UI Elements Testing

Why do we need UI testing?

UI testing focuses on two things. First, look at how the application responds to user input via keyboard, mouse, and other input devices. Second, make sure that all visual elements are visible and functional.

Organizations can only ensure that apps meet their functional requirements and that end-users will successfully adopt them if they do so. As a result, UI testing is crucial before releasing an application to production.

The requirements for user experience continue to rise as each website or app deals with an expanding number of competitors in their area. UI testing is required to ensure that every feature works as planned. UI testing determines if the website or app's visual and auditory features appeal and retain the user's interest.

Important test cases for UI testing

The following are some important test cases for UI testing:

1. Data type errors: Only valid data can be entered for specific data types like currencies and dates.
2. Field widths: If a text box only allows a specific number of characters, make it explicit that the data submitted must not exceed that number on the user interface.
3. Elements of navigation: Check that all of the page's navigational buttons are functional and take users to the correct page or screen.
4. Progress bars and preloaders: A progress bar should be used to show the user that a process is still ongoing when presenting screens that require a long time to deliver results.
5. Type-ahead: If your UI includes drop-down lists, make sure type-ahead is enabled. Typing the initial letter in a drop-down menu containing hundreds of items should skip the list to things that begin with that letter, allowing users to avoid having to scroll through an extensive list.
6. Table scrolling: If the data in your tables spans more than one page, the scroll function should allow users to scroll the data while maintaining all headers.
7. Logging of errors: When the system encounters a fatal error, make sure the program logs the specifics of the problem in an event viewer or log file for further analysis.
8. Menu items: Make that the app only shows genuine menu items available in that state.
9. Working shortcuts: For programs that offer shortcuts, ensure they work appropriately across browsers, platforms, and devices.
10. Confirm action buttons: Every time the user wishes to save or delete an item, make sure the UI has a working confirm button.

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Your UI test cases address your organization's main issues when dealing with end-to-end testing. Processing credit card payments is an excellent example of an end-to-end process that can benefit from UI testing. In particular, in the eCommerce business, ensuring that your application can perform all of the procedures required to accept and validate a successful transaction is critical. Testing processes like this will ensure that the code is working correctly, but they will also significantly impact the entire business.

Different ways to do UI testing

Manual testing

We can perform a series of tasks in manual testing to ensure that the program functions correctly and that the graphical elements meet the defined requirements. Manual testing has several drawbacks, including the fact that it is time-consuming and has low test coverage. Furthermore, the testing team’s knowledge and capabilities determine the testing quality under this approach.

Recommended Topic, Locators in Selenium

Record-and-replay testing

It is carried out with the use of automated tools. The computerized UI testing tool records all tasks, activities, and interactions with the application. The recorded stages are then duplicated, carried out, and compared to the predicted results. The replay phase can be repeated with different data sets for more testing.

Model-based testing

This testing method focuses on creating graphical models representing a system's behavior. This gives the tester a better grasp of the system, allowing them to write more efficient test cases. We determine the system's inputs and outputs in the models, then utilize them to execute the tests. The following is how model-based testing works:

• Construct a system model.
• Determine the inputs to the system.
• Make sure the output is what you intended.
• Carry out the tests
• Verify that the system output matches the intended result.

The model-based approach is advantageous since it permits greater automation. It also covers more states in the system, resulting in increased test coverage.

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Testing scenarios for UI

A test scenario is a document that describes how we will utilize the application in the real world. "Users will successfully login in with a valid username or ID and password" is a straightforward test case in most apps. We can have test cases for numerous GUI events in this scenario. For example:

1. Users give a username and password that are both legitimate.
2. They input an incorrect username.
3. They enter a correct username but an incorrect password.
4. They forget the password and try to reset it.
5. They attempt to copy a password from the field.
6. They attempt to copy and paste a password into the password field.
7. They press the assistance button.

Example for UI testing scenario: Source

UI testing challenges

Following are some of the challenges you may encounter during UI testing:

Changing the user interface regularly: Upgrading apps regularly to accommodate new features and functionalities is customary. Performing extensive UI tests gets difficult when improvements are made often.

Increase testing complexity: Modern applications include embedded frames, complicated flowcharts, maps, diagrams, and other web elements, among other things. As a result, UI tests are becoming increasingly complex.

Time-consuming: UI tests can take time to write and execute, especially if a tester isn't utilizing the correct tool.

Maintaining UI test scripts: As developers change the user interface, maintaining test scripts gets more complicated.

Multiple error handling: When executing complicated UI tests on short deadlines, testers spend a lot of time writing scripts. Fixing problems throughout the testing process becomes a challenge in such situations.

Calculating the Return on Investment for UI Test Automation: The tests change when the user interface changes. As a result, the time required for user interface testing increases, delaying the delivery process. In the end, calculating the ROI for running UI tests regularly becomes tough.

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Overcoming UI testing challenges

Select the appropriate automation testing tool

When solving software testing problems, the first step is to pick the correct automation tool. You can employ various testing tools for your project on the market. Concentrate on finding one that works well with your current workflow. Record/playback capabilities, repeatable tests, and low maintenance are features of a good UI automation solution. It also has reporting and defects tracking features.

Utilize an Object Repository

Using a shared repository is one way to reduce test maintenance and associated costs. It's also good to keep the number of UI test cases low at first, then gradually enhance coverage as the project progresses. As a result, your test cases will have a better success rate.

Using codeless automation testing tools

You can use codeless automation to reduce the hassle of making repetitive changes in the test code. If you use Selenium, Perfecto Scriptless, for example, will automate the entire test development and execution process, saving you a significant amount of time and money.

Review standards of organizations

An organization's coding culture substantially impacts how well its teams deal with testing difficulties during the application development cycle. As a result, companies should teach their staff the best test automation procedures so that there are clear guidelines for code review and adjustments across the board. Engaging test automation experts in rigorous brainstorming sessions is an excellent technique.

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FAQs

1. Why should we do UI testing of applications on mobile devices?
   We should check whether the UI adapts to all resolutions, screen orientations, mobile network events and situations, and more on mobile devices.
    
2. What international considerations should be followed when testing the UI?
   Support for right-to-left languages, international fonts, enough onscreen space for translated text, etc. should be considered during UI testing.
    
3. What is Perfecto Scriptless?
   Perfecto Scriptless is a Selenium-based test automation platform with auto maintenance AI technology and visual test modeling for regression and continuous testing. The platform facilitates the formulation and execution of tests and the monitoring of web applications.

Key Takeaways

From this article, we learned about user interface testing in depth. We saw why it is essential and how we should do it. We looked at test cases and test scenarios in UI testing. We discussed some challenges we could face while UI testing and some methods to overcome them.

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