Selenium automation testing is a sort of software testing in which the test case is executed to find bugs in an automated way. Manual testing is carried out without tools, while automation testing is carried out automatically by utilizing automation testing tools or test scripts. Organizations that create software can’t afford to take shortcuts when it comes to quality and speed. They must deliver software and subsequent upgrades quickly and frequently to remain competitive in a fast-paced tech industry that is always growing. Without adding automation into the testing and development processes – most efficiently through CI/CD and DevOps approaches – this will not be achievable. Test automation is mostly used to automate repetitive processes and other testing jobs that are difficult or impossible to do manually. Both functional and non-functional forms of testing will be supported by this technique.
What is manual testing?
In order to check if the given software is working as required, manual testing is done physically. Various features and functions are used in this process. Potential mistakes are considered so that the given test case is bug-free and works seamlessly.
What is selenium automation testing?
Testers write code/test scripts to perform tests while performing Automated Software Testing. The objective is to finish testing in a shorter period of time. Automated testing is based solely on a pre-scripted test that runs automatically to find bugs much faster so that the team can use time constructively. This helps the tester in defining if an application runs as planned.
You can use automation testing to do repetitive tasks and regression tests without requiring a human tester. Even if all operations are automated, the creation of the first testing scripts necessitates some human work.
Benefits of automation testing over manual testing
- Effectiveness and accuracy: A QA analyst (human) does manual testing, while in automated testing he performs automated testing using code, script, and other forms of automation tools. In addition to this, manual testing is also considered ineffective due to the possibility of human mistakes. On the other hand, automation is dependable due to its script, tools, and code-based nature. Manual testers might make errors since they are human, no matter how diligent they are. People get fatigued, they tend to forget steps and commit many other mistakes. Automation, on the other hand, executes a script flawlessly every time and records outcomes in the precise detail that was specified.
- Time: Manual testing takes a long time and is a cumbersome process, however, automation testing is quite quick. Tests that are completed more quickly give quicker results. As a result, product release may be accelerated without negotiating on the software quality. A business’s ROI (Return on Investment) increases when it achieves its results in a faster time to the market leads.
- Usage of resources: QAs may give their time to things that need their judgment and intellectual involvement now that dull, repetitive tests have been automated. They may devote more time to developing new test cases, determining advanced testing metrics, carefully evaluating automated test results, or executing tests that can’t be automated, for instance, exploratory tests, usability tests, and so on. Testers might also be more involved in their day-to-day job if they have fewer repetitive duties to cope with. This makes them happy and boosts team spirit, all of which results in greater job quality.
- Cost: You might hear how costly automation may be to set up and deploy in the early stages. This is valid, but most developers, testers, and management overlook the fact that manual testing is significantly more expensive in the long term. Automation testing, contrary to common assumptions, is more budget-friendly in the long term. In manual testing, you will not be able to do repeating tests (like regression testing). As the program grows, more features must be evaluated, putting additional strain on human testers. Manual testers must test more without using automation, which raises expenses and worsens software quality by increasing the likelihood of mistakes and lengthening the time it takes for tests to complete.
- Skills: Manual testing may be done without knowing how to program, while automation testing cannot be done without knowing how to program. Also, random testing is possible with manual testing, but not with automation testing.
- Speed and performance: Even the world’s biggest QA teams can’t match an automation framework’s performance, accuracy, and range. For load testing, automated tests may, for example, be used to replicate the activities of a thousand users on a site. Manual testing cannot do this unless a QA team has a thousand individuals ready to visit a website at the same time (a very implausible situation). Manual testing may not be sufficient for testers who want to undertake cross-browser testing on many browsers and browser versions. To execute the needed number of tests in a short amount of time on numerous actual browser-device OS combinations will be required.
- Bug-detection: With automation or by adopting a shift left or shift early approach, one can lead to early discovery of these bugs which means earlier debugging, which makes things a lot simpler. Bugs that make it to the pre-production stage are substantially more difficult to fix since they impact huge portions of the program under test. In fact, this is the main point of this testing technique, which aims to find and fix defects as early in the development process as feasible. This increases software quality and cuts down on time spent later in the pipeline correcting bugs.
- Framework and parallel testing: Automated testing may be run in parallel on several operating systems, thereby reducing the time of test execution while manual testing may be run in parallel but requires more human resources, which is costly. For nightly execution, you may batch numerous Test Scripts but there is no way to batch manual testing. Automation testing leverages frameworks like Keyword, data drive and Hybrid to speed up the automation process, Manual testing doesn’t really employ frameworks, but it does use standards, checklists, and strict methods to create test cases.
- Tools: Automated testing employs cloud-based tools such as LambdaTest, which performs Selenium automation testing on a secure, scalable, and a reliable cloud-based Selenium testing grid online. This further allows you to expand your test coverage by testing on an online infrastructure that may include 3000+ desktop and mobile browser environments.
- Obtaining feedback: Automation testing uses frameworks like Selenium that speed up the execution of the test cases. Testing is more efficient, which is particularly beneficial for repeated tasks like in the cases of regression and integration testing. Test automation enables tests to be performed quickly enough to provide correct findings in short sprints, meeting the needs of agile teams for immediate, thorough, and perfect feedback. Manual testing does not allow for this. Teams may obtain feedback more often with faster testing and results, which helps them discover problems and enhance functionality. Agile life cycles are characterized by frequent and rapid feedback loops. Developers are supposed to submit code, gather feedback, and then tweak it. Every sprint must go through this iterative procedure.
- Reusability: Building an automated test suite might be difficult initially. However, once you’ve established your suite, reusing tests for new cases or even other projects is a breeze. You can quickly connect any other project to your automation testing suite, which is a big plus. You’ve already mastered the setup of an automated test suite and its associated technologies. As a result, you may quickly use what you’ve learned to build up test automation for a new project.
- Reports and insights: When certain tests fail, automated testing delivers more information than manual testing. Automated testing not only displays the application’s insights, but also shows you the file contents, data tables, memory contents, and other internal program states. This assists developers in determining what went wrong.
There are many sorts of tests that may be used to assist a business to evaluate and enhance the quality of its product. Functional and unit tests are the foundational tests that should be in place for each project. The regression testing process is the most crucial form of test for maintaining your product’s quality. If your business doesn’t already have an automated test suite in place, you should seriously consider adopting a test automation platform that matches your requirements. Your organization will save time and money while also delivering higher-quality items if you automate your testing process. As far as feasible, manual testing must be avoided. An automated test suite nowadays may even mimic dozens of virtual users all engaging with your application. Manual testing would never allow for this. By automating the testing process in an organization, you will not only save time and money but will also deliver high-quality, reliable products. Finally, let’s admit that human mistakes cannot be avoided, and let’s make an attempt to get rid of them by putting money into test automation!