As web applications become more complex and sophisticated, QAs face a series of challenges when performing in-depth testing of any new features over various platforms. Remember that a bug-free user experience is imperative for any website to thrive in the currency digital landscape.
Luckily, open-source suites like Selenium make testing much easier for QAs, offering greater automated testing possibilities and expedited test case execution. Compared to manual testing, using Selenium testing will surely save time as you will manage to generate more scripts. However, for getting better results it is important to have a basic knowledge about testing and coding which will help you to succeed in the testing process without any issues. That being said, if you want to get the most out of Selenium testing, you’ll need to consider a few things beforehand to make your job easier.
Use the Right Locators
When you need to test any web element in the application in questions, you need to know your way around numerous locator strategies. The concept is relatively simple: a test script identifies particular elements using specific locators.
For instance, when automating inputs to your login page’s Username fields, the first step is to find those text fields. Your script will not be able to find the Username field without the correct locators and the login process will malfunction for users.
Use the Page Object Model
As customer demand increases, a web application’s user interface is likely to improve and evolve with new changes regularly. QAs will need to design new test cases for those same pages, which can be tiresome and repetitive.
Users can utilize the page object model pattern to create those new test scripts. This design pattern involves considering every page as a class file with its own web eliminates, eliminating potential code duplication and making the whole process more convenient. You can even reuse pre-existing code.
Avoid Emulators Wherever Possible
While emulators can be appealing for ease of use, QAs who run tests on real devices will notice a big difference in their Selenium testing results.
Emulators simply mimic device functionality and are great for testing codes in the early development stages. However, emulators for every OS-design combination may be unavailable, which can prove a stumbling block.
QAs will see more accurate results when testing under real user conditions. Teams often discover more bugs and deliver a flawless web application when using real devices.
Take Screenshots When Tests Fail
Selenium scripts may fail at some point in the testing process. QAs need to understand why those tests fail in the first place. To solve this problem, design a test infrastructure that takes screenshots if the test fails. Screenshots make your testing issues much easier to remedy, saving time, and making the process more efficient.
Utilize a Browser Compatibility Matrix
QAs face an uphill task narrowing down operating systems and browsers on which they run automated tests. However, a browser compatibility matrix will make this easier.
This matrix uses data from devices, browsers, OS usage, target audience preferences, and more. It will then tailor test coverage to specific browsers and devices, restricting the test to only relevant OS-browser combinations, streamlining the testing process.
Incorporate Wait Commands
Page load speed varies depending on the web browser, server issues, system configurations, and various network conditions. As such, QAs regularly use the Thread.sleep() method to pause automated tests for a determined amount of time.
However, this is less inefficient than using implicit or explicit wait commands. Sometimes, a website takes longer to load than expected. Sometimes, it loads quicker. As a result, the testing process becomes slower; wait commands remove this occurrence.
Design and Plan Test Cases in Advance
QAs need to have a comprehensive test plan drawn up before beginning the automation process. They need to think about all possible scenarios and design in-depth test cases that satisfy the end-users’ goals and requirements. When you start Selenium testing without a strategy, you can usually expect bottlenecks and additional challenges in the later stages of development.
Usually, QAs will focus on whether their test scripts can run without issues rather than thinking about extensive test scenarios. This method is largely ineffective when full-proofing your testing strategy.
Identify and Prioritize Test Cases
Selenium testing can be challenging and time-consuming. When QAs prioritize test cases over others, it’s easier to satisfy test coverage requirements. As such, QAs require clarity on the most critical test cases, which should be executed based on their priority.
For instance, a login page is one of the crucial parts of any web app. Therefore, automated login page tests should be high on the priorities list. Login pages do not undergo many modifications, but they are still an important part of the website. Testing would be straightforward and executing those test cases would take care of important tasks early on in the testing timeline.
Bottom Line
Selenium testing reduces manual testing times, increasing productivity, and identifies bugs and faults early in the testing process. However, if you want to get the most of Selenium testing, QAs will need to understand the above concepts before starting their tests, establishing a flawless test cycle that maximizes efficiency.
