Digital transformation has enabled companies to simplify their business using techniques that weren’t there before. So, many companies are moving toward solutions like web applications. But it is not like you made a web application and launched it. There are hidden processes to it, and one of those processes is testing web applications.
In this entry, we will give a detailed insight into what web app testing is and how to test web applications.
Web Application Testing Explained
Application testing is the process that enables developers to see whether there are any bugs or errors in the application. Using this technique, developers can make improvements to the application, providing a detailed graphic UI, working buttons, and ready-to-use features.
Primarily, there are two types of web application testing.
- Automatic
- Manual
Automatic web app testing is used when minimal human efforts and required. Plus, this is used when the costs and time are the greatest factors. Such testing is applicable in small web apps, the front-end side, and so on.
Manual functionality testing in web applications is preferred when deep testing is needed. With a manual, humans get on board and help with the technical side of the web application. This type of testing is expensive and requires time.
Web Testing-What Types Are There
Yes, there are two testing procedures. They are mentioned above. However, there are several sub-niches of the two testing methods. The basics of web application testing are:
Functional Testing
Functionality Testing is a test procedure that is used for entities such as external links and internal links. Testers check links going out to another domain. Moreover, these also check the links that are jumping to another page. Another type of link is when you send an email. Testers also test that and see whether it is working or not.
In functional testing, forms used for submitting the information are also thoroughly checked. Web app testing individuals check validations, default values in the form, wrong/garbage inputs, and options to create forms.
Apart from these, cookies testing, validating HTML/CSS, and database testing are also done under this type.
Interface Testing
In the world of Web app development, interface testing on the server side is very important. This is done by checking whether the system is communicating properly or not. Testers see if the server is communicating with hardware, software, cloud, and network. Mainly, there are two types of interfaces- Application server/web server interface and application server and database server interface. Developers thoroughly check each of these and troubleshoot the problem.
Compatibility Testing
Compatibility testing is the one where testers see if the page is properly opening in browsers such as Explorer, Chrome, and Opera. If the website uses entities such as Javascript and AJAX, then give more stress to this.
Testers also see if the page is accurately viewed on mobile OS versions. See, nowadays; many people tend to open links on their phones. So, if you have a mobile application, you prefer doing compatibility testing.
Furthermore, testers see if the web app is compatible with the OS. They check the operating time, loading time, bugs/errors, and fonts/sizes.
Security Testing
It is crucial for web-based applications to be secure and robust when they go live. Hackers are always trying to pound the sites. To prevent that, testers test the applications using pen testing, brute force, and more.
For example, testers would paste the internal link on the search bar without using the login info. They put irrelevant information on the login bar to see how the system behaves. In web-based applications, the directories and files should not be available unless a download option is given. Developers check that and see whether they can download it or not. Web-based testers also try to manipulate the URLs and see if they can change them.
Performance Testing
Performance testing is used to check how well a site is performing under stress. Testers use the help of brute attacks and send bots to put a load on the website. There are two main types of performance testing:
- Web load testing
- Web Stress Testing
Each of these testing procedures enables testers to see whether they are any lags or crashes when in a web testing environment.
Usability Testing
The usability testing procedure checks whether human-system interaction is going according to the system-defined tasks or not. Testers see if the navigation commands are working accordingly or not. They thoroughly check the content posted on the website. In this, testers also perform a detailed inspection of search bars, links, forms, UX/UI, and buttons.
What Can Go Wrong If You Don’t Perform Testing Web Applications
Web application testing is more important than you think. If not done right, it can lead to greater consequences that will put the image to the ground. Here is what can go wrong if you avoid web application testing.
Affect on Image
The first and foremost issue is your image going in the water. See, if a user is paying the subscription, he is expecting the web app to behave perfectly. What if the text is not aligned or the site is taking too long to load? One bad review with screenshots, and you are a goner.
Web application testing will allow you to maintain your image in this fast-paced market. Testers will perform deep testing before making your web app live. So, make sure you are doing it.
Longer Time to Market
What if, as soon as you launch your application, it starts to crash? You will remove it from the market and resolve it, right? Now that will take a longer time to market if further issues come forward. You could avoid that disaster by hiring web app testers or doing it by yourself.
Bug Fixing
Run-time bug fixing is more costly than pre-development fixes. An average bug fixer works at the rate of 30-40 USD. After you launch without web app testing, you will have to hire a developer who will fix the issue. Honestly, that is a huge load on the pocket.
Bottom Line…
The reason why we told you what is web app testing and the types of testing web applications is to show you how important this step is. It will help you resolve issues in the pre-deployment phase rather than post-deployment. Yes, web application testing is somewhat of a costly procedure. But it is not more expensive than getting a fix after the app is live. You better not miss this step; otherwise, be ready to handle the consequences.
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