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<p>As technology continues to advance, software applications are becoming more intricate. But why is configuration testing becoming crucial? Research conducted by the Standish Group has shown that configuration issues cause 40-60% of software defects. Fixing a flaw discovered during production can cost 100 times more than addressing it during testing.</p>



<p>Thus, it is necessary to perform configuration testing as different configurations may affect the performance of a system. This encompasses operating systems, web browsers, databases, and other software and hardware components. Automating this can offer time and cost savings.</p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">Let&#8217;s dive into the process and explore how it&#8217;s done!</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="743" height="355" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-135.png" alt="Configuration testing" class="wp-image-33617" /></figure></div>



<br><div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Configuration_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is Configuration Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Configuration_Testing_Example"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Configuration Testing Example</a></li><li><a href="#Pre-requisites_for_Configuration_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Pre-requisites for Configuration Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Objectives"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Objectives</a></li><li><a href="#Types_of_Configuration_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Types of Configuration Testing</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_do_Configuration_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> How to do Configuration Testing</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_automate_your_configuration_Testing_with_Testsigma"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> How to automate your configuration Testing with Testsigma:</a></li><li><a href="#Summary"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">9</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_would_happen_if_configuration_Testing_is_not_donenbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.1</span> What would happen if configuration Testing is not done?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_Best_Practices_in_Configuration_Management"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.2</span> What are the Best Practices in Configuration Management?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-configuration-testing"><span id="What_is_Configuration_Testing">What is Configuration Testing?</span></h2>



<p>Configuration testing is a type of software testing that verifies the performance of a system under different configurations of hardware and software. It is important to perform configuration testing because different configurations can affect the system&#8217;s behavior. For example, if the system is configured with different hardware, it may need to be able to run faster and more efficiently.</p>



<p><strong><em>Here is an analogy to help you understand configuration testing:</em></strong></p>



<p>Imagine you are buying a new car. You want to ensure the car performs well, so take it for a test drive. However, you do more than test-drive the car once. You test drive it on different roads, in different weather conditions, and with different types of cargo. This is because you want to ensure the car performs well in all possible configurations.</p>



<p>Configuration testing is similar to this. You are testing the system under different configurations to ensure it performs well in all possible configurations.</p>



<h2 id="h-configuration-testing-example"><span id="Configuration_Testing_Example">Configuration Testing Example</span></h2>



<p>A company is developing a new software application that customers will use on different operating systems. The company must perform configuration testing to ensure the application works correctly on all supported operating systems.</p>



<p>Here are some of the things that the company might need to test:</p>



<ul><li>The application&#8217;s ability to install and run on different operating systems.</li><li>The application&#8217;s ability to use other features of different operating systems.</li><li>The application can handle various errors and exceptions on other operating systems.</li></ul>



<p>The company could perform manual configuration testing by manually installing the application on different operating systems and testing the application to see if it still works correctly. Or, the company could use an automated configuration testing tool to automatically install the application on different operating systems and then test the application.</p>



<p>By performing configuration testing, the company can help guarantee that the application works correctly on all supported operating systems and is not vulnerable to attack.</p>



<h2 id="h-pre-requisites-for-configuration-testing"><span id="Pre-requisites_for_Configuration_Testing">Pre-requisites for Configuration Testing</span></h2>



<p>Here are the pre-requisites for configuration testing in bullet points:</p>



<ul><li><strong>Clear understanding of the system:</strong> The tester must have a clear account of the system, including its components, interfaces, and dependencies.</li><li><strong>Complete configuration documentation:</strong> The tester must have complete configuration documentation, which should include the different configurations that need to be tested and the expected results for each configuration.</li><li><strong>Access to the system:</strong> The tester must have access to the system to test it.</li><li><strong>Tools and resources:</strong> The tester must have the necessary tools and resources to perform configuration testing, such as configuration management and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/automation-testing-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation tools</a>.</li><li><strong>Time and budget:</strong> Configuration testing can be time-consuming and expensive, so the tester must have the necessary time and budget to complete the testing.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-objectives"><span id="Objectives">Objectives</span></h2>



<p>Here are the objectives:</p>



<ol><li>&nbsp;Verify the software system is correctly configured according to the specified requirements and settings.</li><li>Identify any configuration errors or inconsistencies that may impact the functionality or performance of the system.</li><li>Ensure all components, modules, and dependencies are correctly installed and integrated.</li><li>Validate the compatibility of the software with different hardware, operating systems, and network configurations.</li><li>Test the system&#8217;s ability to handle configuration changes or updates without causing disruptions or failures.</li><li>Assess the security measures implemented in the configuration to protect against unauthorized entry or data breaches.</li><li>Evaluate the system&#8217;s scalability and performance under different configuration scenarios.</li><li>Confirm that all configuration settings are correctly documented and can be easily replicated or restored.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-types-of-configuration-testing"><span id="Types_of_Configuration_Testing">Types of Configuration Testing</span></h2>



<p>Two major types are:</p>



<p><strong>Software Configuration Testing:&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p>Software Configuration Testing involves testing the Application Under Test with various operating systems and browser versions. This process is time-consuming as it requires installing and uninstalling different software used for testing. The testing begins after the build has passed the unit and <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">integration tests</a>.</p>



<p><strong>Hardware</strong> <strong>Configuration Testing:&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p>Testing hardware configurations is typically done in labs, where physical machines are connected to various hardware. Whenever a new build is released, the software must be installed on all physical machines with attached hardware, and the test suite must be executed on each device to ensure that the application functions correctly.&nbsp;</p>



<p>To accomplish this task, considerable effort is required to install the software on each machine, connect the hardware, and manually run the test suites. Even if we automate this task, significant effort is still necessary. Moreover, as previously mentioned, during hardware configuration testing, we specify the type of hardware to be tested, and there are countless computer hardware and peripherals, making it nearly impossible to perform all tests.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-to-do-configuration-testing"><span id="How_to_do_Configuration_Testing">How to do Configuration Testing</span></h2>



<p>Here are the steps on how to perform configuration testing in a step-by-step process:</p>



<ol><li><strong>Plan:</strong> This involves identifying the configurations that need to be tested and the expected results for each configuration. The tester must also consider the time and budget constraints and the availability of resources.</li><li><strong>Create <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/what-is-test-case/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test cases</a>:</strong> The tester must create test cases verifying the configurations. The test cases should be clear, concise, and repeatable.</li><li><strong>Execute the test cases:</strong> The tester must execute the test cases and record the results. If any defects are found, the tester must report them to the development team.</li><li><strong>Analyze the results:</strong> The tester must analyze the results of the test cases to identify any trends or patterns. This information can be used to improve the test cases or to identify areas where the system is more likely to have defects.</li><li><strong><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/retest" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Retest </a>the system:</strong> If any defects are found, the system must be retested to ensure they have been fixed.</li><li><strong>Document the results:</strong> The results of the configuration testing must be documented so they can be used for future reference.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-how-to-automate-your-configuration-testing-with-testsigma"><span id="How_to_automate_your_configuration_Testing_with_Testsigma">How to automate your configuration Testing with Testsigma:</span></h2>



<p>Testsigma offers features to help with configuration testing, which include;&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li>Creating test cases tailored to configurations.&nbsp;</li><li>Running test cases on different machines.&nbsp;</li><li>Tracking the outcomes of test cases across the set configurations.&nbsp;</li><li>Generating thorough reports displaying the results of configuration testing.</li></ul>



<p>To set up configuration testing in Testsigma, follow these steps;&nbsp;</p>



<p>1. Develop a test plan outlining the configurations you wish to assess.</p>



<p>2. Create a test suit.</p>



<p>3. Add test cases in the suit.</p>



<p>3. Execute the test cases on multiple machines(add all the necessary machines) needed to execute configuration tests.</p>



<p>4. Document the outcomes of each test case.</p>



<p>5. Generate reports showcasing the results obtained from configuration testing.</p>



<p><br><p><button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Automate your configuration tests for web, mobile, desktop applications and APIs, 10x faster, with Testsigma.</a></button></p><br></p>



<h2 id="h-summary"><span id="Summary">Summary</span></h2>



<p>Here you have it! Testing the configuration might appear overwhelming. It&#8217;s crucial to guarantee the performance of your software. Through testing setups, you can. Resolve any potential issues before they escalate into major concerns. Testing your software early can lead to a better product and increased customer/staff uptake. To learn more about it, click <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-testing-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</p>



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



<h3 id="what-would-happen-if-configuration-testing-is-not-done"><span id="What_would_happen_if_configuration_Testing_is_not_donenbsp">What would happen if configuration Testing is not done?&nbsp;</span></h3>



<p>Bugs, errors, and defects may occur. You will face some technical issues like:</p>



<ul><li>The system may not be able to run on a particular hardware platform.</li><li>The system may not be able to connect to a particular database.</li><li>The system may not be able to handle a particular load.</li><li>The system may be vulnerable to attack.</li></ul>



<h3 id="what-are-the-best-practices-in-configuration-management"><span id="What_are_the_Best_Practices_in_Configuration_Management">What are the Best Practices in Configuration Management?</span></h3>



<p>Best practices in configuration management include:</p>



<ul><li>Establishing a centralized repository for all configuration items.</li><li>Implementing version control to track changes.</li><li>Conducting regular audits to ensure accuracy and compliance.</li><li>Documenting detailed configuration baselines.</li><li>Utilizing automation tools for efficient deployment and monitoring of configurations.</li></ul>


Configuration testing: How to Perform?


<p>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.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Web_Service_vs_API_Overview"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Web Service vs API – Overview</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_an_API"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.1</span> What is an API?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_a_Web_Service"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.2</span> What is a Web Service?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Web_Service_vs_API_Examples"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Web Service vs API – Examples</a></li><li><a href="#Differences_Between_Web_Services_and_API"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Differences Between Web Services and API</a></li><li><a href="#Web_Service_vs_API_Whats_Right_for_Me"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Web Service vs API – What’s Right for Me?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Do_API_Test_Automation_with_Testsigma"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> How to Do API Test Automation with Testsigma?</a></li><li><a href="#Summary"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#Is_web_service_and_REST_API_the_same"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.1</span> Is web service and REST API the same?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_an_example_of_a_web_service_and_API"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.2</span> What is an example of a web service and API?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="web-service-vs-api-overview"><span id="Web_Service_vs_API_Overview"><strong>Web Service vs API – Overview</strong></span></h2>



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



<p>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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p id="components-of-api"><strong>Components of API</strong></p>



<p>APIs are very lightweight, it involves three main components.</p>



<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>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>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;</p>



<p>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.</p>



<p id="types-of-webservices"><strong>Types of Webservices</strong></p>



<p>Web Services can be broadly classified into two different types as given below</p>



<ul><li><strong>SOAP Web Service:</strong> 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><strong>REST Web Services:</strong> 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"><span id="Web_Service_vs_API_Examples"><strong>Web Service vs API – Examples</strong></span></h2>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



<p>Here are some examples we use in our day-to-day life.</p>



<p><strong>Examples of APIs</strong></p>



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



<p><strong>Examples of Web Services</strong></p>



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



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



<p>This is a detailed table that will give you the differences:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature</strong></td><td><strong>Web Service</strong></td><td><strong>API</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Type</strong></td><td>A specialized type of API</td><td>A broader interface for communication</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Network Access</strong></td><td>Must be accessed through the network</td><td>May or may not be accessed through the network</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Communication Protocol</strong></td><td>REST, SOAP, XML-RPC</td><td>Various protocols (e.g., HTTP, REST, SOAP, gRPC)</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Data Exchange Format</strong></td><td>XML</td><td>XML, JSON, or custom formats</td></tr><tr><td><strong>HTTP Protocol</strong></td><td>Supports HTTP</td><td>Supports HTTP and HTTPS with headers</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Communication</strong></td><td>Allows machines to communicate</td><td>Allows applications to communicate</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Implementation Approach</strong></td><td>Complicated and legacy</td><td>Simple and modern</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Features</strong></td><td>Document exchange, synchronous/asynchronous operations, RPC, loose coupling, modular design.</td><td>Simple, flexible, secure, language-independent.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Advantages</strong></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><strong>Disadvantages</strong></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"><span id="Web_Service_vs_API_Whats_Right_for_Me"><strong>Web Service vs API – What’s Right for Me?</strong></span></h2>



<p>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></p>



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



<p>Here is a table that recaps web service vs API key differences:</p>



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



<p><strong>Which one is right for you?</strong></p>



<p>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.</p>



<p>Here are some specific scenarios where you might choose a web service or API:</p>



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



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



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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/"><strong>API testing</strong></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></p>



<p id="steps-to-create-api-tests-in-test-sigma"><strong>Steps to Create API Tests in Test Sigma</strong></p>



<p>Step 1: Log in to TestSigma</p>



<p>Step 2: Click Create Test Case&nbsp; and Enter the required Details</p>



<p>Step 3: Add RESTFUL API&nbsp;</p>



<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>



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



<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>



<p>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/"><strong>TestSigma</strong></a> its just a few clicks.</p>



<p></p>





<p id="what-to-test-in-api-testing"><strong>What to Test in API Testing?</strong></p>



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>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>.<br>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>



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



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



<p>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.</p>



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



<p>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.</p>




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

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


<p>Testing is one of the key areas in the Software Development Life Cycle(SDLC). As the DevOps and Agile approach has become popular in modern software development, test automation is becoming the way to test.&nbsp;</p>



<p>One of the major challenges in test automation is test failure analysis. As the failure might have originated from the application or test script itself. Without traces and sufficient logs, it becomes difficult to analyze the test failure.</p>



<p>&nbsp;In this article let&#8217;s discuss analyzing the failures in depth and detail.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_Is_Test_Failure_Analysis"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What Is Test Failure Analysis?</a></li><li><a href="#The_Importance_of_Test_Failure_Analysis"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> The Importance of Test Failure Analysis</a></li><li><a href="#Two_types_of_test_failures"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Two types of test failures.</a></li><li><a href="#Critical_Features_of_Test_Failure_Analysis"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Critical Features of Test Failure Analysis</a></li><li><a href="#Test_failures_in_test_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Test failures in test automation</a></li><li><a href="#How_Testsigma_Helps_in_test_failure_analysis"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> How Testsigma Helps in test failure analysis</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Automation_Tools_with_Test_Failure_Analysis"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Test Automation Tools with Test Failure Analysis</a><ul><li><a href="#Testsigma"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.1</span> Testsigma</a></li><li><a href="#Selenium_IDE"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.2</span> Selenium IDE</a></li><li><a href="#Katalon"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.3</span> Katalon</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_an_example_of_a_failing_test_case"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">8.1</span> What is an example of a failing test case?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-test-failure-analysis"><span id="What_Is_Test_Failure_Analysis"><strong>What Is Test Failure Analysis?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Test failure analysis is a process to find the root cause of a failed test. Failure analysis helps the team to analyze and fix the failing tests. If failure originated from the application, team needs to raise the defect to the development board to fix the application issues.</p>



<h2 id="h-the-importance-of-test-failure-analysis"><span id="The_Importance_of_Test_Failure_Analysis"><strong>The Importance of Test Failure Analysis</strong></span></h2>



<p>Test automation helps to speed up the development and delivery process by providing fast feedback. A greater benefit comes if challenges are handled well. One of most challenging task in is maintenance.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-two-types-of-test-failures"><span id="Two_types_of_test_failures"><strong>Two types of test failures.</strong></span></h2>



<ol><li><strong>False failures:</strong> The application is stable and working as expected however test automation script is failing due to scripting issues such as milliseconds of delay, hiccups in test automation simulation, etc.</li><li><strong>Expected failures:</strong> The application functionality is broken, test automation script is trying to perform an end-user task however due to an application issue it is failing. This is also known as valid failures. Valid failures are considered a defect. Application failure usually occur due to changes in flow, and changes in the DOM tree or It may be also due to some of the functionalities being broken.</li></ol>



<p>Let&#8217;s understand important areas of test failure analysis.</p>



<ul><li>Test failure analysis helps to understand false failures and valid failures</li><li>It helps to understand the performance bottlenecks which are causing the delay in execution.</li><li>You can isolate the slow-running tests to get immediate feedback.</li><li>It helps to tune the core automation framework to streamline the needs.</li><li>It helps to configure the parallel execution based on the script execution time.</li></ul>



<p>Just like how the developer does the debugging, test automation scripts need to be debugged in the same way. However, to debug you need to know where to start and a high level of failure information. Especially if you are using a continuous testing (CI/CD) pipeline you may end up with a large amount of unrelated logs. So only test result logs, screenshots, and good reporting can help you in this scenario.</p>



<h2 id="h-critical-features-of-test-failure-analysis"><span id="Critical_Features_of_Test_Failure_Analysis"><strong>Critical Features of Test Failure Analysis</strong></span></h2>



<p>As discussed before there is a lot of information required to analyze and fix the test failures. Below are some of the important Features of test failure analysis.</p>



<ul><li><strong>Understand the failure area:</strong> If the <a href="https://testsigma.com/reports" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test reports</a> are properly configured it should provide the nearest area where the test case is failing.</li><li><strong>Root cause analysis:</strong> Once you identify where the test is failing, you need to drill down to why the test failed. In the root cause analysis, you will be identifying the reason for failures.</li><li><strong>Filtering failures:</strong> As we discussed before, test cases can fail due to various reasons in the test script or they may be valid failures. Both failures have to be investigated and need to take appropriate action once the analysis has been completed.</li><li><strong>Actionable insights:</strong> Step-by-step approach to drill the reason and fix them accordingly</li><li><strong>Test Artifacts:</strong> Test artifacts may provide the logs, videos, network information, screenshots, and optionally may also provide the infra details. All these things help to fix the failures.</li><li><strong>Intelligent Dashboards:</strong> The perfect dashboard should have a single point of view for all of your test results.&nbsp; If it is smart it can also provide information related to unstable tests along with supporting information.</li><li><strong>Enterprise automation tool and reports:</strong> Not everyone is interested in everything. For example, the tester might be interested in concrete-level information. The stakeholder might be interested in how the application is performing today. So the enterprise dashboard should provide a different view as per the need.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-test-failures-in-test-automation"><span id="Test_failures_in_test_automation"><strong>Test failures in test automation</strong></span></h2>



<p>Many think that test automation is &#8220;<em>Write once and run forever&#8221;. </em>But none of the test automation tools works in that way. If you need reliable test automation results you need to maintain them. You need to fix the failures as and when required and remove the performance bottlenecks.</p>



<p>Test failures are most common in test automation. So before adopting the best-fit automation tool, you need to evaluate it as per the need. Most of the time while evaluating the automation tool reporting feature is not taken into consideration, but this is the most critical feature when it comes to maintenance and failure analysis.</p>



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<p>Most of the tools provide HTML, JSON, XML, etc. types of reports. Remember, more than the reporting structure, the information which the report provides matters. If the report provides accurate and sufficient information for failure analysis, maintenance will be easier.</p>



<p>Let&#8217;s take an example of the below scenario</p>



<p><em>Test Case Name: Search and Navigate to the Testsigma page.</em></p>



<ul><li>Navigate to google.com</li><li>Search for testsigma</li><li>Click on the first result which is having a link to the Testsigma page.</li></ul>



<p>Once you execute the script, imagine the script is failing while giving the information <em>&#8220;Search and Navigate to testsigma page has failed&#8221;. </em>If you look at the failure result, there is not much information, as the test case has many steps. If the tool provides minimal information debugging tests will be difficult. If the test automation tool is intelligent it should fail the test case with accurate information such as</p>



<ul><li>Where has it failed?</li><li>Why has it failed?</li><li>Suggestions to fix the failures</li></ul>



<p>Tools like Testsigma also provide screenshots and videos that help to understand the failures. Makes it easier to analyze and fix them within a few minutes. Another advantage would be even non-technical people will be able to understand and suggest the fix.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-testsigma-helps-in-test-failure-analysis"><span id="How_Testsigma_Helps_in_test_failure_analysis"><strong>How Testsigma Helps in test failure analysis</strong></span></h2>



<p>The time taken to fix the script depends on how accurate the test results are and its information. If the test fails with one line of failure message, the tester needs to spend a lot of time analyzing the root cause. The sooner you find the root cause, the faster you fix the failures.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Testsigma understands the pain of finding the root cause. So it has tried to make failure analysis very simple by providing the most accurate, detailed information along with supporting screenshots, videos, and logs.</p>



<p>Let&#8217;s understand what are the features of <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-summary-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma reporting</a>.</p>



<ul><li>It provides reports at different levels such as Testplan, Testsuite, Testcase, and Step level.</li><li>Testcase level report contains the most granular level of information such as exact steps where it failed and the reason for failure.</li><li>The test report also provides different environmental information that you have selected before execution. Such as Windows 11 with Chrome, MacOS with Safari, etc.</li><li>It provides step-level screenshots where failures have occurred</li></ul>



<ul><li>Optionally, you can also download the log files which provide network and connection information thus it helps for further analysis.</li><li>The filtering option helps to filter out test results in multiple ways</li><li>As mentioned before, not everyone is interested in all the reports so it provides high-level reports with charts which will be helpful to stakeholders.</li><li>You can export the test results in PDF, or JSON format and build your dashboard.</li><li>When integrated into CI/CD pipeline it provides reports for each build making continuous testing easier.</li></ul>



<p>Let’s take an example of a scenario and try to analyze it in detail.</p>



<p>Consider we have a scenario</p>



<p>Test Case Name: Search and Navigate to the Testsigma page.</p>



<ul><li>Navigate to google.com</li><li>Search for testsigma</li><li>Click on the first result which is having a link to the Testsigma page.</li></ul>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">After execution we are seeing the failures in the above script, Testsigma reports look like below</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ZTI3OYAVc9E0DMJhL1EK2m-BZF7I7B7bMmPze9xHB9MNurahy1WJ02ymSVcSN3q30YyH2A0OITgkl1X9p1gzV3HYKgm2iAFNvGSd58Z_ZMeuwrlz11__7k6m78SDNPw7p5d1czEEG9mupathBBILog" alt="Search and navigate"/></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px">Looking at the screenshot, Let&#8217;s find the root cause by analyzing the report</p></p>



<ul><li>From the top environment information, we understand that it has failed in Windows 11 with Chrome version 114</li><li>There are 6 steps in total, and the test failed in the 5<sup>th</sup> step</li><li>From the error message <em>&#8220;The element corresponding to the locator type &#8220;XPATH&#8221; and locator &#8220;//span[contains(text(),&#8217;Testsigma1&#8242;)]&#8221; is not found&#8221;.</em> It clearly says that the locator is not found when it tries to click.</li><li>When we look at step 5 we are performing the click action on the XPATH locator &#8220;//span[contains(text(),&#8217;Testsigma1&#8242;)]&#8221; however it does not exist on the page.</li><li>If you navigate to the suggested <a href="https://support.testsigma.com/support/solutions/articles/32000024739-most-common-issues-caused-when-using-ui-identifiers">documentation</a> page it clearly says how to fix the issue.</li><li>From the screenshot, it is clear that the failure is not related to page loading or delay or application under test (AUT). It seems like an issue with our automation script.</li><li>From the above investigation, we can derive the conclusion<ul><li>Application behaving as expected</li><li>Page is rendering is fine</li><li>There is no such issue related to performance</li><li>The issue is originating from the locator that we have used.</li></ul></li><li>You have now two solutions to fix it<ul><li>Record the script</li><li>Correct the locator which is causing the issue</li></ul></li><li>In the locator we are using XPATH &#8220;//span[contains(text(),&#8217;Testsigma1&#8242;)]&#8221; where we are looking for the text &#8220;Testsigma1&#8221; but the actual locator is &#8220;//span[contains(text(),&#8217;Testsigma&#8217;)]&#8221;. 1 was appended at the end which was now corrected.</li><li>To edit the locator Click on TestSteps and then Click on Edit</li></ul><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/UFA7lgvaoMan8kKrdb6Ai4j1KDSTqmaD54OJAzqNME6_CgflPOLS3e13PeRr0okZmvK4cVWJbMOhVCWC_YPoKBUosF_BJlc5L1CRj_WtHz3m7a-81XAnxQssB08-A0e5IKtv7op9mZ1pA0Xu0JqfpA" alt="test steps"/></figure></div>



<br><ul><li>Click on the locator and replace it with the correct locator. Optionally you can Record the Element to correct it.</li></ul><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/b-v6PuwwLKatWlFZqch01w2muwYj1IFpQ9-vIJc9ZO2cesnpjCRY2EunnoT-J1E9kJBC6MXy6puN2e0hwtMIvXPyzn2JHiSD3LU97ff8l-5IiRcpN4Bj13weHGnPnHVVMZQs2RG9H2pxoFhWGJVfWw" alt="Record element"/></figure></div>



<br><ul><li>Click on Update and Rerun the test</li><li>After fixing the locator you can see the Test is passing</li></ul><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Q743B_WhIkffZ0WqfbIqr25tRJYXoy-tL82j7EPCvc6280ukaU-Yq2ZZQg9nIiQtQAVs49dhRRaBiQZauDvL-OI0BgyrlziPZ6uiNHpuV_hsvec6HOip4b9uNSDCrXxA0C-2HFOfRAvLe1_RJqTgw" alt="test result"/></figure></div>



<p style="padding-top:30px">I have explained it in detail so it might look lengthy when you look at it but in the real world, these steps won&#8217;t even take 5 minutes. One of the reasons is we could able to find all relevant failure information in place. Importantly, we are suggested with documents to fix them, no need to search for a solution. In this way, any complex failure is simplified by Testsigma, which makes it a developer-friendly tool.</p>



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<h2 id="h-test-automation-tools-with-test-failure-analysis"><span id="Test_Automation_Tools_with_Test_Failure_Analysis"><strong>Test Automation Tools with Test Failure Analysis</strong></span></h2>



<p>Almost every tool is shipped with test reporting but the accuracy is what matters most here. Some example<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-reporting-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> test reporting tools</a> for failure analysis are.</p>



<h3 id="h-testsigma"><span id="Testsigma"><strong><a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a></strong></span></h3>



<p>A no-code automation tool provides an &#8220;anybody can automate&#8221; feature. This tool comes with the most granular reporting with screenshots, videos, logs, exact steps, reason for failure, and help documents for fixing them.</p>



<h3 id="h-selenium-ide"><span id="Selenium_IDE"><strong>Selenium IDE</strong></span></h3>



<p>Selenium IDE is open source record and playback tool. The tool also provides reporting however for non-technical people it may be difficult to understand them. As the error messages are more technical and there is no high-level report to share. If you need detailed reporting you need to manually configure it using one of the supported programming languages</p>



<h3 id="h-katalon"><span id="Katalon"><strong>Katalon</strong></span></h3>



<p>Katalon provides both record-playback options and code-based automation capability. However, unlike Testsigma it is not a SaaS tool, so the configuration of reports in a Continuous testing environment can be tricky. If you need to use the Katalon you need to download the Katalon studio locally and then configure it as per your need.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Test failure analysis in automation can be challenging and time-consuming if you don’t have accurate information. Codeless automation tools like Testsigma provide detailed documents and accurate information whenever a test fails.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While you hunt for the test automation never forgot to have reporting as one of the criteria for evaluation.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Continuous testing demands speedy delivery, for that the automation script should execute without any performance hiccups. The artifacts should contain detailed reports and logs which can help you to debug and fix them swiftly.</p>



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



<h3 id="what-is-an-example-of-a-failing-test-case"><span id="What_is_an_example_of_a_failing_test_case"><strong>What is an example of a failing test case?</strong></span></h3>



<p>Let&#8217;s take an example of the below scenario</p>



<p><em>Test Case Name: Search and Navigate to the Testsigma page.</em></p>



<p><em>Steps:</em></p>



<ul><li>Navigate to google.com</li><li>Search for testsigma</li><li>Click on the first result which is having a link to the Testsigma page.</li></ul>



<p>Once you execute the script, imagine the script is failing while giving the information <em>&#8220;Search and Navigate to testsigma page has failed&#8221;.</em></p>



<p>The failed test case could be mean that either searching for this page did not work or navigating to this page did not work. It would be on further analysis of the test results that we could get to know the isolated cause. Read more here about <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/failed-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Failed Testing</a>.</p>


Test Failure Analysis In Test Automation


<p>At the intersection of testing and automation comes test data. Every tester deals with a variety of test data while executing the test cases. Not only do they maintain an extensive library of data useful in the testing process, but also generate a huge volume of data during the test runtime. And because data is such an important part of the testing process, it is important for testers to learn, understand, and correctly apply test data automation practices.</p>



<p>We explore the topic of efficiently approaching the test data collection, generation, maintenance, and automation techniques.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Test_Data_Automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is Test Data Automation?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Test_Data_Automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Why Test Data Automation?</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Data_Automation_Drivers"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Test Data Automation Drivers</a><ul><li><a href="#Making_Data_Available"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.1</span> Making Data Available</a></li><li><a href="#Data_Provisioning"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.2</span> Data Provisioning</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#When_to_Perform_Test_Data_Automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> When to Perform Test Data Automation?</a></li><li><a href="#Steps_to_Automate_Test_Data"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Steps to Automate Test Data</a><ul><li><a href="#Step_1_Extract"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.1</span> Step 1: Extract</a></li><li><a href="#Step_2_Manage"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.2</span> Step 2: Manage</a></li><li><a href="#Step_3_Provision"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.3</span> Step 3: Provision</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Key_Technology_Challenges_of_Test_Data_Automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Key Technology Challenges of Test Data Automation</a></li><li><a href="#Tools_for_Test_Data_Automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Tools for Test Data Automation</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Perform_Use_Test_Data_While_Automating_Tests_with_Testsigma"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> How to Perform Use Test Data While Automating Tests with Testsigma?</a></li><li><a href="#Wrapping_Up"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">9</span> Wrapping Up!</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">10</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_an_example_of_test_data_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">10.1</span> What is an example of test data automation?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_benefits_of_test_data_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">10.2</span> What are the benefits of test data automation?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-test-data-automation"><span id="What_is_Test_Data_Automation">What is Test Data Automation?</span></h2>



<p>Test data automation refers to the process of automatically generating, managing, and provisioning test data for software testing purposes.&nbsp;</p>



<p>An example of test data in an automated testing process for a login system could be using a test data automation tool that generates a range of user credentials (usernames and passwords) with various combinations. These credentials are then seamlessly integrated into the testing framework, allowing comprehensive login scenario testing while ensuring data privacy through the masking of sensitive information.</p>



<h2 id="h-why-test-data-automation"><span id="Why_Test_Data_Automation">Why Test Data Automation?</span></h2>



<p>For any application, testers attempt to run test cases with real-life data to replicate the real-world scenario. Clearly, such an approach will uncover defects customers might face when the application becomes available to them. But sourcing or generating data that resembles a real-life setting is a painstaking process. Testers would either need to wait for the data to become accessible or spend time producing all of it themselves.</p>



<p>Moreover, With automation, your QA team can likely reduce these factors by more than half and improve the test case execution with accurate input data and understandable output data. In software testing, having appropriate and representative test data is crucial to ensure that the software is thoroughly and accurately tested. Test data automation aims to streamline and optimize the management of test data, making the testing process more efficient, reliable, and repeatable.</p>



<p>But creating, processing, and managing test data manually is laborious and extremely time-consuming. With data test automation, you can avoid all this, use reliable test data for the testing, and easily identify bugs that users might face later on.</p>



<h2 id="h-test-data-automation-drivers"><span id="Test_Data_Automation_Drivers">Test Data Automation Drivers</span></h2>



<p>Automating test data is not just popular because it decreases manual effort and time for testers. There are a couple of drivers that influence the way test data automation works in the industry.</p>



<h3 id="h-making-data-available"><span id="Making_Data_Available">Making Data Available</span></h3>



<p>Generating, processing, managing, and accessing test data is a lengthy process that requires involvement of nearly 3 to 4 individuals. Developers and testers request access to test data, and data analysts/administrators have to manage those data sets. Evidently, all these people need to stay on top of the project progress with fresh data when the demand comes.</p>



<p>Automating test data reduces manual dependency on all of these professionals. It further improves the accuracy of managing such critical data sets without delaying the process if any of the involved parties is not available at the moment.</p>



<h3 id="h-data-provisioning"><span id="Data_Provisioning">Data Provisioning</span></h3>



<p>In handling test data and using it correctly, one of the major issues is giving access control to development and QA. Data provisioning ensures that the right data is available in the right format and at the right time to support different business processes and activities. Such an approach would automatically remove multiple layers of requests and messaging between teams and members, boosting the testing process in terms of time and efficiency.</p>



<h2 id="h-when-to-perform-test-data-automation"><span id="When_to_Perform_Test_Data_Automation">When to Perform Test Data Automation?</span></h2>



<p>It is clear that introducing test data automation into your testing strategy can significantly boost efficiency and accuracy. Here are all the times you should perform test data automation:</p>



<ul><li>Make the most of test data automation when you are laying down the groundwork for your testing process to ensure that data provisioning aligns seamlessly with your testing processes and minimizes disruptions.&nbsp;</li><li>Kick-starting test data automation before crafting extensive test scripts paves the way for smoother test case creation.&nbsp;</li><li>Incorporate test data automation as data complexity increases to provide results, effectively managing intricate data requirements.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-steps-to-automate-test-data"><span id="Steps_to_Automate_Test_Data">Steps to Automate Test Data</span></h2>



<p>Test data is important. Test automation is equally important. Next comes the procedure to automate test data. Here’s an easy flow you can follow:</p>



<h3 id="h-step-1-extract"><span id="Step_1_Extract">Step 1: Extract</span></h3>



<p>Identify all the data sources required for your testing needs and integrate your automation tool with those sources. Connecting with all the original source data helps to synchronize data collection and extraction.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-step-2-manage"><span id="Step_2_Manage">Step 2: Manage</span></h3>



<p>The next step is to properly handle the data you are extracting for your work purpose. It consists of integrating, masking, transforming, subsetting, and generating test datasets using the right <a href="https://testsigma.com/test-data-management-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test data management tools</a>.</p>



<h3 id="h-step-3-provision"><span id="Step_3_Provision">Step 3: Provision</span></h3>



<p>The final stage is to efficiently provision the data to the respective testing environments using the same tools as and when the requirements for the data arise. And because you are not requesting data directly from the source, there are no instances of downtime recorded of data sources.</p>



<h2 id="h-key-technology-challenges-of-test-data-automation"><span id="Key_Technology_Challenges_of_Test_Data_Automation">Key Technology Challenges of Test Data Automation</span></h2>



<p>Following the three steps to drive your test data automation is helpful but not entirely efficient. There are certain factors that impact the automation test data scenario that you need to look out for:</p>



<ul><li>Usually, companies run a data extraction process once a month or so, i.e., they take the data out from the sources for their work. But in such cases, data becomes old or irrelevant, which then affects the testing quality. Using smart synchronization techniques or regularly fishing out stale data can help in this case.</li><li>Data masking is a critical part of the data management process that safeguards customer and business information. Most of the time, companies do not focus on data masking before saving data in their system. You can use in-flight data masking tools to mask and send data to the required system.</li><li>Data provisioning becomes a hectic task when a variety of data is coming from different sources. This challenge calls for weeding out the instances when complex data is needed for testing and addressing the situation accordingly.</li><li>It can be challenging to integrate test data automation with the existing testing tools, frameworks, and automation scripts. Selecting tools that support test data management and testing processes is the right way to go here.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-tools-for-test-data-automation"><span id="Tools_for_Test_Data_Automation">Tools for Test Data Automation</span></h2>



<ul><li><strong>Testsigma:</strong> It is a cloud-based test automation platform that supports data-driven testing, integrated data sources, and dynamic data generation. The tool helps manage reusable test data sets and facilitates collaboration, enabling efficient and streamlined test data management for your automated testing processes.</li></ul>



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<ul><li><strong>Tricentis Tosca:</strong> It offers data provisioning and synthetic data generation capabilities to create realistic test data, integrate with various testing frameworks, and manage data privacy and compliance.</li><li><strong>Informatica Test Data Management:</strong> Informatica TDM provides data masking, subsetting, and data generation features. It ensures secure and compliant test data provisioning across different environments.</li><li><strong>GenRocket:</strong> GenRocket is a <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-data-generation-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test data generation tool</a> specializing in allowing users to model and generate data for various testing scenarios.</li><li><strong>Delphix:</strong> This tool offers data virtualization and masking capabilities to create lightweight, on-demand test data subsets while safeguarding sensitive information.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-how-to-perform-use-test-data-while-automating-tests-with-testsigma"><span id="How_to_Perform_Use_Test_Data_While_Automating_Tests_with_Testsigma">How to Perform Use Test Data While Automating Tests with Testsigma?</span></h2>



<p>Suppose you have a login page to test using multiple username and password entries. You can use Testsigma to create these test data directly within the tool and pull the same in your test scripts.</p>



<p>Let’s start with developing test data. Log into your Testsigma account and navigate to <strong><em>Create Test Data Profile, </em></strong>as shown in the below image.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/YeAPGXkibRBpPWqlwoyQtmXoE1HcLodD1k5HoXEsXCvJfSr639Fmg4iCfvs0ABEqPIxOGKucSpz6O3JSofViGqyAkk-331Vyopjnar-_tXZ7NCWbC-RzBh1EscNLGpOwNgPHfbPqU_SsRMY8D6UMgdc" alt="Test data profile"/></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px">Now, give your data profile a <strong><em>Name </em></strong>and enter names for the data set you want to create. We have given two data sets here: Valid and Invalid.&nbsp;</p></p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">Then, fill in the names of columns that will show the set of values that each data set will have. You can add more columns by clicking on the + button on the top right. Click on <strong><em>Create.</em></strong> It is shown in the image below.</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/cNEw9tDDdTrbNFpnz2cBui6LavhKezjdJLS3dCjsT3u-ncQnoZ6cR2RuVSrao4qf-peyB3WVioaFwuBUDfzq7cqqVaUop_1-x5RWO0lvYnzN5lkqPAGSz_18cWCkuYYmVHE5UPIlhE5fvquraBdF3y8" alt="test data profile creation" width="43" height="20"/></figure></div>



<p style="padding-top:30px">Your data set is created and available for use in the test cases.</p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">But before adding the data to your test script, you need to associate a test data profile<strong><em> </em></strong>to the test case. To do that, head over to the <strong><em>Edit Test Case </em></strong>option and select the choice of your test data under the <strong><em>Test Data Profile </em></strong>dropdown. Here we have selected the test data we created.</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/E0dS7RTAPGzX4bSm4cYSus2RbB51cWRqIpNa8KfmdZ5DB9KT9YD_s_Pt7hQ_kuik7l2Wxw9qbZf6lSKKtO7BqXh5pV4__q78mfR10rDX-TsyznZnGMtKAHpW1TjFdyb23wqAublQzuxdLhHNunkQ7wM" alt="Test cases"/></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px;padding-top:30px">Next, you can add the data to the test step by right-clicking on the step using the <strong><em>@|Parameter| </em></strong>option in the dropdown.</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/o8sSgZb579dG8W--qOvaDO5P5EKGxnB6ywz54b7wWODSD--yFEOlnchq19OKM-wQR9I1TpYUDCeI-tuV54JSuKGCUUEEiCym64-_4p5DN2ZBpeAgC2TY_AQuXS-01oUGpPxatg41LVLfjwe8ZyKxsdM" alt="Test steps"/></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px;padding-top:30px">Selecting the above option will display the below page, where you can see the test data associated with this particular test case.</p></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-M2mkXr4ayWKrt7ZX4D6BNbQv_mKMmD6JANGgqQTq2EL-k2Tl2YA_Ql-i121Qo8TK1tfna9hKyt4cNhQ5wHKseKU_CGXg2dx7ZpLwHhNdMKlqz6htx39-DMPH-p0EbGJKaTYPrO7wIfSe2LnXJxNmcw" alt="Test data"/></figure>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px">You can further enable the <a href="https://testsigma.com/data-driven-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Data-driven testing</a> toggle button. Once you have done that in your testing, you can narrow and customize the various data sets from your test data profile that are being used in your test case using the filters iteration, parameter, and set name. Follow this <a href="https://testsigma.com/docs/test-data/create-data-profiles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tutorial</a> to know more.</p></p>



<p>Besides this, Testsigma is a full-fledged test automation platform that provides data-driven testing options along with importing test data from external sources and updating them as per the need.</p>



<p>Leverage the multifaceted benefits of Testsigma to test for web, mobile, and APIs. Take your testing process to the next level within a matter of days. </p>



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<h2 id="h-wrapping-up"><span id="Wrapping_Up">Wrapping Up!</span></h2>



<p>Testers require test data at every point in the testing process. To fulfill this need, businesses focus on generating and handling data, a task that demands time from many people. And if anything goes awry in the middle of this work, testers have to wait for the fresh set of data to become available to them. Quite frankly, the entire process is lengthy and time-consuming.</p>



<p>With test data automation, you can avoid all such problems and make relevant data accessible to testers when they need it and where they need it. All you have to do is select a test data management tool that supports your testing requirements.</p>



<p>After you followed through with this complete post, you could easily understand the significance of test data and how you can make the best use of it.</p>



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



<h3 id="what-is-an-example-of-test-data-automation"><span id="What_is_an_example_of_test_data_automation">What is an example of test data automation?</span></h3>



<p>An example of test data automation would be to create and gather the necessary data to check an e-commerce website. Test data automation entails the automatic creation of a range of user profiles encompassing various demographic details, interests, and purchasing behaviors.</p>



<h3 id="what-are-the-benefits-of-test-data-automation"><span id="What_are_the_benefits_of_test_data_automation">What are the benefits of test data automation?</span></h3>



<p>Test data automation accelerates testing cycles by swiftly generating diverse data scenarios, enhances test coverage for various use cases, ensures data accuracy for reliable results, and reduces manual effort, boosting overall testing efficiency.</p>
