9 Ways to a Successful Mobile App Testing
Published on Jul 19, 2022
by Simran Arora
Before, computers were the only thing that could change how humans behave, think, learn, and exist. Now, smartphones have replaced computers to a great extent. Even though laptops and PCs still do what most smartphones can’t do, we hang around with smartphones in our hands and not laptops. Therefore, the mobile apps you develop as an engineer need to be tested thoroughly and properly before they reach any customer. This post will show you the top 9 ways to conduct successful mobile app testing.
What is Mobile App Testing?
Mobile app testing is a step-by-step process of detecting and resolving your mobile app script’s performance and security-related issues. It will test the entire life cycle of an application but not at once. You will have to conduct app testing at every stage during the app development process. And only after that will the app deliver an adequate experience to the customers. Generally, mobile app testing is like the website testing process, but there are a few additional steps that you must follow. We will talk about those steps in a while but before that, let’s find out how many types of mobile app testings are there.
Types of Software Application Testing:
When the applications that operate on mobile devices are tested in terms of security and functionality, it is named mobile application testing. However, mobile app testing and mobile testing are different. In mobile testing, they test the entire hardware and software components, but in mobile app testing, they only test the software components. Yet, in mobile app testing, there are some fundamental types that you need to note first.
Native apps testing:
Native apps are those apps that come in-built on almost every smartphone and tablet device like the calculator.
Mobile web apps testing:
Web apps are server-side applications accessible from your mobile. These apps are available on web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc. You can run them from the browsers only.
Hybrid apps testing:
Hybrid apps are a combination of native and web apps. These apps are run on your smartphones and are mostly written with HTML5 and CSS.
If you know the differences between apps, you can easily implement the tests. However, application testers often find some challenges in mobile app testing.
What Are the Ultimatums of Mobile App Testing?
These days, users always expect your smartphone app to be high-quality and smooth. However, if you don’t provide the desired result, it can lead to a loss in business and lose your credibility. That’s why developers perform proper mobile app testing as a successful application development strategy. However, today’s mobile app testing process is more difficult than before because of the following factors:
Due to the over-developed field of technology, mobile applications these days need to keep up with the connections with cars, home appliances, voice-controlled devices, gaming devices, and more. Which requires advanced mobile app testing.
Your app’s interface must be suitable for the global audience.
You should be ready to release regular updates to keep your app updated and free of flaws. You can also schedule your updates to withdraw the hurdle off your shoulders.
You need to prepare customized communication features to satisfy your different customer base.
While developing an app, you need to make sure that it supports the latest device versions, and testing those apps in the new OSs takes a lot of effort.
The benefits of application testing might not be for every user because they are unique and demand unique functions from applications to stay satisfied.
Even though these challenges of mobile app testing exist, you can alleviate the drawbacks and make the best use of the benefits if you follow the steps carefully.
9 Ways to Implement a Successful Mobile App Testing
The mobile app industry is thriving and forcing developers to implement the testing process more accurately than ever. A proper end-to-end mobile app testing method generally has nine steps described in this section.
1: Planning the Process
Before deciding which features and functions of the app you need to test manually or automatically, it will help if you list all these processes. Create a list of the features and processes of the app that you want to test and decide what tests you want to run on them. Describe the intended tests in short words and their anticipated consequence as well. For example, you want to test the “Place Order” button of an e-commerce app. You should write down what test you want to perform on it and what outcome you are expecting from it.
2: Choose the Type of Mobile Testing You Want to Run
There are two categories of mobile app testing: manual and automatic. However, where you should run a manual test and where you should run an automatic test is hard to decide. Here we are helping you out with that:
Run Automated Testing in the Following Situations:
If you are running routine tests to check the features or functions of the app, automatic tests will be great. It will preserve a ton of time and will help you prevent repetition.
If the feature has an expected outcome, automating the test will help. For example, when a user clicks on the “Place order” button, it will take him to the payment page. Thus, it can be tested automatically.
When testing your app with a wide range of systems, it’s impossible to check for compatibility issues manually. Therefore, automating the tests can help.
Run Manual Testing When:
Keep big tests like checking the payment page in manual mode because it is important and has security risks.
Perform manual tests on testing the app back to back.
Keep in mind that small and less vital features are better off with automatic testing because they are more efficient and easier.
3: Prepare Tests for Different Features and Functions
Define the features and functions you want to perform the tests for. You can do it in two ways: test the performance of certain app features, test the functions, and expect the outcome from your organization’s perspective. For example, you can test the performance of the search button on your app, and to test it from a business perspective, you will have to analyze the search queries and provide output accordingly. Also, you will have to understand what type of tests you want to run on different functions. There are two varieties of app testing:
Functional
It includes
unit-testing
Integration testing
System testing
Beta/approval testing
Interface testing
Reversal testing
Non-functional
Volume testing
Load testing;
Security testing
Performance testing
Stress testing
Reliability testing
Compliance testing
Usability testing
Localization testing
After determining the type of testing you want to run, go ahead and learn about the actual testing process.
4: Manual Testing
Though automated testing can save your time and effort, manual testing is still preferred in some test cases. For example, in the Agile testing framework, experts use a blend of manual and automated testing. Every time you plan a testing plan, it is recommended to start with manual testing only because they are more explanatory and don’t require extra investments to plan. However, you will have to record all the testing logs in a document.
5: Automated Testing
We recommend you run automated tests on the predictable functions you know will behave in a certain way. After performing some manual tests and identifying the outcomes of the tests, you can automate the tests on the same features for a routine check-up. You can also run automated tests on load, stress, spike, etc., with the best tools possible. But when you are choosing an automated testing tool, you should make sure that it is compatible with different operating systems such as iOS and Android and supports popular computing languages like C# and Java. Also, make sure that the tools have various useful features such as playback and recording of the run tests, allowing you to write the tests manually, etc.
6: Beta Testing
Some developers think that beta testing is an alternative to usability testing because they identify the same issues. But both are different and take care of different things. If you run a usability test, you will be able to find out the features that your users like. And the beta test is about collecting feedback on the app before its release date. Also, you can understand how a single feature works with the help of a usability test, and a beta test will help you figure out how many times the users use a single feature. With both types of tests, you will understand what features will be useful in the future.
7: Performance Testing
After succeeding the testing the performance of every feature, it’s time to test the performance of the entire app. With performance testing, you can test the speed, stability, scalability, response time, etc., of the app under a specific amount of traffic. It will also identify any system errors or discrepancies within the app. However, if you don’t know what’s a certain way an app should behave, then you won’t be able to determine the possible outcome from the performance testing. Define the abilities the app is supposed to possess and your intended use cases, and the best conditions where the app will accomplish the tasks. Developers perform performance testing after every test is done, but you can also run it along with unit testing to identify how well a single feature is working.
8: Security Testing
Your app should require various security standards depending on the functions and features. PCI DSS, HIPAA, and FFIEC are the most common security standards implemented on app testing. PCI DSS is implemented for the mobile apps that accept transactions. HIPAA is a security test for the apps that store, collect, or process medical information. And FFIEC controls financial data mostly used in banking apps. While performing security testing, the developers should be ready to handle any outcome that comes your way.
9: The Final Version Release
After every other testing, the developers will perform end-to-end testing to ensure that the app is working perfectly on the back-end and server level and will be released. If there are no significant bugs or glitches in the system, the developer will submit the app to the app store. But if there is any bug, the developers will perform the end-to-end testing again after fixing the issue.
Conclusion
If you can implement and finish the mobile app testing properly, then it will help you boost user satisfaction. Please remember that app testing is not an optional stage of an application’s lifecycle and should be conducted to better the product. Also, mobile app testing is not a difficult process if you are using the right tools with the right information. Therefore, before you begin testing your mobile app, make sure you thoroughly research the process and follow the standard app development guidelines.