Test Automation Frameworks- The Complete Guide
Test automation frameworks offer an ideal solution for developers seeking an efficient, reliable way to get their software product out to market sooner. They can significantly reduce development costs and boost ROI, making them an obvious choice for QA teams anywhere.
But how exactly do they work?
Are certain types of test automation frameworks better for you than others?
In this blog post, we offer a brief guide to various test automation frameworks and their pros and cons to help you make the best choice.
But first, let’s get the basics out of the way.
What is Test Automation Framework?
A test automation framework is a set of tools and best practices to help test software products more efficiently. It could consist of data handling methods, test result storage methods, coding standards, or other valuable ways to obtain results faster and more accurately.
The framework’s main function is to automate the repetitive aspects of software testing, such as menu behavior and login/signup/checkout flows, thus catching and fixing problems earlier in the development workflow.
When Should You Choose Automated Testing Over Manual Testing?
Under certain circumstances, software testing may need a manual component. Automated frameworks can be expensive, and it may make more sense for a small company with limited budgets to do the testing themselves.
Moreover, automated testing can never be like manual testing. So, when it comes to UX testing, it’s vital to have a manual tester who can provide perspective on how an end user would feel navigating the app.
If your QA team has the resources and know-how, though, we recommend investing in automated testing frameworks. While the setup can be costly, the cost savings and improvements in result quality more than makeup for it.
Test automation frameworks are essential if you want to expand your market reach and release multiple software applications.
Benefits of a Test Automation Framework
Using a test automation framework isn’t mandatory. However, there’s no denying the many benefits it can bring. Not only will it speed up the testing process, but you’re also guaranteed much more accurate results. The key benefits of automated testing include:
1. Higher test efficiency
With automated tests, your accuracy rates are exponentially higher than with manual tests. These frameworks ensure that you get comprehensive reports on all bugs and features and that even the slightest delays are recorded.
That way, you can fix them before you release the application, ensuring that your customers get top quality.
2. Minimal manual effort
Automated testing saves your QA team a lot of time, particularly if you have reusable test scripts. They just need to execute the test scripts, and they can run the tests anytime and anywhere without having to keep rechecking for accuracy.
3. Higher test coverage
Automated testing lets you run multiple tests in parallel and also test various types of devices simultaneously.
4. Script reusability
You get the advantage of reusable testing scripts for certain types of automated frameworks, a boon for future testing requirements. All you need to do is write the code that executes the script, and you’ll get your results in as soon as possible.
5. Lower costs
Automated testing lets you do the job with a smaller QA team, reducing costs. Plus, with accurate testing results, any bugs can be spotted and fixed immediately, reducing the effort and expense of application callbacks later
Types of Test Automation Frameworks
Let’s take a look at the different options out there for testing frameworks.
1. Linear Scripting Framework
This is one of the easiest ways to get started with automated testing and is also known as a record-and-playback framework. Simply put, it involves your tester recording each step of the testing process in sequential order and then playing the steps back to run the test automatically.
The chief advantage of this method is that it doesn’t require any custom code, so you can use it even if you aren’t an automation testing expert. Recording the steps doesn’t take much time either, reducing overall testing time.
On the other hand, this framework doesn’t generate reusable scripts. If your data changes, you need to change the script.
2. Modular Testing Framework
Under this framework, your testers will divide the application into separate modules and create an individual test script for each of them.
This way, if changes are needed to any one part, they’ll only need to update the script for that specific module, reducing your overall efforts. On the other hand, setting up a modular testing framework does require more coding knowledge.
3. Data-Driven Testing Framework
This framework addresses a challenge that your QA team is likely to face often—having to test the same function or feature multiple times with different datasets.
With the data-driven approach, your team separates the test data from the script logic, which means that the test data doesn’t have to be hard-coded into the script itself.
That way, you can connect your test scripts to an external data source and pull data from there as needed. This approach has the big advantage of letting you execute tests with multiple data sets, reducing the number of scripts you must have.
The flip side is that you need a team that is conversant in multiple programming languages to use this data framework.
4. Keyword-Driven Testing Framework
This automated testing framework also involves separating test data and script logic. For each function of the application, you’ll prepare a table with a set of instructions.
In addition, you’ll store the keywords (components of the script indicating the various test actions, like “login” or “click”) in an external data table with an associated object on which the action is being performed.
Once you have the table set up, all you need to do is have your testers write the code that will set the relevant action into motion (based on the keywords).
This makes for highly reusable code, as you can use a single keyword for multiple scripts and write scripts independent of the application you’re testing. It does, however, make for a more expensive and time-consuming initial setup.
5. Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) Framework
This framework involves writing test cases in simple text language to help even your non-technical collaborators understand what the software is doing. You focus on system behavior and user stories when writing your tests, and you have a separate Feature file for your test scenarios.
It’s derived from the TDD approach, and its chief characteristic is the more “layman” approach, designed to ensure that your technical and non-technical collaborations can work together smoothly. This also makes for more reusable testing scripts.
6. Test-Driven Development (TDD) Framework
This framework was derived from Agile principles to save as much time as possible during software testing. Essentially, it’s an iterative process that involves creating unit tests for each software feature and writing new code only if those tests fail.
This framework avoids the creation of duplicate test scripts and helps your QA team develop optimized code that’s more robust because you catch errors early on.
Of course, making TDD work requires you to have a highly communicative team that analyzes and fixes each failure as it crops up so that you have the test feedback needed to improve code quality sooner.
7. Library Architecture Testing Framework
This is similar to the modular testing framework in that it divides the application into multiple parts for testing. However, the division takes place on the basis of common objectives—the tasks involved are grouped by function.
This approach creates a library of common functions that can then be used by different test scripts as needed, making it a more reusable and scalable approach. However, your team will need a fair bit of technical knowledge to analyze these functions.
8. Hybrid Testing Framework
This involves a combination of any of the testing frameworks we’ve discussed here. This is becoming increasingly common for QA teams that want to combine the benefits of more than one framework while reducing the impact of the weaknesses.
Particularly if you’re looking to develop more agile methods of software testing, it helps you be as flexible as possible, which the hybrid approach lets you be. A requisite here, though, is having an automated testing tool that supports a variety of languages and applications.
Best Test Automation Frameworks
Ensuring the quality, efficiency, and reliability of software testing processes becomes easy with test automation frameworks. Here are the best ones widely used across the industry:
1. Selenium
Selenium is an industry-leading open-source framework widely used for automating web applications. It offers unparalleled flexibility by supporting multiple programming languages such as Java, C#, Python, and JavaScript.
As Selenium is highly regarded for its cross-browser testing compatibility, it allows tests to be run across different browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
Its robust community support and rich ecosystem of tools and libraries make it a go-to choice for web application testing.
Key features
Seamlessly manage dynamic content and asynchronous web pages, ideal for web applications that frequently refresh content without a full page reload.
Easily capture and replay test scenarios within a Continuous Integration environment, eliminating the need for programming knowledge and simplifying the testing process.
Efficiently distribute and run test suites across numerous virtual or physical machines using Selenium Grid, significantly reducing the time needed for comprehensive testing.
Set breakpoints and utilize debugging tools to pause and closely examine test execution at any stage, aiding in troubleshooting issues during automation with Selenium IDE.
Write detailed automation scripts for web interactions, including clicking buttons, populating forms, navigating across different pages, and more, leveraging the power of Selenium WebDriver.
Pricing
Free as it’s an open-source tool; no licensing costs are associated with its use.
2. Appium
Appium is a powerful open-source framework specifically designed for automating mobile applications on Android, iOS, and Windows platforms. It excels in automating native, hybrid, and mobile web applications without requiring any modification to the application’s code.
It integrates seamlessly with existing testing ecosystems, making it a preferred choice for mobile test automation. Appium’s ability to handle complex mobile interactions and gestures further strengthens its position as a top framework among mobile app testing tools.
Key features
Execute Appium as a process on a machine to facilitate ongoing automation as long as required since it operates as an HTTP server.
Use Appium’s Desired Capabilities to define the device type and configure other parameters, tailoring the test environment to meet specific requirements.
Leverage the support of Appium’s active community and make use of its comprehensive documentation to overcome challenges and enhance your automation efforts.
Script and automate complex touch interactions like swiping, tapping, zooming, and pinching—ideal for testing modern mobile applications with complicated touch-based functionalities.
Develop tests in the programming language you are most comfortable with, such as Java, Python, Ruby, JavaScript, C#, or PHP, ensuring a seamless integration with your existing development workflow.
Pricing
Free as it’s an open-source tool, it’s available for use under the MIT License.
3. Cucumber
Cucumber is a widely recognized tool in the BDD arena. It enables teams to write test scenarios in plain language that anyone can understand.
This approach fosters collaboration between developers, testers, and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring that everyone is aligned on the application’s behavior.
Cucumber’s integration with popular automation tools like Selenium and Appium and its ability to run tests in multiple languages make it a versatile and essential tool in modern software development practices.
Key features
Create current and easily shareable documentation, all automatically generated using Cucumber.
Reuse step definitions across various scenarios within Cucumber to reduce redundancy and simplify maintenance.
Connect Cucumber with popular testing frameworks like JUnit, TestNG, RSpec, and more to enhance your testing capabilities.
Execute identical test scenarios with multiple sets of input data by utilizing scenario outlines and example tables, streamlining test coverage.
Use tags to categorize and manage your test scenarios. This enables you to filter and execute specific subsets of tests, such as smoke tests, regression tests, or tests focused on a particular feature.
Pricing
Free as it’s an open-source tool, it’s available for use under the MIT License.
4. TestNG
TestNG is a robust testing framework inspired by JUnit but with more powerful features that cater to a broader range of test categories, including unit, functional, and integration tests.
TestNG is particularly popular in the Java community for its ease of handling complex test scenarios. It supports parallel test execution, data-driven testing, and flexible test configurations, making it ideal for large-scale test automation projects.
TestNG’s detailed reporting and extensive integration options further enhance its appeal to developers and testers alike.
Key features
Utilize TestNG as the test runner for both new TestNG tests and your existing JUnit tests, providing a unified testing environment.
Use attributes like
dependsOnMethodsanddependsOnGroupsto specify dependencies between test methods and ensure they run in a predetermined order.Produce detailed HTML and XML reports that offer in-depth information about test execution, helping to analyze performance and identify issues effectively.
Define and group tests logically, manage the order of execution, configure parallel execution, and adjust suite-level settings for optimal test management.
Apply time constraints with the
timeoutattribute to prevent tests from exceeding expected durations and keeping execution within defined limits.
Pricing
Free as it’s an open-source tool; it’s available for use under the Apache License 2.0
5. Ranorex
Ranorex is a commercial test automation tool known for its comprehensive feature set and ease of use. It supports automation across desktop, web, and mobile platforms, making it a versatile tool for diverse testing needs.
It’s particularly appreciated for its user-friendly interface, which allows even those with minimal programming experience to create and execute automated tests.
Ranorex’s advanced object recognition, combined with script-based and scriptless testing support, makes it a powerful solution for organizations looking to scale their test automation efforts.
Key features
Produce detailed test reports and logs that include screenshots and video recordings of test executions, facilitating easier diagnosis of issues.
Integrate effortlessly with popular CI/CD platforms like Jenkins, Azure DevOps, and Bamboo, enabling early issue detection during the development cycle.
Create modular test components that can be reused across various test cases and projects, minimizing the effort needed to maintain and update your test scripts.
Accurately identify UI elements across different platforms and technologies, making your tests more stable and less susceptible to breakage due to UI changes.
Perform software testing on various browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Internet Explorer, ensuring compatibility and performance across different environments.
Pricing
Contact sales for custom quotations; it offers all-inclusive licenses.
Conclusion
Test automation frameworks are indispensable for modern software development, enabling faster, more reliable, and cost-effective testing processes. By automating repetitive tasks and improving test coverage, they allow QA teams to focus on strategic goals and deliver high-quality software. Choosing the right framework, whether it's Selenium for web applications, Appium for mobile apps, or BDD tools like Cucumber, depends on your project's specific needs and technical expertise. Investing in the right framework ensures scalability, reusability, and a smoother path to market success.
Source: This blog was originally published at https://testgrid.io/blog/test-automation-framework/