Automation testing has many different types – frontend testing and backend testing are the most popular. Backend testing involves verifying the backend system (other than the user interface) such as API, Database, third-party library calls, server performance, etc. Though the backend testing seems complicated, the backend automation testing tools make your life easier.
Table Of Contents
What is Backend Automation Testing?
The backend automation verifies the components behind the application such as the database, Application Programming Interface(API), third-party library calls, etc.
Testing can be broadly divided into two types
Front-end testing focuses on visible elements of the application such as user interface, styles, alignments, borders, and fonts. Further, it also focuses on functionality using the UI. Front-end automation tools help to carry out the front-end testing.
Backend testing focuses on components behind the application such as the database, API, and libraries. Sometimes the backend testing also focuses on application infra and performance. Many backend automation tools can help you automate the backend testing tasks. Unlike front-end testing backend testing may not be straightforward as it requires deep-level technical knowledge not just the application functionality. However, with the help of the right tool, the complexity can be eased.
Read here Front End Testing vs Back End Testing
What Do the Tools for Backend Automation Testing Do?
The front-end testing is conducted on visible elements and workflows, however, backend testing doesn’t contain user elements. Backend testing validates non-UI components such as API calls, Server side tasks database queries, etc. For example, if you need to test the API then you need to send the request with a predefined body and you will get the text, status codes, error codes, etc. as a response hence there will not be any visible components, or styles in the backend testing.
Database testing is another part of backend testing, where the tester executes a set of queries on the database and expects the specific data as a response. The database testing requires direct connection to the database server and queries will be sent to the connected server.
As mentioned earlier, the database testing also doesn’t involve any user interface, mostly command line tools or programmatic code will be used to carry out verification.
10 Best Backend Automation Testing Tools
As we discussed earlier the backend testing is more complicated than the front-end testing. Without the right tools, it would take a long time to complete the testing, in turn, it can affect the delivery cycle. The backend automation testing tools provide the capability of automation just like front-end automation tools. However not all the automation testing tools support backend testing.
Let’s look at the most popular backend testing tools
Testsigma
Testsigma is an AI-based automated testing tool. It supports both front-end and back-end testing. It provides the capability to test API and easy integration with CI/CD pipelines. Testsigma is codeless automation, so programming skills are not required to automate the test cases. All the options are provided with a rich user interface, so you can easily automate any scenario.
Pros
- SaaS-based automation tool, no installation and setup required
- Supports API testing without writing the code
- Comprehensive reports
- Easy to integrate with other tools such as Jira, Browserstack, Sauce labs, Jenkins, etc.
- Both front-end and back-end automation can be done using a single tool.
Cons
- Doesn’t support database testing
- Doesn’t support test data generation for database
Automate your backend API tests, 10x faster, with Testsigma
Cypress
Cypress is an open-source test automation tool. It supports both front-end and back-end API automation. However, unlike Testsigma it is not a codeless automation tool. The test case automation needs to write a code and execute using the Cypress test runner. However, with Cypress, you can write component tests, UI tests, and API tests so entire testing types can be covered using the single tool.
Pros
- It is an open-source tool, and no cost is involved in setting up
- Easy to set up and use
- Provides various libraries for API automation
- Testrunner dashboard helps to view and execute test cases in one place
- Supports multiple reporters.
Cons
- Need a skilled resource to write the automation scripts
- No native support for database testing
- No inbuilt technique to generate the test data
Postman
Postman is a dedicated testing tool for API testing. It supports both manual and automation testing. The postman automation tests can be integrated into the pipeline using the tool called Newman. Postman comes in two flavors – free and paid. The free subscription has a limitation around requests and mocking, however paid version has full capability.
Pros
- Easy to install and set up
- Self-understanding GUI-based editor
- Supports both manual and automation of API testing
- API mocking and shared workspaces are unique features
Cons
- Supports only API testing, Database testing is not possible.
- Doesn’t support performance testing of database, API’s
- Requires the skilled resources to write automation scripts
- Beginners might have difficulty in writing test cases, as documentation is limited
TestRigor
TestRigor is an AI-based test automation tool that helps to build and execute test cases without writing the code. TestRigor automatically detects the test settings based on various factors and it suggests the modifications. It supports both front-end and backend API testing.
Pros
- It is a SaaS-based tool, no installation or setup is needed
- It is a codeless automation tool, that helps non-technical people to contribute to automation
- Supports API testing for backend testing
- Detailed reports and statistics help to analyze the test feedback.
Cons
- It is not a free tool, the organization needs to spend money on a subscription
- As it is mostly focused on front-end testing, except API testing no backend testing can be done
- Doesn’t support any type of performance testing.
Hammerdb
HammerDB is a dedicated tool for database testing. It is an open-source tool and supports many Database servers such as Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM Db2, MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL. You can write the script to execute the query and test the database performance. The industry standard database performance benchmark can be set using the HammerDB tool.
Pros
- HammerDB is a free and open-source tool
- Supports various database servers
- Database load and performance testing can be done easily
- Supports both Windows and Linux
- UI and command line interfaces with full automation
- Easy to generate complex transactional workloads
Cons
- It is a dedicated tool for Database testing and doesn’t support any other type of testing
- Though it has documentation, beginners feel it’s complicated to follow
- Requires expert-level coding skills to write the test cases.
SLOB
As mentioned earlier, the backend testing includes many server-side use cases such as CPU usage, database I/O, etc. The SLOB is a backend testing tool that helps to generate an I/O workload for the Oracle database.
Pros
- SLOB is a free tool and is used by many reputed organization
- SLOB can be used to generate and test the I/O workload for the Oracle database
- It supports testing extreme REDO logging I/O
Cons
- One should be highly skilled in Database technologies to understand the concepts and implementation
- SLOB supports only database I/O testing
- It supports only the Oracle database
- Documentation comes in a single PDF file and it is complicated
TOAD
Toad is a database management toolset, that helps to generate the data for various databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, IBM DB2, SAP, and MySQL. It is a proprietary tool by Quest. Using the TOAD you can also automate frequent workflows and processes.
Pros
- Supports various databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, IBM DB2, SAP, and MySQL
- It can be used to generate the test data on any supported database
- TOAD can be used to automate administrative tasks
- TOAD is a database-focused tool that provides administration, management, analytics, and test data generation for databases
Cons
- TOAD tool is not DB testing focused however some of its features can be used for database testing.
- It is a proprietary tool, so cost is involved to use this tool.
- Difficult to map test case scenarios using TOAD automation, as it doesn’t support end-to-end database testing capability.
Azure DATA Factory
The Azure Data Factory is cloud-based data integration tool. It can be used for creating data-driven workflows in the cloud to automate data movement and transformation. It helps to manage and monitor the workflows. The data factory offers both UI and programmatic ways to integrate and monitor the data.
Pros
- It is a cloud-based tool for data integration and monitoring so no on-premise or local setup up required.
- Datafactory doesn’t store the data and helps to deal with local compliance standards
- Offers both UI-based and programmatic ways to create the pipeline
- Good level of documentation.
- The pricing is based on the activity performed so it helps the organization reduce the cost
Cons
- It is a proprietary tool so organizations need to spend on tools
- The tool is helpful only in integrating data transformation and monitoring
JMeter
The Jmeter is a well-known tool for performance testing. It supports backend automation of APIs and Databases (Using third-party plugins). It is an open-source tool and has a large community base. Simplified UI and drag-drop feature help beginners to easily start with backend automation.
Pros
- Open-source and free tool
- Supports API Testing, Performance Testing, Server Monitoring, Database Testing
- Comes with GUI drag and drop hence easy to create script
- Can be integrated into the DevOps ecosystem
- Supports multiple platforms Linux, Windows, and Mac
- Execution can be done using both command line and GUI
- Many inbuilt reporter support
Cons
- One needs to learn the Jmeter scripting to create the scripts in an effective way
- Database testing and Server monitoring can be carried out only using third-party plugins
- Jmeter tool becomes heavy during execution and needs to have good infrastructure to get the desired results
Playwright
Playwright is open source test automation tool maintained by Microsoft. It supports both front-end automation and backend API automation. Playwright supports multiple languages such as Java, Javascript, Python, and C#. It has dedicated libraries to automate the API’s. It supports mocking and stubbing of the network.
Pros
- Open source tool, No need to spend on the tool
- Supports both Front end and Backend Automation
- Supports DevOps CI/CD ecosystem integration
- Multiple language support such as Java, Javascript, Python, and C#
- Good documentation
Cons
- One needs to have a proficient level of programming knowledge to implement the Playwright
- Doesn’t support database testing
- Cannot be used for Performance testing
- Doesn’t support Server side backend testing
Backend testing is the most important part of the testing due to backend system dependency. The backend testing focuses more on the Database, server activity, API and infrastructure, etc. Backend component failure can cause the whole system to be down and in turn it can damage the organization. Testing backend components is more complicated than the front-end components as it doesn’t involve any visible items like UI. Backend testing is non-browser-based testing hence there will not be any browser dependancy so it can be performed programmatically or via command line.
Leveraging backend automation testing tools helps in swift feedback, and also it aligns with the modern DevOps and agile development framework. Remember, always choose the automation tool after carefully evaluating your requirements and limitations. Most automation tools require programming skills and organizations might have to spend a lot on upskilling resources. However codeless automation tool like Testsigma allows you to write the code in plain English language so even non-technical people can contribute to the backend test automation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Test in the Backend?
The backend testing involves verifying the components behind the application such as database, API, Server side monitoring, and performance of the database. Additionally, based on requirement it can also have infrastructure level verification.
Which Are the Best Backend Testing Tools?
This automation tools list is non-exhaustive, there are many tools available in the market. The best tool always depends on your project and the organization’s requirements. However, you need to consider cost, upskill costs, infrastructure investment, and ROI while evaluating the tools.
