16 July 2024 Leave a comment QA
Automated UI tests are a crucial part of the software development lifecycle, but many developers and testers encounter issues with test reliability. This article will explore common challenges and provide practical solutions to help make your automated UI tests more dependable.
Common Challenges in Automated UI Testing
Asynchrony
One major challenge in automated UI testing is handling asynchronous operations. Actions in web applications often produce results after a varying delay, making it difficult to predict when a result will appear.
Fixed Waits
Some testers use fixed waits to handle asynchronous operations. For example, they might click a button, wait a fixed amount of time, and then check for a result. This approach can lead to unreliable tests and slow execution times. Fixed waits should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
Latch Variables
A better approach is to use latch variables. These variables indicate whether an asynchronous operation has completed. For instance, the application sets the latch variable to false when the operation starts and true when it completes. Your test code can then wait for the latch variable to change before proceeding.
Polling
Polling involves repeatedly checking for a desired result while pausing briefly between checks. This approach can be implemented using a Domain-Specific Language (DSL) to make the code more expressive, such as:
assertThat(submitButton, eventually(), is(present()));Identifying Elements
Another challenge is identifying the HTML/XML elements you want to interact with. Properly designed applications should use meaningful IDs and classes to make elements easy to locate. If your application lacks these, work with developers to add them.
Simplifying Locators
Using inspection tools like Selenium IDE or Firebug can generate complex locators that are sensitive to changes in the markup structure. Simplify these locators by focusing on essential attributes and relationships, and avoid making your tests dependent on the full path to the element.
Additional Tips for Reliable UI Tests
Soak Testing
Soak testing involves running your test suite repeatedly against the same environment and product build to identify flaky tests. A test case that passes and fails inconsistently indicates an unreliable test or product feature that needs investigation.
Developer Education
Work with developers to minimize changes to element identifiers and structures. Educating developers on the impact of these changes on automated tests can help reduce test flakiness.
Addressing Intermittent Issues
Distinguish between test flakiness and intermittent issues in the test environment or product. Treating these issues separately can help identify serious problems that need to be resolved.
Enhancing Your Test Automation with Repeato
For teams looking to streamline their automated testing process, Repeato offers a robust solution. Repeato is a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android that leverages computer vision and AI to create, run, and maintain tests quickly. Its simplicity and speed make it an excellent choice for quality assurance, ensuring reliable and efficient testing without the need for extensive coding knowledge.
Explore our documentation to learn more about how Repeato can enhance your testing strategy and improve test reliability.
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