static sitеs fеaturе prе-built tеmplatеs that can bе еasily customizеd to align with individual prеfеrеncеs. Thе distribution of contеnt through a nеtwork of sеrvеrs еnhancеs thе sitе’s flеxibility, еnabling it to bе rеndеrеd sеamlеssly on various platforms—bе it wеb, mobilе, or dеsktop—and in divеrsе gеographic locations.

Top Static Site Generators for 2024

Now that we know what static site generators are and why we are discussing them, let’s explore the top static site generators you can use in 2024.

Next.js

Next.js is one of the top static site generators. It is open-source for static website generation, single-page, and full-stack web applications.

Next.js

Currently, Next.js holds a 16.67% market share in web development, including full-stack frameworks. It has 116k Stars on GitHub.

, Next.js holds a 16.67% market share

This makes it one of the top static site generators. The main strength of Next.js comes from its server-side rendering. To avoid missing pieces of web pages to users that do not have JavaScript enabled or have disabled it (or a part of it), the generator renders the page (along with JS) on the server and then sends it to the client.

Next.js has and is still creating much buzz for individual developers and organizations like Google, Netflix, and LambdaTest.

LambdaTest serves as an excellent demonstration of harnessing the complete capabilities of Next.js. With its foundation built on Next.js, LambdaTest aims to provide users engaged in cross browser testing with a smooth and effective web experience. This enables faster page loads, improved performance, and a strong base that aligns with current web development trends and practices. By leveraging Next.js, LambdaTest offers users a dynamic and optimized platform that showcases the finest web development and testing techniques.

leveraging Next.js, LambdaTest offers users a dynamic and optimized platform

The working methods of Next.js are simpler to use when the developer uses them just for static site generation. Since the pages are static, Next.js will render the data on the HTML page at the build time when the developers run the “next build” command. It also helps reuse the pages as they remain static throughout multiple requests.

The following is an example of Next.js where the static web application is a blog application and contains code for pre-rendering the blog posts by fetching it from some CMS attached.

export default function Blog({ posts }) {
  return (
    <ul>
      {posts.map((post) => (
        <li>{post.title}</li>
      ))}
    </ul>
  )
}
export default function Blog({ posts }) {
  // Render posts...
}
 
// This function gets called at build time
export async function getStaticProps() {
  // Call an external API endpoint to get posts
  const res = await fetch('https://.../posts')
  const posts = await res.json()
 
  // By returning { props: { posts } }, the Blog component
  // will receive `posts` as a prop at build time
  return {
    props: {
      posts,
    },
  }
}

The function getStaticProps is used here for fetching the data and passing it on to the props for pre-rendering.

Hugo

Next on our list of top static site generators is Hugo. It is a Go-based that brands itself as the “world’s fastest framework for building websites” aiming to make web development “fun again.” Its claims have been verified by expert testimonials using Hugo to build their web pages in less than one millisecond, a remarkable achievement. Hugo has 70.4k Stars on GitHub.

top static site generators is Hugo

The second pillar of Hugo’s web development relies on its flexibility of use. The static site generator comes with more than 300 themes and thousands of pre-made templates to just adopt and plug in your content.

However, the developer is not restricted to using them but is available just to give a quick start in Hugo’s world. Developers can also build a master template through base and block constructs or implement lookup rules that help Hugo pick the correct template for a particular page.

Although this is probably enough for the developers to create a fully static website for their users, as a complement, Hugo also provides image processing and data output facilities in multiple formats, including JSON and AMP.

To start working with Hugo, there are only two prerequisites required:

  • Hugo
  • Git

Once this is done, we can follow these steps to publish a demo website with Hugo.

Step 1: Create the website. To initiate the website, run these commands:

hugo new site quickstart
cd quickstart
git init
git submodule add https://github.com/theNewDynamic/gohugo-theme-ananke.git themes/ananke
echo "theme = 'ananke'" >> hugo.toml
hugo server

These commands should be run on Git shell only. The above code creates a website with the theme “ananke” that can be customized according to the developer.

Step 2: Add content. To add the content to our published website, add a markdown file in the posts directory as follows:

hugo new content posts/my-first-post-with-hugo.md

Once the file “my-first-post-with-hugo” is created, open it to add the content in the markdown format.

---
title: "My First Post"
date: 2023-11-30T22:58:39-08:00
draft: true
---
## Introduction

**This is my first page on Hugo**

The attribute draft: true tells Hugo this is a draft post and should not be published. This page is now ready to be viewed on the server. Build this page and save it on the server for viewing:

hugo server --buildDrafts
hugo server -D

The URL will be displayed on the terminal on which the page can now be viewed. These URLs can also be configured, which the developers can learn on the official documentation page.

Gatsby

Another one of the top static site generators is Gatsby. It is open-source and capable of pulling up the data on the application. Gatsby has 54.9k Stars on GitHub. This generator is built in React and can connect to any CMS to migrate the pages to the Gatsby website.

Gatsby is open-source

The top part of using Gatsby is that it provides an option to convert the website into a dynamic one if such a requirement arises. It eliminates migration overheads, which generally consume a lot of time. Moreover, the generator claims to keep the performance and speed matching to the static sites after the conversion.

Gatsby provides finer control over how web pages are constructed and how they will be delivered to the end-user. For instance, the developer can choose the rendering options for each page, varying from static rendering to server rendering and even deferred rendering. Gatsby’s website creation process is easy to learn and quick to deploy on the hosting services, with an option to keep the data centralized on the Valhalla content hub.

To publish a web application using Gatsby, the following path is taken by the developers in a step-wise phase:

web application using Gatsby

Source

As seen from this image, the code stored in the GitHub repository is taken up to load the content on the web application. However, the server side of the application needs to be set up on the personal system. To achieve this, first, we need to have a few tools pre-installed:

  • Node.js
  • Git
  • Gatsby Command Line Interface
  • Visual Studio Code

Once they are set, run the following command to start the web application creation process:

gatsby new

The successful execution of this command starts the interactive process where a few prompts will appear asking for an answer from the user. The user can answer them on the same screen that will be picked up for the application’s data.

What would you like to call your site?
What would you like to name the folder where your site will be created?
Will you be using JavaScript or TypeScript?
Will you be using a CMS?

And so on, adding a few more to the list. After this, just change the directory to the Gatsby site directory and run the following command:

gatsby develop

After a few moments, the user can access their first Gatsby site on the localhost server on port 8000 through any web browser.

Docusaurus

Docusaurus is yet another one of the top static site generators that use React.js and takes advantage of React’s abilities to be equally capable of generating a static site as it is for dynamic. On GitHub, Docusaurus has 50.1k Stars.

Docusaurus is yet another one of the top static site generators

Being dependent on React also gives Docusaurus an advantage of using MDX, which is why this generator focuses on blogs and docs to convert them easily to HTML pages. This ability gives it the name Docusaurus.

Docusaurus is known for its capability of loading the website in a very short time. It does that using routing (one route, one component). Through this method, the generator loads the HTML part to the user and fetches dynamic JS content, giving the user something to interact with and perceive that the site has loaded quickly. Due to its component-dependent nature and heavy reliability on React, Docusaurus always promotes itself as a single-page application generator with progressive enhancement for static site generation.

A small snippet from Docusaurus code is as follows:

import BrowserOnly from '@docusaurus/BrowserOnly';

function MyComponent(props) {
  return (
    &lt;BrowserOnly fallback={&lt;div>Loading...&lt;/div>}>
      {() => {
        const LibComponent =
          require('some-lib-that-accesses-window').LibComponent;
        return &lt;LibComponent {...props} />;
      }}
    &lt;/BrowserOnly>
  );
}

Here, we see a tag < BrowserOnly > available in Docusaurus which tells the generator that the code encapsulated inside it is for browser only.

Nuxt.js

Nuxt.js, a framework for Vuе.js, draws inspiration from Nеxt.js and sharеs kеy fеaturеs likе sеrvеr-sidе rеndеring, TypеScript configuration, and automatic routing. Widеly used as a static sitе gеnеrator in Vuе.js applications, Nuxt.js strеamlinеs thе dеvеlopmеnt procеss. Nuxt.js has around 49.1k Stars on GitHub.

Nuxt.js, a framework for Vuе.js, draws inspiration from Nеxt.js

It has usеr-friеndly sеtup, providing different fеaturеs to create and run your wеbsitе. Furthеrmorе, Nuxt.js is spеcifically tailorеd for Vuе.js dеvеlopеrs, offеring sеamlеss intеgration and еnhancing thе ovеrall dеvеlopmеnt еxpеriеncе.

Hexo

Hеxo is another top static site generator for making wеbsitеs that arе simplе and fast to dеploy. It’s based on Nodе.js, and with just one command, you can get your static sitе up and running. It’s rеally еasy to usе and supports things like markdown, plugins, and tеmplatеs. Hexo has over 37.8k Stars on GitHub.

Hеxo static site generator

Onе good thing about Hеxo is that it flеxiblе. You can choose from different tеmplatеs and thеmеs to make your sitе look just how you want it.

Another plus that makes Hexo get into the list of top static generators is it’s quick to dеvеlop with and gеt your sitе livе. So, if you want a straightforward way to build and launch static wеbsitеs, Hеxo is a good choice.

VuePress

VuePress is an incredible tool for creating websites that focus on documentation. It stands out for its simplicity and efficiency in generating static sites. Powered by Vue.js, VuePress takes advantage of the capabilities of this JavaScript framework to provide a smooth and dynamic writing experience for documentation. The content is written in Markdown, which offers a user-friendly format for structuring and creating documentation. VuePress has 22.1k Stars on GitHub.

VuePress is an incredible tool

One of the standout features of VuePress is its theming system, which Vue.js powers. This allows users to customize and enhance the visual aspects of their documentation by incorporating dynamic Vue components.

Additionally, VuePress includes a built-in development server that makes it easy to test and preview changes locally. Its straightforward configuration options and plugin support make it a top choice among developers who want to create clean, responsive, and search-friendly documentation websites.

Eleventy

Elеvеnty is a nеwеr playеr in thе world of static sitе gеnеrators, using JavaScript and Nodе.js. To makе thе most of it, you should be familiar with JavaScript. On GitHub, Eleventy has 15.5k Stars.

Elеvеnty is a nеwеr playеr

If you are good with JavaScript, Elеvеnty pеrforms rеally wеll comparеd to othеr static sitе gеnеrators. It works with various tеmplatе languagеs, but its main onе is Liquid, similar to Jеkyll. It can also handlе othеr languagеs likе Markdown and JavaScript for your static pagеs.

It’s gеtting popular, with Chromе Dеvеlopеrs and Nеtlify using Elеvеnty. Starting with Elеvеnty might bе a bit tough bеcausе thе documеntation is still bеing workеd on. But, if you are looking for a simple and еfficiеnt static sitе gеnеrator, it’s worth thе еffort.

Zola

Zola, a cutting-edge and top static site generator, empowers developers to create high-performance websites effortlessly. Crafted in the Rust programming language, Zola boasts impressive speed, making it an ideal option for efficiently generating static sites. With over 12k Stars on GitHub, Zola’s quickness can be attributed to the performance advantages offered by Rust, resulting in swift builds and optimal runtime performance for the generated sites.

Zola, a cutting-edge and top static site

The allure of Zola lies in its simplicity of configuration and its unwavering focus on speed and performance. These qualities make it an appealing choice for developers searching for a modern static site generator. Whether you’re constructing a personal blog or a business website, Zola’s versatility and efficiency contribute to a seamless and satisfying development experience.

Pelican

Another one of the top static site generators crafted for Python lovers is Pelican. While the name may confuse some people as Pelican is a bird, it is derived by rearranging the letters in “calepin” which is a French word for notebook. Pelican has 11.9k Stars on GitHub.

site generators crafted for Python lovers is Pelican

Pelican’s main strength comes from its ability to generate a completely static website from reStructuredText or Markdown format. It does not require any server-side code, server-side configuration, or even databases to attach to the application. All this makes Pelican extremely fast and easy to learn for new developers. Pelican also supports the Jinja templating engine, where developers can design their themes using templates. This is just one of the many integrations offered by Pelican.

Pelican can be the top static site generator for someone looking to build a website that prioritizes chronology, such as blog posts. Even if the developers have a full-fledged website on CMS and are looking to migrate to static sites, Pelican supports such migrations.

Since Pelican uses textual format to develop a website, the simplest example we can choose is for the blog posts. To publish a blog using Pelican, first, we can provide the metadata that can be used to define chronology then proceed with the content as demonstrated here:

How to publish using Pelican
######################
:date: 2023-11-29 23:14
:modified: 2023-11-30 18:40
:tags: SSG, website, static site generators
:category: static site generators
:slug: how-to-publish-using-pelican
:authors: Harish Rajora
:summary: Learn how to publish a static website using Pelican.

Content of the post goes here

This is reStructuredText, and as one may observe, it is extremely easy to publish a website when Pelican is used.

Gridsome

Gridsomе is another one of the top static site generators for building static wеbsitеs, using modern tеchnologiеs like Vuе.js and GraphQL. On GitHub, Gridsome has 8.5k Stars.

Gridsomе static site generators

It’s not just for crеating rеgular pagеs—it can also act as a “hеad” for a contеnt managеmеnt systеm (CMS). For еxamplе, you can usе Gridsomе to makе static pagеs from data pullеd from WordPrеss, which is a special kind of CMS sеtup called “hеadlеss.”

Gridsomе also comes with lots of plugins you can use to add more fеaturеs. If thеrе’s something you want to do that Gridsomе doеsn’t do by dеfault, thеrе’s probably a plugin for it.

Whilе Gridsomе is a nеwеr playеr in thе world of static sitе gеnеrators, somе imprеssivе wеbsitеs likе Smart City Expo Atlanta and Format arе alrеady using it. It’s important to notе, though, that Gridsomе might be a bit tricky for bеginnеrs compared to other tools on this list. If you’rе alrеady comfortable with Vuе.js and wеb dеvеlopmеnt, Gridsomе could bе onе of thе bеst choicеs for building static sitеs.

Metalsmith

Mеtalsmith is a top static site generator that is frее and customizablе. It’s usеs plugins to hеlp crеatе static sitеs, allowing usеrs to twеak it to fit thеir nееds. Bеyond wеbsitеs, Mеtalsmith can also gеnеratе othеr digital contеnt likе PDFs and еPUBs. Metalsmith has garnered 7.8k Stars on GitHub.

Mеtalsmith is a top static site generator

It can handle various contеnt formats еasily, making it vеrsatilе for diffеrеnt typеs of projеcts. Also, it’s flеxiblе, giving usеrs thе frееdom to customizе it based on thеir prеfеrеncеs and rеquirеmеnts.

Sapper

Sapper, an innovative tool, is a top static site generator and web application framework that leverages the power of the Svelte JavaScript framework. It goes beyond the capabilities of Svelte by facilitating the creation of static websites and dynamic web applications effortlessly. By adhering to server-side rendering (SSR) principles, Sapper enhances performance and boosts the initial loading speed of web pages. On GitHub, Sapper has over 7k Stars.

Sapper, an innovative tool

One remarkable aspect of Sapper is its dual nature as both a top static site generator and a dynamic framework. Developers can generate static pages during the build process, resulting in pre-rendered HTML files that can be served statically.

Sapper offers support for server-side rendering, enabling dynamic content integration and a harmonious blend of static and dynamic pages within a single application. This adaptability makes Sapper an ideal choice for diverse projects ranging from straightforward static websites to intricate web applications – all while reaping the efficiency and speed benefits of static site generation.

Middleman

Middleman is a powerful and top static site generator that simplifies building static websites. Built on Ruby, Middleman provides developers with a robust framework for creating web projects effortlessly. By following the convention over configuration (CoC) principle, Middleman allows developers to focus on building their websites without getting bogged down by extensive configurations. On GitHub, Middleman has over 7k Stars.

Middleman is a powerful and top static site generator

One of the standout features of Middleman is its wide range of built-in helpers and extensions, which make everyday web development tasks a breeze. It supports various templating engines such as ERB, Haml, and Slim, allowing developers to choose their preferred syntax.

Middleman also includes a built-in server for local development and a robust asset pipeline for managing and optimizing assets like stylesheets and JavaScript. With an active community and regular maintenance, Middleman remains a popular choice for developers seeking a feature-rich and developer-friendly top static site generator.

Brunch

Brunch is one of the top static site generators that prioritizes simplicity and ease of use. It’s built on Node.js and offers a straightforward configuration setup for generating static websites. What sets Brunch apart is its minimalistic approach and efficient build process. Brunch has 6.8k Stars on GitHub.

Brunch is one of the top static site generators

With Brunch, developers can quickly get started without having to deal with complex setups or extensive configurations. The streamlined build process automatically compiles and bundles assets like JavaScript, CSS, and images, making it convenient for most projects. Additionally, Brunch supports various plugins, allowing developers to customize it according to their specific needs.

Brunch is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a fast and hassle-free way to create static websites or prototypes. Its rapid build times and minimal setup make it ideal for developers who value simplicity while still delivering impressive results.

Harp

Harp is a fantastic tool for creating static websites. It’s lightweight and straightforward, designed to be simple and efficient. Unlike other web development tools, Harp is written in Node.js and aims to simplify the process for developers. It has 5k Stars on GitHub. With its convention-based approach, getting started with Harp is a breeze – no need for complicated configurations.

Harp is a fantastic tool

What sets Harp apart is its emphasis on simplicity and fast development. It can handle different templating languages, making it a great choice for developers who value ease of use and rapid prototyping when working on static websites or web applications.

Scully

Scully is one of the top static site generators with Angular applications. It provides a robust solution for transforming dynamic Angular sites into static websites. The main focus of Scully is to optimize performance by leveraging the power of static site generation. It has 2.5k Stars on GitHub.

Scully, static site generators with Angular applications

One of the key advantages of using Scully is its seamless integration with Angular projects. It automates the process of generating static sites while still preserving the dynamic capabilities of Angular components. By leveraging Angular Universal, Scully ensures that dynamic content can be rendered on the server side. This enables developers to create highly efficient, scalable, and search engine-friendly static sites that Angular powers.

Sculpin

Sculpin is a top static site generator designed specifically for projects built using the Symfony framework in PHP. It gives developers a robust and adaptable solution, allowing them to effortlessly create static websites from dynamic content sources. By utilizing the capabilities of Symfony components, Sculpin establishes a reliable foundation for constructing PHP-based static sites. Scuplin enjoys 1.4k Stars on GitHub.

Sculpin is designed  built using the Symfony framework in PHP

One of Sculpin’s standout features is its exceptional performance and simplicity. It offers an efficient method to convert dynamic content into static HTML pages. Developers highly value Sculpin’s user-friendly nature, making it an ideal choice for those already familiar with Symfony who wish to embrace static site generation for their PHP projects.

Roots

Roots is a top static site generator known for its flexibility and adaptability. It offers a robust toolkit that enables developers to easily create modern and dynamic websites. What sets Roots apart is its unique ability to be written in Node.js, which allows for a highly modular architecture. On GitHub, Roots has 11 Stars.

Roots is known for its flexibility and adaptability

This means developers can customize their build process by handpicking the plugins and tools that perfectly align with their specific requirements. By adopting this modular approach, Roots gives developers unprecedented control over the entire development workflow.

One of the standout features of Roots is its extensive support for multiple templating languages, such as Jade, Handlebars, and Swig. This remarkable flexibility enables developers to work with their preferred syntax while seamlessly creating captivating and interactive content. Furthermore, Roots truly excels in performance by generating optimized static assets. As a result, websites built with Roots enjoy lightning-fast page loads, ensuring an exceptional user experience from start to finish.

Considerations for Selecting a Static Site Generator

Though there are several top static site generators available, selecting the right static sitе gеnеrator for your nееds is important. For this, you have to consider some key factors. Lеt us dissеct thеsе considеrations:

  • Programming Languagе: Some static sitе gеnеrators lеvеragе JavaScript and othеr associatеd librariеs. Dеpеnding on thе gеnеrator you choose, a lеvеl of familiarity with its programming languagе is required.
  • Usеr-Friеndlinеss: For sеasonеd wеb dеvеlopеrs, adapting to any static sitе gеnеrator should be a simple process. Howеvеr, if you arе creating on one of your initial projеcts, it is recommended to opt for a gеnеrator that catеrs to bеginnеrs.
  • Contеnt Compatibility: Whilе most popular static sitе gеnеrators lets you create different typеs of pages, some arе spеcializеd for particular contеnt, such as blog posts. Assеssing thе type of content a gеnеrator supports is important to align it with your project rеquirеmеnts.
  • Community Support: It is rеcommеndеd to choosе static site generators with broad user communitiеs. This еnsurеs a smoothеr еxpеriеncе whеn troublеshooting issues and sееking answеrs to quеriеs.
Info Note

Test your static websites across 3000+ real environments. Try LambdaTest Today!

How Do You Test a Static Website?

Above, we have listed the top static site generators and the factors you should consider while choosing the best ones.

A simple static wеbsitе shows thе samе contеnt to all visitors and is mostly dеpеndеnt on its usеr intеrfacе with limited fеaturеs. Whеn tеsting such a wеbsitе, it’s important to chеck various dеsign еlеmеnts on thе wеbpagе, including font sizе, spacing, font stylе, and color. Also, look for brokеn links, confirm that contact forms work correctly, and check if images are displayed properly.

Testing your static websites locally may not be viable as it requires you to set up an in-house testing lab, which can be tedious to maintain over time. Therefore, you can opt for cloud-based testing platforms like LambdaTest. It is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that offers an online browser farm of real desktop and mobile browsers for static website testing. LambdaTest supports testing all the websites generated using the top static site generators mentioned above.

Here are the steps to perform real time testing (or manual testing) on LambdaTest.

  1. Sign up for a free LambdaTest account and log in.
  2. From the user Dashboard, go to Real Time from the left sidebar menu.
  3.  user Dashboard, go to Real Time

  4. It will take you to the Browser Testing console. Now, enter the URL that you need to test. Select your desired browsers, versions, OS, and resolutions. Then click on Start.
  5.  Browser Testing console

This will launch a cloud-based machine for testing static websites based on your specified configuration.

cloud-based machine for testing static websites

Learn more about how to test static websites in Real Time on LambdaTest.

You can also Subscribe to the LambdaTest YouTube Channel for tutorials around Selenium testing, automation testing, Appium, and more.

Conclusion

Static websites are simple web pages that do not contain any connections with databases and no server-side logic as well. Due to this, the website is seen as similar to everyone and, therefore, derives its name from this very nature.

When such websites are created, they are often seen as heavy on content with too many pages, such as news websites or blog websites. But if we see these pages closely, except for the content, everything else is similar. For instance, themes, colors, designs, header, footer, etc., are all the same. This invites too much repetitiveness, which could be managed once or twice but not throughout the website’s lifetime.

To save the developers from maintenance burden and provide quick development options, static site generators were developed. Today, they have become an integral part of the static website world by providing a lot more options and flexibility than what they were invented for.

The importance of their existence, followed by the best-in-class static site generators, was presented in this post. This will help you build static sites and choose the best one for you, as all of them are built and use different technologies. We hope this article on the top static site generators proves fruitful to the developers in their upcoming projects or in migrating from a CMS to a static site for the existing ones.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does a static site generator do?

A static site generator is used for generating static websites that do not have dynamic content associated with them. They are shown similarly to all the users and do not contain any database or server-based logic, i.e., there is no backend.

What are the top static site generators?

There are numerous static site generators in the market. It all boils down to the technology used to create them, as it would be used to code the pages. Some popular examples are Pelican, Gatsby, Jekyll, and Hugo.

What is an example of a static site?

Examples of static sites are resume websites, blog websites, news websites, brochure websites, and GitHub pages.

Is Jekyll better than Hugo?

Jekyll and Hugo both have their merits. Jekyll is well-established and Ruby-based, while Hugo, written in Go, is known for its speed. The choice depends on your familiarity with the respective languages and performance requirements.

What is the top static site generator for Python?

Python’s top static site generators include Sphinx for documentation-centric sites, Pelican for blogs, and MkDocs for simplicity and ease of use.

What is the top static site generator for React?

Gatsby is widely considered the top static site generator for React. Its robust ecosystem, GraphQL integration, and fast build times make it popular for building performant static websites.

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22 Best iOS Emulators for PCs (Windows and macOS) [2024] https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/ios-emulators-for-pc/ Wed, 20 Dec 2023 09:09:41 +0000 https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/?p=62873 Continue reading 22 Best iOS Emulators for PCs (Windows and macOS) [2024] ]]>

Testing a mobile app on your PC using an Android or iOS emulator comes with a lot of benefits. Although numerous Android emulators are available, such emulators for testing iOS applications on Windows or Mac are rare. With iOS emulators for PCs, you can replicate an iOS device’s behavior without installing additional hardware. The use of an emulator allows you to test apps on your PC. Additionally, it allows app developers to detect unexpected behavior of iOS apps during testing.

iOS emulators facilitate the testing and running iOS applications on diverse operating systems such as Windows PC or Mac; therefore, they address the need for cross-platform application development. It has become crucial for software developers and testers who do not have direct access to Apple devices and wish to streamline their software testing process. iOS emulator allows developers to seek insights into how a specific app looks and works on iPhone and iPad devices.

iOS emulators have made testing iOS applications easier, particularly for PC users. These emulators enable developers and testers to evaluate visual and functional aspects of the iOS applications without actually needing the real Apple device. Also, they can test how these mobile applications will function on iPhones or iPads and optimize the user experiences to meet the standards set by the iOS ecosystem.

In this blog, we will list the top iOS emulators for PCs and walk through their features. Knowing these will help you choose the most appropriate iOS emulators and start with the mobile app testing and development process.

Note: Thе tеrms iOS еmulator and iOS simulator are used interchangeably. However, it’s important to note that Applе uses its custom chipset and codе that can’t be rеcrеatеd virtually. So, there are no ideal iOS emulators.

What are iOS Emulators?

iOS emulators are software applications (or tools) designed to replicate the iPhone’s hardware on different operating systems. They are a handy tool for running and testing iOS apps on both Windows and Mac devices. These emulators prove particularly valuable for mobile app developers seeking insights into the appearance and functionality of their iOS applications on non-Apple devices for testing and other purposes.

When using an iOS emulator, developers do not need physical iOS devices to test the application on different platforms. With iOS emulators, it is easy to debug the iOS applications and ensure their functionality and quality across various environments. In addition, with the assistance of iOS emulators, users can enjoy playing classic games, running iOS apps, and getting a feel for the app’s design, interface, and limited functionality that mirrors Apple’s standards.

When understanding iOS emulators, you also think about simulators, which may sound like the same term to many. However, both emulators and simulators hold differences, which is important for you to know to have a clear overview of the iOS emulator. Simulators are software that mimics the behavior of iOS on the software level. However, emulators aim to replicate both software and hardware environments that tend to give more reliable functionality of the application that would behave on real iOS devices.

There are many options for iOS emulators for PCs available in the market; however, the most challenging part is to choose the most appropriate one that aligns best with your software project. To address this, you need to consider certain factors while choosing the right iOS emulator for PCs.

Choosing the Right iOS Emulators for PCs

Selecting the most suitable iOS emulators for your PC requires considering certain factors that ensure a uniform experience. Here are those factors you should know:

  • You should verify the compatibility of the iOS emulator with the particular app you intend to develop or use. For this, you should evaluate the emulator’s performance with a diverse range of iOS apps to ensure it meets your requirements.
  • Always consider those iOS emulators with a friendly user interface and closely replicate the iOS environment.
  • Look for iOS emulators for PCs with smooth performance, minimal lag, and efficient resource utilization. This is particularly important for developers working on mobile app testing and debugging.
  • The ability to customize the emulator settings can enhance your experience. Consider the emulators that offer flexibility in adjusting parameters such as screen resolution, device model, and RAM allocation.
  • Check if the iOS emulator supports the Windows operating system, including the specific version you use.
  • For users on Mac devices, it’s essential to choose an emulator that is optimized for macOS. You must ensure that the emulator is compatible with the macOS version installed on your machine to eliminate any compatibility issues.
  • If you use a Linux-based operating system, verify that the iOS emulator supports Linux.

Now let us walk through the top iOS emulators for PCs, which will further help you choose iOS emulators, ensuring that they align with your specific needs and seamlessly integrate with your PC operating system.

Best iOS Emulators for PCs in 2024

From the above section, you must have understood iOS emulators and factors to consider while choosing the right tool. Now, we will explore the top iOS emulators for PCs in 2024.

LambdaTest

LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform. It helps you to perform both manual and automation testing on over 3000 real desktop browsers, devices, and operating system combinations. It offers an iOS emulator online that allows you to test your iOS application on different macOS versions and browsers on your Windows, Mac, or Linux.

LambdaTest

Here are the key features:

  • LambdaTest gives access to an online device farm of real iOS devices, allowing you to test your iOS applications on a real Mac.
  • LambdaTest works on a cloud-based infrastructure, allowing users to access a wide array of iOS devices without needing physical hardware.
  • It allows for live interactive testing, enabling users to manually interact with their iOS applications in real-time on various iOS devices.
  • With the LambdaTest iOS emulator, you can explore the user interface, check responsiveness, and find any usability issues.
  • LambdaTest supports automated testing frameworks like Appium and XCUITest, facilitating test automation for iOS applications.
  • When performing tests on LambdaTest iOS emulators, you can record the test sessions and capture the screenshots of apps being tested on PC.

You can also Subscribe to the LambdaTest YouTube Channel for tutorials around Selenium testing, Appium automation, and more.

Smartface

Smartface operates as a cloud-based platform for testing mobile applications, and although not a traditional emulator, it supports testing for iOS and Android apps. This iOS emulator for PC proves to be an excellent choice for developers focused on creating high-quality iOS apps on their PC.

Smartface

Here are the key features:

  • Smartface is a powerful option for iOS app development on PC, offering advanced debugging tools and seamless plugin integration.
  • With a user-friendly interface, it supports comprehensive app testing across various iOS devices and versions.
  • To set up Smartface, an Apple device with the Smartface app needs to be connected to a Windows system with iTunes installed. Once the setup is complete, initiating emulation is simple, providing a cross-platform programming experience with just a few clicks.
  • Smartface receives regular updates to stay in sync with changes in operating systems. If an Apple device is unavailable and you simply want to run iOS apps, Smartface allows you to do so in a browser.
  • Users can opt for either the paid or free version based on their preferences, with the paid version of Smartface starting at $99.

Appetize.io

Appetize is one of the top iOS emulators for PCs to test mobile apps and cross-platform development. It functions as a browser-based emulator, eliminating the need for emulator installations. It is a cost-effective solution, enabling users to work within an advanced iOS environment for diverse features and cross-platform application development. This is made possible by features that simplify the development and testing of iOS apps.

Appetize.io

Here are the key features:

  • Uploading and installing apps directly from the browser is hassle-free, requiring no downloads, plugins, or administrator privileges.
  • Testers can issue direct commands on their embedded iFrame through query parameters, translating these commands into actions on the web page. For example, postMessage(‘requestSession’, ‘*’) corresponds to the “play” action.
  • It provides convenient access to network traffic, debug logs, and video recordings.
  • Users can view the remote device in action to identify any issues quickly.
  • App uploading is possible through the website or API, enabling the app to run in any major web browser on your PC within seconds.
  • The interface is user-friendly, with a demo on the website, making it suitable for independent developers and large-scale enterprises. The pricing is flexible according to your needs.
  • While the free version allows 100 minutes of usage per month, exceeding this limit incurs a charge of $0.05 per minute. However, the free version remains viable for basic app testing needs.

Corellium

Corellium is a highly advanced iOS emulator designed for PC users. As a web-based iOS emulator, it gives you complete access and functionality similar to iOS. It was initially used by experts and researchers; however, Corellium is now accessible to regular users as well. It is positioned as a strong competitor for the title of the best iOS emulator for PCs.

Corellium

Here are the key features:

  • This iOS emulator can effectively simulate an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running on your PC.
  • Corellium commits to not collecting data from virtual devices or the network, ensuring user privacy.
  • Through Arm virtualization, it serves application developers and security teams by facilitating the development, testing, and securing of mobile and IoT apps, hardware, and firmware.
  • Corellium provides high flexibility and control over iOS environments, enabling extensive testing and debugging.
  • You can easily modify sensor parameters to test mobile applications, adjusting factors such as battery levels, device location, and motion.
  • As Corellium controls the hardware and manages kernel usage, testers can change the kernel and upload their ARM kernel.
  • Corellium is available both as a cloud service and as an on-site device.
  • You can directly browse the device filesystem from the Corellium UI.
  • Connectivity to iOS devices is possible through various options, including Xcode or libimobile script.
  • The use of an HTTP proxy/monitor, such as Burp or Charles Proxy, is also supported by Corellium.
  • Pricing plans include $99 per month for a 2-core CPU plan and $295 per month for a 6-core CPU plan.

iPadian

It is one of the most used iOS emulators, which is simple and easy to use and provides a user-friendly interface for the users. iPadian is explicitly designed for Windows operating systems and its accessible interface and broad range of applications.

The tool offers a seamless and immersive iOS experience on your PC, allowing users to experience the differences between Android and iOS. Essentially, iPadian will enable you to replicate the iOS interface on your Windows computer, complete with features like social media widgets and a convenient sidebar for the Application Store, iMessage, and Siri.

iPadian

Here are the key features:

  • It provides access to Siri, WatchOS, tvOS, and the App Store.
  • Using iPadian enables running popular iPhone or iPad apps directly on your desktop.
  • Although the iOS app store is not accessible, iPadian supports specially designed apps like Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, WhatsApp, Crossy Road, and more.
  • Although not all apps are compatible, it offers features such as Apple Safari, iMessage, and Watch OS.
  • This iOS emulator for PCs imitates the design and appearance of iOS, excluding certain features and system actions.
  • iPadian is freely available, allowing users to access it without any cost, and also supports gaming through this iOS emulator for PCs.

Electric Mobile Studio

Electric Mobile Studio is widely regarded as one of the best iOS emulators for PCs that better address the needs of professionals. This application allows you to simulate any iOS device on your PC, enabling the smooth running of iOS apps. Thus, it is primarily used for testing and developing iOS apps.

Electric Mobile Studio

Here are the key features:

  • The most amazing feature of Mobile Studio includes full-fledged emulation of iPhones, iPads, and responsive apps, supporting common work setups at both the office and home by allowing usage on two systems.
  • With this application, you can easily capture screenshots and record videos of app usage.
  • Electric Mobile Studio is highly preferred by developers for Windows 10 due to integrated WebKit and Chrome debugging tools, simplifying their tasks.
  • You can also add hot-key navigation keys for mapping favorite shortcuts, and it can be easily integrated with Visual Studio.
  • It supports various programming languages, providing a flexible development environment.
  • It facilitates iOS app development using different programming languages.
  • The main limitation of using Mobile Studio is that it consumes a high amount of RAM, 8GB, on Windows machines to function smoothly.
  • It is quite an expensive iOS emulator as it offers only a free trial period of 7 days; after that, users need to subscribe for $39.99 per month to continue usage. However, despite being high-cost, it is highly responsive and supports all iOS apps.

Xamarin TestFlight

Xamarin TestFlight is Apple’s official beta testing platform designed specifically for iOS apps. It is well known for its advanced support and intuitively user-friendly UI; this emulator ensures seamless operation, making the download and installation process easy.

Xamarin TestFlight

It allows developers to share pre-release versions of their apps with testers for comprehensive testing and feedback. Maintaining its reputation as the most reliable user platform, Xamarin TestFlight consistently delivers quality services with utmost care for its users.

Here are the key features:

  • This application gives you direct access to beta versions with the appropriate permissions.
  • Xamarin TestFlight periodically gets the latest updates from the server end, and this helps the users utilize its key features.
  • When using this iOS emulator for PCs, you can provide valuable feedback to developers and report any encountered errors with the updates.
  • It supports iOS, watchOS, tvOS, and iMessage.
  • It is designed for testing applications based on iOS 8.0 or newer versions.
  • This application offers an easy-to-use interface and facilitates seamless code deployment and testing, making it the preferred choice for iOS users.
  • While TestFlight comes with a $25 monthly cost, it is worth it for developers due to its easy installation, simple operation, and suitability for development purposes.

Testsigma

Testsigma is an automation testing tool that includes various services, including mobile automation testing, with a particular emphasis on iOS applications. Unlike alternatives that require manual inspection after uploading, Testsigma offers the freedom to write test cases for use on different iOS-based devices without the need for programming knowledge.

Testsigma

Here are the key features:

  • Testsigma enables the creation of test cases in plain English, simplifying complex scenarios, reducing training time and costs, and widening the pool of potential testers within an organization.
  • Testers can address bugs without going into complex dependent functions by modifying the snippet and streamlining the debugging process.
  • As an open-source iOS emulator for PCs, Testsigma allows testers to customize the code, ensuring quick adoption of the latest technologies onto the platform.

Eclipse

It is one of the simple iOS emulators for PCs; however, the name denotes IDE. As the emulator, it focuses solely on running iOS mobile applications, making it less relevant for testers. If categorized based on functionality, it aptly fits within the gaming section due to its specific features.

Eclipse

Here are the key features:

  • As a web-based emulator, Eclipse is valuable for systems with limited CPU resources and memory, enabling operation from any location.
  • Eclipse boasts impressive integrations that enhance user experience. Notably, users can seamlessly link Google Drive and Dropbox to the emulator, streamlining operations.
  • Facilitating easy application management, Eclipse allows users to incorporate ROM and URL, mimicking the operation of iOS devices as closely as possible.

Delta

Delta is an iOS application designed to emulate and play video games. It is well known for its broad compatibility with iOS devices, allowing for running and testing a wide range of iOS applications.

Delta

Here are the key features:

  • It offers compatibility with various controllers, including PS4, PS5, Xbox One S, Xbox Series X, and MFi game controllers.
  • With convenient features, users can effortlessly control and save cheat codes, operate seamlessly within the native iOS framework, and benefit from iCloud sync capabilities.
  • The emulator incorporates advanced graphics rendering capabilities, ensuring that visual elements in iOS applications are displayed precisely and clearly.
  • It gives regular updates to its users that help address bugs and improve app performance.
  • Delta is designed to run on various platforms, allowing users to use the emulator on different operating systems.

Xcode

Xcode is Apple’s integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS and incorporates an integrated iOS emulator for testing applications on virtual iOS devices. It is mainly used to develop iOS applications for different Apple products, including the iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac.

Now, you can easily code and design applications much faster with its offering of code completion, live animations, and interactive previews. This iOS emulator provides a suite of tools that effectively manage the entire application development process, from initial development and testing to optimization and submission on the Apple Store.

Xcode

Here are the key features:

  • The user interface of Xcode seamlessly integrates with various elements that provide code editing, user interface design, asset management, testing, and debugging.
  • Using Xcode eases the detection of any bug. It quickly detects errors or issues in the application. Its source code editor highlights errors and suggests potential solutions to fix them.
  • It ensures flawless functionality for web pages and single-page applications.
  • Xcode shows live status indicators that enable you to filter and monitor preferred build tasks.
  • iOS developers can fully utilize SwiftUI, which has a declarative Swift syntax.
  • Xcode 11 supports Swift packages, enabling code sharing among apps or using community-created packages.
  • Xcode is exclusive to macOS and is not directly accessible on Windows PCs. Windows users may need to explore alternative emulators for their development requirements.

iPhone 11 on QEMU

QEMU stands out as a highly versatile virtual machine emulator, offering the capability to run the iOS of an iPhone 11 for an authentic emulation experience. It’s an acclaimed open-source emulator that allows you to emulate iOS, and given its open-source nature, you can freely download it. The QEMU iPhone emulator’s code is readily available for download, featuring S8000 secure ROM emulation, USB, SPRR, and GFX emulation.

iPhone 11 on QEMU

Here are the key features:

  • QEMU is a versatile virtual machine emulator, allowing you to run iPhone 11’s iOS with high accuracy for a simulation close to reality.
  • Setting up and configuring QEMU for iPhone 11 emulation can be intricate and requires technical expertise.
  • It is regarded as one of the greatest consoles, earning high praise from iOS users. If gaming is your priority, the Nintendo 3DS emulator is a suitable option, providing a platform where you can enjoy iOS games on your PC.

AIR iPhone

AIR iPhone creates a virtual iPhone on your Windows PC, displaying the actual iPhone UI. This application allows individuals who aren’t developers to get a visual sense of what an iPhone looks like and its user interface. Supporting the Adobe AIR framework, it recreates the iPhone UI on a PC and is available for free download from the official website.

AIR iPhone

Here are the key features:

  • AIR iPhone replicates the GUI of the iPhone, enabling it to provide a user interface similar to that of an actual iPhone.
  • Before you compile an application for its final release, or even during the development phase, you can upload it to AIR iPhone to preview how the application will appear and test its functionality.
  • With an AIR iPhone, you can seamlessly run various iOS apps and games on your Windows PC.
  • It supports a wide range of iOS devices that help the developers test the app in the virtual environment across various OS versions.
  • It mimics touch gestures, multi-touch functionality, and other interactive features to replicate the iOS user experience.

Ripple

The Ripple iOS emulator is a Google Chrome browser-based extension that is utilized for application testing and development. It’s a cloud-based emulator supporting almost all iOS apps, capable of running iOS 1 to iOS 11 apps on any PC.

Ripple

Here are the key features:

  • It is mainly designed for testing and verifying HTML 5-based applications.
  • The Ripple emulator functions as a versatile iOS emulation tool, allowing you to quickly assess your application’s appearance and performance across multiple platforms and mobile devices. It is possible through the use of PhoneGap APIs and Blackberry WebWorks in a browser-like environment.
  • Automated testing and real-time emulation are possible without restarting the emulator for various devices, screen resolutions, HTML DOM inspection, and JavaScript debugging.
  • It is mainly designed for Windows and compatible only with Google Chrome.
  • This iOS emulator gives access to native iOS features without investing in an Apple device.
  • Ripple also includes debugging, simulation, and profiling tools, catering to developers looking to test their applications across diverse devices.
  • The emulator seamlessly integrates with various hardware components like cameras, GPS sensors, accelerometers, and other peripherals, allowing users to leverage the full capabilities of their Android devices.
  • Ripple prioritizes performance and battery life optimization, ensuring a smooth user experience across all device types.

MobiOne Studio

MobiOne Studio, one of the best iOS emulators for PCs, allows you to run iOS games and applications on Windows computers. Although officially discontinued, you can still make use of it. It is beneficial for app developers creating cross-platform mobile applications and enables you to enjoy beta apps. You can synchronize the ios.appi bundle for Android apk file with it.

MobiOne Studio

Here are the key features:

  • It allows testing of the mobile apps for both iOS and Android platforms from a single codebase.
  • Using MobiOne, you can preview the design and interface of the iOS apps in real-time to evaluate their functionality.
  • You can also emulate different models of iPad and iPhone to perform app compatibility tests across different screen sizes and resolutions.
  • It allows developers to test the touch gestures, screen transitions, and interactive elements of the iOS emulated.
  • You can customize emulator settings, such as screen orientation, device orientation, and simulated network conditions.
  • Provide features to manage app resources, such as images, icons, and other assets.

App.io

App.io is among the top web-based iOS emulators for Windows. While it’s easy to use and navigate, it may be slow. It operates based on the cloud, allowing you to sync the iOS app bundle or Android apk file for seamless usage. Further, it can be directly accessed from the web browser.

App.io

Here are the key features:

  • You can test the iOS apps directly in the web browsers, meaning there is no need for local installation of emulators.
  • There is no requirement for any complex setup and installation to preview and test the emulated iOS apps.
  • Interaction with the application in real-time is the key feature that allows you to test the touch gestures, UI responsiveness, and other interactive elements.
  • It also supports debugging features to identify and fix issues during the testing phase of the iOS applications.
  • You can also customize the testing environment, such as screen orientation, simulated network conditions, etc.

Citra

Widely regarded as one of the greatest gaming consoles, the Citra emulator is highly praised by iOS users. If gaming is your focus, this emulator enables smooth gameplay on your Windows PC.

Citra

Here are the key features:

  • This emulator supports both traditional gamepad controls for Citra games and touch controls for iOS applications.
  • You can customize control mappings for Citra and iOS games.
  • Using this iOS emulator for iPhones and PCs, you can access the iOS App Store within it, allowing them to download and install iOS applications directly.
  • It offers a user-friendly interface, thus making it easy for users to navigate through games and applications.

iMAME

iMAME is a suitable iOS emulator for gaming, allowing you to download and install apps and games available on iPhone and iPad. While not the best in the industry, it’s worth a try for iOS 9/iOS 10 games.

iMAME

Here are the key features:

  • The emulator replicates arcade games compatible with MAME, including a vast library of over 8000 ROMs.
  • iMAME is solely an emulator, not bundled with ROMs or copyrighted material.
  • iMAME offers native support for NVidia Shield Portable and tablet devices, ensuring a seamless gaming experience on these platforms.
  • The emulator features auto-rotate functionality with customizable settings for portrait and landscape orientations, providing users with flexibility and a personalized gaming experience.

Remoted iOS Simulator for Windows PC

Ideal for playing iPhone games on Windows PC, the Remoted iOS Simulator for Windows PC gives excellent graphics quality and is free of cost. It allows you to create a virtual clone UI of the iPhone on Windows.

Remoted iOS Simulator for Windows PC

Here are the key features:

  • With Remoted iOS Simulator, Windows users can remotely access and test apps on iPhones on a connected macOS machine, offering real device testing even without owning a physical iOS device.
  • This developer-centric iOS emulator for PCs is seamlessly integrated into Xamarin within Visual Studio, which is a pre-loaded feature.
  • The window of this iOS emulator features a toolbar with home, lock, settings, and screenshot options. In Settings, you can activate touch ID-like functionality, simulate static and moving conditions, shake gestures, rotation, and more. The tool also supports iPhone-like touch gestures and stylus input.
  • It’s essential to emphasize that this is a remote iOS emulator for Windows. In simpler terms, it necessitates a Mac to operate the iOS simulator, which then transmits the feed to a Windows PC.

Adobe AIR

With Adobe AIR, you can engage in cross-platform app development, including iOS, and effortlessly test apps on various devices. This emulator for iPhones excels at replicating the graphical user interface of iOS. Before your final app release, you can utilize AIR to upload and preview your app, allowing you to see how it will appear to real users.

Adobe AIR

Here are the key features:

  • You can build and deploy cross-platform applications using Adobe AIR. This versatile feature ensures smooth app development across both iOS and Android platforms, catering to multiple devices.
  • It supports iOS and Android platforms, providing a streamlined development process for creating apps that can be used on various devices.

PPSSPP

PPSSPP provides a free PSP emulation experience, allowing you to play PSP games on your PC, including those designed for iOS.

PPSSPP

Here are the key features:

  • You can use PPSSPP, a PSP (PlayStation Portable) emulator, to enjoy PSP games, including titles meant for iOS, directly on your PC.
  • PPSSPP is versatile and runs on multiple operating systems.
  • You can enhance graphics settings to improve the visual quality of games, including the ability to upscale textures and use anisotropic filtering.
  • When it comes to functionality, this iOS emulator for iPhones and PCs is designed with a focus on gaming rather than serving as a comprehensive tool for general iOS app usage or testing.

Testapp.io

Testapp.io is an iOS emulator for PCs that allows you to perform remote app testing on real iOS devices, proving to be an asset for developers who need to test their applications on actual devices without owning each device physically. However, it is crucial to note that as a remote testing service, it might be less ideal for those who favor standalone emulators for on-device testing.

Testapp.io

Here are the key features:

  • It streamlines collaboration with the testing team.
  • This tool simplifies the process of pushing code and debugging on the platform.
  • It also facilitates easy updates and beta version releases.
  • Testapp.io presents four pricing options: A free plan tailored for freelancers, a Starter plan available at $15 per month billed monthly, and a Pro plan priced at $50 billed monthly.
Info Note

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Conclusion

In this blog, we discussed iOS emulators for PCs and brought the best emulators together. Our goal was to give information to the readers across different domains of iOS emulators, which will eventually help them select the best one for their software project. Let us summarize the key learning from this blog.

iOS emulators provide an efficient way to run and test applications designed for different devices on your PC. They offer a more predictable alternative to simulators and a more cost-effective solution compared to using real devices. Due to these attributes, emulators find widespread use for various purposes globally, some of which have been highlighted in this post.

This blog has explored the best iOS emulators for PCs, enabling the running of iOS applications on desktops with Windows or macOS. Now that you know about various iOS emulators or PCs, you can test them and choose which suits your requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why use an iOS emulator on a PC?

iOS emulators are helpful for testing apps, debugging, and running iOS applications on non-Apple devices.

Are iOS emulators legal?

Emulators themselves are legal, but downloading and using iOS apps without proper authorization from Apple may violate their terms of service.

Do iOS emulators require powerful hardware?

Basic iOS emulators have modest hardware requirements, but smoother performance may require a PC with decent processing power and RAM.

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Leveraging AI for Enhanced Quality Assurance and Test Accuracy in Software https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/leveraging-for-qa-and-test-accuracy/ Mon, 18 Dec 2023 13:29:10 +0000 https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/?p=62840 Continue reading Leveraging AI for Enhanced Quality Assurance and Test Accuracy in Software ]]>

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping software development, offering efficiency and user-centric advancements across its lifecycle. AI facilitates precise requirement analysis and project planning by analyzing extensive user data. It transforms coding through automation tools and Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms, reducing manual efforts. AI-driven debugging accelerates error identification and resolution, learning from past experiences for enhanced efficiency.

In testing, AI generates cases, executes diverse scenarios, and analyzes real-time results, improving accuracy and coverage. Personalization is taken to the next level as AI tailors user experiences based on data, fostering engagement. NLP applications simplify interactions, while predictive analytics aids decision-making.

AI’s role in Continuous Integration and Deployment ensures faster and more reliable releases and autonomous software maintenance minimizes downtime. AI is revolutionizing software development, promising an exciting future marked by intelligence, personalization, and reliability.

Test automation, enhanced by AI, streamlines tasks by learning from past results and predicting future issues. AI-driven test generation intelligently analyzes codebases, identifies vulnerabilities, and generates comprehensive test cases, improving efficiency and coverage.

AI aids in defect prediction by analyzing historical data and prioritizes testing efforts in high-risk areas. According to Grand View Research, the global market size for AI-enabled testing reached USD 414.7 million in 2022, and it is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.4% from 2023 to 2030.

Grand View Research

Image source

Intelligent bug reporting captures relevant information automatically, and AI assists in triaging bugs based on severity and impact. Real-time monitoring with AI detects anomalies and patterns, enabling proactive issue resolution.

The Role of AI in Quality Assurance

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative technology revolutionizing various industries, particularly quality assurance in software development. It addresses challenges associated with human assistance in manual testing, reducing the risks of human errors, cost, and time inefficiencies, especially in cross-platform application development.

AI improves the testing process by predicting client behavior, detecting fraud not captured by traditional tests, and facilitating targeted marketing through automated activities. It eliminates test coverage overlaps, optimizes automation, and enhances agility and predictability through self-learning.

AI testing tools enable QA teams to improve testing efficiency with accelerated timelines and increased accuracy. According to Gartner‘s Competitive Landscape Application Testing Services report, intelligent automation is expected to generate a 20% additional savings in application testing services by 2021.

In quality assurance, AI streamlines processes, reduces testing time, ensures comprehensive test coverage, focuses on defect hubs, and accelerates release cycles for faster time to market. AI testing tools, including visual verifications, visual regression testing, image-based testing, AI spidering, API testing, and automated testing tasks, contribute to making testing more efficient and less reliant on manual updates. As AI becomes more dominant, testers can create, execute, and analyze software test cases more easily and readily identify controls and links between defects and software components.

Intelligent Test Automation

Intelligent Test Automation (ITA) is a software testing approach that leverages AI algorithms to enhance script creation, stabilize automation processes, and provide analytics for more effective debugging and decision-making. ITA offers several benefits, including reducing manual workload, enabling faster testing on multiple devices, and facilitating quicker feedback loops for developers.

The adoption of ITA addresses challenges in traditional test automation, such as complex test creation, reporting noise, and the need for parallel testing. ITA combines machine learning, process automation, and AI to create smart testing workflows. It acts as an extra layer that addresses challenges in automation, reducing manual efforts and enabling self-improvement.

The adoption of ITA addresses

Intelligent Test Automation is transforming software testing, making quality easier to scale and achieve. While AI and ML advancements have significantly improved testing processes, human oversight remains crucial for addressing certain quality activities. ITA empowers testers to be more efficient and strategic in focusing on critical aspects of testing.

Parameters Automation Intelligent Automation
Technology and Focus on Process Automation is process-driven, concentrating on automating repetitive and rule-based processes. IA revolves around data-driven processes and incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) and Machine learning (ML) technologies.
Test case generation and maintenance Test Automation cases are high maintenance and not easily reusable, leading to increased maintenance costs and lower efficiency in test case generation. Utilizes Model-Based Testing, employing a TDD/BDD approach that automatically generates and maintains test cases, resulting in reduced maintenance costs.
Ability of self-evolve Follows rules to automate tasks with minimal variations, typically confined to repetitive tasks. Learns and adapts to real-time data using self-healing capabilities, allowing for continuous improvement and adaptation.

AI-Powered Code Reviews

AI code review is an automated process that utilizes machine learning models to examine software code, identifying issues and inefficiencies while providing recommendations for improvement. It significantly enhances the development process by offering speed, scalability, and consistent accuracy, making it a valuable tool for producing high-quality software efficiently.

Key Components of AI Code Review

  1. Static Code Analysis: Examines code without execution to identify syntax errors, coding standards violations, and security vulnerabilities, which is particularly beneficial for large and complex codebases.
  2. Dynamic Code Analysis: Involves executing the code to identify runtime errors and performance issues, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the code’s behavior.
  3. Rule-Based Systems: Use predefined rules to ensure code adherence to established standards and best practices, enhancing consistency and reliability.
  4. Large Language Models (LLMs): Understand code structure deeply, identify nuanced errors, and generate human-like comments for better comprehension, applicable across various programming languages.

Advantages of AI for Code Review

  1. Efficiency and Speed: AI expedites the code review process, analyzing code quickly and making improvement recommendations in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods.
  2. Consistency and Accuracy: AI ensures consistent and accurate reviews unaffected by factors like fatigue or bias, thereby enhancing the overall quality of the software.
  3. Detection of Hard-to-Find Errors: AI is adept at identifying subtle or conditional errors that might be challenging for manual reviews, reducing the risk of bugs slipping through undetected.
  4. Enhanced Learning and Skill Development: AI code review serves as a valuable learning tool for developers, providing instant feedback and recommendations on a wide variety of coding issues to improve skills.

AI-powered code review emerges as a transformative force in software development, offering unparalleled speed, accuracy, and efficiency. While presenting significant advantages, developers must balance the benefits with potential concerns, ensuring a harmonious integration of AI tools while preserving these.

Root Cause Analysis with AI

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a critical process that involves identifying and addressing the essential factors leading to quality issues. Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a pivotal role in enhancing RCA by utilizing advanced algorithms and models. AI’s capacity to analyze vast and diverse datasets enables it to detect patterns, anomalies, and correlations that might elude human observation. This data-driven approach allows AI to generate hypotheses and recommendations and even automate corrective actions.

AI facilitates faster and more accurate identification of root causes, reducing the time and effort required for problem-solving. It excels in handling complex scenarios involving multiple interacting factors. AI leverages historical and real-time data to learn from past experiences, predict trends, and proactively prevent potential quality issues. Moreover, it offers prescriptive solutions, enabling manufacturers to implement preventive measures effectively.

Key steps include defining the project’s scope, collecting and preparing relevant data, selecting suitable AI techniques, and monitoring corrective actions and feedback. Identifying quality problems, specifying outcomes, defining key performance indicators (KPIs), addressing data quality and security issues, and ensuring collaboration between humans and AI are integral to successful implementation.

However, challenges and limitations exist in the realm of AI-driven RCA. Data availability and quality are crucial factors, as incomplete or inaccurate data can impact the effectiveness of AI analysis. Explainability and transparency are concerns, as AI-generated results may be challenging for humans to interpret, raising issues of trust and accountability. Effective collaboration between humans and AI, with clearly defined roles, is essential to overcome these challenges.

Companies are advised to adopt best practices to maximize the benefits of AI for RCA. Starting with small-scale implementations and gradually scaling up ensures a smooth integration process. Involving stakeholders and end-users throughout the project fosters collaboration and aligns the AI solution with practical needs. Leveraging existing resources and platforms helps manage costs and complexity.

Continuous monitoring and measurement of AI performance allow for ongoing improvements. Staying informed about the latest developments and trends in both AI and RCA ensures that the implementation remains compatible with the evolving manufacturing environment and meets stakeholders’ expectations.

Natural Language Processing for Improving Test Automation

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a smart language combining computer science, information engineering, and artificial intelligence that focuses on the interaction between computers and human languages. NLP involves programming computers to process and analyze large amounts of natural language data.

In NLP applications, three core components are crucial: Understanding, Processing, and Generation.

  • Understanding: Building vocabulary.
  • Processing: Creating meaningful statements.
  • Generation: Creating meaningful context.

To enhance test automation with NLP capabilities, testers input information such as user stories, acceptance criteria, test scenario descriptions, and a dictionary of keywords. NLP techniques analyze and process this information into frames, which are then converted into Unified Modeling Language (UML) to generate automatically generated test cases. The advantages of using NLP in test automation include the potential for almost 100% test coverage, reduced time spent on test creation, and increased productivity and reusability of tests.

When applying NLP in automation, there are opportunities to enhance the efficiency of test automation. The challenges with manual test case creation in software testing, such as human error, continuous rewriting of test cases during regressive testing, and time limitations for creating or amending tests, can be addressed with the integration of NLP capabilities.

The benefits of NLP in test automation make it valuable for improving efficiency in software testing processes. The primary goal of NLP is to enable machines to understand, interpret, and generate human language in a way that is both meaningful and contextually relevant.The positive outcomes include enhanced test coverage, time savings, and improved productivity and reusability of tests.

Predictive Analysis with AI

Predictive analytics with AI involves using AI methods to evaluate data and generate predictions, including deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning. AI is capable of handling enormous, complicated data sets, uncovering hidden patterns, and adapting to the environment.

Businesses can employ AI for predictive analytics to predict customer behavior, demand, supply, pricing, risks, fraud, anomalies, outcomes, scenarios, and actions based on various data sources and goals.

For example, predicting customer behavior can enhance marketing, sales, and service strategies, while predicting demand and pricing can optimize inventory and increase profitability. About 220.67 million people worldwide actively use Netflix each month, and the annualized cost of Netflix’s recommendation engine is close to $1 million.

Netflix uses predictive analysis to enhance streaming quality and underscore the tangible benefits of employing AI in predicting and preventing defects. Additionally, AI can predict outcomes and scenarios based on simulations, models, and optimization, facilitating informed decision-making.

The benefits of using AI for predictive analytics include increased accuracy and reliability, automation of workflows for faster results, resource savings, and the ability to uncover new opportunities and insights. This can provide a competitive edge, improve customer loyalty, and enhance overall satisfaction.

Anomaly Detection with AI

Anomaly detection, also known as outlier detection, is a crucial aspect of Artificial Intelligence focused on identifying unusual patterns that deviate from expected behavior. Anomaly detection systems assess and compare data points within a dataset, singling out those that stand out from the normal pattern. Techniques include statistical methods, machine learning algorithms (supervised or unsupervised), and hybrid approaches to create robust detection systems.

Anomaly detection is vital in various domains, such as cybersecurity, data management, and proactive monitoring of dynamic systems. It aids in responding to cybersecurity threats, managing expanding datasets, and adopting a proactive approach to anomalous behavior. The technology finds broad applications in finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and more, contributing to better decision-making, efficiency, and innovation.

Machine learning is crucial for anomaly detection due to the increasing complexity and volume of data in modern businesses. Machine learning handles vast amounts of diverse data, particularly unstructured data, offering real-time analysis and resource efficiency. It enhances security, fortifying systems against potential threats and weaknesses, contributing to a more secure and robust operational environment.

Use cases of AI in anomaly detection include intrusion detection in cybersecurity, fraud detection, health monitoring in healthcare, defect detection in manufacturing, application performance management, ensuring product quality, enhancing user experience in online business and gaming, and identifying inefficient equipment and tools in manufacturing.

These use cases highlight the versatility and significance of anomaly detection across various industries.By detecting these anomalies in real-time, businesses can take immediate action to mitigate the risk of fraud, such as blocking suspicious transactions, flagging accounts for further investigation, or implementing additional security measures to protect customer data.

Real-Time Bug Detection with AI

AI-powered bug detection tools have become a crucial asset for developers, revolutionizing the approach to identifying and addressing software issues. These tools, equipped with machine learning algorithms, play a pivotal role in the software development life cycle by proactively identifying potential bugs and vulnerabilities. Their advantages are substantial, contributing to early bug detection, improved code quality, and efficiency gains.

One of the critical benefits of AI-powered bug detection is the capability to identify issues early in the development cycle. AI tools analyze codebases comprehensively, recognizing patterns that indicate potential problems. This allows developers to intervene and resolve issues before they impact the end-user experience, preventing disruptions and security risks.

Furthermore, AI bug detection tools significantly enhance the overall quality of code. By identifying bugs and vulnerabilities that might escape manual detection, these tools ensure a higher standard of code quality. Their comprehensive code analysis helps address potential issues that could compromise security or disrupt the software’s functionality.

Time savings and minimizing manual efforts are other notable advantage. Identifying and fixing bugs can be a time-consuming process. AI-powered tools automate this process, providing developers with precise insights on where to focus their attention. This automation allows developers to allocate their time and resources more efficiently, redirecting efforts toward more complex tasks and strategic aspects of software development.

It’s essential to acknowledge considerations and limitations in using AI bug detection tools. False positives and negatives are potential challenges, as these automated systems may inaccurately identify issues or fail to detect actual bugs. Human intervention becomes crucial for manual validation and verification to ensure the accuracy of flagged issues.

AI bug detection tools are limited to known patterns. While excelling at detecting common bugs, they may need help with novel or uncommon issues that fall outside the scope of their training data. Developers are advised to remain vigilant and employ additional testing methods to detect such bugs.

For successful implementation, developers should choose the right tool based on their project’s requirements and programming languages. Continuous learning and improvement are essential, involving the regular training of the AI tool with relevant and up-to-date data to enhance its accuracy over time. Additionally, human validation and verification play a vital role in interpreting flagged issues accurately, ensuring a balanced and effective bug detection process.

Conclusion

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into software development, testing, predictive analytics, anomaly detection, bug detection, and code reviews represents a transformative leap forward. AI not only expedites processes but fundamentally alters how developers approach quality assurance. Its applications in testing promise more efficient and responsive development cycles. Predictive analytics with AI offers businesses strategic foresight, while anomaly detection and bug detection contribute to enhanced security and code quality.

The synergy of Natural Language Processing and AI elevates test automation’s efficiency. Intelligent Test Automation emerges as a smart, self-improving testing paradigm. The benefits of AI code review in speed, accuracy, and learning underscore its value. Root Cause Analysis benefits significantly from AI’s data analysis capabilities. Challenges exist, but embracing best practices ensures a harmonious integration. As AI evolves, its promise for shaping the future of software development remains substantial.

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21 Lessons To Write Test Cases Effectively https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/how-to-write-test-cases-effectively/ https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/how-to-write-test-cases-effectively/#respond Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:35:45 +0000 https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/?p=4390 Continue reading 21 Lessons To Write Test Cases Effectively ]]>

Many aspects must be considered when developing software, and ensuring everything works as expected can be challenging. Developers and testers can face inconsistent software behavior due to post-release issues. Testers are encouraged about how to write test cases effectively to ensure that every requirement the end user gives is fulfilled.

If the tests cover everything or the scenarios are clear, it can make us less sure how well the software will work. This highlights the importance of creating effective test cases for testing everything properly and catching problems early.

This blog will dive into the lessons on how to write test cases effectively. Let’s start with knowing the basics of test cases, their features, standard format, and how to manage your test case.

For your convenience, we have compiled different test case templates.

Test Case Templates

What is a test case?

Test cases are like step-by-step instructions in software testing to check if the software features work correctly. They include details about prerequisites, what is needed before testing (pre-condition), and what should happen after testing (post-condition). Poorly constructed test cases can lead to neglecting issues in the software. It’s crucial to have well-defined test cases that cover various scenarios to ensure thorough testing.

A test case is a guide for testers, providing a roadmap for verifying specific functionalities of the software. It highlights the exact steps, the data to be used, and the expected results. This helps in systematically identifying any defects or inconsistencies in the software.

Test cases are carefully written to focus on specific software parts, ensuring they meet the requirements and goals. Here are some essential things to know about test cases:

  • Manual testing steps: Testers create the test cases and follow the same to check if the software works.
  • Automated testing with tools or frameworks: Test cases can also be run automatically using automation testing tools and frameworks. The automation testing tools can be selected based on your software’s requirements.
  • Structure-checking: Test cases give a structured way to check if the software works as it should.
  • Independent tests: Each test case is separate, so the result of one doesn’t affect another.
  • Safe testing environment: You can test cases in a controlled space, ensuring everything needed is available without affecting the software used.

Manual testing is time-consuming and leads to more human mistakes. To overcome the challenges faced during manual testing and to speed up the testing process, software organizations are moving towards automated testing.

This can help testers develop and deliver high-quality software to the end users. From the above point, we have noticed that automation testing requires some tools or frameworks to incorporate your test and give you accurate test results. To learn about automation frameworks, you can follow the guide on automation testing frameworks that will help you select the framework that suits your project requirements.

Now that we know what test cases are, let us look into the objective of how to write test cases effectively in the following section.

What are the objectives of writing a test case?

The objectives of writing test cases in software testing are multi-faceted and play an essential role in ensuring the quality and effectiveness of the software development process. Below are the objectives of writing test cases.

  • Validation of features and functions: It focuses on thoroughly validating specific features and functions of the software, ensuring that they meet the software requirements and work as intended.
  • Guidance for daily testing activities: It guides testers with a structured approach for their day-to-day testing activities. This guidance ensures that testing efforts are systematic and comprehensive, offering valuable insights to write test cases effectively to validate software features and functions thoroughly.
  • Documentation of test steps: Test cases create a detailed catalog by documenting each step taken during testing. This catalog becomes a valuable resource for tracking activities and can be revisited when issues or bugs are identified.
  • Blueprint for future projects: They contribute to building a blueprint for future projects. They serve as a reference point for subsequent testing efforts, enabling efficiency by avoiding the need to start testing from scratch in future testing journeys.
  • Early detection of usability issues and design gaps: Test cases are instrumental in uncovering usability and design issues at an early stage of development. This early detection allows for timely adjustments, reducing the number of critical problems emerging later in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
  • Facilitation of onboarding for new testers and developers: As test cases are well-structured and documented, they facilitate onboarding new testers and developers easily, even if they join ongoing projects. This enables a rapid understanding of testing procedures and smoother integration into ongoing projects.

Writing test cases is not just about verifying software functionality; it also guides testers by documenting activities, providing a foundation for future work, detecting issues early, and facilitating the smooth integration of new team members into the testing process.

Info Note

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Let us now understand the standard format of writing test cases that must be followed when writing a test case.

What is the standard format of a test case?

In this section of this blog on how to write test cases effectively, we will explore how to write test cases into the standard structure for documenting test cases, which makes it easier for testers to create, execute, and manage tests consistently. The details we will see below may vary based on the project’s requirements and the complexity of the test case.

  • Test case ID: This is a combination of numbers and letters unique to each test. It helps organize tests into groups called test suites.,/li>
  • Test name: A descriptive name that summarizes the purpose of the test case.
  • Pre-conditions: These things must be ready before starting the test. It could be getting the correct data, setting up the app a certain way, or ensuring everything is prepared.
  • Test steps/Actions: A step-by-step sequence of actions to be performed during the test, including user interactions.
  • Test inputs: This consists of the data set, parameters, and variables required for the test case.
  • Test data: Specific data used in the test case, including sample inputs.
  • Test environment: Needs to define the details about the test environment, including hardware, software, and configurations.
  • Expected result: The anticipated outcomes or behavior after executing the test case.
  • Actual result: The actual outcomes observed during the test execution.
  • Dependencies: Any external libraries or conditions impacting the test case must be mentioned under dependencies.
  • Test case author: The person responsible for creating and maintaining the test case.
  • Status criteria: Criteria used to determine whether the test case is successful (passed) or unsuccessful (failed).

Now that you are familiar with the standard format and what test cases are let us look at the features of test cases.

Common features of a test case

Testers and developers work together to ensure that the software works as expected with top-notch quality and no bugs and does what users want. To do this, testers write test cases to check every vital part of the software. Here are some features to consider when learning how to write test cases.

  • Thorough coverage: Ensuring all essential aspects of software applications are covered, like reliability, functionality, and usability. This includes scenarios that users might encounter during application usage.
  • Clarity and simplicity: The test case must be written straightforwardly without getting into too many technical details, making it easier for testers to understand and execute the test case.
  • Dynamic and updated: Test cases undergo revisions and updates to adapt to changing software requirements, aligning with end-user preferences and organizational priorities.
  • Sequential organization: In a test scenario, test cases are organized in sequences or groups, with prerequisites of one test case influencing others within the same sequence.
  • Consistent and reproducible: Test cases must give consistent and repeatable results, ensuring reliability in testing processes. This capability helps identify bugs, verify fixes, and assess new changes.
  • Specified outcomes: Test cases provide details on expected outcomes and preconditions, establishing a structured framework for testing and ensuring consistent results.
  • Automation potential: It can be automated for enhanced efficiency, reducing the potential for human error and speeding the testing process.

Types of test cases

Understanding the purpose to write test cases effectively involves considering their various types. The significance of testing cases depends on the testing goals and the characteristics of the software under analysis.

Below are essential insights into the importance of various testing cases, helping select the appropriate type that aligns with your requirement analysis for testing software applications.

  • Functional test case: Functional test cases focus on checking if the software’s essential functions align with expectations, and tests are conducted regularly by the QA team with each new feature addition. Functional testing is part of black box testing, which means you don’t have to access the application’s internal structure to perform the test.
  • Functional testing is a standard step in the QA process during the Software Development Life Cycle(SDLC). Therefore, the QA team creates functional testing cases, which should be repeated whenever new functionality is introduced.

  • User interface test case: It verifies how the software looks and works visually. It checks for link errors and the application’s appearance. The testing and design teams work together to ensure the software looks the same on different web browsers.

    Different browsers may display the application differently, so UI testing is essential for cross-browser compatibility, ensuring the application maintains a consistent appearance across multiple browsers.

  • Performance test case: Performance testing checks how well the software works and how fast it responds. For example, it checks how long the application takes to respond after any operation. The testing team usually writes test cases and often automates these tests. They are done to understand how the software performs in real situations and are written when there are specific speed requirements.
  • Integration test case: Integration testing checks how different software parts work together. Both the development and testing teams work together on these tests.
  • Usability test case: Usability testing checks how easily users interact with the application. It involves a series of steps for users, like navigating websites or purchasing. You don’t need to know much about the application to write test cases beforehand.
  • Database test case: Database testing checks how well the database system works. It verifies if the code safely handles data without errors or data loss. SQL queries are often used for these tests.
  • Security test case: Security testing protects data and finds weaknesses in the software. It checks if the software can handle attacks from inside and outside sources. Testers and developers write test cases, performing password requirements and access control checks.
  • This involves conducting penetration tests and security-focused assessments such as risk analysis, vulnerability scanning, and threat modeling. Security test cases are created by testers and developers who understand the software application’s database. Some aspects of these tests focus on evaluating password complexity requirements and confirming access controls and permissions.

  • User acceptance test case: User acceptance testing considers the user’s perspective to ensure the software meets their expectations. It checks whether the software meets acceptance criteria, covering all application parts.
  • Now that you know the types of test cases and their significance, let’s explore how to write test cases. Understanding how to write good test cases is pivotal in ensuring thorough testing and the overall quality of software during the software development lifecycle.

    How to write a good test case?

    In the software development lifecycle, creating good test cases is essential. It is vital to conducting successful tests and achieving bug-free software applications.

    Some key points focus on writing good test cases:

    • Ease of maintenance: Writing test cases may be time-consuming, especially when applications are under test. Good test cases are crucial as they can be easily maintained and reused, saving time and effort.
    • Adaptability: To avoid updating the entire test suite for each new feature, practicing writing non-specific test cases, especially those related to user interface changes, is beneficial. This practice saves time and reduces errors in testing cases.
    • Time savings for critical testing: Time saved in writing test cases can be redirected towards identifying and testing edge cases. This ensures the quality of software applications and contributes to an enhanced end-user experience.
    • Maintaining application stability: Good testing cases play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of applications, mainly when introducing new features. They help ensure that additions do not negatively impact the application’s function, reducing the risk of regression errors and making it more stable and reliable for end-users.
    • Early bug identification: Well-written test cases contribute to the early identification and elimination of application bugs. This proactive approach minimizes the risk of high costs associated with rework and prevents delays in the development process.

    Now that you have explored the key points of writing a good test case, you may be curious about how to write test cases effectively. The steps and key points to write test cases effectively will be discussed in more detail in the section below.

    How to write test cases effectively?

    Writing effective test cases is critical to ensuring thorough and successful testing within the software development lifecycle. Here are key considerations for writing test cases that provide optimal results.

    • Thoroughness: Writing test cases effectively goes beyond the basics, exploring various scenarios, including edge cases and potential error situations. Thorough testing helps uncover hidden issues that might not be identified in routine scenarios.
    • Efficiency: Efficiency is important when you write test cases. Prioritize testing areas more likely to have defects or a significant impact, optimizing the testing process in terms of time and resources.
    • Early detection: Design test cases so that it helps detect defects early in the development process. Identifying issues early minimizes the cost and effort required to fix problems later.
    • Adaptability: To write test cases effectively, you should adapt to software changes, such as updates or adding new features. They need to be flexible and easily adjustable to accommodate evolving requirements.
    • Clear documentation: Document the test cases very clearly so that team members, including new additions, can easily understand and execute the test cases.
    • Comprehensive coverage: Ensure to write test cases effectively to provide comprehensive application coverage, addressing critical functionalities and various usage scenarios.
    • Scenario-based testing: Conduct the test cases based on real-world scenarios to mimic user interactions with the software. This approach helps identify potential issues that users might encounter in practical usage.
    • Data-driven testing: Incorporate data-driven testing methodologies to assess how the application handles different inputs and datasets. This helps in evaluating the robustness of the software.

    By following these principles, understanding how to write test cases effectively becomes a strategic attempt to deliver a thorough and efficient testing process for software applications. As we continue learning from this blog on how to write test cases, we will discuss the lessons to consider when writing test cases effectively.

    Lesson on how to write test cases effectively

    In this section, we will learn some of the best practices to write test cases effectively that will help testers and developers deliver quality software and meet the requirements of their end-users.

    Stick to the scope and specification

    Understanding the scope and purpose of writing test cases is crucial. In the past, assumptions about how a test case should work led to challenges. Learning from experience, it became clear that having a solid grasp of the Software Requirement Specification (SRS) document is essential. Refraining from relying on intuition instead of a logical approach can sometimes lead to incorrect assumptions.

    Let us understand this with a simple scenario.

    • Scenario:

      Suppose you are given a chance to test a fund transfer feature of a mobile banking app without thoroughly reading the software requirement specification. In that case, you assume users can only transfer funds between their accounts within the same bank.

    • Reality check:

      When examining the SRS closely, you can see that the client’s requirement includes enabling users to transfer funds to accounts in other banks. Based on the scenario above, the assumption needed to be corrected, as the client mentioned the cross-bank transfer capability in the SRS.

    • Lesson Learned:

      It’s easy to assume features and functionalities when creating test cases, but this can steer you away from client requirements. This can impact the product being tested and the relationship with the client organization.

    Be mindful of the product updates

    Understanding the software requirement specification is crucial for practical testing. However, if the software version is outdated, sticking to SRS is optional. It doesn’t make sense to test features that are no longer relevant or have been deprecated.

    As the world of technology evolves, software development and testing approaches are also enhanced to make the testing process faster and more efficient. The initial testing model was a waterfall model, and as time passed by, the challenges of the waterfall model were overcome with the new testing model, which is the V model. Currently, many software organizations use the Agile Model, an improvised version of the waterfall and V models.

    Agile methodologies dominate product development, emphasizing quick and adaptive processes. To understand this better, let’s take a scenario.

    • Scenario:
    • Suppose you are involved in testing an eCommerce website. The original software requirement specification highlights a checkout process involving multiple payment steps. As the testing methodology evolved to an agile model, the organization planned to revamp the checkout process to make it more streamlined and user-friendly.


    • Documentation Updates
    • While the original SRS remains a valuable reference, the testing team updates its documentation to reflect the current state of the application. This ensures that testing efforts align with the latest changes made during the Agile development cycle.

    Write to-the-point descriptions

    A test case description is pivotal in identifying a bug’s root cause, highlighting the necessity of including steps for reproduction. In the early stages of the testing journey, a common mistake was being excessively detailed, assuming that more information was always better. However, the lesson learned emphasized the importance of clarity. Writing clear, direct, and informative descriptions is crucial, avoiding unnecessary elaboration. The focus should be on straightforward communication.

    It is advisable to include only essential and valid steps in test cases. Lengthy test cases risk losing focus and clarity, so each test case should aim for a single expected result to maintain simplicity. For instance, if multiple test cases involve common actions, incorporating the test case ID in the prerequisite can help identify the important test case.

    To understand it better, let’s look at the example of writing a clear and direct test case.

    Example:

    Test Case ID: TC001

    Description: Validates the functionality of the ‘Login’ button.

    Steps:

    1. Open the application login page.
    2. Enter valid credentials.
    3. Click the ‘Login’ button.
    4. Expected Result: Ensures successful user login.

    Put yourself in the customer’s shoes

    An end-user reaches out to customer support, expressing discontent with a software feature that fails to meet their expectations.

    The software tester must convey the customer’s perspective to the development team and ensure the customer query is satisfied based on the requirement.

    While writing test scenarios for customer satisfaction, developers and testers must keep the end-user needs in mind because the software product is designed for the customer, along with maintaining the usability testing and accessibility testing of the software product.

    User personas

    A user persona is a fictional representation of an end-user, offering insights into how individuals with various job roles interact with the software. If someone is unfamiliar with user personas, they might question the need to create imaginary characters to write test cases effectively.

    To illustrate the significance, let’s consider Jack as an example. Jack, a web developer, uses cloud-based testing platforms like LambdaTest for cross-browser testing to assess how web elements appear across different browsers for his websites or mobile applications. In this context, Jack is primarily concerned with frontend functionalities and doesn’t delve into backend processes like API communication or activities like database testing, security testing, etc.

    To enhance the process of writing test cases effectively, it’s valuable to establish different user personas, each representing a specific audience community and their professions. By doing so, the focus shifts towards creating test cases that address the particular needs of each user group. This approach ensures a more targeted and comprehensive testing strategy aligned with the diverse requirements of the software’s user base.

    Be granular while writing down the steps for execution

    When writing test cases effectively, it’s crucial to provide detailed yet straightforward instructions for smooth execution, especially for new testers. Clearly stating the aim and scope of each test case enhances understanding and must be self-explanatory. All necessary prerequisites, including test data, should be highlighted within the test case itself. Peer review is essential for maintaining quality.

    Avoiding composite sentences to ensure clarity in executing test cases is advisable. Instead, create a test case walkthrough with a concise and specific step-by-step guide.

    For example, consider a test case for cross-browser testing:

    1. Log in to www.lambdatest.com.
    2. Navigate to the Real Time section.
    3. Choose testing configurations, including Browser, Version, OS, and Screen Resolution.
    4. Initiate the test by clicking the START button.
    5. Scroll from the top to the bottom of the webpage.
    6. Verify support for all icons and paddings.
    7. Change the resolution display to check for compatibility with different screen sizes.
    8. Terminate the testing session.

    It’s easy to follow when you break down steps to the most granular level, as demonstrated in the above test case, contributing to the effectiveness of the test case. This approach ensures that even new testers can easily comprehend and execute each step.

    Classify test cases based on business scenarios and functionality

    This approach provides a structured framework for developing and managing test cases, allowing for a thorough examination of the system from diverse perspectives. The objective is strategically determining which tests to create and when to create them, promoting a targeted and purposeful testing strategy.

    By classifying test cases according to business scenarios, you gain insights into how the system aligns with real-world use cases. This approach ensures that tests are designed to simulate scenarios that end-users will likely encounter, promoting a more realistic evaluation of the system’s performance and functionality.

    Similarly, organizing test cases based on functionality allows for a systematic assessment of each component or feature within the system. This method helps identify specific functionalities that require in-depth inspection, ensuring that the inconsistency of each feature is thoroughly examined. By breaking down the system into its integral parts, testing efforts can be targeted toward areas critical to the application’s overall performance and reliability.

    Take ownership of your test cases

    Observations have been made regarding juggling test cases without clear ownership among a pool of software testers involved in large projects. It points out that appropriate distribution of test cases is essential in such scenarios. Each software tester should take responsibility for the test cases assigned to them.

    The concept of “product ownership” is defined as a product’s entire software testing life cycle. It means tracking how test cases perform when used by actual users after execution and with each software update. It involves observing how well the test cases work in real-world situations over time. This includes reviewing performance statistics and contributing proactive ideas to enhance the team’s overall user experience.

    Prioritize your test cases

    Test case prioritization involves systematically ranking test cases based on their importance. This process is pivotal in addressing two crucial constraints in software testing—time and budget—aiming to enhance fault detection efficiency.

    The approach towards test scenarios was disorganized, with little recognition of prioritization’s role in writing effective test case management.

    An impactful lesson was learned during a specific release cycle when bandwidth was limited, and the looming release date necessitated swift action. Prioritizing high-priority test cases became essential. However, a post-release scenario revealed a need for a rollback due to customer-reported failures. This experience underscored the critical importance of concurrently prioritizing test cases while engaging in the process to write test cases effectively.

    Regularly review & update test cases

    Regular reviews and updates of test cases are essential to ensure they accurately represent the current state of the software and identify areas for potential improvement. As the software changes, such as the addition of new requirements or modifications to existing ones, it is crucial to update test cases accordingly. This practice guarantees that test cases remain up-to-date, offering clear and relevant information during testing.

    Collaboration with developers

    Efficient collaboration with developers, product managers, and various stakeholders is vital. It involves sharing test cases and seeking feedback to align them with the latest requirements and expectations. This iterative process plays a key role in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of test cases.

    Actively use a test case management tool

    Test case management tools are essential for keeping a stable release cycle. They help everyone know who’s working on what and track deadlines for bug fixes. But, many employees need to use these tools better. You must understand how to use your test case management tool to write test cases.

    Spreadsheets work for small teams but become a hassle as your team grows. Using tools like TestRail can help manage your test cases.

    LambdaTest is more than just a testing platform; it allows you to make your testing process even more effective by providing integration with over 120+ tools, and one among them is e TestRail, which helps you manage your test cases. By integrating TestRail with LambdaTest, teams can enhance their test case organization, tracking, and execution processes, improving overall test management efficiency. To learn more about integration, follow the LambdaTest integration document.

    Another point in writing test cases effectively is to track, maintain, and automate them. You’ll eventually need to hunt for a dedicated test case management application that suits your needs.

    Monitor all the test cases

    Test monitoring involves evaluating testing activities and efforts to assess progress, track test metrics, and estimate future actions. This process aims to provide the relevant team and stakeholders feedback about the ongoing testing process.

    When multiple software testers, especially those working remotely or on a shared project, may encounter similar test cases, it becomes crucial to monitor all test cases. Additionally, it is essential to ensure the removal of irrelevant and duplicate test cases for the effectiveness of test case writing.

    Aim for 100% test coverage

    Attempting for 100% test coverage is a significant milestone in software testing. Achieving this means developing a comprehensive set of tests that covers every line of code in the program. This ensures a thorough examination of the software’s functionality and components.

    Aim for 100% test coverage

    It’s important to understand that 100% test coverage doesn’t guarantee flawless code but indicates that the tests have touched all lines of code. Well-structured tests enable the prediction of how specific inputs will impact the program’s output.

    Aiming for 100% test coverage is challenging when writing test cases effectively. Test cases should be carefully planned to cover every component and function specified in the Software Requirements Specification (SRS) document.

    A traceability matrix can be used to ensure thorough coverage. This matrix acts as a map between test cases and requirements, verifying that no functions or conditions are left untested. It becomes a valuable tool for achieving 100% test coverage, offering a systematic approach to tracing and validating testing efforts.

    Beware of dependent test cases

    When the behavior or outcome of one test case relies on the execution or result of another, it’s termed test case dependence. In such instances, bugs may surface in seemingly random scenarios, and replication might not proceed as planned. This situation highlights the importance of acknowledging that test cases can indeed depend on each other.

    For example, there might be a test case (let’s call it X) that can only be executed after performing test cases Y and Z sequentially. This commonly occurs when dealing with non-mutually exclusive modules. A bug may only manifest if a scenario is drafted after identifying and executing the dependent test cases. It highlights the need to be aware of and manage dependencies among test cases for a thorough and effective testing process.

    Be the critic

    In software testing, it’s sometimes crucial to adopt unconventional approaches to uncover unknown scenarios is sometimes crucial. These unknowns are situations that remain unnoticed by the product team until end-users report them.

    After thoroughly reviewing all test cases for a specific scenario, testers should revisit them, wearing the hat of a tester rather than just a test case writer. This shift in perspective is essential for writing effective test cases, mainly when aiming for exploratory testing. Thinking differently and approaching the test cases exceptionally helps identify potential issues or scenarios that might have been overlooked during the initial review.

    Be intent-specific

    Human actions are typically guided by plans, and the same holds for software testing. Realizing the importance of acceptance criteria plays a pivotal role in crafting test cases that serve their purpose effectively.

    Acceptance criteria refer to the conditions that verify whether the software functions as intended from the end-user’s perspective. It’s important to note that these criteria are steps and serve as a guide to assess the end-user’s intent.

    For instance, acceptance criteria focus on broader user expectations instead of detailing specific steps like visiting a team page and clicking buttons. An example could be, “An administrator should be able to invite or remove team members working on the same project under an organization.” This approach ensures that test cases align with the user’s intent rather than being overly prescriptive about the steps involved.

    Negative test scenarios in software testing

    While negative testing remains a widely recognized technique, its effectiveness is in sticking to specific principles throughout the planning and execution of negative test scenarios. The following guidelines can assist software testers in effectively planning, creating, and executing negative test scenarios.

    • Organize Negative Test Scenarios: Create a dedicated folder for negative test scenarios within the project. This makes it easier to access and manage these scenarios separately.
    • Plan Early for Negative Scenarios: Think about negative scenarios early in the project. This proactive approach saves time, energy, and money, providing confidence before the project launches.
    • Use a Simple Folder Structure: Within the negative test scenarios folder, create sub-folders for each functionality or flow in the system. This helps organize and understand the scenarios easily.
    • Include References: Always use references such as ticket numbers, testing types, tags, and labels to indicate that a test case focuses on negative scenarios. This aids in planning future testing executions.
    • Consider Automation Potential: Negative scenarios like positive test cases can be automated. Identify automation candidates among negative scenarios, marking them appropriately for test automation engineers.
    • Cover Extreme User Activities: Include scenarios for extreme user activities, like attempting to submit an empty form or exploring an empty page state. Provide illustrations and informative text for clarity.
    • Discuss Negative Testing Terms: Engage with the team and the client to discuss and agree on the terms of negative testing. Since negative testing requires additional time, clarify when and how it will be performed.
    • Avoid Reinventing the Wheel: If there’s no test management tool in the project, but there are existing rules for tracking testing results, adhere to those rules. Instead of creating a new tracking system.

    Cross browser testing can help minimize outages

    Understanding and noting browser differences is crucial when writing test cases effectively. A noting incident occurred in an organization that highlighted the impact of overlooking this aspect. During an unexpected outage, their payment pages displayed chaotically for end-users despite exhaustive efforts from developers, including cache clearing and server reboots.

    Upon closer inspection, a pattern emerged among affected users—using outdated IE browsers or specific Android devices from a particular vendor. This realization underscored the importance of acknowledging website incompatibility with different browsers and devices. Subsequently, a practice was adopted to conduct cross-browser testing in every release cycle to prevent the recurrence of such embarrassing situations.

    The organization used the LambdaTest platform for effective cross-browser testing, which helped them rectify cross-browser compatibility issues. The convenience of cloud-based testing allows users to log in and initiate live testing from any location, at any time, and on any system.

    Lean on automation

    The emergence of progressive enhancement and the widespread adoption of Agile methodologies have elevated the significance of regression testing, turning it into an urgent need and a common source of frustration.

    The solution lies in implementing an effective test automation strategy. For those currently conducting manual testing, contemplating a shift towards automation testing is worth considering.

    According to the test automation survey, more than 24% of companies have automated 50% or more of their test cases; 33% of companies would like to automate between 50% to 75% of their test cases, while 21% are aiming to automate more than 75% of their test cases.

    Lean on automation

    The introduction of automation testing has proven to be a game-changer, particularly in the context of regression testing. Automation ensures a bug-free application, boosts productivity and frees up bandwidth for software testers. This newfound capacity allows testers to explore innovative approaches to writing effective test cases instead of being confined to repetitive manual testing routines.

    Automation testing becomes even more noticeable when paired with advanced tools and platforms. Moving to a cloud-based solution, such as LambdaTest, not only enhances the efficiency of automated testing but also introduces scalability and flexibility, encouraging software testers to optimize their strategies and explore innovative approaches to creating effective test cases.

    LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that lets you run manual and automated tests at scale with over 3000+ real devices, browsers, and OS combinations. It facilitates thorough coverage by providing a wide range of real browsers and devices for testing, ensuring reliability and functionality. Its simplicity in setting up and executing tests makes it suitable for dynamic and updated test cases.

    LambdaTest’s organized test suites and consistent results contribute to sequential organization and reproducibility. Moreover, the platform supports automation for both web and mobile applications, enhancing efficiency and reducing the potential for human error in the testing process. Running tests over a platform can help you deliver quality software.

    You can also subscribe to the LambdaTest YouTube Channel and stay updated with the latest tutorials and updates on Web application testing, Selenium testing, Playwright testing, Cypress testing, and more.

    Test case documentation

    Creating a flawless test document can be challenging in software testing, and rushing into test documentation without properly considering the scenario leads to the delivery of failed software. Before initiating the documentation process, testers must comprehend the purpose to write test cases effectively.

    Maintaining simplicity and clarity in test instructions is important. The goal is to facilitate testers in easily completing the testing process by following the outlined instructions for each test. Several key considerations are recommended to excel in testing documentation:

    • Satisfactory Structure: Ensure the test document is well-structured.
    • Addressing Negative Test Cases: Respond to negative test cases for comprehensive testing.
    • Adopting Atomic Test Procedures: Break down test procedures into atomic, manageable units.
    • Prioritizing Tests: Prioritize tests to allocate testing resources efficiently.
    • Considering Sequence: Sequence matters; organize tests logically.
    • Maintaining Separate Sheets: Keep distinct sections for ‘Bugs’ and ‘Summary’ in the document.

    A common observation highlights the tendency for the entire team to fixate on the test case document once it receives client sign-off. This fixation limits creative thinking to write test cases effectively, pointing to the need to ensure comprehensive coverage within the test document.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, to write test cases effectively is a fundamental aspect of the software development life cycle, serving various objectives. We have also learned that the standard format includes essential elements like Test Case ID, Test Name, Test Steps, Expected and Actual Results, and more.

    Along with test case features and more, we have also explored what are good test cases and what to be considered when you write test cases effectively, and at the end, we were able to consolidate the lessons learned by following best practices, including scenario-based and data-driven testing, establishes a strategic approach to write test cases, ultimately contributing to bug-free software and meeting end-user expectations.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What Are the Best Practices for Writing Effective Test Cases?

    The Testing Pyramid is a framework that can assist both developers and quality assurance professionals to create high-quality software. It shortens developers’ time to determine whether a change they made breaks the code. It can also aid in the development of a more dependable test suite.

    What is the Test Automation Pyramid?

    Here are some of the best practices for writing test cases effectively.

    1. Keep things straightforward and basic.
    2. Create reusable test scenarios.
    3. Keep the test case IDs separate.
    4. Peer review is crucial.
    5. The end-user or established requirements should be considered when writing effective test cases.
    6. Describe the intended outcomes and assumptions.

    What should a good test case include?

    A good test case should include:

    • Test Name
    • Test ID
    • References
    • Test Setup
    • Objectives
    • Prerequisites
    • Test steps
    • Results

    What is writing a test case?

    A test case is a sequence of actions to ensure your application’s specific feature or capability works properly. A test case is a set of test steps, test data, preconditioning, and postconditioning created to verify any requirement for a given test scenario.

    How are test cases in manual testing written?

    To write test cases in manual testing:

    • Clearly define the objective and scope of the test case.
    • Identify the necessary steps to execute the test.
    • Specify the expected outcome or result.
    • Include any necessary test data or prerequisites.
    • Ensure the test case is concise, clear, and easy to understand and execute.

    How do you write test cases in Java?

    To write test cases effectively in Java:

    • Use a testing framework like JUnit or TestNG.
    • Define test methods with appropriate annotations and assertions.
    • Arrange the necessary test data and objects.
    • Execute the test case and verify the expected results.
    • Repeat for other scenarios to cover different test cases.

    How do you write test case examples?

    To write test case examples:

    • Identify the specific functionality or behavior to be tested.
    • Define clear inputs, expected outputs, and test conditions.
    • Cover both positive and negative scenarios.
    • Keep test cases concise and easily understandable.
    • Include any necessary preconditions or setup steps.
    • Use descriptive names and unique identifiers for each test case.
    • Document any dependencies or requirements for traceability and visibility.

    How do you write test cases in Python?

    To write test cases effectively in Python:

    • Import the necessary testing framework, such as unit test or pytest.
    • Define a test class inherited from the testing framework’s base class.
    • Write test methods within the class, each representing a specific test case.
    • Use assert statements to validate expected outcomes against actual results.
    • Optionally, include setup and teardown methods for test setup and cleanup.
    • Run the test cases using the testing framework’s runner or command-line interface.
    • Analyze the test results to identify failures or errors and troubleshoot accordingly.

    How do you write test cases for the login page?

    To write test cases for a login page:

    • Test for valid and invalid login credentials.
    • Verify error handling for incorrect inputs.
    • Test password recovery/reset functionality.
    • Validate compatibility across browsers and devices.
    • Check layout, responsiveness, and accessibility.
    • Test security measures like account lockout.
    • Verify additional features like social login or multi-factor authentication.

    How do you write test cases for freshers?

    To write test cases for freshers:

    • Understand the application or feature being tested.
    • Identify various test scenarios and user interactions.
    • Define clear test objectives and expected outcomes.
    • Write step-by-step test cases with inputs, actions, and expected results.
    • Include both positive and negative test cases to cover different scenarios.
    • Collaborate with experienced testers for guidance and review.

    What are the five testing methods?

    There are five main ways to test: Unit Testing, Integration Testing, Functional Testing, System Testing, and Acceptance Testing.

    What are the techniques used in test case generation?

    The critical methods for creating a test case are Equivalence Partitioning (EP), Boundary Value Analysis (BVA), Decision Table-Based Techniques, and State Transition Diagrams.

    How does writing effective test cases contribute to cost savings in the software development process?

    Effective test cases contribute to cost savings by facilitating early bug identification. Detecting and fixing issues during the development phase reduces the risk of expensive rework later. Additionally, the efficiency and thoroughness of well-written test cases save time, enabling the allocation of resources to critical testing areas and enhancing the overall quality of the software.

    How do security test cases differ from other test cases?

    Security test cases focus on identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring the software’s attack resistance. Unlike functional or usability test cases, security tests assess factors such as data protection, access controls, and defenses against external threats. Security test cases often involve penetration testing and risk analysis to evaluate the robustness of the software’s security measures.

    ]]> https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/how-to-write-test-cases-effectively/feed/ 0 How to Debug Websites Using Safari Developer Tools https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/debug-websites-using-safari-developer-tools/ https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/debug-websites-using-safari-developer-tools/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2023 09:00:40 +0000 https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/?p=27760 Continue reading How to Debug Websites Using Safari Developer Tools ]]>

    If you own a Mac or an iPhonе, thеn you arе probably familiar with thе Safari wеb browsеr. It is the default browser on iPads, MacBooks, and iPhones and lies second on browser preferences, right after Chrome. Building on that, iPhone’s popularity has also resulted in a global smartphone market share of 52.68% for Safari.

    rеvеnuе

    Source

    According to BusinessofApps, in 2023, Applе’s rеvеnuе was $383.2 billion, with iPhonеs contributing 52% of this rеvеnuе. Apple sold 232 million iPhonеs in 2022. Regarding Mac and MacBook units, 26 million wеrе sold in thе samе yеar. Thеsе figurеs highlight thе significant markеt prеsеncе of both thе iPhonе and MacBook products from Applе​​.
    Since the user base keeps rising, Apple constantly ensures a near-perfect user experience across desktop and mobile browsers.

    Considering the above figures, it’s become imperative to ensure a seamless web experience for your Apple users. This is where Safari Developer Tools plays a major role. Apple provides built-in dеvеlopеr tools for the Safari browser that come with robust capabilities for improving the quality of wеbsitеs and wеb applications. The developer tools for Safari support thе latеst wеb tеchnologiеs out of thе box, ranging from dеbugging JavaScript to auditing web pеrformancе.

    In this article, we look at how to debug websites using Safari Developer Tools. But before that, let’s check out why it’s vital to debug websites on Safari.
    Let’s dive in!

    Why debug websites on Safari?

    Safari has been a part of the most popular browsers since 2003. Its first version was released the same year with Mac OS X Panther. Since the iPhone launched in 2007, a mobile version of Safari has been included in all iOS devices. If a user doesn’t change it, it’s the default browser on Apple devices.

    Considering the number of Apple devices and their never-ending versions, the combinations of different features and screen resolutions are enormous. But when you debug websites on Safari before launch, your users can hop on to the Window that quickly takes them to your services and products.

    Web developers must validate website appearance across different screen sizes to maintain cross browser compatibility. This ensures the correct rendering of web pages across various browsers. It also provides a comparatively superior user experience with consistency. It’s also essential to consider how a particular version of Safari might interact with a device’s hardware specifications. This adds to another form of verification that is crucial for the web development pipeline.

    Once you go ahead and launch a website, debugging it after encountering a bug becomes almost impossible. That’s why it’s crucial to debug websites for Safari before they go live. After all, vulnerability, compromised navigation, and other incompetencies can turn a simple user interface into a screaming nightmare. Now, let’s see what Safari Developer Tools are and how they can help in the debugging process and ensure your websites are bug-free.

    What are Safari Developer Tools?

    Safari Dеvеlopеr Tools are a sеt of tools includеd with thе Safari wеb browsеr to help dеvеlopеrs and testers in dеsigning, tеsting and dеbugging wеbsites and web applications. Thеy arе similar to thе dеvеlopеr tools in othеr browsеrs likе Chromе or Firеfox.

    Here are the following features of Safari Developer Tools that you can leverage for debugging websites:

    • Elеmеnts Inspеctor: Allows you to viеw and change thе HTML and CSS of a wеbpagе. You can sее how changеs to thе codе affеct thе layout and appеarancе of thе websitе in rеal timе.
    • Consolе: Usеd for logging information during thе dеvеlopmеnt of a wеbsitе and for intеracting with JavaScript through a command linе intеrfacе.
    • Nеtwork: Shows all thе nеtwork rеquеsts madе by a wеbpagе, which helps analyze thе pеrformancе of your websitе and identify any loading issues.
    • JavaScript Dеbuggеr: Lеts you pausе thе JavaScript codе at any point and stеp through it to undеrstand how thе codе is еxеcuting, which is crucial for dеbugging.
    • Pеrformancе Tools: Hеlp you undеrstand whеrе thе bottlеnеcks arе in your wеbsitе’s pеrformancе and providе insights on how to improvе it.
    • Storagе Inspеctor: Enablеs you to managе data storеd by wеbsitеs in various forms likе cookiеs, local storagе, and sеssion storagе.
    • Rеsponsivе Dеsign Modе: Allows you to tеst how your wеbpagеs look and function on diffеrеnt scrееn sizеs and rеsolutions, which is important for еnsuring your websitе is mobilе-friеndly.
    • Timеlinе: Hеlps you to rеcord and analyzе all thе activitiеs happеning on your wеbsitе ovеr a pеriod of timе. This is particularly useful for identifying complеx pеrformancе issues.

    Safari Dеvеloper Tools catеrs not just to traditional wеb dеvеlopmеnt, but also to thе broadеr еcosystеm of Applе products that еnsures a consistеnt usеr еxpеriеncе. In addition, it offers a set of tools to help you test and debug web elements in Safari. We will explore them in the next section.

    Types of Developer Tools for Safari

    Safari’s dеvеlopmеnt еnvironmеnt is quitе comprеhеnsivе, еxtеnding bеyond thе standard wеb browsеr on a dеsktop. Hеrе are different types of Safari Developer Tools.

    • Dеvеlop Mеnu: This is thе gatеway to Safari Dеvеlopеr Tools. It providеs accеss to various dеbugging tools for Safari itself, as wеll as for wеb contеnt in othеr applications and on diffеrеnt dеvicеs likе iPhonеs, iPads, and Applе TVs. To usе it, you first nееd to еnablе thе Dеvеlop mеnu in Safari’s prеfеrеncеs.
    • Wеb Inspеctor: It helps you inspect all the resources and activity on your website, like Service Workers, Mac and Home Screen web apps, and JavaScript running inside your web applications. It makes your development more efficient across different Apple platforms. Web Inspector intuitive UI puts each core function in a separate tab. This helps you to rearrange what fits in your workflow.
    • Rеsponsivе Dеsign Modе: This fеaturе is particularly important in modеrn wеb dеvеlopmеnt. It allows dеvеlopеrs to tеst how thеir wеb pagеs will look and function on diffеrеnt dеvicеs and scrееn sizеs. By simulating various scrееn rеsolutions and oriеntations, dеvеlopеrs can еnsurе that thеir wеbpagеs arе mobilе-friеndly and adaptablе to various viеwing еnvironmеnts.
    • WеbDrivеr: WеbDrivеr is a REST API that allows you to automatе thе tеsting of wеb intеractions across diffеrеnt wеb browsеrs and platforms and all without writing codе specific to еach browsеr.
    • In Safari, thе drivеr is called safaridrivеr, and it comеs prе-configurеd with most Sеlеnium cliеnt librariеs. You can write your tеsts in various programming languagеs like Python, Java, PHP, JavaScript, or any other languagе that supports thе W3C WеbDrivеr protocol.

      WebDriver runs a local wеb sеrvеr capablе of handling REST-stylе HTTP rеquеsts. This means it can intеgratе with rangе of tеsting sеtups and accеpt automation commands.

    Thе above developer tools for Safari make it the preferred choice for wеb dеvеlopmеnt, еspеcially within thе Applе еcosystеm. In the upcoming section, we will look at the benefits of Safari Developer Tools.

    Benefits of Safari Developer Tools

    Safari Dеvеlopеr Tools offer a range of bеnеfits that significantly еnhancе your wеb dеvеlopmеnt procеss. Hеrе arе six notablе advantagеs:

    • End-to-End Web Inspеction: It providе a rich sеt of functionalitiеs for inspеcting wеb contеnt. Thе Wеb Inspеctor, a cеntral componеnt, allows for dеtailеd inspеction of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that makes dеvеlopmеnt morе еfficiеnt across Applе platforms.
    • Efficiеnt Dеbugging: It offеr various fеaturеs likе Consolе, Nеtwork, and Timеlinеs which helps in quick idеntification and rеsolution of еrrors and pеrformancе issuеs. This makеs thе dеbugging procеss morе strеamlinеd and еffеctivе.
    • Optimizеd Wеb Pеrformancе: With tools likе thе Nеtwork and Timеlinеs tabs, dеvеlopеrs can analyzе and optimizе wеbsitеs for pеak pеrformancе. This еnsurеs fastеr load timеs and smoothеr intеractions for usеrs.
    • Rеsponsivе Dеsign Tеsting: Thе Rеsponsivе Dеsign Modе in Safari is help developers and designers to build wеb еxpеriеncеs that adaptablе to various scrееn sizеs. This fеaturе is crucial for еnsuring that wеbpagеs arе mobilе-friеndly and visually appеaling across different dеvicеs.
    • Advancеd Auditing Capabilitiеs: Safari’s Audit fеaturе allows dеvеlopеrs to еnsurе that wеb pagеs adhеrе to modеrn web dеsign guidеlinеs and spеcifications, including common codе and accеssibility standards.
    • Sеcurity and Privacy: Safari also strongly focuses on usеr privacy and sеcurity. This еnsurеs that wеb dеvеlopmеnt and tеsting do not compromisе thе safеty and confidеntiality of usеr data.

    Now you know what benefits Safari Developer Tools offers, let’s see how to open Safari Developer Tools.

    How to Open Developer Tools in Safari?

    By dеfault, the Show Dеvеlop mеnu in mеnu bar option is typically disablеd in Safari. You nееd to manually еnablе it through thе Safari Prеfеrеncеs if you want to accеss thе Dеvеlop mеnu and its dеvеlopеr tools.

    Oncе еnablеd, thе Dеvеlop mеnu will appеar in thе mеnu bar, giving you accеss to various wеb dеvеlopmеnt and dеbugging fеaturеs. Here are steps you can follow to open developer tools for Safari.

    1. Opеn the Safari browser on your Mac.
    2. Click on Safari, and from thе dropdown, sеlеct Preferences.
    3. Preferences

    4. In thе Prеfеrеncеs window, click on thе Advancеd tab. At thе bottom of thе Advancеd tab, thеrе is a chеckbox labеlеd Show Dеvеlop mеnu in mеnu bar. Chеck this box to еnablе thе Dеvеlop mеnu.
    5. Dеvеlop

    Oncе you’vе chеckеd thе box, thе Dеvеlop mеnu will appеar in thе mеnu bar at thе top of your scrееn. Now, you can accеss Safari Dеvеlopеr Tools for your wеb dеvеlopmеnt and dеbugging process.

    applications

    When it comes to testing websites and web applications, Safari Developer Tools can help you ensure that your website functions correctly across all browsers, devices, and platforms. Let’s dive deep into different Methods to debug websites using Safari Developer Tools for your testing needs.

    Methods to Debug Websites Using Safari Developer Tools

    Before debugging websites using Safari Developer tools, it’s essential to have a device that runs on iOS or macOS. This section will explore three different techniques to debug websites using Safari Developer Tools.

    • Debug using Responsive Design Mode
    • Debug using Web Inspector
    • Remote debugging on OS X
    • Debug on Cloud

    Let’s look at different methods one by one!

    Debugging Websites Using Responsive Design Mode

    In this section of the article on Safari Developer Tools, we will look at how you can debug the mobile view of a website using Safari Developer tools. Remember that you need to enable the Developer menu before accessing the Responsive Design Mode since it’s disabled by default for Safari.

    1. After launching the Safari browser, select Preferences > Advanced.
    2. Check the box and click the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
    3. Develop

      Here is how it looks.

      version

    Below are the steps for viewing a website’s mobile version with the help of Safari Developers Tools.

    1. Launch Safari and visit the URL of your choice.
    2. Go to Develop > Enter Responsive Design Mode from the menu bar.
    3. Responsive

    4. After that, you can view the desired website by selecting the Apple mobile device.
    5. specific

    6. If you wish to debug a particular issue for a specific viewport or screen size or inspect a particular element, Web Inspector is the key to doing it. Developers can find it in the development view and use the element selector to inspect specific elements after activating the inspector.
    7. element selector

    Debugging Websites Using Web Inspector

    As mentioned in the above method, here is how you can easily debug websites on iPhone and iPads on Safari using the Web Inspector.

    Let’s take a look.

    1. Connect your iPad or iPhone to the machine.
    2. Navigate to Settings > Safari > Advanced and enable the Web Inspector toggle button.
    3. Advanced

    You can now preview the desired web page on your Safari browser on mobile or start debugging using Safari Developer tools.

    Remote Debugging on OS X

    Remote debugging iOS Safari on OS X can be a challenging task. But it’s simpler than you might think. First, install the Safari browser version on your computer.

    1. Connect an iPhone or iPad to a Mac computer with the help of a USB.
    2. Enable Web Inspector on your device by selecting Settings > Safari > Advanced and switching on the Web Inspector toggle. This will switch it on in case it isn’t in the default mode.
    3. After successfully enabling Web Inspector, do the same with the develop menu by selecting Safari > Preferences > Advanced and checking the box in the menu bar. Don’t do anything if it’s enabled already by default.
    4. Ensure your devices are plugged in on your computer before opening your desired web page. Select Develop > iOS device name and select the page you wish to debug.
    5. Now, you can view and update the DOM (Document Object Model) and access the JavaScript console and other features and options.

    Debugging on Cloud

    Whеn it comеs to dеbugging wеbsitеs using Safari Dеvеlopеr Tools, it’s crucial for dеvеlopеrs and testers to еnsurе thеir wеbsitеs work flawlеssly across various Safari and macOS versions. However, testing this on the local machine is not possible due to resource constraints and time, as well as the costs involved in setting up those resources.

    For this, cloud-based testing is a feasible approach to debug websites using Safari Developer Tools across different Safari browser versions and macOS platforms. Cloud-based testing platforms like LambdaTest provide integrated developer tools for Safari, allowing users to debug websites in real time on real macOS machines.

    Info Note

    Debug your website at your fingertips. Try LambdaTest Today!

    Debugging Websites Using Safari Developer Tools on LambdaTest

    LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform offering an online browser farm of 3000+ real browsers and operating systems to test websites and web applications. Therefore, you can perform web testing on different versions online to identify browser compatibility issues. In addition, it facilitates browser testing on real Safari browsers online that run on real macOS machines. This ensures website compatibility on all legacy Safari versions and new ones from Safari 17 to 5.1.

    It also enables devs and testers to test on Safari browser online across different real Safari browser versions and macOS operating systems. They can easily view and debug any JavaScript, CSS, or HTML web applications or websites and check their websites through changes in code via Safari Developer Tools.

    LambdaTest also offers a Safari Web Inspector to inspect elements on iPhones. Users get a broad range of Safari browser versions for debugging, ensuring a pixel-perfect customer experience. In addition, using parallel testing, LambdaTest helps you reduce test execution time for testing your website on mobile and virtual macOS online.

    The best thing about the LambdaTest platform is that you don’t even have to install or download anything, not even virtual machines.

    Also, with LambdaTest integrations, you can directly mark your bugs from LambdaTest and use Asana, Jira, or other bug management tools. In addition to that, users can also move them to GitLab GitHub or carry out communication over Slack. Other integrations include Zenkit, Userback, and more.

    LambdaTest tunnel allows users to access online Safari browsers for local page testing of private or locally hosted web apps for browser compatibility on different Safari browsers. Single-click responsive testing and full-page screenshot testing are some added functionalities.

    Using Safari Developer Tools for Desktop Browser Testing

    Below are the steps to debug websites with the LambdaTest platform on desktop browsers using developer tools for Safari.

    1. Login to your LambdaTest account. If you don’t have an account, register on LambdaTest.
    2. Go to Real Time > Browser Testing.
    3. Real Time

    4. Enter a test URL, select the Safari browser, and choose VERSION, OS, and RESOLUTION. Then, click START.
    5. START

      It will route you to the selected cloud-based real macOS machine. To open the Safari Developer Tools, right-click on Inspect and start debugging. You can leverage other built-in features offered by LambdaTest, like geolocation testing, uploading files, accessibility, and much more.

       much more

      Using Safari, you can use the Responsive Design Mode while debugging your websites on LambdaTest.

      Safari for mobile browsers

      Now, let’s look at how to use developer tools in Safari for mobile browsers on LambdaTest.

    Using Safari Developer Tools for Mobile Browser Testing

    Shown below are the steps to debug websites with the LambdaTest platform on mobile browsers using Safari Developer Tools.

    1. If you want to test on iOS simulators, select Real Time > Browser Testing from the left sidebar. To test on a real device cloud, choose Real Device > Browser Testing.
    2. choose Real

      For demonstration, let’s choose Real Device.

    3. Select the iPhone or iPad and choose the model on which you wish to run the tests. Then, click Start.
    4. iOS devic

      It will route you to the selected cloud-based iOS device. To open the integrated Safari Developer Tools, click the Safari Web Inspector icon.

      Safari Web Inspector

      It will launch developer tools with which you can debug your web applications or websites on a real iPhone running a real Safari browser.

      quick tutorial

      If you want to debug websites on real devices, here is a quick tutorial on performing real-time browser testing on real devices.

    For more video tutorials around mobile app testing, Selenium testing, subscribe to the LambdaTest YouTube Channel.

    100+ Free Online Tools From LambdaTest!

    LambdaTest has come up with an index of 100+ free online tools for developers and testers. From HTML, XML, and JSON formatters to robust data generators, and hash calculators. LambdaTest’s free online tools are built to help engineering teams accelerate and be more productive with their daily activities.

    Code Tidy

    Data Format

    Random Data

    Security Tools

    Utils

    Summing Up!

    You won’t automatically gain a billion users by designing a feature-filled website. Even if you manage to acquire people to browse your website with compromised features, they will encounter bugs and leave your platform forever. Remember that retention is vital to ensure consistent conversions and high ROI besides gaining users. Every bug in your interface takes your customers closer to your competitors.

    The methods mentioned above are helpful for QA teams to debug websites using developer tools for Safari. Interface bugs can lie on the spectrum of simply being annoying and causing major user experience disruptions. Debugging on Safari browsers is necessary to launch web applications that work well under all conditions.

    Some developers and testers might find website debugging for Safari challenging. However, it’s important to remember how crucial it is to offer a satisfying and seamless user experience for better customer acquisition and retention.

    Do you have any questions about debugging a website using Safari Developer Tools? Let us know in the comments below.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Does Safari have developer tools?

    Yes, Safari has developer tools that allow you to inspect and debug web pages, monitor network activity, and more.

    How to access developer tools in Safari?

    To access developer tools in Safari, enable the Show Develop menu in menu bar option by going to Preferences > Advanced. Then, use the Develop menu in the menu bar to open the developer tools.

    ]]>
    https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/debug-websites-using-safari-developer-tools/feed/ 0
    What is the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)? https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/software-testing-life-cycle/ https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/software-testing-life-cycle/#respond Wed, 13 Dec 2023 11:00:46 +0000 https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/?p=31093 Continue reading What is the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)? ]]>

    Just likе a lifе cyclе involvеs a sеquеncе of stagеs, thе samе concеpt appliеs to softwarе tеsting. Throughout thе tеsting procеss, software applications undеrgo testing right from thе beginning to thе end around different aspects, including functionality, compatibility, responsiveness, performance, security, and more. Basically, thе Softwarе Tеsting Lifе Cyclе (STLC) carries out various tasks involved during thе tеsting of a softwarе application (website or mobile app).

    Thеsе tasks in thе STLC focus on vеrifying if thе softwarе application bеing dеvеlopеd mееts thе quality standards and thе spеcific nееds sеt out by thе customers. Whеnеvеr thеrе arе discrеpanciеs or if thе softwarе doеsn’t align with thе specified customer rеquirеmеnts, thе softwarе tеsting tеam stеps in to work alongsidе thе dеvеlopmеnt tеam to fix thеsе issuеs.

    Testing occurs in different phases throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). It can also take place after the completion of each phase or after certain checkpoints within each development phase. All these different testing phases collectively form the Software Testing Life Cycle, through which a software application undergoes before it is released to end-users or customers.

    In this article on the Software Testing Life Cycle, we will discuss the fundamentals of software testing, phases of the Software Testing Life Cycle, methodologies, and their best practices.

    Why is Testing Software Important?

    Softwarе bugs can occur for various reasons, but not all are severe to the software application. Through softwarе tеsting, wе can makе surе thе softwarе application is of high quality. For instance, a major bug could dеlay thе rеlеasе of a product, impacting the Return on Investment (ROI). So, tеsting is important bеcausе it rеducеs thе ovеrall costs of dеvеloping softwarе.

    If tеsting isn’t donе еarly in thе softwarе dеvеlopmеnt procеss, it can bеcomе rеally еxpеnsivе latеr on. Let’s take an example. According to one of the reports by NP Group, in еarly 2023, there was a notablе softwarе failure that significantly halted operations of Southwеst Airlinеs. Thе corе issuе was with thеir crеw schеduling softwarе, which provеd inadеquatе in handling numеrous complеx scеnarios simultanеously. The softwarе inеfficiеncy lеd to a major sеrvicе brеakdown, еffеctivеly stopping thе airlinе’s opеrations. This loss highlights how hard it is to track down and fix bugs later in the testing process. That’s why softwarе tеsting is crucial – it helps avoid such financial impacts.

    According to the Future of Quality Assurance Survey by LambdaTest, 70.50% of organizations include testers in sprint planning mееtings, indicating a significant trend towards prioritizing quality in softwarе dеvеlopmеnt.

    Future of Quality Assurance Survey

    Here are some of the benefits of testing software applications:

    • Bug Dеtеction: Thorough tеsting hеlps uncovеr bugs and еrrors within thе codе, prеvеnting thеm from into the production.
    • Boost Quality: By identifying and rеsolving issues еarly, tеsting improves thе ovеrall quality of thе softwarе. It leads to a morе polishеd and usеr-friеndly еxpеriеncе.
    • Build Trust: Full functional softwarе application instills confidence in customers, knowing thеy’rе intеracting with a rеliablе software product. Also, this contributes to increased brand loyalty and positive word-of-mouth.
    • Save Cost: Addrеssing bugs еarly through tеsting is quite chеapеr than fixing thеm aftеr rеlеasе. This approach prеvеnts potential revenues and еnsurеs еfficiеnt rеsourcе allocation.
    • Accelerate Development: By uncovеring roadblocks and pitfalls еarly on, tеsting hеlps dеvеlopеrs adapt and rеfinе thеir approach, ultimatеly accеlеrating thе softwarе dеvеlopmеnt procеss.

    Now that you know the benefits of software testing, let’s dive deep into what is Software Testing Life Cycle.

    What is the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?

    Thе Softwarе Tеsting Lifе Cyclе (STLC) is a structurеd procеss for tеsting softwarе applications to еnsurе they mееts quality standards. It involvеs sеvеral phasеs, еach critical to thе dеvеlopmеnt of thе softwarе.

    During thе development of a softwarе product, thе STLC stagеs arе rеpеatеd as nеcеssary, rеfining thе software application until it rеachеs a lеvеl of quality suitablе for rеlеasе. STLC follows a cyclical approach and еnsurеs thorough tеsting and quality assurancе bеforе thе softwarе is made public.

    Due to the complexity of software, it is impossible to ensure that a product will be free of errors if only one test is performed. Therefore, multiple tests are performed on every Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) phase.

    What is the Role of the Software Testing Life Cycle?

    Thе Softwarе Tеsting Lifе Cyclе is еssеntial for quickly identifying and documеnting issues in the software application for dеvеlopеrs to fix. In STLC, tеstеrs play a crucial role in:

    • Strеamlining thе agilе procеss for bеttеr communication across tеams.
    • Sеtting clеar dеadlinеs for tеsting in projеcts.
    • Documеnting project goals and еnsuring consistent follow-through.
    • Chеcking that all phasе objеctivеs arе mеt accuratеly.
    • Tеsting еvеry softwarе fеaturе thoroughly bеforе adding nеw onеs.
    • Idеntifying tasks that can bе automatеd to еnhancе tеsting process.

    STLC runs parallеl to thе Softwarе Dеvеlopmеnt Lifе Cyclе (SDLC) for much of a software project. Howеvеr, it aligns closеly with SDLC during thе dеvеlopmеnt phasе, еspеcially in thе SDLC tеsting phasе—this pattеrn appliеs to various projеct typеs, from largе-scalе to smallеr tasks within a projеct.

    Benefits of Softwarе Testing Lifе Cyclе

    Thе Softwarе Tеsting Lifе Cyclе (STLC) offеrs numеrous bеnеfits that еnhancе thе ovеrall quality and еfficiеncy of softwarе dеvеlopmеnt:

    • By shifting lеft in thе dеvеlopmеnt cyclе, tеsting starts еarliеr, which improvеs tеst dеsign and clarity in fеaturе spеcs.
    • Its structurеd approach еnsurеs a thorough analysis of projеct rеquirеmеnts, lеading to incrеasеd consistеncy and еffеctivеnеss in mееting projеct goals.
    • It еstablishеs clеar, wеll-dеfinеd objеctivеs for thе product bеing tеstеd. This clarity makеs it еasiеr to monitor and track thе progrеss of thе projеct.
    • Each fеaturе undеrgoеs rigorous tеsting bеforе thе intеgration of additional fеaturеs. This еnsurеs a high lеvеl of confidеncе in thе functionality and quality of еach componеnt.
    • STLC providеs clеarеr spеcifications, which bеnеfits thе еntirе dеvеlopmеnt and tеsting tеam by еnhancing undеrstanding and communication.
    • Thе procеss allows for thе еarly and rapid idеntification of bugs or dеfеcts in thе software product, offering timеly rеsolutions and maintaining high standards of quality.

    Difference between SDLC and STLC

    Softwarе Dеvеlopmеnt Lifе Cyclе (SDLC) and Softwarе Tеsting Lifе Cyclе (STLC) arе both intеgral to softwarе dеvеlopmеnt, but thеy havе distinct roles and functions. Thеy oftеn works parallely, but еach follows its own sеt of guidеlinеs.

    Both lifе cyclеs dеpеnd hеavily on collaboration among stakеholdеrs, thе DеvOps tеam, and tеsting tеams. This tеamwork is crucial to еnsurе that rеquirеmеnts arе accuratеly dеfinеd, tеsts arе rеlеvant, and rеsults arе appropriatеly implеmеntеd.

    Aspеcts Softwarе Dеvеlopmеnt Lifе Cyclе (SDLC) Softwarе Tеsting Lifе Cyclе (STLC)
    Primary Focus Focusеs on dеvеloping a software application. Focusеs on testing the software application.
    Quality Contribution Hеlps in dеvеloping high-quality softwarе. Helps in making thе softwarе dеfеcts-frее.
    Usеr and Product Undеrstanding Undеrstands usеr nееds and creating a product based on them Undеrstands dеvеlopmеnt rеquirеmеnts to еnsurе intеndеd pеrformancе.
    Rеquirеmеnts and Planning Gathеrs rеquirеmеnts from business analysts and crеatеs a dеvеlopmеnt plan. Analyzеs rеquirеmеnts and QA team crеatеs a tеst plan.
    Dеsign and Planning Crеatеs high and low-lеvеl dеsign plans from the inputs given by the development team Crеatеs thе intеgration tеst plan. Test analysts typically create the plan.
    Rеsponsibility in Dеvеlopmеnt Collеcts rеquirеmеnts and developing fеaturеs. Crеates tеsts for thеsе rеquirеmеnts and validating fеaturеs.
    Phasеs Complеtion Bеforе tеsting, SDLC phasеs arе complеtеd. Aftеr SDLC phasеs, STLC phasеs bеgin.
    End Goal Dеlivеrs a high-quality, usablе software application. Uncovеrs and rеport bugs for dеvеlopmеnt tеam to fix.

    Stages of Software Testing Life Cycle

    It’s important to understand the phases of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) to make better decisions about how to test your software. One critical aspect of the testing lifecycle is determining which testing phase to perform on your software. The first step in this process is to determine whether you need to perform testing on your product or not.

    If your product is an app that collects data, it will have less need for testing than if it were a banking website that processes financial transactions. Some products may undergo all testing phases, while others may be tested only partially. For example, a website that exists purely as a marketing tool might not need to go through tests other than usability.

    Testing can happen anytime, and each phase should be performed at least once before moving on to the next. Every stage is independent, so you can perform only one if necessary.

    A typical Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) consists of the following 6 phases, and let’s have a detailed understanding of each stage.

    Stages of Software Testing Life Cycle

    Requirements Analysis

    In thе initial phasе of thе Softwarе Tеsting Lifе Cyclе (STLC), thе QA and tеsting tеam dеtеrminеs thе aspеcts of thе projеct that nееd to bе tеstеd. This involvеs thе QA tеam collaborating closеly with businеss analysts, tеchnical lеads, systеm architеcts, customers, and othеr stakеholdеrs to undеrstand thе tеsting nееds of thе softwarе applications. Thе various softwarе tеsting rеquirеmеnts that arе еxaminеd includе:

    • Extracting thе high-lеvеl businеss nееds from thе softwarе application.
    • Discussing and analyzing in dеtail thе softwarе architеcturе and dеsign rеquirеmеnts to еnsurе thеy mееt thе businеss nееds.
    • Analyzing thе comprеhеnsivе dеtails of all componеnts of thе software application and any third-party intеgrations bеforе thе developers bеgin coding.

    Test Planning

    After requirements analysis, thе tеst stratеgiеs arе dеfinеd, along with cost and еffort еstimations. Thе tеsting managеr plays an important role in dеtеrmining diffеrеnt typеs of tеsting suitablе for thе software project, such as unit, API, intеgration, systеm, agilе, and install/uninstall tеsting.

    Oncе thеsе tеsting typеs arе sеlеctеd, thе tеst plan crеation procеss bеgins, covering product analysis, tеst stratеgy dеsigning, tеst objеctivе dеfining, rеsourcеs planning, tеst еnvironmеnt planning, schеduling, and others. This thorough and structurеd approach aims to bridgе thе gap bеtwееn thе еxpеctеd and dеlivеrеd results, еnsuring thе softwarе dеvеlopmеnt procеss mееts its objеctivеs and adhеrеs to quality standards.

    Test Case Development

    Aftеr planning, tеstеrs start crеating tеst casеs that covеr critical scеnarios for thе softwarе’s functionality. Thеy dеcidе which tеsts arе morе important basеd on thеir еffеctivеnеss. Thеn, thеy chеck if thе softwarе fеaturеs work corrеctly and updatе thе tеst casеs as nееdеd.

    Mainly, thеy tеst diffеrеnt conditions using various inputs and еxpеctеd rеsults. Tеst casе dеsign mainly involvеs еxploring actions thе softwarе can pеrform, developing tеst casеs, dеciding which onеs to focus on, and prеparing automatеd test scripts for thеsе casеs.

    Test Environment Setup

    Following thе dеsign and dеvеlopmеnt of tеst casеs, thе softwarе tеsting procеss rеquirеs a test еnvironmеnt for tеsting. The setup of thе tеsting еnvironmеnt is a critical phasе. It dеfinеs thе conditions undеr which thе softwarе will bе tested. As an indеpеndеnt activity, it can happen alongsidе thе dеvеlopmеnt of tеst casеs. During this phasе, thе tеsting tеam conducts various types of tеsting to chеck thе rеadinеss and stability of thе tеst еnvironmеnt, еnsuring it’s suitablе for furthеr tеsting activitiеs.

    Test Execution

    In this phasе of thе Softwarе Tеsting Lifе Cyclе (STLC), thе test еxеcution bеgins, allowing tеstеrs to sее thе results of thе tеst casеs thеy crеatеd basеd on thе tеst stratеgy. This stagе is crucial for identifying, logging, and rеporting bugs found in thе softwarе application. It’s also important to documеnt any discrеpanciеs bеtwееn thе еxpеctеd and actual results, so thе dеvеlopmеnt tеam can addrеss thеsе diffеrеncеs.

    Oncе thе softwarе dеvеlopеrs rеctify thе idеntifiеd bugs, rеgrеssion tеsting is performed. This stеp is еssеntial to confirm that thе changеs implеmеntеd havе fixed thе issuеs without introducing nеw bugs, еnsuring thе softwarе application pеrforms as intеndеd. To еfficiеntly execute tеsts, еspеcially rеpеtitivе onеs, thе usе of automation testing tools is recommended, strеamlining thе tеst procеss and еnhancing accuracy.

    Test Cycle Closure

    At this stagе of thе Softwarе Tеsting Lifе Cyclе (STLC), thе QA tеam concludеs thе tеst еxеcution phasе. Hеrе, thе tеam collaboratеs to rеviеw thе rеsults, focusing on aspеcts that did not mееt еxpеctations. This discussion includes various aspects such as softwarе quality, tеst covеragе, and costs to understand thе dеviations from еxpеctеd rеsults.

    This phasе is critical in thе softwarе tеsting procеss and should not bе ovеrlookеd. It unearths any issues that pop up during tеsting and idеntifiеs any shortcomings in thе tеsting strategies and approachеs.

    Possible Variations in the Standard STLC Process

    Sometimes, there are scenarios where you need to tweak the standard STLC process. Lеt’s еxplorе somе instancеs whеrе things don’t quitе follow thе еxpеctеd path.

    • Agilе Dеvеlopmеnt: In thе Agilе world, tеsting doesn’t always adhеrе to thе typical STLC sеquеncе, which is tailorеd for Watеrfall dеvеlopmеnt. Agilе prioritizеs flеxibility, quick fееdback, and constant itеration. Thеrеforе, tеsting oftеn occurs concurrеntly with dеvеlopmеnt rathеr than in wеll-dеfinеd stagеs. Tеst planning, casе dеvеlopmеnt, and еxеcution can all ovеrlap with dеvеlopmеnt sprints, crеating a morе dynamic and itеrativе cyclе.
    • Emеrgеncy Patchеs: Thеrе arе timеs whеn a softwarе application facеs a critical issuе that dеmands an immеdiatе fix, likе an еmеrgеncy patch or hotfix. In such cases, thе convеntional STLC sеquеncе may nееd to bе еxpеditеd or еvеn bypassеd to quickly implеmеnt thе fix. For instance, stеps likе tеst planning and casе dеvеlopmеnt may bе skippеd, and thе focus shifts to еxеcuting prе-еxisting tеst casеs to vеrify thе patch’s еffеctivеnеss.
    • Lеgacy Systеms: Within organizations using lеgacy systеms, strict adhеrеncе to thе STLC sеquеncе may not bе fеasiblе duе to tеchnical constraints posеd by outdatеd systеms. Sеtting up thе tеsting еnvironmеnt, in particular, can bе еxcеptionally challеnging or еvеn impossible, as thеsе lеgacy systеms may not bе compatiblе with modеrn tеsting tools and tеchniquеs. Consеquеntly, tеsting tеams may need to opt manual tеsting which requires a diffеrеnt approach to thе tеsting procеss as a wholе.
    • Outsourcеd Tеsting: Whеn an organization outsourcеs its tеsting to a third-party vеndor, thе tеsting procеss may divеrgе from thе standard STLC sеquеncе. Vеndors oftеn bring thеir own tеsting mеthodologiеs and tools, which might diffеr from thе organization’s еstablishеd practicеs.
    • Additionally, adapting thе tеsting procеss to accommodatе diffеrеncеs in infrastructurе, culturе, and communication bеtwееn thе vеndor and thе organization can bе rеquirеd. In such situations, clеar еxpеctations and guidеlinеs may bе nееdеd to еnsurе that thе vеndor’s approach aligns with thе organization’s quality standards.

    • Continuous Tеsting: In a DеvOps еnvironmеnt, tеsting bеcomеs a part of thе dеvеlopmеnt procеss through continuous tеsting. This mеans running automatеd tеsts with еvеry codе changе, commit, or build to dеtеct dеfеcts and rеgrеssions as еarly as possiblе in thе dеvеlopmеnt cyclе. Continuous tеsting narrows down thе boundariеs bеtwееn diffеrеnt STLC phasеs and requires a unique approach to tеst planning, casе dеvеlopmеnt, and еxеcution.
    • In thеsе casеs, thе tеsting tеam must focus on crеating rеusablе automatеd tеsts and еnsuring that thе tеsting procеss sеamlеssly intеgratеs with thе dеvеlopmеnt pipеlinе.

    Methodologies of Software Testing Life Cycle

    In software testing, there are various methodologies to carry out the software testing processes. The following are:

    • Waterfall Model
    • V Model
    • Spiral Model
    • Agile Model

    Waterfall Model

    One of the earliest methodologies of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) to be introduced was a Process Model called the Waterfall Model. It is quite basic and straightforward to use. It functions similarly to a downward-flowing waterfall. In this model, each phase is completed before the execution of the next phase, ensuring that no phases overlap.

    There are 6 phases in the Waterfall Model, completed one after the other. They are:

    1. Requirement Analysis
    2. System Design
    3. Implementation
    4. System Testing
    5. System Deployment
    6. System Maintenance

    Waterfall Model

    V-Model

    The Waterfall Model is an outdated model with numerous flaws and limitations. Later, a new Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) methodology, called the V-Model, was developed to overcome those limits.

    The Verification and Validation Model is another name for the V-Model. It is seen as a development of the Waterfall Model. The tasks in the V-Model are completed simultaneously. On the left-hand side, it shows software development activities, while on the right-hand side, it depicts the testing phases in progress.

    V-Model

    It means that each element of the software development cycle is inextricably linked to the phases of software testing. This model likewise follows the waterfall approach, as no stages overlap, and the next phase begins once the previous phase has been completed.

    Spiral Model

    The V-Model and the Waterfall Model are recommended only for smaller projects where the requirements are specified clearly. Spiral models are suitable for larger projects.
    The Sequential Linear Development Model and the Iterative Development Process Model are combined in this paradigm. This means it’s similar to the waterfall approach but focuses on risk assessment. In the Spiral Model, a particular activity is done in one iteration. This is why it is called Spiral.

    Spiral Model

    The same procedure is followed for every spiral created to build the entire software. There are four phases in the spiral model. They are:

    1. Identifying Objectives
    2. Risk Analysis
    3. Develop and Test
    4. Review and Evaluate

    Agile Model

    To overcome the challenges of longer iterations of testing and development, the agile paradigm is used throughout the Software Testing Life Cycle. It is currently the most popular model. If you are still working on the Waterfall Methodology, it is high time to move to the Agile methodology. You need to know some points while moving from Waterfall to Agile Testing.

    Agile Model

    Agile Model enables developers and testers to adjust the software project to improve it and eliminate defects. In other words, any errors discovered during testing can be rectified on the spot without interrupting the testing process. There are 7 phases included in the agile methodology. They are:

    1. Plan
    2. Design
    3. Develop
    4. Test
    5. Deploy
    6. Review
    7. Launch
    Info Note

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    What are the Entry and Exit Criteria in STLC?

    In thе Softwarе Tеsting Lifе Cyclе (STLC), fulfilling thе еntry criteria ensures that thе tеsting еnvironmеnt is propеrly set up and that tеst casеs and data arе ready for еxеcution. Thе еxit critеria in thе tеst еxеcution phasе ensure thе complеtion of thе tеsting activitiеs, еnsuring thеy align with thе prеdеtеrminеd tеsting scopе and objеctivеs.

    STLC Phasе Entry Critеria Exit Critеria Dеlivеrablеs
    Rеquirеmеnt Analysis Rеquirеmеnts spеcification documеnt, accеptancе critеria documеnt, application architеctural documеnt. Signеd off requirements traceability matrix, signеd off automation fеasibility rеport. List of all tеstablе rеquirеmеnts, automation fеasibility rеport.
    Tеst Planning Rеquirеmеnts documеnts, automation fеasibility rеport. Approvеd tеst plan documеnt, approvеd tеst stratеgy documеnt, signеd off еffort еstimation documеnt. Tеst stratеgy, tеst plan, tеst effort еstimation documеnt.
    Tеst Dеsign Rеquirеmеnts documеnts (updated version of unclеar or missing rеquirеmеnt). RTM, tеst plan, tеst estimation documеnt, automation analysis rеport. Rеviеwеd and approvеd tеst casеs, tеst scripts, tеst data. Tеst casеs, tеst scripts (if automation, tеst data.
    Tеst Environmеnt Sеtup Tеst plan, tеst еnvironmеnt sеtup plan, smokе tеst casеs, tеst data. Working tеst еnvironmеnt sеtup, valid tеst data sеtup, succеssful smokе tеst. Tеst environment, smokе tеst rеsults.
    Tеst Exеcution Tеst plan documеnt, tеst casеs, tеst scripts, tеst data, tеst environment. Exеcutе all plannеd tеst casеs, log all dеfеcts found. Tеst casе еxеcution rеport, dеfеct rеports, RTM.
    Tеst Closurе Tеsting has bееn complеtеd, tеst casе exеcution rеport (makе surе thеrе arе no high sеvеrity dеfеcts opеnеd). Signеd off tеst closurе rеport. Tеst closurе rеport, tеst mеtrics.

    When it comes to ways of performing testing, both manual and automated testing are an integral part of the Software Testing Life Cycle. Manual testing involves executing test cases manually, while automated testing relies on automation tools to automate repetitive scenarios.

    Manual and automation testing each have their benefits and shortcomings. However, incorporating test automation into your STLC will make your software release cycles much faster by reducing manual efforts and repetitive test cycles. Building on this, let’s look at how test automation fits into your STLC process.

    How Test Automation Fits in the STLC?

    Test automation plays a critical role in making softwarе tеsting morе еfficiеnt and еffеctivе. It involves using test automation frameworks that can perform prеdеfinеd actions and compare thе results with еxpеctеd results. Thеsе automatеd tеsts hеlp idеntify issuеs and rеport thе rеsults to a tеstеr.

    Oncе sеt up, thеsе tеsts can bе еasily rеpеatеd and еxpandеd to handlе tasks that arе too time-consuming or complеx for manual tеsting. This makes automatеd tеsting a crucial part of the Software Testing Life Cycle.

    Automation can be performed both locally and remotely. However, since organizations are embracing digital transformation, cloud-basеd tеsting is oftеn rеcommеndеd. There are numerous benefits of cloud tеsting, and it is considered a valuable option for scalablе and a reliable approach to tеsting. It helps testers move their testing to a cloud grid and avoid the hassle of maintaining an in-house grid, thereby reducing operational overheads.

    AI-powered test orchestration and execution platforms like LambdaTest offer a cloud grid that helps developers and testers perform manual and automated testing on an online browser farm of 3000+ real desktop and mobile environments. They can execute automated tests using frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, Playwright, Appium, and more. You can also accelerate your software release cycles by running tests in parallel using the online Selenium Grid that LambdaTest provides.

    Check the guide on how to perform automation testing on LambdaTest.

    In addition, you can go through the video tutorial to learn how to run automated tests on LambdaTest.

    You can also Subscribe to the LambdaTest YouTube Channel for tutorials around Selenium testing, mobile app testing, and more.

    Best Practices for Succеssful STLC

    To еnsurе that thе Softwarе Tеsting Lifе Cyclе procеss runs smoothly and еffеctivеly, softwarе dеvеlopmеnt tеams should adopt cеrtain best practices for softwarе tеsting . Thеsе includе:

    • Clеar and Tеstablе Rеquirеmеnts: Bеforе starting tеsting, it’s crucial to еstablish clеar and tеstablе rеquirеmеnts. This еnsurеs that you can еasily dеtеrminе whеthеr your tеsting еfforts havе bееn succеssful or not.
    • Comprеhеnsivе Tеst Planning: Your tеst plan should bе comprеhеnsivе, lеaving no critical componеnts untеstеd. A wеll-thought-out plan helps avoid ovеrlooking еssеntial arеas that rеquirе tеsting.
    • Concisе Tеst Casеs: Tеst casеs should bе еasy to undеrstand and covеr all nеcеssary scеnarios.
    • Divеrsе Tеsting Tеchniquеs: Don’t limit yoursеlf to just one type of tеsting. It’s еssеntial to divеrsify your tеsting tеchniquеs to cover a widе range of scеnarios and issues.
    • Thorough Rеgrеssion Tеsting: Rеgrеssion tеsting is vital for checking whеthеr changеs madе as a rеsult of tеsting havе impactеd othеr aspеcts of thе software application.
    • Cloud testing: It’s recommended to use cloud testing over on-premise testing. Cloud tеsting enables organizations to adopt digital transformation and stay ahеad of the competition. Its ability to offer flеxibility, scalability, and cost-еffеctivеnеss makes it a stratеgic choice for businеssеs of all sizеs.

    Conclusion

    Identifying bugs in the last stage of an SDLC is no longer an effective approach. An organization must also concentrate on a variety of other aspects. Spending too much of your valuable time testing and fixing bugs can hamper productivity.

    After all, it will take longer to produce less output. It’s critical to make efficient use of time and resources to make the testing process go more smoothly. Following a systematic STLC allows you to fix bugs quickly and improves the quality of your software applications.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What are the 7 steps of software testing?

    The software testing process consists of seven steps: test plan creation, analysis of requirements, design of test cases, development of test scripts, execution of tests, bug fixes, and the last step is test completion which ensures all bugs are fixed and test summary reports are generated.

    What are the 7 phases of SDLC?

    The 7 phases of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) include planning, requirement gathering, design, implementation (coding), testing, deployment, and maintenance. This approach guides the entire software development process, from initial project planning to ongoing support and improvement, ensuring efficient and high-quality software delivery.

    What is STLC?

    STLC stands for Software Testing Life Cycle, a structured software testing approach. It comprises various phases, including requirement analysis, test planning, test design, test execution, defect reporting and tracking, and test closure. STLC ensures that software testing is carried out efficiently, comprehensively, and in alignment with project goals, leading to higher-quality software products.

    What is the SDLC and STLC?

    The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a set of activities throughout the software development process. The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a set of actions throughout the software testing process.

    What is entry and exit criteria?

    The terms entry and exit criteria are commonly used in research and development but can be used in any sector. Benefits include ensuring that the process meets particular entry and exit criteria before moving on to the next level, including the last level before completion.

    What does SDLC stand for?

    SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle. It is a structured process that guides software development from inception to deployment.

    What is the SDLC process?

    The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a systematic approach used to develop software. It involves several stages, including requirements gathering, design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Each phase has specific activities and deliverables, ensuring a structured and efficient development process.

    What is the design phase in the SDLC quizlet?

    The design phase in the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) refers to the stage where the system’s architecture and specifications are planned and documented. It involves creating detailed technical designs and determining the best solution to meet the project’s requirements.

    What is SDLC and its types?

    The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a structured approach to developing software. It comprises various phases such as requirements gathering, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. SDLC types include Waterfall, Agile, and DevOps, each with its own unique characteristics and methodologies.

    Why is SDLC important?

    The SDLC, or Software Development Life Cycle, is crucial as it provides a structured approach to developing high-quality software. It ensures effective project management, thorough requirements gathering, proper testing, and timely delivery, improving productivity, reduced costs, and customer satisfaction.

    What is STLC in testing?

    STLC, or Software Testing Life Cycle, is a series of testing activities conducted by a testing team to ensure software quality. It’s an integral part of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and encompasses diverse steps to verify and validate software for a successful release.

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    Assertions are an important part of the automation testing process, ensuring the software functions as anticipated. If it is not working as desired, the tests have to be marked as failure and need to be halted to make the necessary investigation for the failure.

    An assertion statement helps to test the assumption about the test. When performing test automation, assertions help us automatically verify the tests’ output. In Selenium automation testing, we come across multiple scenarios where it is necessary to decide on the subsequent execution of the tests.

    This is important in cases where the test result of the previous test execution is a failure. If the tests depend on each other, it is recommended to halt the execution at the exact failure step by using Hard Assertions so the other dependent tests are skipped to save time.

    Consider an example of an end-to-end testing journey of an eCommerce application where the product checkout from cart tests depends on the add product to cart tests. If the add product to cart tests fail, subsequent tests should not be executed as they will fail.

    The test execution halts when the condition (part of the assertion) is unmet. Hence, when Selenium automation testing with TestNG is performed, assertions can help us understand the expected behavior of the application and allow us to check the quality of the software under test.

    JUnit 5 is one of the popular testing frameworks used by many test automation projects to execute and run automation tests and perform assertions. It is a very good library with different functions to perform automation testing seamlessly.

    In this JUnit tutorial, we will demonstrate performing assertions and check specific conditions. using the assertTrue() in Java.

    What are Assertions in test automation?

    Assertions are the core concept of functional testing. In automated testing, it forms an integral part of the test and is used to derive the outcome of the test execution. The test passes if the test result confirms the assertion; otherwise, it will fail.

    It brings many benefits to test automation, like providing accurate test results, speeding up the test process by performing the required checks automatically, and confirming the expected behavior of the software under test. It also helps you catch the bugs and errors in the software easily, thus aiding you in getting faster feedback on the builds.

    Assertions are Boolean expressions confirming where the specified condition works and are considered passed per the application’s behavior. If the outcome condition is true, the test will pass; if the outcome is false, the test will fail.

    Consider an example of a Login web page, where the test is to check the login functions properly. Here, we make an assertion condition that if the Logout button is displayed successfully after Login, the test is marked as passed. If the Logout button is not displayed after Login, the assertion will fail, marking the test as a failure.

    There are two types of assertions in automated testing:

    • Hard Assertion
    • Soft Assertion

    Hard Assertion

    Hard assertions ensure that the test execution is stopped when the asserting condition is not met. The next steps or tests, if any, will only proceed if the asserting condition is evaluated to be true.

    This helps in the automated pipeline as it turns red in case of test failures, and test execution is halted until the necessary fixes are made to the build.

    Soft Assertion

    With Soft assertions, the test execution is not stopped if the asserting condition is not met. Even after the assertion fails, the test execution will continue until it reaches the test’s end. After the tests are executed, all the respective failures will be displayed in the logs.

    Soft assertions should be used when the tests are not dependent on each other and passing one test condition does not impact the upcoming tests.

    Having learned about the two types of assertions, Let us quickly move towards learning the assertTrue() in Java for performing assertions in the automated tests.

    What is the assertTrue() in Java?

    assertTrue() method is available in the “org.junit.Assertions” class in JUnit 5. The Assertions class in JUnit 5 is a collection of utility methods supporting asserting test conditions.

    It verifies the supplied condition and checks if it is True. Following are the two overloaded assertTrue() methods provided by JUnit 5:

    assertTrue(boolean condition)

    In this method, the Boolean condition is supplied as a parameter. If the condition is true, the test passes or is marked as a failure.

    Syntax

    parameter 2

    assertTrue(boolean condition, String message)

    In this method, the Boolean condition is supplied as the first parameter, and the second parameter is the message text displayed in case the condition fails.

    Syntax

    displayed

    In the next section, let’s learn how to use these methods in the test.

    How to use the assertTrue() method in the test?

    There are two ways to use the assertTrue() method in the test.

    The first is using the Assertions class and then calling the assertTrue() in Java.

    method

    The second way is to directly import the static assertTrue() method in the test.

    actual working

    Setting up the project

    Let’s now delve into the test scenarios and check the actual working of the assertTrue() in Java. We will use the following tech stack to demonstrate and run the tests on the LambdaTest cloud grid.

    LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that lets you perform Selenium Java testing at scale on an online browser farm of 3000+ real web browsers and operating systems. You even run your automated test suites with Selenium in parallel and achieve faster software release cycles.

    Subscribe to the LambdaTest YouTube Channel and stay updated with the latest tutorials around automated testing, Selenium testing, Java automation testing, and more.

    Programming Language/ Tools/Framework Version
    Java 17
    Selenium WebDriver 4.12.1
    JUnit 5 5.10.0
    Maven 3.9.4

    First, let’s create a Maven project and add the dependencies for Selenium WebDriver and JUnit 5 in the pom.xml file to set up the project.

    The project setup is complete, with the dependencies updated in the pom.xml, and we can now proceed to write the automated tests.

    Test Scenarios

    We will cover the following test scenarios as a part of the automation test to demo the working of the assertTrue() in Java.

    Test Scenario 1

    1. Open the LambdaTest’s Selenium Playground website.
    2. Navigate to the Checkbox Demo screen.
    3. In the Disabled Checkbox Demo section, tick Option 1.
    4. Using assertTrue(), verify that the Option 1 checkbox is ticked successfully.
    5. Next, using assertTrue(), verify that the Option 3 checkbox is disabled.

    LambdaTest’s Selenium Playground

    LambdaTest’s Selenium Playground

    Checkbox Demo Screen

    Checkbox Demo Screen

    Test Scenario 2

    1. Open the LambdaTest’s Selenium Playground website.
    2. Navigate to the Redirection page.
    3. Using assertTrue(), verify that the page header is displayed on successfully loading the Redirection Page.

    LambdaTest’s Selenium Playground

    Playground

    Redirection Page

    Redirection Page

    Test Scenario 3

    1. Open the LambdaTest’s Selenium Playground website.
    2. Navigate to the Data List Filter page.
    3. Search for a record by entering the Attendee name.
    4. Using assertTrue(), verify that the data retrieved contains the Attendee name entered in the search box.

    LambdaTest’s Selenium Playground

    Filter Screen

    Data List Filter Screen

    Data List Filter

    Github

    We will run the tests on the Chrome browser on the Windows 10 platform using the LambdaTest Cloud grid.

    Info Note

    Automate your Java automated tests with Selenium. Try LambdaTest Today!

    Implementation [Test Scenario 1]

    In test scenario 1, we must open LambdaTest’s Selenium Playground website and navigate to the Checkbox Demo screen. We need to tick the Option 1 checkbox in the Disabled Checkbox Demo section and use the assertTrue() in Java to verify that it is ticked successfully. We will also check that the Option 3 checkbox is disabled using the assertTrue() method.

    The following automated test method named checkboxDemoTest() is written in the SeleniumPlaygroundTests class that will help us achieve the automation of the test scenario:

    Filename: SeleniumPlaygroundTests.java

    @Test
        public void checkboxDemoTest() {
            createDriver(Browsers.REMOTE_CHROME);
            final String website = "https://www.lambdatest.com/selenium-playground/";
            getDriver().get(website);
    
            final HomePage homePage = new HomePage();
            homePage.navigateToLink("Checkbox Demo");
    
            final var checkboxDemoPage = new CheckboxDemoPage();
            assertTrue(checkboxDemoPage.checkIfCheckboxOneIsTicked(), "Check box one is not ticked");
            assertTrue(checkboxDemoPage.checkIfCheckboxThreeIsDisabled());
        }

    The first line of the method will create an instance of the Chrome browser in the LambdaTest Cloud grid. createDriver() method is a static method in the DriverManager class that will help us instantiate a new instance of WebDriver.

    Filename: DriverManager.java

    createDriver

    The browser’s name passed in the createDriver() method parameter will get started. The REMOTE_CHROME browser name will call the setupChromeInRemote() method.

    configuration

    This method will set all the desired capabilities and the configuration required for running the tests on the LambdaTest Cloud grid. These capabilities can be directly copied using the LambdaTest Capabilities Generator.

    Chrome browser

    Once the driver session is created and the Chrome browser is started, the next line in the test will navigate the user to the LambdaTest Selenium Playground website.

    Chrome browser is started

    On the website’s Homepage, the Checkbox Demo link will be clicked to navigate the user to the Checkbox Demo page.

     test readability

    The Page Object Model is used in this project as it helps test readability, reduces code duplication, and acts as an interface for the web page under test. The HomePage class houses the page objects for the Home Page of LambdaTest’s Selenium Playground website.

    As the Homepage contains links to different website windows, a generic method has been created to search the links using the respective LinkText and then click on it to navigate to the required page.

    Filename: HomePage.java

    public class HomePage {
    
        public void navigateToLink (final String linkText) {
            getDriver ().findElement (By.linkText (linkText)).click ();
        }
    }

    The next step is to tick the Option 1 checkbox under the Disabled Checkbox Demo section and verify that it is ticked successfully using the assertTrue() in Java.

     in JUnit 5

    We will also provide a message in the assertTrue() method so that if the test fails, this text will be printed in the console for easy interpretation of the failure.

    The page objects for the Checkbox page are updated in the CheckboxDemoPage class. The checkboxOne() method will return a WebElement for the Option 1 checkbox.

    CSS Selectors are faster and simpler than XPath, allowing for a clearer method to locate web elements. We can use the CSS Selector “div:nth-child(2) > div:nth-child(1) > input[type=”checkbox”]” to locate the Option 1 checkbox.

    allowing

    The checkIfCheckboxOneIsTicked() method will tick the Option 1 checkbox and return the boolean value stating if the checkbox is selected.

    checkIfCheckboxOneIsTicked

    Filename: CheckboxDemoPage.java

    public class CheckboxDemoPage {
    
        public WebElement checkboxOne() {
            return getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("div:nth-child(2) > div:nth-child(1) > input[type=\"checkbox\"]"));
        }
        public WebElement checkboxThree() {
            return getDriver().findElement(By.cssSelector("div:nth-child(2) > div:nth-child(3) > input[type=\"checkbox\"]"));
        }
    
        public void tickCheckBoxOne () {
            checkboxOne().click();
        }
    
        public boolean checkIfCheckboxOneIsTicked() {
           tickCheckBoxOne();
            return this.checkboxOne().isSelected();
        }
    
        public boolean checkIfCheckboxThreeIsDisabled() {
            return !this.checkboxThree().isEnabled();
        }
    }

    The next assertion performed using the assertTrue() in Java is to check that the Option 3 checkbox is disabled.

    CheckboxPage

    The checkIfCheckboxThreeIsDisabled() method from the CheckboxPage class is used to check the disabled state of the checkbox.

    The point to note here is that we are using the “!” while returning the output of the boolean condition from the checkIfCheckboxThreeIsDisabled() method that uses the isEnabled() method. So, ideally, it will check that the checkbox is disabled and return the output as true, else it will return false.

    Test Execution

    The LambdaTest Username and Access Key must be provided for authentication to run tests successfully on the LambdaTest Cloud grid. These values can be updated in the Run Configuration window, which can be opened using the Modify Run Configuration option by clicking the Green Play button beside the test method name.

    Modify Run Configuration

    The LambdaTest Username and Access Key values can be copied from the Profile >> Account Settings >> Password and Security window.

    Security window

    In the Run Configuration window, update the values for the Username and Access Key as follows :

    -DLT_USERNAME= < LambdaTest Username > -DLT_ACCESS_KEY=< LambdaTest_Access_Key >

    LambdaTest Username

    Once the credentials are successfully updated in the configuration window, the tests can be executed by selecting Run Configuration from the dropdown in the top menu bar and clicking on the green button.

    Screenshot of the

    Screenshot of the test execution

    Screenshot of the test execut

    platform name

    All the test details can be viewed on the LambdaTest dashboard, including platform name, browser name, resolution, test execution logs, time taken to execute the tests, etc.

    Implementation [Test Scenario 2]

    In test scenario 2, we will navigate to the Redirection page on LambdaTest’s Selenium Playground website and verify that the page title is displayed using the assertTrue() in Java.

    The steps for test scenario 2 will be automated using the redirectionPageTest() method created inside the SeleniumPlaygroundTests.java class.

    Filename: SeleniumPlaygroundTests.java

    @Test
        public void redirectionPageTest() {
            createDriver(Browsers.REMOTE_CHROME);
            final String website = "https://www.lambdatest.com/selenium-playground/";
            getDriver().get(website);
    
            final HomePage homePage = new HomePage();
            homePage.navigateToLink("Redirection");
    
            final var redirectionPage = new RedirectionPage();
            assertTrue(redirectionPage.isPageTitleDisplayed());
        }

    The initial 3 lines in the test are the same as we discussed in the test scenario 1 implementation. We will not discuss the configuration and setup for creating a WebDriver session and launching the Chrome browser.

    Once the website is loaded on the browser, the Redirection page is navigated, and further interaction is taken to check that the title is displayed on the page.

    public class RedirectionPage {
    
        public boolean isPageTitleDisplayed() {
            return getDriver().findElement(By.tagName("h1")).isDisplayed();
        }
    }

    The RedirectionPage class is created to update all the page objects related to the Redirection page. The isPageTitleDisplayed() method returns a boolean value using the Selenium WebDriver’s isDisplayed() method.

    First, the Page title will be located, and then, using the isDisplayed() method, the verification will be done to check that it is displayed on the page. The assertTrue() method is finally used in the test to check the result of the boolean condition returned by the isPageTitleDisplayed() method.

    Test Execution

    The steps followed while executing Test Scenario 1 for setting the LambdaTest Username and AccessKey to execute the tests on the LambdaTest Cloud grid. The same steps need to be followed while executing this test.

    As we have already set the LambdaTest Username and AccessKey in the Configuration window, we can re-use the same window and just change the test method name to run this test.

    Click the Run/Debug Configuration dropdown and select the Edit Configuration option.

    configuration window by

    Select the redirectionPageTest() method name in the configuration window by clicking on the three dots next to the Method name field. Leave the other settings/configurations as they are and click “Apply” and then the “OK” button to close the configuration window.

    button to close

    The tests can now be executed by clicking on the green button next to the Run/Debug configuration field.

    of the test execution

    Screenshot of the test execution

    checked in the

     LambdaTest Build

    The test execution can be checked in the LambdaTest Build details windows after logging in to the LambdaTest website. This window provides granular details of the test execution that help know the test analytics and execution status.

    Implementation [Test Scenario 3]

    In test scenario 3, we will navigate to the Data Filter List page on LambdaTest’s Selenium playground website to search for an attendee record by entering a name. Once the records are retrieved based on the filter according to the name provided, the record will be verified using the assertTrue() method by checking if the Attendee name in the record contains the name searched for.

    The steps for test scenario 3 will be automated using the dataFilterPageTest() method that is updated inside the SeleniumPlaygroundTests.java class.

    Filename: SeleniumPlaygroundTests.java

    @Test
        public void dataFilterPageTest() {
            createDriver(Browsers.REMOTE_CHROME);
            final String website = "https://www.lambdatest.com/selenium-playground/";
            getDriver().get(website);
    
            final HomePage homePage = new HomePage();
            homePage.navigateToLink("Data List Filter");
    
            final var dataListFilterPage = new DataListFilterPage();
            final String attendeeName = "Dwayne";
            dataListFilterPage.searchAttendees(attendeeName);
            assertTrue(dataListFilterPage.getAttendeeName().contains(attendeeName));
        }

    In this test, we will first open the Chrome browser in the LambdaTest Cloud grid and navigate to the Data List Filter Page on LambdaTest’s Selenium Playground website.
    Next, it will search for the data with the attendee name “Dwayne”. Once the data is loaded on the page, the assertTrue() method will check the condition that the attendee name in the results contains the text – “Dwayne”. The test will be marked as pass if the text is found in the Attendee’s name in the data results.

    Test Execution

    The test for scenario 3 can be easily run by just changing the method name from the Run Configuration window, as shown in the screenshot below.

    Apply button

    Once the method is selected, click the Apply button and then the OK button to close the config window. To run the test, click the Green Play button on the toolbar on the top,

    Screenshot of

    Screenshot of the test execution

    Without assertions

    automated test is incomplete

    Conclusion

    Without assertions, an automated test is incomplete. Assertions help us to derive the results of the automated tests. This can help in providing faster feedback on the software builds.

    assertTrue() in Java is used to perform assertions in automated tests. We can verify a boolean condition using this method. This web automation method can ideally be used to check if a particular web element, like a checkbox or a radio button is enabled. It can also help in checking if a particular text is displayed. Further, it can be used for checking boolean conditions like text on a web page containing a particular string or text.

    I hope this helps you in writing better assertions for the automated tests.

    Happy Testing!

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    What is assertTrue Java?

    assertTrue in Java is a method used in testing frameworks like JUnit or TestNG to assert that a given condition is true. It is part of the assertion library and is typically employed to validate expected outcomes during test execution. If the specified condition is false, the test will fail, indicating that the expected result did not occur. This assertion is fundamental in ensuring the correctness of test cases and helps identify issues in the application under test.

    What is assertFalse in Java?

    The assertFalse method plays a crucial role in testing frameworks such as JUnit or TestNG by allowing developers to verify whether a specific condition is false. It is an integral component of the assertion library and validates anticipated results during the execution of tests. When utilized, if the designated condition is considered true, it triggers a test failure, signifying that the expected outcome has not been achieved. This assertion holds great significance as it ensures the accuracy and reliability of test cases while also aiding in identifying and resolving any potential issues within the tested application.

    What is the difference between assertTrue and assertEquals?

    assertTrue and assertEquals are both assertion methods commonly used in testing frameworks like JUnit or TestNG, but they serve different purposes. assertTrue is used to verify a boolean condition, ensuring it evaluates to true, while assertEquals is used to compare two values for equality. The choice between them depends on the nature of the test and the specific assertion being made.

    ]]>
    How To Execute JavaScript In Selenium Python https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/execute-javascript-in-selenium-python/ Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:06:32 +0000 https://www.lambdatest.com/blog/?p=62625 Continue reading How To Execute JavaScript In Selenium Python ]]>

    Directly accessing the DOM through JavaScript gives you the upper hand in testing dynamic websites. As an automation testing engineer, you are automating the testing of a dynamic web application, and you encounter a scenario where Selenium’s standard methods fall short. This is where JavaScript execution with Selenium can become a powerful combination in your testing arsenal. While it is not always the first choice for automation, it becomes indispensable when you need fine-grained control and precision over the dynamic nature of the DOM.

    Executing JavaScript with Selenium is sometimes unavoidable when automating complex web actions like CSS restyling, CSS animations, CSS scrolling, and state modifications, among many others.

    In this Selenium Python tutorial, you will learn how to execute JavaScript in Selenium Python while performing automation testing.

    Why use the JavaScriptExecutor in Selenium?

    Since JavaScript is a client-side scripting language, using it with Selenium allows you to manipulate web elements and add custom behavior during automation testing. Although the recommended way to automate a website is through the Selenium standard method, some scenarios highlighted below might require using the JavaScriptExecutor with Selenium.

    Lazy loading

    Although you can wait for lazy-loaded content with Selenium’s Explicit wait, you can add JavaScript to check if the lazy-loaded content has loaded before scrolling to its position and proceeding to the other test steps.

    The screenshot below is a simple example that demonstrates this scenario. The test uses JavaScript to check if the image element has loaded to confirm its visibility. Then, I passed this into an explicit wait method to pause test execution until the lazy-loaded image becomes visible within the DOM. I demonstrated this using the LambdaTest eCommerce Playground.

    Lazy loading image visibility

    Scrolling on a web page

    Apart from the ActionChains, JavaScriptExecutor offers flexible ways to scroll vertically or horizontally on a web page. For instance, executing JavaScript with Selenium is helpful when automating animated smooth scrolling or scrolling to a specific element in the DOM.

    Below is an example using JavaScript’s scrollIntoView property on LambdaTest eCommerce playground. This test scrolls to the specified image and hovers over it to expose more elements.

    Scrolling on a web page

    Simulating a custom wait function

    While Selenium’s Explicit wait remains the best way to pause for elements to load, JavaScript offers more flexibility, allowing you to customize DOM accessibility. Thus, you can interact better with the website from a user’s perspective.

    The example below uses the setInterval property to simulate a wait scenario for an asynchronously loaded element. I used the execute_async_script method in this case.

    Simulating a custom wait function

    The setInterval property executes the DOM access repeatedly at the specified timeout interval to wait for the element to load. Once the web element returns a value and is not null anymore, it clears the time interval using the clearInterval property.

    However, unless it becomes unavoidable, it is always best to choose Selenium’s explicit wait over writing a custom wait function with JavaScript. The wait function in JavaScript may pose complexity and inconsistency challenges across various browsers, leading to difficulties in debugging and maintaining the test code.

    Element creation

    Executing JavaScript in Selenium with Python can be necessary when you need to make temporary changes to element attributes or check changes in the UI by changing the styling. For example, the following code replaces the existing class name with a new one. Once changed, I could access the element via the new attribute during automation.

    Element creation

    Automating Shadow DOM

    JavaScript execution in Selenium offers an easy way to interact with Shadow DOM. Shadow DOMs act as encapsulated HTML within a separate DOM tree, which can sometimes be nested, making it challenging to access their elements through standard Selenium WebDriver methods.

    However, using JavaScript provides greater control over the DOM, allowing you to access and manipulate shadow DOM elements.

    The execute_script and execute_async_script method

    The execute_script and execute_async_script are Selenium’s built-in methods for running JavaScript in Python via Selenium. Both act as an interface between Python and JavaScript, allowing you to interact synchronously or asynchronously with the DOM during automation testing using pure JavaScript.

    Since the option to use JavaScript is available in Selenium, you can introduce JavaScript into your test regardless of the programming language.

    What is the execute_script method?

    The execute_script is a JavaScript interfacing method in Selenium that executes synchronous JavaScript within the browser instance. You can use this method by calling it from the driver instance as shown:

    script = """const img = document.querySelector(selector);"""
    driver.execute_script(script)

    What is the execute_async_script method?

    The execute_async_script method provides an interface for executing asynchronous JavaScript in Selenium. It provides an avenue for synchronizing the test automation with asynchronous events. Below is a general syntax for the execute_async_script method:

    script = """some asynchronous actions"""
    driver.execute_async_script(script)

    Since these methods only serve as interfaces, you can write JavaScript as a string inside a Python variable and pass it into the execute_script method or execute_async_script method, as demonstrated above.

    Pros of executing JavaScript with Selenium

    Integrating JavaScript into Selenium automation brings added versatility and effectiveness to the testing process. Executing JavaScript with Selenium during automation provides the following advantages.

    Better DOM control

    Executing JavaScript with Selenium during test automation allows you to customize web actions and alter web page elements to simulate users’ stories better. Overall, it lets you gain more control of the DOM during automation testing.

    Fine-grained control over asynchronous events

    Test automation with JavaScript execution in Selenium gives you more control over asynchronous web actions. It allows you to run Ajax actions seamlessly using the execute_async_script method.

    This method synchronizes asynchronous events and lets you interact with dynamic content. For instance, using asynchronous JavaScript execution, you can wait for elements to appear, disappear, or change state before taking further actions.

    Leverage the power of JavaScript with other programming languages

    Since the execute_script and execute_async_script methods in Selenium involve using JavaScript as an interface client script, they help you run JavaScript regardless of the Selenium-binding programming language.

    Whether automating with Python, Java, C, PHP, or any other programming language, JavaScript has powerful capabilities to interact with and manipulate the DOM, execute custom scripts, handle asynchronous operations, and achieve many dynamic interactions and behaviors within your web automation tests.

    Helps automate more complex operations

    Leveraging JavaScript with Selenium proves beneficial for executing intricate operations and directly interacting with the Document Object Model (DOM) in testing. This, in turn, enhances the test’s flexibility. Actions like element re-styling, attribute manipulation, alert simulation, hitting APIs, or interaction with shadow DOM are only possible with JavaScript execution in Selenium.

    Cons of executing JavaScript with Selenium

    While executing JavaScript with Selenium provides numerous advantages, it also has drawbacks. Testers must carefully weigh the benefits against these potential drawbacks to make informed decisions about incorporating JavaScript in Selenium automation.

    Difficult to debug

    The challenge in debugging hybrid code can increase the overall testing time, especially if the interfacing JavaScript is the cause of test failure. You have to switch between two programming languages to debug the faulty code.

    Reduced readability

    The automation test code becomes less readable since it combines two programming languages: JavaScript and the baseline testing language. This is unlike the WebDriver standard method, which doesn’t require third-party scripting.

    For instance, I embedded JavaScript into Python using a multi-line string inside the script variable. This can be challenging to understand for someone without a knowledge of JavaScript.

    Reduced readability

    Getting started with JavaScript execution with Selenium

    Getting started with JavaScript execution in Selenium involves understanding how to harness the power of JavaScript within your Selenium test scripts. Here are the key steps to initiate this process:

    Install dependencies

    This blog uses Python 3.10.6 and Selenium 4.13.0. But you should be able to follow along with Python 3.6 and later. We will run the test cases using pytest, so you must also install pytest. You will also install the python-dotenv package to hide secret keys and passwords.

    Open the CLI and create a new project folder. CD into your project root folder and create a new virtual environment by running the following command.

    py -m venv env_name

    Run the following code to activate the new virtual environment.

    .\env_name\Scripts\activate

    Ensure that you replace env_name with your virtual environment’s name.

    To install the dependencies, create a new requirements.txt file in your project root folder and paste the dependencies as shown.

    Run the following code to install the requirements in the virtual environment:

    pip install -r requirements.txt

    The installation command runs as shown below.

     installation command runs as shown below

    Implementation

    I have used VS Code on a Windows machine to structure the examples in this test suite. Each Python file in the teststeps folder represents an example use case of executing JavaScript with Selenium in Python. We will discuss these examples in the following sections.

    The driver setups for the whole test suite are inside the setup folder. The Setup.py file contains the setup for the entire test suite. It includes settings for the local browser instance and the cloud grid.

    Below is the entire project structure inside VS Code.

    entire project structure inside VS Code

    Executing JavaScript in Selenium Python

    In this Python tutorial, we will now consider some practical ways to execute JavaScript in Selenium Python during automation testing.

    But before we begin, let’s set up a general setting for the test suite. We will maintain a hybrid testing format that allows us to switch between local and cloud environments like LambdaTest (details later).

    LambdaTest is an AI-based test execution and orchestration platform that offers over 3000 real browsers and operating systems to help you automate executing JavaScript in Selenium Python.

    Subscribe to the LambdaTest YouTube Channel and stay updated with the latest tutorials around automated testing, Selenium testing, and more.

    So start by obtaining your LambdaTest username and access key before you make the changes. To do this:

    1. Go to your LambdaTest build directory.
    2. Click Access Key at the top-right.
    3. Copy your Username and Access Key from the popup modal.



      LambdaTest build directory

    Ensure you secure your LambdaTest Username and Access Key inside the .env file. You will obtain them using the dotenv package in the Setup file.

    Set up a Selenium WebDriver class in a setup.py file, as shown in the following snippet. You will inject this into subsequent test files. Make a new folder called setup in your test suite directory, and create a new setup.py file in this folder.

    Github

    I partitioned the setup code into conditions since I wanted to be able to switch between executing the test locally and on the cloud Selenium Grid. I obtained the execution platform string (EXEC_PLATFORM) from the environment variable. I only need to change it to cloud or local in the environment variable file to switch platforms.

    If the EXEC_PLATFORM reads the cloud string, the test suite runs on the LambdaTest cloud grid using the cloud capabilities.

     EXEC_PLATFORM

    Otherwise, if it reads local, the test suite executes locally using the local Chrome driver.

    test suite executes locally using the local Chrome driver

    Let’s have a more thorough code walkthrough.

    First, we import the WebDriver and dotenv packages. Then, we instantiate the load_dotenv class to read variables from the .env file. The os package allows you to call your Selenium Grid username and access key strings from the .env file using the os.getenv method.

    selenium webdriver import

    The Setting class takes up a test_name in its initialization function (__init__). Thus, since we will use the Setting class in each test case, we can instantiate it with a test name. This helps us name each test case separately during execution.

    test_name in its initialization function (__init__)

    Next, we specify the test suite capabilities. This lets you set up a predefined test environment, including browser choice (ChromeOptions in this case), platform type, build, and test name, among many others.

    Then, we obtain the test capabilities from the LambdaTest Capabilities Generator. I have included this in the setup file, as shown. LT_USERNAME and LT_ACCESS_KEY are the grid username and the access key obtained from your dashboard earlier.

    LT_USERNAME and LT_ACCESS_KEY are the grid username

    See the highlighted line in the above code; lt_options[“name”] points to the instantiating attribute (self.test_name). This means the Setting instance accepts a string, which is the name of a particular test case.

    The following code line configures the driver to use the specified browser option (ChromeOptions) in the cloud grid.

    lt_options[“name”]

    We declare the Selenium cloud grid URL. Adding your access key and username allows the grid to authorize your driver instance while accessing the grid.

    Selenium cloud grid URL. Adding your access key and username

    We then instantiate the remote WebDriver, which accepts the gridURL and the browser options.

     remote WebDriver, which accepts the gridURL

    Next is the local browser instance setup, which gets triggered while executing the test locally. Unlike the cloud execution option, this doesn’t require special capabilities; it uses the local Chrome driver. We’ve used Chrome driver version 119.0.6029.0 in this blog.

    First, we instantiate the ChromeOptions class. This isn’t essential in all cases. But we added it since we might want to add driver instance options like headless mode.

    ChromeOptions class

    Declaring the ChromeOptions as done above allows you to add more granularity with optional arguments. In this case, we’re running the browser instance in headless mode to prevent the actual browser from spinning up.

     browser instance in headless mode

    Next, we set up the driver attribute by adding this option to the Chrome browser instance.

    attribute by adding this option to the Chrome browse

    Finally, the Setting class declares the setUp and tearDown methods for the entire test suite. The setUp method uses implicit wait to pause for the DOM elements to load before maximizing the browser window. The tearDown method cleans up the test environment and quits the browser once the driver completes the automation.

    setUp and tearDown methods

    Let us proceed with the use cases for JavaScript execution in Selenium with Python.

    Info Note

    Execute JavaScript in Selenium Python on the cloud. Try LambdaTest Today!

    Responsive scrolling to an element using execute_script

    JavaScript allows you to run custom scripts to define the position you want to scroll to on a web page. Responsive scrolling can also be helpful while dealing with lazy-loaded images. This is because scrolling down a web page triggers the appearance of lazy-loaded images.

    While JavaScript’s scrollIntoView scrolls an element into the viewport, you can scroll to a specific position within the DOM using the scrollTo method. The scrollTo property is handy if you are unaware of the element you want to scroll to. The scrollIntoView method is better than continuously scrolling using the viewport height, as it is more specific and goes straight to the specified element.

    Look at the example below using LambdaTest eCommerce Playground.

    Here are the test cases:

    Test Case 1

    1. We will use JavaScript to get the position of a product image element.
    2. Scroll to its position responsively.
    3. We then bring the web element into the viewport and hover over it.

    Test Case 2

    1. Scroll the element into view using the scrollIntoView without specifying positions.
    2. Hover over the web element once it is in the viewport.

    To begin, let’s inspect the web page element. In the Chrome browser, right-click on an image element and select Inspect:

    inspect the web page element

    The code below demonstrates how to scroll to the specified element using Selenium’s execute_script in Python.

    The test starts by constructing the path to the parent directory of the currently executed script and allows us to use custom test modules.

    path to the parent directory

    Next is the instantiation of the Setting class with the appropriate test name, followed by the setUp method from the Setting class; this maximizes the browser window. Since this class contains two test cases, we want them to share a similar setup. So, we call the setUp method before initiating any test cases.

    Setting class; this maximizes the browser window.

    After visiting the URL, insert the JavaScript into the script variable as a string (like a multi-line comment). JavaScript first retrieves the target image element using its alt text. The querySelector is the choice since the script retrieves the image element using an alt attribute.

    querySelector

    The retrieval is demonstrated in the code block below.

    retrieval is demonstrated in the code block

    Once retrieved, use the getBoundingClientRect() to get the image size and position relative to the viewport. The script then uses the window.scrollTo() method to scroll to the image position; this accepts an X and Y argument to specify the horizontal and vertical cursor movement, respectively.

    getBoundingClientRect()

    Since the aim is to scroll vertically across the web page to the image element, the X axis takes a zero value while the Y takes the actual image position relative to the page height. To avoid missing the element’s position—even if it changes, we programmatically retrieve the image element position (pos.top). As seen in the code, concatenating this with window.scrollY obtains the image position relative to the viewport.

    See the extracted line below for clarity.

    window.scrollY

    Next in the script is the line that hovers over the image element. The ‘bubbles’: ‘true’ parameter propagates the hover event from the child (img element) to the parent element; this is the image container (a div). Look at the element structure below to understand better.

     child (img element)

    We did this because we wanted the hover event to start on the parent element regardless.

    parent element regardless.

    However, the above is a more complex way to scroll using JavaScript with execute_script. The following test case (test_should_scroll_to_image_easy) achieves a similar result with only a few lines of script. It involves using the scrollIntoView() property rather than setting custom positions. Here’s the script variable modification in the new method:

    scrollIntoView()

    Executing the script is straightforward. It only involves calling it inside the execute_script function.

    execute_script function.

    The last step is to call the tearDown method from the Setting instance to clean the test environment and quit the driver.

    Note: While the test features two setUp() methods, we needed only one tearDown() method. However, the tearDown() call must be inside the second test method (test_should_scroll_to_image_easy) to ensure the driver instance does not end before its execution.

    setting.tearDown()

    To run the test, open the command line to your project root folder and run the pytest command as shown below.

    python test_scrolling.py

    The test execution runs successfully in the console, returning the element’s height to the page viewport.

    page viewport.

    Here’s a visual output of the test demo:

     visual output of the test demo:

    Alert handling using execute_async_script

    Alert simulation is another area where JavaScript can be valuable during Python automation testing with Selenium.

    Test Scenario:

    1. The test will enter an address into the email field that checks email existence with an Ajax call.
    2. It will then use a custom alert to simulate test failure if the entered email address already exists in the database.

    Let us demonstrate this simple scenario using the SendGrid signup page. Please note that the SendGrid signup page is an external site and is subject to future element modifications. Ensure you adjust your test accordingly.

    Start with the inspection of the target web page.

    inspection of the target web page.

    The email confirmation, an Ajax call, asynchronously displays the error message element during email field entry if the email already exists in the database, but Ajax triggers this error element only when the cursor focuses on the password field.

    The code below replicates this description and triggers different alerts when:

    • Ajax adds a new element if an email exists.
    • And when the DOM structure remains the same if an email is not in the database.

    Code Walkthrough

    The code starts with an import of the Setting class, followed by other Selenium modules. However, we constructed the file path using the sys.append method before importing the Setting class from the setup module. This helps track the codebase project structure.

    Next, we instantiate the Setting class with the test name for this case. Then, we set up the test environment inside the test method in the SimulatAlert class. We achieve this by calling the setUp method from the Setting class.

     code starts with an import of the Setting class

    We visit the URL and declare a ten-second explicit wait time. Next, we obtain the email input element as shown.

    declare a ten-second explicit wait time

    Next, obtain the email input element and enter an email address into this field. Let’s quickly see this via the inspection tool.

    obtain the email input element

    The code below obtains the email field by its document ID.

    code below obtains the email field

    As mentioned, Ajax is only triggered when the cursor blinks in the password field. The following code focuses the cursor on the password field. This is so that Ajax can trigger the asynchronous database check.

    code focuses the cursor on the password field

    The test waits for the error message to be available. We have used the try/except block to ensure a free pass if Selenium cannot locate the element. That prevents a timeout failure if the email address exists. I wanted to control what happens when the email address already exists during sign-up.

    test waits for the error message

    The following code block uses JavaScript to simulate an alert if the error info element is missing. First, we obtain the error message element (error_message_element) and declare a callback variable for the function arguments. The arguments.length property determines the number of arguments passed to the function. In this context, it accesses the last argument, the callback function.

    Next, we pass the alert logic into an interval function. This function checks if the error element is present and throws an alert containing the error text (retrieved with the error_message_element.innerText property). The clearInterval property stops the interval once each condition is met.

    alert logic into an interval function

    Since this is an asynchronous action and involves setting intervals, we execute JavaScript in Selenium Python using the execute_async_script method. Using execute_script still works, though. However, it blocks other events in the function—so the automation may not achieve the desired result.

     this is an asynchronous action

    Waiting for the alert box after executing the asynchronous script ensures that the alert is visible before trying to resolve it. So, we pass the alert message into an explicit wait. You could still use the driver.switch_to.alert attribute to track the alert box without waiting. It is preferable to use an explicit wait as it can track and wait for the alert element simultaneously.

    Here is the overall test logic: if an email address already exists, the browser displays an alert containing the Ajax error message. Otherwise, it throws a custom alert as written in the else statement in the script.

    Since we have simulated an alert in the script, we need to use the accept method in Selenium to resolve it. See the demonstration below.

     simulated an alert in the script

    The last step is to end the test and quit the driver instance.

    end the test and quit the driver

    To execute the test, CD into your project root folder via the CLI and run:

    pytest

    The test runs in the console, as seen.

    test runs in the console

    Below is the automated Chrome browser execution, showing the alert message for an already registered email address.

     automated Chrome browser execution

    Automating an asynchronous login action using execute_async_script

    JavaScript execution with Selenium in Python also lets you simulate asynchronous tasks. Executing asynchronous tasks involves the use of execute_async_script instead of the execute_script method.

    For instance, this can be an asynchronous credential validation during a login action. Consider the following login example using the GitHub login page.

    But before we begin, here is an element inspection overview of the target web page.

    element inspection overview of the target

    Test Case:

    1. Test enters the specified login credentials into the username and password fields.
    2. Using an asynchronous script, it verifies the user’s email address and password by validating them against the original ones in the environment variable file.

    However, note that the demonstrated code might need changes if there is a change in the UI of GitHub. This is because the element attributes might change during UI updates, resulting in test failure due to missing web elements.

    Look at the code demo below.

    The above code demonstrates an exclusive use of asynchronous JavaScript during test automation.

    Code Walkthrough

    The test starts with importing the necessary modules, notably the Setting class and the dotenv module for masking secret credentials.

    notably the Setting class

    Next, we instantiate the Setting class with the test name (Login simulation async test). The driver variable is the driver attribute from the Setting class.

    Setting class with the test name

    I created the Selectors class to follow the Python Page Object Model design. This separates the page objects from the test class. Since this is a GitHub login automation, I’ve hidden my GitHub credentials in the .env file, as shown.

    Python Page Object Model design

    The test class (TestCredentials) inherits this class. So it can use its attributes in the test_credentials method. The test method starts with the setup and the target web page opening.

    attributes in the test_credentials method

    The following step confirms if the driver has opened the web page.

    driver has opened the web page

    Next, we fill the username and password fields with the correct credentials loaded from the .env file.

     correct credentials loaded

    Then, we write a custom asynchronous credential validation code using the execute_async_script method in a multiline Python string. We could also execute JavaScript in Selenium Python using execute_script. The former is best for handling asynchronous timeouts to avoid blocking the UI during test execution.

    The code starts with a callback that gets executed once the asynchronous task is completed. Much of the task is inside the timeout function. It checks if the credentials retrieved from the HTML input fields match the predefined values (self.github_username and self.github_password). Whether or not the credentials match, the script creates an alert to confirm login success or failure.

    callback that gets executed

    We pass this script variable into the execute_async_script method to trigger an asynchronous execution.

    pass this script variable

    The code block below retrieves the alert and asserts if the alert text contains the specified message (Login successful). Thus, the test fails if the success message is missing from the alert text. If the assert statement is valid, the test resolves the alert using the accept method.

    assert statement is valid

    Provided the credentials are valid, the following code block obtains the login button element and performs the login action using JavaScript.

    Provided the credentials are valid

    The tearDown method ends the test session and closes the driver instance.

    closes the driver instance

    To run the code, open the command line to your project root folder and run the following command:

    pytest

    The code runs as shown:

    The code runs as shown

    Changing the style of an element using execute_script

    You can also use JavaScript with Selenium in Python to tweak the style of an element. For instance, you can enable a disabled web element to perform specific actions. While this is not typical user behavior, it helps validate whether the disabled web element will work as expected when active.

    Let us take the described example further with the following code. We will also use the SendGrid sign up page for this demo. Please note that the SendGrid attribute may change eventually, and I have no control over it. So, adjust the test accordingly to your specific scenario.

    Before we begin, look at the test case below.

    Test Case:

    1. This test uses JavaScript to enable a disabled Submit button.
    2. It then changes the button’s background color to confirm it has been enabled.

    As a best practice, let us first inspect the target web page.

     inspect the target web page

    The code below demonstrates how to tweak the CSS property of an element using JavaScript execution with Selenium in Python.

    After importing the Setting class from the setup module and creating an instance of the Setting class as setting, the test starts with the setup method as expected.

     Setting class from the setup module

    Once we obtain the target URL and the disabled button class name, we write the script in Python’s multiline string. The code below activates and enables the disabled login button, making it clickable.

    we obtain the target URL

    You can further the test by entering your credentials and clicking the enabled button.

    Next, we execute the script using the exexute_script method.

     test by entering your credentials

    Finally, we call the tearDown function to quit the driver and end the test.

     tearDown function to quit

    CD into your project root folder via the command, and type the pytest command to execute JavaScript in Selenium Python.

    The test runs in the command line, as shown.

    test runs in the command line

    Here is the execution demo in the automated browser instance:

    execution demo in the automated browser

    Changing element attribute using execute_script

    Changing the element attribute is a common action in JavaScript. You can simulate the same during test automation. This can be helpful while testing different edge cases like tweaking functionalities or updating content without a page refresh.

    Let us use the LambdaTest eCommerce Playground to demonstrate this use case.

    Test Case:

    1. We will obtain the initial element attribute of a product on the eCommerce playground page.
    2. Then, change the class name of the obtained products

    Let us inspect the product element first.

    Let us inspect the product element first

    The element’s original class name is lazy-load. Before proceeding to the test script, let us change this directly by writing JavaScript in the console.

    writing JavaScript in the console

    We’ve used the querySelector to get the element’s alt attribute. Logging the selector before attribute modification displays the original element.

    attribute modification displays

    Once the attribute changes in the final script, it shows the target element with its modified attribute.

     attribute changes in the final script

    Now, let us replicate this in the test script.

    Code Walkthrough

    After importing the necessary modules, we instantiate the Setting class with a string representing the test name. We also specified the driver variable by calling its attribute from the Setting instance.

    specified the driver variable

    Next, we visit the e-commerce website by obtaining the url parameter.

    obtaining the url parameter

    Then, we print the original class attribute to see what it was before changing it.

    print the original class attribute

    The script below changes the document attribute. The element variable in the script obtains the image element using its alt attribute. We used the querySelector, not the class name because many elements share a similar class name (lazy-load). Next, we remove the original class name using the classList.remove property of JavaScript. Then, we set a new one using classList.add.

     new one using classList.add

    We must execute the script before printing the new attribute.

     execute the script before printing

    To confirm that the attribute has changed successfully, we obtain the new element (element_new) and print it as shown.

    obtain the new element

    Executing the test locally via the console displays the following output, including the original class name and the new one:

    console displays the following output

    Since all test files are in the same folder, you can execute JavaScript in Selenium Python in a queue using pytest. To do this, open the command line to your project root folder and run the following command.

    pytest

    The test runs via the command line, as shown.

    The test runs via the command line

    Each test demo runs successfully on the cloud grid, as shown below.

     runs successfully on the cloud grid

    As seen in the execution screenshot above, each test in the queue has a unique name, which is set by instantiating the Setting class with a desired name in each test file.

    Conclusion

    In this Selenium Python testing tutorial, you’ve witnessed various ways to execute JavaScript in Selenium Python. Although executing JavaScript in Selenium Python is not the preferred test automation method, it is beneficial in specific situations. JavaScript becomes essential for intricate scenarios like gesture and animation simulations, asynchronous interactions, responsive scrolling, and more. However, exercise caution not to rely on JavaScript if the desired action can be achieved through standard WebDriver methods.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    How do you execute a JavaScript script?

    Selenium utilizes the execute_script method to run JavaScript commands, passing them as arguments. Certain actions, such as scrolling down a page, may not be directly achievable through Selenium methods but are made possible with the assistance of the Javascript Executor.

    Can Selenium code execute JavaScript directly?

    Yes, Selenium can execute JavaScript code directly using the executeScript method provided by the JavascriptExecutor interface. This allows Selenium scripts to interact with and manipulate a web page’s Document Object Model (DOM) using JavaScript commands. The executeScript method takes a JavaScript code snippet as a string and executes it within the context of the current browser window. This capability is particularly useful for handling dynamic elements, asynchronous operations, and other scenarios that may not be easily achievable with standard Selenium commands.

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