QA
5 Common Frameworks in Test Automation and When to Use Them
April 20, 2023
Connect now and get the best results tomorrow! 😎
In the QA world, automation has its advantages and disadvantages depending on each project, which is related to time, costs, quality, and methodology to be used. Therefore, beyond automating or not automating, it is very important to understand the context and not lose sight that each action seeks to achieve objectives in the best possible way.
The main objective of test automation is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the testing process in a team or company. Regression test cases or those that are high risk for the business can be automated, as well as complex cases that consume a lot of time and also repetitive cases.
Here are my favorite and most recommended frameworks for test automation:
It has a large community of users. If you are testing a complex web application that needs to be tested on different browsers and platforms, Selenium is a very useful and effective tool with integration with other tools and cross-browser and operating system testing capabilities.
Additionally, this tool is highly flexible in terms of programming languages and browsers. In addition, its current community makes it easy to find resources, tutorials, FAQs, and other content that can help you get the most out of this framework.
For API or mobile application testing, the tool's capabilities could be improved. In those cases, I recommend looking for more specialized ones.
In general, although Selenium requires programming knowledge to use it, it is a powerful and flexible tool for test automation, being an excellent option for teams looking for a solution for web browser test automation.
It is a tool that is growing a lot, mainly used to test modern web applications. I highly recommend it for those who are just starting to automate, as it is easy to install and configure. Javascript is used as the language when creating test scripts.
In particular, Cypress has some limitations in terms of mobile application testing and multiple browsers (it is only compatible in Firefox and Chrome), but it is a fast tool that offers visualization and debugging of tests, which facilitates the identification and solution of problems. Additionally, it easily integrates with other tools and frameworks, such as Mocha, Chai, and Jest.
This framework is also open source and compatible with multiple platforms such as Android and iOS for testing on different devices. Along with integration with other tools such as Selenium, TestNG, and JUnit, it also has a wide variety of functions that allow performing complex tests, including the ability to interact with the DOM, perform gesture tests and localization tests, among others.
Appium is compatible with multiple programming languages, including Java, Python, and Ruby, allowing developers and test teams to use the language they prefer.
A disadvantage of this framework is that its configuration and startup can be a big challenge for beginners, especially when it comes to configuring test environments and devices. Additionally, it may present stability issues on some devices and platforms, which can affect test effectiveness.
However, Appium is a very powerful and versatile tool for automating tests of native, hybrid or web mobile applications.
This is a framework created by Microsoft for web application testing automation, designed to work with major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge) and provides a unified API for interacting with them.
At this point, there may be compatibility issues with browsers other than the ones mentioned, but your decision to work with Playwright will depend on the case where you need test automation.
The best thing about this tool is that it focuses on providing a faster and more reliable user experience compared to other web testing automation tools. For example, it uses an event-based architecture that allows tests to be run asynchronously and leverages each browser's native API to perform actions more efficiently.
In addition, Playwright allows for automation testing of multiple contexts, such as user testing, integration testing and end-to-end testing, with support for different programming languages and realistic testing for each browser.
This generic and open-source framework is used to test software systems of any kind. Due to this, it is used in a wide variety of industries, and with it, you can perform acceptance testing and unit testing.
The tool uses an easy-to-read and write syntax called "Action Table," which allows users to write tests in an easy-to-understand format. Along with this, Robot Framework is customizable and adapts to the needs of any development team. For example, users can create their own libraries and plugins for Robot Framework, or use third-party libraries for a wide range of functionalities, such as simulating mobile devices or automating API testing.
One disadvantage to keep in mind is that documentation can sometimes be limited for new users to solve problems. However, this does not prevent Robot Framework from being a solid tool for test automation that is easy to learn and use and is compatible with multiple programming languages and technologies.
Although it has some limitations in automating mobile applications and video games, Robot Framework offers a wide library of extensible plugins and integrates easily with other automation testing tools and project management.
Regardless of which framework you decide to use for your test automation, it is important to carry out the process professionally and with the appropriate tools.
Some benefits of test automation are:
With this in mind, the tools to use are diverse, and each one fulfills different functions according to the specific needs of your business. Automate your tests today with CleverIT! Send us an email at contact@cleveritgroup.com.
