UI Testing
UI (User Interface) Testing of any application is one of the most crucial elements of the Software Testing Cycle. To ensure that all the functionalities of the application have desired features and are user-friendly, a tester should test all the interface components. This ensures that the end-user can handle and use the application comfortably.
In this blog, we will cover the fundamentals of UI Testing. Furthermore, we will delve into how to perform UI Testing, examine the challenges encountered during the process, and explore strategies to overcome those challenges.
What is UI Testing?
Additionally, UI testing, also known as GUI (Graphical User Interface) testing, is the process of evaluating the graphical elements and user interactions of an application. This specifically concentrates on assessing the visual aspects, functionality, and usability of an application’s interface.
User Interface Testing is mainly testing of look and feel of an application to ensure that the application is as per the expected business requirements. With the help of UI Testing, testers ensure that UI Functions are error-free.
It includes the testing of all components like menus, radio buttons, textboxes checkboxes, toolbars, font color, font size and many more.
The main features in UI Testing are:
- Visual Design
- Functionality
- Usability
- Performance
- Compliance
UI testing can be done manually or using automation testing tools.
The Need for UI Testing
Below are the two factors for UI Testing:
- To Check how the application handles the user actions with Keyboard, Mouse, and any other input device.
- This is to check whether the components are displayed and performing Correctly.
By doing UI Testing we can ensure that the application is as per the functional requirements and the End-user will successfully acquire them. For this Reason, UI Testing is important before release of product
UI Testing Checklist: Essential Test Cases
The GUI Testing is very vast. In this section, we will discuss some of the important test cases of UI Testing. We will consider Below checklist to ensure that UI tests are in-depth:
- Validation message should display properly
- Different sections of a screen should have a clear demarcation
- Font of the text should be readable
- Alignment of text and other components should be Proper
- There should be no overlapping throughout the application
- The Images should be clear
- The images should be properly aligned
- Position of the GUI Components for different screen resolution should be proper
- Size of different GUI Components should be proper
UI Testing Techniques / Methods
User Interface Testing is broadly divided into 3 categories:
1. Manual Testing
In Manual Testing, a tester checks the application manually if it’s functioning correctly and the Graphical components are as per the requirements. Manual Testing is time-consuming, and the test coverage is low. The Quality of testing depends on the knowledge and capabilities of the tester.
2. Record-and-Playback Testing
Record and Playback testing is primarily performed by automation tools. The automation tool records all the tasks and interactions with the application. Subsequently, the recorded scripts are compared with the expected behavior.
3. Model-Based Testing
In Model-Based Testing, we create a graphical model that describe the behavior of the application. This gives the in-depth understanding of the application, which helps the tester to produce highly efficient test cases. In this, we decide the inputs and outputs of the application to run the tests. Model-based testing works as follows:
- Create a model for the system
- Decide system inputs
- Verify the expected output
- Execute tests
- Check and validate system output vs. the expected output
The model-based approach allows a higher level of automation which improves the test coverage.
Practice-Demo:
Following are the points we consider while doing UI Testing. Let us take an example of the Google Sign Up page.
In the above signup page, we have marked 12 Cases like Case 1, case 2…Lets Discuss each Case one by one:
1:
- Test if Page logo and Label are at the correct position
2:
- Check if page heading/sub-heading is correct. whether the page the heading is correct.
- Verify the font size, font color, font style
3:
- Verify the alignment and position of textbox
- Validate labels and textboxes with valid and invalid values.
4:
- Verify the position and alignment of the text box.
- Validate labels and textboxes with valid and invalid values.
5:
- Verify the error message with valid and invalid inputs
- Verify error message correctness.
6:
- Test pop-ups and hyperlinks.
7:
- Check field labels and validate the acceptance of both valid and invalid characters.
- Check the position and alignment of the text box.
8:
- Save an unmatched password.
- Check field labels and validate the acceptance of both valid and invalid characters.
- Check the position and alignment of the text box.
9:
- Validate icon position.
- Validate that the icon shows or hides the user password.
- Verify the image quality.
10:
- Test the error message by entering both permitted and prohibited characters.
- Verify error message correctness.
11:
- Verify pop-ups and hyperlinks.
12:
- Verify form submission.
- Verify button position and clarity.
Challenges in UI Testing
Below are some of the challenges that testers face while performing UI Testing:
- Cross-browser compatibility: Ensuring consistent behavior and appearance across different web browsers can be a challenge.
- Responsive design: Testing UI responsiveness across various devices and screen sizes requires thorough validation.
- Localization and internationalization: Verifying UI elements and content in different languages and cultural contexts can pose challenges.
- Dynamic content: Furthermore, UI testing may become complex when dealing with dynamically changing content, such as real-time updates or dynamic data loading.
- UI changes and updates: Keeping up with frequent UI changes and updates can create difficulties in maintaining and updating test cases.
- Accessibility compliance: Ensuring that the UI adheres to accessibility standards and is usable for users with disabilities can present challenges.
- Data input validation: Validating user input and handling edge cases for data entry can be complex, especially when dealing with complex forms or input fields.
- Performance testing: Assessing UI performance and responsiveness under different loads and stress conditions can be challenging.
By recognizing these challenges, testers can proactively address them and implement suitable strategies to overcome them effectively.
Solution to UI Testing Challenges
Here are some practical tips that can help you overcome the above UI testing challenges.
1. Select the right UI automation tool
The selection of the right automation tool can resolve the testers’ challenge. A good UI automation tool has record/playback capabilities, supports reusable tests, and requires minimal maintenance. As a result, it offers reporting features and includes defect tracking capabilities.
2. Utilize an object repository
we can reduce the test maintenance cost by using a shared Repository. Moreover, it is advisable to emphasize UI testing during the later stages of the development cycle.
3. Choose codeless automation testing tools
To mitigate the issue of repetitive changes in test code, developers and QA teams should prioritize the use of codeless automation tools. They help in reducing the time and cost.
GUI Testing Tools
- Ranorex
- Selenium
- QTP
- Cucumber
- SilkTest
- TestComplete
- Squish GUI Tester
Conclusion
User Interface Testing is very important with respect to User experience and Customer satisfaction. End users are not bothered about the code functionality, they are more concerned with what they see.
Testers should ensure that the application is user-friendly, meaning it is easy to use and navigate. Furthermore, testers need to ensure that the application functions as expected on all browsers and devices.
