Software test automation arises in the same way as any automation arises: from the need to reduce human effort in activities which can be carried out by a system or a machine. However, it is not only a matter of effort, but also about seeking to reduce errors, which is much easier to occur in manual work.
In the case of software testing, the aim is to avoid repetitive and tedious work by the tester, freeing them up and giving them time to dedicate to other specific tasks that provide greater value, reducing execution time.
In some cases, automation even allows us to carry out tests that a person could not, especially regarding the number of executions we can carry out in a specific period of time.
Manual tests involve the work of a person (or a human team) who, acting almost artisanally, interacts with a software to check its operation.
Although it is an especially customisable and bespoke process in each development, in reality this type of test ends up being more expensive as the company has to allocate a certain number of people to undertake this task.
Additionally, human error in the process comes into play, which may lead to costly problems once the application is implemented.
In automated processes, the testing expert generates a test case using a tool so that the test is then executed automatically. It does not require the intervention of the individual in each new execution; the test simulates human interaction with the software.
Today, software test automation is opening the door to significant improvements in the testing phase. With suitable tools and a quality script, automated techniques are multiplying the results which can be obtained in test environments with greatly reduced budgets and waiting times.
The advantages of automation in testing include:
Additionally, it allows the execution of a larger number of tests without the need to increase the number of people dedicated to testing.
Testing automation is applied through specific platforms capable of running scripts or test programs. This is the basic concept behind automation of the different types of software testing, a rule which is applied from the simplest to the most complex tests.
Some key tools for the automation of software tests include:
Finally, the generation of immediate and continuous feedback is key, so that it is possible to continue with the software tests successively in all layers.
There are countless test cases and examples which demonstrate the advantages of applying automation.
In any case, all of these require appropriate data to test and check the result of the execution from a data perspective. icaria TDM offers these two essential capabilities for efficient automation.
The operating diagram of the automation will then operate in the following way: Execution – Checking – Closure – New execution and data delivery.
For greater clarity, we wanted to demonstrate in detail the automation process thanks to icaria TDM in the following video:
Do you want to know more about software test automation and how icaria TDM can help you in the process? Request your demo, and discover it first hand.