Software development is a highly complex process where mistakes are inevitable. No matter how good your team of specialists is, no one is immune from bugs that can negatively impact the quality of the final product. It is worth using automatic testing to identify the slightest errors quickly. Today we want to tell you what it is and its fundamental advantages.
What is automated testing?
Today there are 2 main types of testing – automatic and manual. In the first case, specialists use special tools for a comprehensive study of the code, and in the second case, they proofread the code independently.
Thus, automated testing is a way of a deeper analysis of the code, achieved using special tools. The tester defines the test cases, and the software does the rest of the work.
Benefits of automated testing
Manual and automation testing are very different, so they are used for various purposes. Typically, manual testing is suitable for testing user experience and interface and small startups. Automated testing is good for in-depth code review to find any bugs. This type of testing has been developing rapidly in the last few years so that it can reveal previously inaccessible errors.
It saves time and money
Automated testing takes much less time since the computer does all the work, and the tester can work on new test cases in parallel. Thus, you can run several tests in parallel, which saves a lot of time.
The service of automatic testing itself is more expensive than manual testing, as specialists are often forced to use paid tools. However, given that such testing takes several times less time (and the total cost is calculated from the number of hours the tester spends), you get good savings. In addition, you can release a product much faster and win a potential race with competitors, which will also bring you more profit.
Increases test coverage
Modern tools for automatic testing can significantly increase the volume and depth of tests and, therefore, identify those errors that were previously inaccessible. Thanks to this testing, you can check how well your software performs the necessary functions and identify the slightest vulnerabilities that attackers can use to gain access to customers’ personal data or financial accounts.
You can run thousands of tests simultaneously, allowing you to perform deeper code analysis quickly.
Increases accuracy
Manual testing is often associated with a large number of errors due to human error. No matter how good a specialist is, they can make mistakes in monotonous work. Automatic testing is performed not by a person but by a computer, so errors are minimized here.
Automated testing does what manually cannot
Manual testing cannot simulate hundreds of people using an application, but automated testing can. You may have noticed that some platforms work poorly during the sale days or sites need to open. It is because load testing was done incorrectly. To prevent such problems, you should use automated testing.
In addition, you should make sure that your software works well on different operating systems and browsers. It is only sometimes possible to check this indicator using manual testing.
Automated testing helps developers
It is better to conduct testing at all stages of software development. Each developer can do automated testing after writing a separate code or module. It allows you to find errors and fix them immediately before they lead to new bugs.
Morale is improving
When you do the same monotonous work every day, burnout gradually appears in a specialist, efficiency decreases, and problems begin in the team. But, if you leave the tedious work to computer technology and engage in more creative processes, you will be able to maintain morale better. It will have a positive effect on the work of the entire team.
In addition, you may get TestFort automated testing services for outsourcing. In this case, specialists will perform testing as quickly and efficiently as possible while you can do other, more critical work.
Disadvantages of automated testing
Unfortunately, automated testing cannot fully modulate human behavior and check the quality of the interface. For these purposes, it is better to have manual tests arrive. Only a person can understand how convenient it will be for the client to use your product.
Also, if you have a small startup with a limited budget, automated testing may seem too expensive, so it makes sense to turn to manual tests.
Conclusion
Automatic testing is actively developing, and many experts believe it will be able to replace manual testing entirely very soon. With this kind of testing, you can quickly and more deeply check your code and identify errors that can negatively affect the operation of your software. After fixing the bugs, you can be sure that you provide high-quality services and that users will like your project.
