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Modern software includes a large amount of software components, and it makes the software system complex. As the system gets complicated, it is difficult to understand the product over a period of time, and it introduces a lot of risks. Software Architecture streamlines the process by arranging all components in way that they are easy to understand and execute.



Unlike development, the software testing teams might lack test architects, which will result in poor test planning, design, and strategies. Furthermore, it can increase the chances of the system failing when it is released.&nbsp;



The software testing industry is learning from its mistakes and slowly the testing team has started to appoint software test architects to design powerful test architecture in terms of security, performance, functionality usage, etc.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Test_Architecture">1 What is Test Architecture?</a></li><li><a href="#What_does_Test_Architecture_take">2 What does Test Architecture take?</a></li><li><a href="#History_of_Test_Architecture">3 History of Test Architecture</a></li><li><a href="#Why_create_test_architecturenbsp">4 Why create test architecture?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_role_of_the_test_architect">5 What is the role of the test architect?</a></li><li><a href="#Test_architecture_explained_with_an_example">6 Test architecture explained with an example</a><ul><li><a href="#Test_Pyramid">6.1 Test Pyramid</a></li><li><a href="#Responsibilities">6.2 Responsibilities</a></li><li><a href="#Tools_and_Infrastructure">6.3 Tools and Infrastructure</a></li><li><a href="#Testing_process">6.4 Testing process</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Test_Architecture_and_Test_Automation">7 Test Architecture and Test Automation</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">8 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_project_architecture_for_testing">8.1 What is the project architecture for testing?</a></li><li><a href="#nbspIsn8217t_Test_Architecture_similar_to_Test_Planningnbsp">8.2 &nbsp;Isn&#8217;t Test Architecture similar to Test Planning?&nbsp;</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-test-architecture">What is Test Architecture?</h2>



Test architecture is the concrete level of guidelines and recommendations to how and when to test based on the system, complexity, environment, and testing tools focused on the delivery to achieve the best possible outcome.&nbsp;



Test architecture might not be required for all the projects. For example, if a project is very small and doesn’t include many components, you can directly jump into the test strategy document. The small project may last only for a few months, so it makes sense not to have test architecture. However, if you are dealing with a complex project or life-critical project then the test architecture is much required.



<h2 id="h-what-does-test-architecture-take">What does Test Architecture take?</h2>



The test architecture requires in-depth knowledge of your project, domain, organization standards, governance, compliance, technology stacks that the organization is using, and delivery practices followed.



The test architect should have good expertise in testing using both automation and manual. He should clearly understand the requirements and roadmaps. The test architecture should be designed for the future so he should make valid assumptions and risks before the start. Depending on the project the test architecture may be a one-time activity or it may evolve as the project evolves, so the architecture should be flexible and robust.



<h2 id="h-history-of-test-architecture">History of Test Architecture</h2>



The concept of testing was introduced soon after the first software was evolved. It takes back to 1950 when Tom Kilburn wrote the first piece of software. Around 1958 the first team was formed specifically for testing. Thereafter the software testing started evolving it took various directions to streamline the process.&nbsp;



From 1980 to 2000 a lot of evolution happened. It took testing to a new level. During this era, the testing practices and approaches were defined, and new tools arrived specifically for testing purposes.&nbsp; A separate branch was started and called Software Quality Engineering. Later the test architecture, test strategy, and test plan recommendations started to evolve.&nbsp;



Today, Most companies have a dedicated Quality assurance team which will contain test architects, manual testers, and automation testers. Organizations have learned the importance of testing so significant investment is made in software testing resources, tools, and infrastructure.



<h2 id="h-why-create-test-architecture">Why create test architecture?&nbsp;</h2>



The test architecture is important, especially when you are dealing with a complex project or expecting the project to grow in the near future. The test architecture helps to reduce the risks and eliminate the assumptions before delivery.&nbsp;



As you are aware, anything you do randomly may not help in a better outcome. The test architecture streamlines the entire process of testing. Unlike other testing activities, it&#8217;s not focused on a single testing activity rather it is focused on the entire testing and the testing team aims to deliver a high-quality product. Some of the reasons why test architecture is important are listed below.



<ul><li>Helps streamline the testing process</li><li>Helps to reduce the risks associated with delivery</li><li>It helps to define the testing ecosystem, such as the testing environment, infrastructure tools for test automation, manual testing, and anything that is part of the system.</li><li>Helps in documenting the gaps in testing and aligning accordingly</li><li>Brings the testing team, testing process, and tools under a single umbrella, irrespective of manual, automation, or <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/non-functional-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">non-functional testing</a>.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-what-is-the-role-of-the-test-architect">What is the role of the test architect?</h2>



The test architect&#8217;s role is as important as development. As companies start adopting automation into their organization, the test architect role becomes more critical. Having said that, not everyone can become a test architect as it requires passion to explore and a deep level of understanding in testing and product; some roles may also demand knowledge of DevOps.



&nbsp;Let’s look at the test architect role at a glanceo



<ul><li>One should have the passion to explore the current technologies in testing and should explore the possibilities of adopting them to the current project</li><li>He/She should be senior enough to make the right decisions with a deep-level understanding of organizational practices and strategies.</li><li>One should understand the product and work with the product managers and stakeholders.</li><li>The architect will be the key person in the testing team; he should guide and mentor the team by defining the strategy, clear goals, and milestones.</li><li>Architects should build, monitor, and adapt the new technologies throughout the product life cycle</li><li>Identify the testing gaps and provide a timely plan to fill them</li><li>He should also concentrate on the documentation</li><li>Though the role doesn’t involve people management, he should ensure the team members are updated with all technical aspects and understand the process correctly</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-test-architecture-explained-with-an-example">Test architecture explained with an example</h2>



The test architecture differs from project to project. The test architecture depends on a lot of factors as explained above. Let’s look at the example of test architecture at a glance.



Consider an example of any simple product. Let&#8217;s look at the general way of test architecture.



<h3 id="h-test-pyramid">Test Pyramid</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/k7EMIwS8rcVpRVEK8hKG_Rj9VMZ_8VpPF9XkSS7shVM8AegnGBvnVJgI4KI1U9bhOy9w-T2WxqbZS4sLUpUIWFws2wAnMbUkz50HkWQRJ92oygDO5t4KPSSPIAfhaNBSZtKZm2pjSUY_mNS_l2C3hQ" alt="Test Pyramid"/></figure></div>



The <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/testing-pyramid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test pyramid</a> design is the first step while building the test architecture. The test pyramid is about different types of tests, such as unit tests, API and Integration tests, and end-to-end tests, and their percentage. Additionally, you can also add manual tests or acceptance tests into the test pyramid.



<h3 id="h-responsibilities">Responsibilities</h3>



Once you choose the testing types that you are going to adopt for the project, you need to decide who is responsible for what, for example, developers need to write the unit tests, and the QA team is responsible for the end-to-end tests, etc.



<h3 id="h-tools-and-infrastructure">Tools and Infrastructure</h3>



The test architecture should clearly define the tools that they are going to use. For example for automation tests, the tool will be Testsigma; for manual test repository it will be in the Testlink, etc. Further you need to decide on the DevOps integration, execution frequency, etc.



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<h3 id="h-testing-process">Testing process</h3>



The testing process defines when testing is carried out on different environments such as QA, Staging, Production, etc. Additionally, you can also define when the automation scripting will be done &#8211; is it the same sprint or n-1 sprint?



The above are initial tasks, once you complete the initial tasks, the test architecture should further move on to in-depth. 



The in-depth scenarios are listed below:



<ul><li>Define a clear roadmap for automation, manual testing, and non-functional testing</li><li>Design the robust automation framework</li><li>Write the automation test cases</li><li>Document the manual test cases</li><li>Define the standards for automation</li><li>Set the target for automation</li><li>Define the non-functional testing requirement (NFR)</li><li>Choose the tools and environment for NFR</li><li>Define test strategy document</li><li>Define the test plan</li></ul>



As mentioned earlier, there may be additional activities based on the project and product complexity. Remember that anything which is part of testing is also part of test architecture.



<h2 id="h-test-architecture-and-test-automation">Test Architecture and Test Automation</h2>



The test architect role has gained importance because of automation. Automation is the key area in modern testing. The test architecture of automation depends on the framework type you choose.&nbsp;



<ul><li>Evaluate the requirements against the automation tools, and choose the best tool for the project.</li><li>Create the automation framework based on the industry standard principles and practices.</li></ul>



The framework can be keyword-driven, page object model, hybrid, modular framework, or codeless automation framework



<ul><li>Document the checklist and standards that are necessary to maintain while writing the codes.</li><li>Define the automation execution strategy.</li></ul>



The automation execution strategy is the broader term, it includes a lot of activities such as:



<ul><li>Browser types and browser versions</li><li>Platform or operating system and its version</li><li>Frequency of Sanity, Smoke, and regression tests</li><li>Suite level execution</li><li>Executing different types of tests such as Integration, API, and End to end tests</li><li>Integration with DevOps such as Continuous Integration(CI)/Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines </li><li>Test reporting and analysis</li></ul>



Based on the scheduled frequency, the reports will be generated. &#8211; If you find the test case failure, how to analyze and who will do that? &#8211; Before logging the failure as a defect, what are the necessary steps required? &#8211; When and what to share with the stakeholders



<ul><li>Documentation</li></ul>



Documentation is much more important but most of the team lacks. The automation test architecture document should be accurate and simple. For example, if a new joiner comes into your team, he should be able to set up and follow the process without asking anyone. The documentation reduces the knowledge transfer efforts, and it makes onboarding quicker.



<ul><li>Manual vs Automation</li></ul>



The target for automation is set at the beginning however, it is also a known fact that 100% automation is impossible. How to deal with non-automated test cases. How <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/manual-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manual testing </a>is carried out etc. should be defined in the test architecture.



<ul><li>Communication</li></ul>



The test architect works with multiple teams such as development, DevOps, testing, and business/product team. So the test architect is responsible for communication with stakeholders. If there are any challenges from the development team he should be able to work with them and get them resolved.



The complexity of the test architecture for automation depends on the tool you choose. Because some tools require creating the framework, some come with a framework ready. Not all the tools require coding, so the activities that are involved in defining the coding standards and setup will be reduced. For example, if you choose selenium you need to build the framework from scratch. You need to put a lot of effort into setting up the framework such as building the POM model, writing the base class utilities, configuring the reports, etc. On the other hand, if you choose the <a href="https://testsigma.com/codeless-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">codeless automation framework</a> like Testsigma everything comes as ready to use. No need to write a single line of code. Reporting will be ready, environment configuration also will be ready, no need to write the coding and checklists.



Test architecture is a broader term that includes a lot of activity. The test architecture takes care of the whole testing activity from start to end. This includes designing, implementing, documenting learning, etc.&nbsp;



Test architecture is required to deliver the quality product on time, especially if it is a complex project. Not anyone can become a test architect as it requires passion to learn and adopt the technologies every day. Furthermore, it is a technical role that requires in-depth technical knowledge of the product, infrastructure, testing tools, and testing process.&nbsp;&nbsp;



As the demand for automation is increasing the demand for test architects is also increasing. The complexity of the automation test architecture depends on the automation tools you choose. The codeless automation tool requires less effort to design and maintain.&nbsp;



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<h2 id="h-frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="h-what-is-the-project-architecture-for-testing">What is the project architecture for testing?</h3>



Test architecture is the standard term used in the testing industry. The project architecture for testing is the same as test architecture; these words can be used interchangeably.



<h3 id="h-isn-t-test-architecture-similar-to-test-planning">&nbsp;Isn&#8217;t Test Architecture similar to Test Planning?&nbsp;</h3>



The test planning and test architecture are not the same. Test planning is part of the test architecture. It focuses more on the planning by focusing on a certain set of activities however, the test architecture focuses on the entire testing life cycle irrespective of the testing types.&nbsp;



Unlike test planning, the test architecture can be one time, or it might evolve as the project evolves. The <a href="https://www.javatpoint.com/test-plan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test planning</a> doesn’t require many technical details however, test architecture requires hands-on experience in different testing areas.

Test Architecture Creating an Architecture for Automated Tests

Test Architecture: Creating an Architecture for Automated Tests

Best Backend Automation Testing Tools 2023

Best 10 Backend Automation Testing Tools

Both DevOps and Agile frameworks focus on rapid development and delivery, and to enable this test automation becomes crucial. However, automation testing has its own challenges. Maintenance is one such challenge. If a test automation framework is not maintained correctly, automation testing starts to give False Positive and False Negative results.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#False_Positive_VS_False_Negative_8211_Overview">1 False Positive VS False Negative &#8211; Overview</a></li><li><a href="#False_Positive_VS_False_Negative_How_to_Find">2 False Positive VS False Negative: How to Find?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_do_False_Positive_and_False_Negative_Occur">3 Why do False Positive and False Negative Occur?</a></li><li><a href="#Examples_of_False_Negative_and_False_Negative">4 Examples of False Negative and False Negative</a></li><li><a href="#False_Positive_and_False_Negative_8211_Importance_in_Testing">5 False Positive and False Negative &#8211; Importance in Testing</a></li><li><a href="#False_Positive_and_False_Negative_8211_Importance_in_test_automation">6 False Positive and False Negative &#8211; Importance in test automation</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Choose_the_Right_Tool">7 How to Choose the Right Tool?</a></li><li><a href="#Best_Practices_for_Reducing_False_Positive_and_False_Negative">8 Best Practices for Reducing False Positive and False Negative</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">9 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#How_to_handle_false_positive_and_negative">9.1 How to handle false positive and negative?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="false-positive-vs-false-negative-overview">False Positive VS False Negative &#8211; Overview</h2>



What is False Positive in Software Testing?



A false positive is an outcome where the model wrongly predicts the positive case.



if the test case is supposed to pass however due to script issues the test result is marked as fail. If you look at the application everything might be working as expected it&#8217;s just automation script marked them fail. The false positive might occur mostly due to tools, dependencies, middleware, or sometimes invalid DOM elements.



What is a False Negative in Software Testing?



A false negative is an outcome where the model wrongly predicts the negative case.&nbsp;



In testing, if the test case is supposed to fail due to functional issues or defects however test case ignores those defects and marks the test as pass. It can occur due to improper construction of test cases, false assumptions while writing the automation scripts, etc.



<h2 id="h-false-positive-vs-false-negative-how-to-find">False Positive VS False Negative: How to Find?</h2>



Both false positives and false negatives are common in test automation. However, more than false positives, the false negatives have impact as it marks the defective application as pass.&nbsp;



If more of such issue start occurring in your application, the test automation test reports become unreliable. Thus, you should be very careful while writing the tests.&nbsp;



Let’s understand in detail how to find the false positives and false negatives.



How to Find False Negatives?



Finding a false negative is a lot more complicated than you think, as false negative results mark the test as passing inaccurately. False negatives can be caught only if you analyze them manually. You might not be able to validate a complete application manually if it is a complex application. However, you can put the strategy that whenever there are specific feature changes, you must ensure that all those test cases are validated manually and note down the expected result. The strategy needs to be improved based on its effectiveness.&nbsp;



Building a robust framework and having the right strategy are key to reducing false negatives.



How to Find the False Positives?



Unlike false negatives, finding false positives is easy. Standard practice in automation is to analyze the automation failures as and when the result/report appears.&nbsp; Before logging any issue as a defect, perform a double-check by reproducing the error manually.&nbsp;



In false positives scenarios, you can aim to go through the list of failure scenarios manually and analyze them before concluding.



<h2 id="h-why-do-false-positive-and-false-negative-occur">Why do False Positive and False Negative Occur?</h2>



Both False negatives and false positives can occur because of various reasons. However, the business impact of false negatives is more compared to false positives. As an automation team, you should always aim to have 0% false negatives. The false positive percentage can vary based on the application complexity and automation framework.



Reason for False Negatives



<ol><li>Poor Automation framework architecture</li><li>Skipping some of the conditions while designing the test case</li><li>Untrustworthy tools/packages are used for automation</li><li>Outdated packages, and libraries used in test automation</li><li>Unhandled pesticide paradox principle</li><li>Assumption of test coverage </li></ol>



Reason for False Positives



<ol><li>Automation scripts are not maintained regularly</li><li>Unstable <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing environment</a></li><li>Standard locator strategies are not used</li><li>Outdated frameworks, libraries, and packages used</li><li>Underlying component issues such as Incompatible browsers, browser drivers, etc.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-examples-of-false-negative-and-false-negative">Examples of False Negative and False Negative</h2>



 When you hear about false positives and false negatives you may easily get confused, Let&#8217;s put it into analogy. When we compare with the medical test case, the medical test is done for the whether patient has some medical condition or not. Similarly, when it applies to software testing we can assume as below. A positive test found a bug when there was a bug in the application. This means that there was a bug in the application and automation testing found it, it is a true and ideal scenario. Let&#8217;s take another example of COVID-19 test



False Positive



Suppose Person X doesn&#8217;t have COVID-19 and he provides the sample for testing. When the report arrived the test report was marked inaccurately COVID-19 positive though he doesn’t have an infection in his body.



When the same scenario is applied to testing, If you have a login scenario that is working as expected when you execute the automation test script it reports back Login functionality failed. In reality, there is no bug as such. This is a false positive.



False Negative



Suppose Person Y has covid infection and he provides the sample for testing. When the report arrived, report marked as “No Infections” which is COVID-19 negative. This is inaccurate, as in reality he had a COVID-19 infection.



Similarly, in software testing, you have a login scenario, which is failing to log in with a username and password. But, when you execute the automation script you get the report saying that the login test is passed. This is false negative.



If you are still confused, let&#8217;s put it in simple terms.



Automation test reporting failure without any valid failure in the application is called a false positive.



Automation test passing even if there is a valid failure in the application is called a false negative.



<h2 id="h-false-positive-and-false-negative-importance-in-testing">False Positive and False Negative &#8211; Importance in Testing</h2>



The <a href="https://www.javatpoint.com/software-engineering-software-development-life-cycle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Software Development Life Cycle</a>(SDLC) gives the same importance to testing as development, the reason is it aims to deliver quality products. Imagine a company has launched a car with model X, and after 6 months it finds a major issue with the car engine which can be life-critical. Now the company has to recall all the cars that are sold, and the company should provide compensation to the customer, additionally, the company might have to face lawsuits. These things might not have happened if there had been a proper check in place before releasing the car. The same thing applies to software. The quality of the application resides in the quality of the testing and testing framework. If testing itself does not report actual failures, that can incur loss and reputation damage to the organization.



The false negatives are scarier than the false positives. The false negatives leave the feature broken. If you are dealing with health care, defense, or automobile software the false negatives may take a toll on someone&#8217;s life. However, if the tool you choose, and the framework you build are robust and flawless then the organization gets great benefit.&nbsp;



In short, The good or bad quality lies in the automation framework and automation scripts.&nbsp;



Though the impact of false positives is lesser, if it occurs more frequently you end up with unreliable testing. The Team might have to spend a lot of time analyzing without any gain. The good news is that false positives are easy to fix especially with modern testing tools like <a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a>. It suggests the fixes for failures, and guidance and provides technical support if you are struggling to fix the critical issue.



Both false positives and false negatives are critical in testing. However when we compare, the false positives are tolerable to some extent, but there is zero tolerance for false negatives.



<h2 id="h-false-positive-and-false-negative-importance-in-test-automation">False Positive and False Negative &#8211; Importance in test automation</h2>



False positives and false negatives are most common in <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-web-application-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation</a>, however, it is not limited to test automation. If the same occurs in manual testing it will be because of human error.&nbsp;



The automation framework design plays a critical role when dealing with false positives and negatives. As an organization makes huge investments to set up infra for automation, skills, and resources the unreliable results may disappoint the management and it may end with questioning Return on Investment(ROI). Thus, having a robust design to tackle the false positives and false negatives is a must.



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<h2 id="h-how-to-choose-the-right-tool">How to Choose the Right Tool?</h2>



As mentioned earlier, the automation framework plays a very critical role in the success of test automation. The automation framework depends on the underlying tools used. The tool should be capable enough to handle all the edge cases and should be continuously updated as technology changes.



As technology has evolved, many legacy automation tools have disappeared. One of the reasons is they could not align with modern technology change. Importantly their architecture was not flexible.



The right tool for your organization will be based on many factors such as the development framework used, cost, infrastructure, required skillsets, requirement of upskills, nature of the application, application domain, etc. The below pointers are generic and irrespective of the project domain that you need to consider while choosing the right tool.



<ul><li>Don&#8217;t be biased, evaluate all possible automation tools as per the requirement</li><li>The tool should be intelligent enough to choose the best stable locator</li><li>It should provide all critical functionalities natively, as it reduces the third-party library dependency. In turn, this reduces the false positives and false negatives</li><li>It should support the DevOps ecosystem</li><li>It should align with the modern Agile framework</li><li>The reporting should be comprehensive</li><li>Consider no code automation tools if your organization is short of skills or resources.</li></ul>



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<h2 id="h-best-practices-for-reducing-false-positive-and-false-negative">Best Practices for Reducing False Positive and False Negative</h2>



The best practices for reducing false positives and false negatives vary from project to project. To reduce them you need to prepare a concrete strategy while designing the test strategy document. Below is the list of the best practices that are independent of the project and application however, list is non-exhaustive.&nbsp;



<ul><li>Build it right, from the beginning. Choose the right tool and build a robust framework.</li><li>Integrate the alerting and monitoring tools wherever possible</li><li>Prepare a code review checklist and make it a mandatory requirement to follow</li><li>Never write a test case based on the assumption</li><li>Use the right testing tool after careful evaluation of your requirements</li><li>Use dedicated environment for testing. Ensure it is as stable as the production environment</li><li>Cover all possible testing scenarios, and use assertion as much as possible in your test scripts.</li><li>Learn from failures, and update the checklists, and strategy documents as and when required.</li></ul>



False positives and false negatives in test automation are common, however, you should always target to minimize them. Especially when it comes to false negatives you should aim for zero. False positives are unavoidable as UI testing relies on browsers and other testing components.&nbsp;



Choosing the right tool can help to reduce false positives. False positives mostly occur due to latency, locator, browser incompatibility, etc. If your test automation tool is smart enough to handle such issues the false positives can be easily reduced. <a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a> is one such tool it automatically chooses the best possible locators and your test will be executed on the most stable workspaces remotely. This helps in producing the most accurate, stable, and reliable reports.



On the other hand, false negatives occur if you don’t write the test cases as per the requirement. False negatives require manual analysis and in-depth investigation. Remember even if you have the right toolsets, good infrastructure, and a stable application environment &#8211; if you don’t write test cases properly as per requirement then test automation will become unreliable.



<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="how-to-handle-false-positive-and-negative">How to handle false positive and negative?</h3>



False positives can be handled by implementing the correct design strategies while building the automation framework. If the framework is robust then there will be fewer false positives. False negatives can be reduced with code review, and test case review strategies. Additionally having the right process while developing the test cases can bring you great benefits.

False Positives and False Negatives in Software Testing

False Positive and False Negative in Software Testing

Web Services and an Application Programming Interface(API) provide web communication functionality. Though they provide similar functionalities they are not the same. Many channels sometimes use the Webservice and API interchangeably but they are different. They exist to solve different challenges. In Short, API allows the application to communicate while web service allows the system to communicate with each other. The difference between web services vs API can help to understand each of them clearly.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Web_Service_vs_API_Overview">1 Web Service vs API – Overview</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_an_API">1.1 What is an API?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_a_Web_Service">1.2 What is a Web Service?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Web_Service_vs_API_Examples">2 Web Service vs API – Examples</a></li><li><a href="#Differences_Between_Web_Services_and_API">3 Differences Between Web Services and API</a></li><li><a href="#Web_Service_vs_API_Whats_Right_for_Me">4 Web Service vs API – What’s Right for Me?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Do_API_Test_Automation_with_Testsigma">5 How to Do API Test Automation with Testsigma?</a></li><li><a href="#Summary">6 Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">7 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#Is_web_service_and_REST_API_the_same">7.1 Is web service and REST API the same?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_an_example_of_a_web_service_and_API">7.2 What is an example of a web service and API?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="web-service-vs-api-overview">Web Service vs API – Overview</h2>



<h3 id="h-what-is-an-api">What is an API?</h3>



An application programming interface (API) is a set of rules that define how applications can communicate with each other. There are different&nbsp;<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/different-types-of-apis-and-protocols-2022-updated/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">types of APIs</a>&nbsp;like GraphQL, REST, WebSocket APIs, RPC APIs, etc. All APIs have their own set of protocols and definitions. So each API type operates differently.&nbsp;



API is simple to implement and will have a lightweight architecture. It is often assumed that APIs are web APIs, that is information is exchanged over the internet. However, APIs can also be exposed using local files such as JAR without the internet. Web APIs are the most common and widely used.



Components of API



APIs are very lightweight, it involves three main components.



<ul><li>Client: A client can be any external or internal application that makes the request.</li><li>Server: A server executes the program and sends the response.</li><li>API contracts: Request response formats are also known as API contracts.</li></ul>



Read here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/api-examples/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API Examples</a>



<h3 id="h-what-is-a-web-service">What is a Web Service?</h3>



Web service is a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine communication over the Internet. Web services are designed to provide a specific set of services. Developers can utilize multiple web services to build a single functionality which helps in code reusability and reduces the time and cost of development.



Webservices require a network to interact and network communication is generally achieved using Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). SOAP uses XML format for encoding data. The XML format is used for storing and transferring information using HTTP protocol.&nbsp;



An application sends the requests to a service in XML format. Services then see and process the request and reply to the application as response using the same XML format. Web services can follow <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/api-rest-vs-soap/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SOAP or REST</a> principles for implementation. However, SOAP is the most widely used.



Types of Webservices



Web Services can be broadly classified into two different types as given below



<ul><li>SOAP Web Service: SOAP is a legacy protocol. Designed before REST.&nbsp; SOAP became popular as it provides an efficient and secure way to exchange data independent of the software platform.</li><li>REST Web Services: REST is more helpful when your application requires manipulation or exchange of media files, objects, or objects on a hardware device. The service needs to fully adhere to <a href="https://www.knowledgehut.com/blog/programming/rest-api">REST principles</a> to claim the service as a RESTful service. The HTTP verbs such as GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE are used as commands for information exchange.</li></ul>





<h2 id="web-service-vs-api-examples">Web Service vs API – Examples</h2>



APIs are often used to integrate data and functionality from one software application into another.&nbsp;



For example, a weather app might use the OpenWeatherMap API to retrieve weather data, or a social media app might use the X (Twitter) API to allow users to post tweets.



Web services often provide complete user interfaces for interacting with data and functionality.&nbsp;



For example, Google Maps is a web service that provides users with a map interface for searching for locations and directions.



It is important to note that some web services also provide APIs. For example, the Google Maps web service also provides an API that developers can use to integrate Google Maps functionality into their applications.



Here are some examples we use in our day-to-day life.



Examples of APIs



<ul><li>Google Search API: This API allows you to blend Google Search functionality into their applications.</li><li>X(Twitter) API: This API allows access and interaction with X(Twitter) data.</li><li>Facebook API: This API allows access to and interact with Facebook data.</li><li>PayPal API: This API allows the integration of PayPal payment processing into their applications.</li><li>OpenWeatherMap API: This API allows you to access weather data from all over the world.</li></ul>



Examples of Web Services



<ul><li>Google Maps: This web service allows users to view and interact with maps of the world.</li><li>Amazon Web Services: This web service provides a wide range of cloud computing services, including storage, computing, and networking.</li><li>PayPal: This web service allows users to send and receive money online.</li><li>Netflix: This web service lets users stream movies and TV shows online.</li><li>Spotify: This web service allows users to stream music online.</li></ul>



<h2 id="differences-between-web-services-and-api">Differences Between Web Services and API</h2>



This is a detailed table that will give you the differences:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td>Web Service</td><td>API</td></tr><tr><td>Type</td><td>A specialized type of API</td><td>A broader interface for communication</td></tr><tr><td>Network Access</td><td>Must be accessed through the network</td><td>May or may not be accessed through the network</td></tr><tr><td>Communication Protocol</td><td>REST, SOAP, XML-RPC</td><td>Various protocols (e.g., HTTP, REST, SOAP, gRPC)</td></tr><tr><td>Data Exchange Format</td><td>XML</td><td>XML, JSON, or custom formats</td></tr><tr><td>HTTP Protocol</td><td>Supports HTTP</td><td>Supports HTTP and HTTPS with headers</td></tr><tr><td>Communication</td><td>Allows machines to communicate</td><td>Allows applications to communicate</td></tr><tr><td>Implementation Approach</td><td>Complicated and legacy</td><td>Simple and modern</td></tr><tr><td>Features</td><td>Document exchange, synchronous/asynchronous operations, RPC, loose coupling, modular design.</td><td>Simple, flexible, secure, language-independent.</td></tr><tr><td>Advantages</td><td>Easy to use, high code reusability, communication and data exchange, speed, agile compatibility, flexibility, security, platform independence.</td><td>Improved connectivity, CRUD operations, HTTP verb support, data exposure, GUI integration, customization, authentication/authorization, multiple formats.</td></tr><tr><td>Disadvantages</td><td>Cannot be accessed directly from browser, requires skilled resources, limited to legacy technologies, security depends on implementation, unreliable HTTP protocol.</td><td>Requires programming expertise, high maintenance cost, fixed scale, infrastructure cost for scalability.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="web-service-vs-api-what-s-right-for-me">Web Service vs API – What’s Right for Me?</h2>



Web services are typically accessed through a web browser and often provide a complete user interface for data interaction. Web services are often used to build web applications and mobile apps. Know more &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-web-application-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automated Web application Testing</a>



APIs are accessed through code, providing a programmatic interface for data interaction. APIs are often used to integrate data with other software applications.



Here is a table that recaps web service vs API key differences:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td>Web service</td><td>API</td></tr><tr><td>Access method</td><td>Web browser or client application</td><td>Code</td></tr><tr><td>User interface</td><td>Yes</td><td>No</td></tr><tr><td>Use cases</td><td>Building web applications, mobile apps, and other user interfaces</td><td>Integrating data with other software applications</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Which one is right for you?



A web service is an excellent option to access and use data through a user interface. An API is a good option if you need to access and use data through code.



Here are some specific scenarios where you might choose a web service or API:



<ul><li>Web service:&nbsp;</li></ul>



<ol><li>You are building a web application that needs to display data from a remote server.</li></ol>



<ul><li>API:&nbsp;</li></ul>



<ol><li>You are building a mobile app that needs to access data from a remote server.</li><li>&nbsp;You are building a software application that needs to integrate with a third-party service.</li></ol>



Both web services and APIs are helpful tools for accessing and using data. The best choice for you will depend on your specific needs. Consulting with a software engineer or IT professional is always a good idea if you are still deciding which one to choose.



<h2 id="how-to-do-api-test-automation-with-testsigma">How to Do API Test Automation with Testsigma?</h2>



As many organizations are following API-driven development, it is important to test the API. API testing is not as easy as we think. <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/api-testing/">API testing</a> requires some level of technical expertise as you need to pass the request body, headers, authorization token, etc. Testsigma makes its simpler using the No Code method. Know more &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-api-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API Test Automation</a>



Steps to Create API Tests in Test Sigma



Step 1: Log in to TestSigma



Step 2: Click Create Test Case&nbsp; and Enter the required Details



Step 3: Add RESTFUL API&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfk3MrcFg5ABJYeAXycVqiol54UWufIoelQEia7TFW47tGm4C9LSPtTP29o_CMZJkaYB0b1bFttZNiKi1qPr-1GCKodwXSw8KlaPrxl2f8zJ1ZCpKZr7KQTo2m2fRqOGtG4bUQFJ4yykU3fXgvlz5KMxkg?key=znRVNszpf0pvJfN-k6tqPA" alt="restful api testsigma"/></figure>



Step 4: In the REST API window, enter the required details and Click on Create



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf3RmQvGnE2jnjeB30wIvQjQUXSvmYIoB6x0Xq1SwhArISJrpbnb_RCwVBjhrDCt1pFECzj4YBm-zuxAUQcXZ1Oh9sV8FtwtZUE22BzQ5FVRZOf5MBTkIb6MPzoHrf995RkKQsM-6zgHYPtSzYQ1c96Vq9X?key=znRVNszpf0pvJfN-k6tqPA" alt="rest api demo"/></figure>



If you are using any tool other than Testsigma, you need to construct the whole request details using the programming languages which includes headers, URL, request body, etc. However in <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/api-testing/">TestSigma</a> its just a few clicks.









What to Test in API Testing?



API Testing is most critical as it is the middle layer. APIs usually communicate with UI and Database. You can test a lot more in API testing. However, at the minimum, you need to test below key areas.



<ul><li>Response Code</li><li>Response Payload</li><li>Response headers</li><li>API Contracts</li></ul>



Remember, While doing API testing you need to focus on both happy flows, sad/error flows, and edge case scenarios.



It is recommended to perform API testing as much as possible. Compared to UI tests API test are more stable and takes less time to execute. The data and major chunk of application functionality can be tested using <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/api-testing-basics/">API testing</a>. The web service and APIs are not the same, they exist to solve different problems. The modern web application architecture emphasizes API-driven development. So web APIs are most commonly used across the industry. API also simplifies complex application development and helps in code re-usability and security. API can be implemented in different ways based on needs and other organization-related factors. As the development is aligning with web API the need for API testing is more. Most organizations follow API testing as integration testing as major data-related functionality can be tested within a few minutes. Most of the automation tools support API testing however, setting up an API testing framework takes more time. Importantly, the requirement for skilled resources is a major challenge. Tools like Testsigma make API testing easier and faster. It also comes with DevOps (CI/CD) integration thus it makes developer/tester friendly.



<h2 id="summary">Summary</h2>



In conclusion, web services are a specialized subset of APIs that adhere to specific standards, while APIs offer a more flexible and versatile approach to application integration. Though all web services are APIs, not all APIs are web services: APIs can use any number of protocols and be local or remote.



<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<h3 id="is-web-service-and-rest-api-the-same">Is web service and REST API the same?</h3>



Though many of us use the web service and API interchangeably it is not the same. Webservice is the legacy approach used for exchanging data between systems or applications. The REST API is used to interact between two applications.



<h3 id="what-is-an-example-of-a-web-service-and-api">What is an example of a web service and API?</h3>



A payment gateway is an example of a web service. You might have seen login with Google/Facebook etc. while you sign up when you choose Internally it uses the respective organization APIs for authentication.

Web Service vs API – What are they & How do they Differ

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