Benchmark Testing Key to Accelerate Your Software Performance

Benchmark Testing: What it is & How to Do?

Big Bang Integration Testing in Software Testing

Provider Driven Vs Consumer Driven Contract Testing

Consumer Driven Contract Testing | What , Tools & Example

Salesforce UI Testing Automate With Testsigma

Salesforce UI Testing: How to Automate With Testsigma

Automate Salesforce API Testing Step By Step Process

Automate Salesforce API Testing: Step By Step Process

SaaS Testing Top Challenges, Tools and Testing Approach

Yashaswi Singh

SaaS Testing: Ultimate Guide for 2026

We&#8217;re excited to announce the addition of visual test automation capabilities to Testsigma’s low-code platform. With this newest addition, quality teams are empowered to test the accuracy of visual elements with precision and deliver great user experiences at an unmatched scale and speed.



Empowering QA teams and democratizing software testing is at the core of what we do at Testsigma. Over time, we have realized that in QA, many teams hyperfocus on functionality—how the elements interact with the user—and often overlook how the elements render across various browsers and devices. The result &#8211; a poor customer experience and lost revenue.



Adding to it, the complexities of modern web design make it difficult to automate visual verifications with traditional tools and frameworks. They struggle to handle dynamic elements and responsive designs, often leading to false negatives and false positives in testing results. Manually verifying the UI is also error-prone and unscalable, leading to longer test cycles and eating into your release pace and quality.&nbsp;



To address these quality concerns and make visual testing as seamless as testing functionality and APIs, we are introducing low-code automated visual testing in Testsigma. Here are some of the highlights the new feature brings to the table:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Create visual tests effortlessly, without any code: Author automated tests using plain English statements with Testsigma. Or record user actions that are automatically converted into plain English test steps. Add visual validations for the required test steps with a click of a button.</li><li>View and debug visual errors in a user-friendly interface: With clear visualization of the base image, reference image, and highlighted differences, you can easily analyze and rectify any design-related problems to maintain a consistent visual experience.</li><li>Run visual regression tests across 3000+ platforms and browsers: Automate visual testing for mobile and web apps and ensure visual uniformity across 3000+ platforms, devices, and browsers with Testsigma&#8217;s cloud test lab.&nbsp;</li><li>Run functional and visual tests simultaneously: Run functional and visual tests in parallel without any additional effort. Cover both end-to-end scenarios and visual regressions to maximize coverage and save time covering the tests.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>



Automated visual testing is available to all Testsigma users across all plans. To learn more, <a href="https://hubs.ly/Q01VLkkX0">click here</a>.



Don&#8217;t miss our upcoming webinar with Testsigma’s product engineering team on 29 June 2023, where you will get an exclusive walkthrough of the latest visual testing functionality.<gwmw style="display:none;">



<gwmw style="display:none;">



<button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="display: block;
 margin: auto;"><a href="http://hubs.ly/Q01VVdv90" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Register now</a></button><gwmw style="display:none;">

Introducing Automated Visual Testing: Run Visual and Functional Tests Parallelly

Test Environment Management What, Why, and Best Practices

Test Environment Management | What, Why, and Best Practices

When it comes to software delivery, automation is directly proportional to efficiency. With its ability to automate building, testing, and software delivery, Jenkins is the go-to choice for CI/CD pipeline automation for many teams. With low-code end-to-end test automation with Testsigma and our native Testsigma-Jenkins integration, you can incorporate your simple English tests—for web, mobile apps, and APIs—into your build automation workflows—to test continuously and at scale.



Here&#8217;s how you can get started:



<ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Installation and Setup: To get started, you&#8217;ll need to install the Testsigma Test Plan Run plugin in your Jenkins instance. You can find the plugin on the <a href="https://plugins.jenkins.io/testsigma/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jenkins Plugins page </a>or download it directly from the Testsigma website.&nbsp;</li></ol>



Once installed, you&#8217;re ready to integrate Testsigma tests with Jenkins.



<ol class="wp-block-list" start="2"><li>Configuring the Jenkins Pipeline: Add the <a href="https://testsigma.com/docs/test-plans/schedule-plans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma Test Plan Run</a> plugin as a stage to trigger your Testsigma test plans:<ol><li>Click on the &#8220;Build&#8221; tab within your pipeline configuration.</li><li>Click on &#8220;Add Build Step&#8221; and select &#8220;Testsigma Test Plan run.&#8221;</li><li>Configure the plugin by providing your Testsigma API Key, Test Plan ID, maximum wait time for task completion, and the file path for the JUnit report XML file.</li><li>Save the changes to complete the configuration.</li></ol></li></ol>



<ol class="wp-block-list" start="3"><li>Testing and Execution: Once your pipeline is set up, trigger a build to see the build verification in action. Check the console log for the execution details, and for more comprehensive results, log into your Testsigma account and deep dive into the test plan status.&nbsp;</li></ol>



With Jenkins&#8217; automation capabilities and Testsigma&#8217;s simplified testing, you automate your testing pipeline to maximize efficiency and deliver high-quality software with confidence. Automate your testing pipeline today and experience the benefits of a smoother, more efficient release workflow with Testsigma.



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Build and run tests for Web, Mobile, Desktop and APIs under one platform with Testsigma.
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>

Embrace Effortless Pipeline Automation with Testsigma-Jenkins Integration

Effortless Pipeline Automation with Testsigma-Jenkins Integration

Unit testing, followed by integration testing validates software quality. But when building a robust enterprise application, your integration testing approach needs some more push. For software connected to other sub-projects, quality validation requires <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/back-to-back-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">back-to-back</a>, reverse-forward testing of all layers of your application from the onset. This is where sandwich testing comes in.



This blog will explain the sandwich testing concept, including its features and the steps to execute it.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_Is_Sandwich_Testing">1 What Is Sandwich Testing?</a><ul><li><a href="#The_Top-Down_Testing_Approach">1.1 The Top-Down Testing Approach</a></li><li><a href="#The_Bottom-Up_Approach">1.2 The Bottom-Up Approach</a></li><li><a href="#Sandwich_Testing_and_the_N-Tier_Software_Architecture">1.3 Sandwich Testing and the N-Tier Software Architecture</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Features_of_Sandwich_Testing">2 Features of Sandwich Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Why_is_sandwich_testing_necessary_in_software_testing">3 Why is sandwich testing necessary in software testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Sandwich_testing_and_test_automation">4 Sandwich testing and test automation</a><ul><li><a href="#Some_Tools_to_Automate_Sandwich_Testing">4.1 Some Tools to Automate Sandwich Testing</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Example_of_Sandwich_Testing">5 Example of Sandwich Testing</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_run_a_sandwich_test">6 How to run a sandwich test?</a></li><li><a href="#Summary">7 Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">8 Frequently Asked Questions</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-sandwich-testing">What Is Sandwich Testing?</h2>



Sandwich testing is an integration testing method that involves splitting an application into different layers and testing them separately and integrally to ensure each layer works perfectly to meet the software specifications. You can also refer to a sandwich test as hybrid integration testing since it combines the top-down and bottom-up testing approaches. Sandwich testing is an incremental testing process, and it assumes a three-layer testing pattern with the middle layer as the target layer.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-top-down-testing-approach">The Top-Down Testing Approach</h3>



The top-down approach starts testing from the middle layer (target) to the lower modules. Here, you begin with the independent validation of individual units of the target layer, followed by a gradual integration of the lower modules, usually the database and other external services.&nbsp;



The lower modules are usually stubbed (simulated) to provide dummy data and objects to mimic them. This helps verify if the validated component of the target layer behaves as expected when mounted on lower subsystems.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-bottom-up-approach">The Bottom-Up Approach</h3>



On the other hand, the bottom-up approach begins testing from the middle layer to the upper modules. This approach first evaluates the upper part in isolation and gradually tests it when integrated with the validated middle subsystem to catch bugs as the test proceeds. You can think of the upper layer in context as a simulated UI.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sandwich-testing-and-the-n-tier-software-architecture">Sandwich Testing and the N-Tier Software Architecture</h3>



An N-tier software architecture using a three-tier typically features the client side, business logic, and data access. You test each layer independently and further validate how they communicate after integration. That&#8217;s the sandwich testing concept. Ultimately, it helps mitigate bugs and save development time. Additionally, it makes your test suite more scalable since there are different test layers.



For instance, while ensuring that the submit button in the UI works, you also want to ensure that it calls the appropriate function, sends the expected queries to the database, and executes the associated algorithm expectedly on the returned data. Regardless of your application&#8217;s complexity, the sandwich testing method helps your test assess its entire architecture without complicating your test suite.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-features-of-sandwich-testing">Features of Sandwich Testing</h2>



Here are the key features of sandwich testing.&nbsp;



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Sandwich testing is granular: It’s specific to each component or feature of an application. Thus, it involves independently testing individual components and how they further communicate with the corresponding subsystems. Invariably, it ensures each application component satisfies its expected quality first and checks how it behaves when it works with its associated layers.</li><li>It assumes a three-layer testing pattern: Sandwich testing takes the bottom-up and top-bottom approach, with the target layer is typically in the middle.</li><li>It is complete: Sandwich testing has extended coverage, combining integration and unit testing to validate the target layer independently first. It then verifies how it works when integrated with the associated upper and lower layers.</li><li>It modularizes the test suite: Sandwich testing ensures that the test suit handles each part of an application under test independently, separating component concerns into modules that can run independently.&nbsp;</li><li>Sandwich testing is incremental: Sandwich testing typically starts with the target module and progresses to other components in a forward and reverse pattern (from middle to top and from middle to bottom).</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-is-sandwich-testing-necessary-in-software-testing">Why is sandwich testing necessary in software testing?</h2>



The ultimate goal of sandwich integration testing is to ensure that each subsystem of your application works together to achieve an overall quality. While it might be costly and complex, you want to use this testing method for the following reasons.



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Earlier bug detection: It helps catch potential bugs earlier, saving development time and mitigating financial loss from production bugs.</li><li>Improved test coverage: It helps you perform both unit and integration testing simultaneously to discover the effect of integrating other subsystems on the target layer. So, it improves the<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-coverage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> test coverage</a> and software quality.</li><li>Test scalability and reusability: Since each test module handles the application’s components individually, sandwich testing makes it easy to add more tests and reuse existing ones as your application scales. Thus, it’s robust and ideal for testing applications with complex architecture.</li><li>Reduced test suite complexity: Sandwich testing adopts a descriptive naming convention, making locating the module that handles a specific test easier. It also makes your tests more comprehensive when shared with your team.</li><li>Support for parallel testing: You can test modules in parallel since many modules are under test. This saves time significantly.</li><li>Support for test automation: Like conventional end-to-end testing, sandwich testing is also subject to automation testing tools like Testsigma, Selenium, Appium, Playwright, and many more.</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sandwich-testing-and-test-automation">Sandwich testing and test automation</h2>



Automating your sandwich testing is helpful when:



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Considering the complexity of sandwich testing, automation simplifies the process</li><li>Test automation improves the test feedback cycle, allowing the development team to evaluate test results more efficiently.&nbsp;</li><li>Automation testing is saving costs, some avenues where costs can be saved are:<ul><li>It simulates different testing environments, including browsers and operating systems.</li><li>It helps you track the test step that fails during testing. This is handy for quick bug fixing.</li><li>It helps keep track of the test for continuity and scalability.</li><li>Automating your sandwich test provides an avenue for parallel multi-platform and multi-browser testing.</li></ul></li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-tools-to-automate-sandwich-testing">Some Tools to Automate Sandwich Testing</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Testsigma: Testsigma is an automation testing platform that allows you to automate UI tests locally or in the cloud without coding, in simple English. With support for multi-browser and multi-device testing, you can run tests in parallel using Testsigma’s Test Lab. In addition to browser extensions for recording tests, it features a user-friendly interface for creating test scenarios and writing test steps for each. It supports web, mobile, and API testing with little maintenance overhead, as tests are in plain English script.&nbsp;</li></ul> 



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Automate Your Tests 5x Faster with Testsigma Start automating your tests
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener" data-faitracker-click-bind="true">Try for free</a>
</div>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Selenium: Selenium is an open-source framework for automating user interactions on the web. Selenium provides web drivers for modern browsers, including Chromium-based browsers, Firefox, and Safari, and it&#8217;s the most-used testing framework. As of writing, Selenium has approximately 206,000 users, according to its <a href="https://github.com/SeleniumHQ/selenium" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GitHub stat</a>. The framework also features an IDE for playback test automation and supports the Selenium Grid for orchestrating tests in multiple environments. Selenium test automation requires coding experience in its supported languages, including Python, Kotlin, Ruby, Java, JavaScript, and C#.</li></ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Playwright: Playwright is Microsoft&#8217;s end-to-end testing framework for automating web actions. In contrast to Selenium, <a href="https://github.com/microsoft/playwright" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">GitHub</a> puts its users&#8217; stat at 26,000. Compared to Selenium, Playwright is more recent and supports fewer programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, TypeScript, .NET, and Java. It also supports many modern browsers and allows parallel testing. Unlike Selenium, which requires an implicit wait for DOM loading, Playwright features auto-wait and web-first assertions. The framework also has a code generator. In addition to helping set up tests quickly, this can be handy for generating relevant web element selectors during testing to save element inspection time.</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-example-of-sandwich-testing">Example of Sandwich Testing</h2>



Every application has different components performing different functions. Each part typically communicates with the lower subsystems. These include the business logic and data layers.&nbsp;



In sandwich testing, the application validation is typically incremental. It ensures you verify one module after another when integrated with the top layers.&nbsp;



While performing sandwich testing, you typically start by testing the UI using stubs to simulate test data. Here, you might want to use UI testing tools like Testsigma to simulate a UI to validate the target component.



Once you test the UI, you can start testing the lower modules independently using drivers to simulate unavailable modules. Once done, you&#8217;ll integrate each validated lower module with the UI and rerun the test. This is the <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">integration testing</a> phase. It verifies if the application works expectedly after mounting each module.



For example, while testing a complex application using the sandwich approach, you want to validate each lower module in isolation before integrating it with the target (the UI). Next, you&#8217;ll rerun the test after integrating the UI with the previously validated module. This is to validate that each module works as expected when mounted on the UI.&nbsp;



You then repeat the process for each lower module until your test satisfies the required quality. However, modules that are unavailable for testing are usually stubbed.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-run-a-sandwich-test">How to run a sandwich test?</h2>



Sandwich testing requires close attention to the detail of your application. The following steps are a guide for executing a sandwich test.



Step 1: Create your test scenarios: Planning a test scenario helps you imagine a user story. Your test scenario must be complete, comprehensive, and realistic and should include concise test steps.



Step 2: Prioritize the essential modules: Identifying the target components makes your tests more specific and consistent. Ensure you collaborate with the development team to understand underlying functions and modules. This helps you to verify which modules are available for testing and efficiently create test stubs and drivers for them. At this stage, you also want to identify and prioritize the modules in the order of their effect on your application&#8217;s functionalities.



Step 3: Choose a testing environment: This is where you decide whether to run manual or automation testing. While automating your test, you should also determine whether to use a local web driver or spin it up using a cloud grid.



Step 4: Run your UI test in isolation: Start your sandwich testing by running the UI test in isolation with stubs.



Step 5: Test each module independently: Here, you’ll test each lower subsystem in isolation to ensure they meet the software quality requirements. You might want to run subsystem <a href="https://testsigma.com/parallel-test-runs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tests in parallel</a> to save time and cost.



Step 6: Perform integration testing on mounted modules: After testing each module and the UI independently, integrate the UI with each module and rerun the test.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Step 7: Evaluate test results: Use various test coverage and analytic tools to estimate how well your test performed. A critical evaluation of the test coverage helps you identify further test requirements. You can also generate shareable HTML coverage reports to view the missing tests.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-summary">Summary</h2>



Despite the independence of each layer during development, they intertwine and work together when shipped to the end user. Bugs in one of the layers can break the whole. Thus, a layered architecture requires unsullied testing to ensure all parts meet software quality standards and user experience expectations.&nbsp;



Unlike integration testing, that only tests the software when systems are mounted, sandwich testing is more comprehensive, as it checks each layer separately before integrating them incrementally with the target layer.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-frequently-asked-questions">Frequently Asked Questions</h2>



<div class="schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block"><div class="schema-faq-section" id="faq-question-1752751510557">What is hybrid or sandwich integration testing? Hybrid or sandwich integration testing is an incremental software testing method for validating if an independently tested lower module works as it should when integrated with higher systems you&#8217;ve also tested in isolation.  </div> <div class="schema-faq-section" id="faq-question-1752751525693">What are the attributes of sandwich testing? Sandwich testing has many attributes. But for the most part, it’s complete, stepwise, incremental, unassuming, modular, and pays strict attention to the application details. Overall, it makes your test suite reusable and more scalable. </div> </div>

What is Sandwich Testing- Features and Example