You are working on software. But how do you ensure your users will be able to use it? User acceptance testing may hold the answer for you. This blog post will cover everything from the basics of UAT to the User Acceptance Testing Checklist, and, most importantly, we will share some tips and tricks with you.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#User_Acceptance_Testing_UAT_Checklist">1 User Acceptance Testing (UAT) Checklist</a><ul><li><a href="#Initiating_the_UAT_project">1.1 Initiating the UAT project</a></li><li><a href="#Planning">1.2 Planning </a></li><li><a href="#Design">1.3 Design</a></li><li><a href="#Execution">1.4 Execution</a></li><li><a href="#Release_Decisions">1.5 Release Decisions</a></li><li><a href="#Post-User_Acceptance_Testing_Actions">1.6 Post-User Acceptance Testing Actions</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#User_Acceptance_Testing_Checklist_Example">2 User Acceptance Testing Checklist Example</a></li><li><a href="#Benefits_of_having_a_UAT_Checklist">3 Benefits of having a UAT Checklist</a></li><li><a href="#Automate_your_Acceptance_Tests">4 Automate your Acceptance Tests</a></li><li><a href="#Summary">5 Summary</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-user-acceptance-testing-uat-checklist">User Acceptance Testing (UAT) Checklist</h2>



Here is a checklist for User Acceptance Testing that includes some of the essential elements to consider while conducting UAT:



<h3 id="initiating-the-uat-project">Initiating the UAT project</h3>



Initiating the<a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/uat-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> User Acceptance Testing</a> (UAT) project is a big deal.



First, involve all the essential peeps like developers, testers, project managers, and end users. Your test cases need to be super thorough and cover all possible scenarios.



Once your test cases are ready, review them by stakeholders to ensure they&#8217;re accurate and complete.



<h3 id="h-planning">Planning </h3>



Make a UAT plan with clear goals and tasks, like setting up the test environment, creating test cases, and deciding on a timeline. This plan will help guide the whole testing process.



<h3 id="h-design">Design</h3>



Next, you must create test cases based on user stories or use cases from the requirements document.



<h3 id="h-execution">Execution</h3>



The UAT Execution process involves testing the system or application by actual users to determine whether it meets their requirements and expectations. We analyze and evaluate the results and make necessary changes before the final release.



The UAT Execution process is essential in ensuring the product is user-friendly, meets the requirements, and satisfies the client&#8217;s needs.



<h3 id="h-release-decisions">Release Decisions</h3>



Before releasing the software, the User Acceptance Testing (UAT) process must be completed. The team will examine the UAT results and make release decisions to ensure the software meets end-user requirements. They should evaluate feedback, identify issues or flaws, and remedy them before launching the software.



The successful completion of User Acceptance Testing (UAT) can indicate the software&#8217;s readiness for launch; however, it is essential to consider other elements, such as technical and financial viability. Making decisions based on data is imperative to guarantee that the software meets end-users&#8217; demands and achieves success within the market.



<h3 id="h-post-user-acceptance-testing-actions">Post-User Acceptance Testing Actions</h3>



Post-User Acceptance Testing Actions refer to the steps taken after successfully testing a software application. These actions involve analyzing the testing results, identifying any issues or bugs found, and fixing them before the final implementation of the software. Post-testing involves collecting and incorporating user feedback into the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/uxui-how-improve-user-experience-software-development-rodriguez" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">software design to improve user experience</a>.



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<h2 id="user-acceptance-testing-checklist-example">User Acceptance Testing Checklist Example</h2>



For the User Acceptance Testing checklist example, let’s look at a <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/test-scenario/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test scenario</a> of an e-commerce website. The objective is to ensure that the new features of the website work expectedly and meet user requirements. The test environment is staging.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Test ID</td><td>Test Scenario</td><td>Test Steps</td><td>Expected Resuts</td><td>Actual Results</td><td>Pass/Fail</td><td>Comments</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>User registration</td><td>1. Navigate to the registration page. 2. Fill out the registration form. 3. Submit the form.</td><td>New user should be registered and redirected to the homepage</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>User login</td><td>1. Navigate to the login page. 2. Enter valid credentials. 3. Click the login button.</td><td>User should be logged in and taken to the dashboard.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Add to cart</td><td>1. Search for a product. 2. Select the product. 3. Click on &#8220;Add to Cart&#8221;.</td><td>Product(s) should be added to the shopping cart.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Order history</td><td>1. Navigate to the user account page. 2. Click on &#8220;Order History”.</td><td>User should see a list of past orders.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Checkout process</td><td>1. Go to the shopping cart. 2. Click on &#8220;Proceed to Checkout&#8221;. 3. Fill out shipping and payment details. 4. Submit the order.</td><td>Order should be placed successfully, and confirmation email sent.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Filter products by category</td><td>1. Navigate to the category page. 2. Apply a category filter.</td><td>Products should be filtered according to the selected category.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<div class="goto-wrapper">
 
 Check Here:
 <a href="https://testsigma.com/user-acceptance-testing-tools" class="goto-link">Best User Acceptance Testing Tools</a>
 
</div>



<h2 id="benefits-of-having-a-uat-checklist">Benefits of having a UAT Checklist</h2>



Now, you have a checklist handy. All you have to do is put this checklist to good use. Below are the benefits you reap when using a checklist like this to the dot:



<ul><li>Consistency and efficiency come when you run tests in a sequence without missing any step.</li><li>Checklists allow testers to track which test cases have been executed, their outcomes, and any issues encountered.</li><li>You can record and refer to the results along with the comments to stay on top of any changes that might happen in the text scenario.</li><li>A checklist provides a structured approach to UAT testing.</li><li>It promotes communication and collaboration among team members.</li></ul>



<div class="goto-wrapper">
 
 Check Here:
 <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/uat-test-cases-template/" class="goto-link">UAT Test Case Template</a>
 
</div>



<h2 id="h-automate-your-acceptance-tests">Automate your Acceptance Tests</h2>



Once the needed changes are incorporated into the product, the next step is to automate the <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/acceptance-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">acceptance tests</a>. For automating these tests, you need to choose the tool that would be right for you and would let you grow your<a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> test automation</a> suite further. 



Testsigma is a tool for automating acceptance tests and allows you to scale your test automation efforts when needed. Some features that make it ideal for the automation of acceptance tests are:



i. It&#8217;s a no-code test automation tool; thus, writing your tests is like writing them in simple English. You don&#8217;t need to be an expert in coding here. 



ii. You begin your test automation in minutes. 



iii. Testsigma lets you automate your tests for web, mobile, desktop, and APIs from the same place. 



iv. The test cases are very easy to edit too. Testsigma is also available as open source and free. 



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



Ultimately, UAT is an essential step that ensures the product offered to the end-users is high quality, meets their expectations, and is accepted as a valuable addition to their work or lifestyle. A User Acceptance Testing checklist outlines all the steps and procedures to complete the UAT process successfully.



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<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>User Acceptance Testing VS Usability Testing</ts-linktext-value>
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<ts-linktext-value>UAT Testcase Template</ts-linktext-value>
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User Acceptance Testing Checklist- 6 Essential Elements To Consider

User Acceptance Testing Checklist – 6 Factors to Consider

Test automation distinguishes itself by making a difference via reducing expenses, boosting productivity, and lowering error rates. No development team, I&#8217;m sure, will reject the efficiency that a solid automation suite can establish during a typical development process. The most significant of these traits is that test automation is a collaborative and time-consuming effort. Silo tests frequently fail to produce the desired outcomes, especially when many teams are working together to create impact.&nbsp;



In order to keep the machine running smoothly, collaboration is essential oil. This article focuses on the six crucial principles, software test automation teams should talk about before beginning to automate the tests &nbsp;Creating consensus and outlining common rules aids teams in creating and maintaining cleaner and efficient code.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-37.png" alt="6 test automation principles" class="wp-image-27469" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#6_principles_of_automation_testing">1 6 principles of automation testing</a><ul><li><a href="#1_System_statenbsp">1.1 1. System state&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#2_Authenticationnbsp">1.2 2. Authentication&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#3_Authorisationnbsp">1.3 3. Authorisation&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#4_Test_data_bed">1.4 4. Test data bed</a></li><li><a href="#5_Test_Layeringnbsp">1.5 5. Test Layering&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#6_Frequency_of_test_executionnbsp">1.6 6. Frequency of test execution&nbsp;</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="6-principles-of-automation-testing">6 principles of automation testing</h2>



Here are the 6 principles of automation testing for effective, scalable, and maintainable test practices



<h3 id="h-1-system-state">1. System state&nbsp;</h3>



While building the test automation suite, one important principle is “system state”. System state makes the foundational aspect and has direct influence on the success or failure of test suite. Considering the application design into the account teams have to consider the state in which the application presents better. Not to forget the costs involved in maintaining the environment. Test environments are set up in various ways&nbsp;



i. Long Living test environment &#8211; These are the test environments, once set up will continue to run except few maintenance shutdowns. Usually, enterprise applications are backed with such test environments due to the complexity of the business functions and speghetti system configuration. Most often we also see legacy applications running on long living test environments.&nbsp;



ii. Hybrid test environments &#8211; These are the test environments where part of the system configuration is up and running all the time, whereas some part can be triggered on-demand. These type of test environments are the most complex to work with due to the partial existence, not many teams prefer the system set up this way.&nbsp;



iii. On-demand Test environments&#8211; These are the test environments which can be set up anytime and dismantled after the use. Most often cloud applications harness this advantage.&nbsp;



In each of these test environment the behavior of test data, authroization, authentication and external integrations vary at various levels. Test teams have to&nbsp; take into application architecture into account before designing the E2E tests. While long living test environments are blessed with an advantage of maintaining and managing the system status, the On-demand environments have advantage of prestine test environment avoiding any stale test data.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-39.png" alt="test environments" class="wp-image-27473" width="600" height="400"/><figcaption>On-demand Test environments</figcaption></figure></div>



<h3 id="2-authentication">2. Authentication&nbsp;</h3>



The most fundamental test that any automation suite may have is user authentication into an application. However, the majority of applications operate behind cookies. When a user logs into an application, the application is supported by pertinent cookies to function around the user. The high level of personal experience that e-commerce websites want to deliver necessitates that these applications operate behind cookies. As part of this, it is critical to provide users with the ability to <a href="https://www.enzuzo.com/blog/best-consent-management-platforms" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manage consent</a> regarding these cookies. Incorporating effective consent management not only ensures compliance with privacy regulations but also builds user trust while supporting personalized functionality.



There are 2 ways to distribute these cookies.&nbsp;



1. Create the appearance of a typical user action and log in to the application using the user credentials.&nbsp;



2. After starting the program, insert these cookies into the active browser session to acquire access to it before the window loads.&nbsp;



Before creating the test suits, test teams should agree on the execution strategy, especially in multi-scrum/scaled agile teams. Depending on how the system is accessed, various <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-testing-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing strategies</a> are used. When tests are created to use embedded cookies, extra caution must be taken to check the cookies each time the session reloads; otherwise, the tests will continue to regularly fail.&nbsp;



According to the test requirements of the team, the test suite is frequently repeated and run in a variety of environments, including development, testing, staging, demo, and production. In these circumstances, the test suit unquestionably requires clarification regarding how authentication will be handled.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-38.png" alt="Authentication " class="wp-image-27471" width="600" height="400"/><figcaption>Authentication&nbsp;</figcaption></figure></div>



<h3 id="3-authorisation">3. Authorisation&nbsp;</h3>



One of the key concepts in any B2B or B2C application is access management. Authorization for user layers is a widely used notion in business solutions. Before developing the test automation suit, this is one of the most vital aspects that needs to be addressed. Concepts related to identity and access management should be handled as early in the phase as possible given they directly affect the test design.&nbsp;



Below are a few open questions to consider&nbsp;



Should you create several users with various levels of access? or alter the authorisations on the fly while running the test?&nbsp;



Should you create a new user each time the test is triggered? or can we have long living user credentials?&nbsp;



How do you prefer to compare modifications made by users with varying levels of authorisation?&nbsp;



What levels must be included in the process of test automation? Should we conduct vertical testing or handle each tier separately? What user combinations can never be generated?&nbsp;



Test data dependancy for user levels&nbsp;



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<h3 id="4-test-data-bed">4. Test data bed</h3>



Preparing the test bed before the test execution is very important. Most tests should be supported with relevant Test data for successful execution. Theoretically most data should be flexible and should be achieved through parameterization. However, in real world execution not all tests can be run on flexible protocol due to various parameters.&nbsp;



A shared understanding of the constants used for the test execution should be established. Test framework should also be supported with separate file with collection of hard data. Application URL, User credentials, search terms, forms etc are classic examples where we see hard data being seeded.&nbsp;



<h3 id="5-test-layering">5. Test Layering&nbsp;</h3>



Load a Frontend, perform an action wait for the operation to take place triggering changed UI state. Applying assertion on the changed UI state is what by and large is defined as test automation. Personally, I believe this is not how tests should be automated. By restricting the checks only to the old v/s new UI state you are barely scratching the surface of the test goal.&nbsp;



Establish a clear test design guideline for all CRUD operations performed and layers that needs to be verified to call it a successful tests. For example: When a user is prompted to fill the form and on click of save button the form details will be saved in backend DB. The tests should include the verification of the calls made to the backend, type of data transferred, checking the headers for security, verifying the response call, verifying the response schema and finally validating the data rendering on the UI makes a complete test flow for respective feature.&nbsp;



Let us not forget, achieving such test design needs good hold technically. Most often test teams lose their track over a period of time when new team members join and automation is handed over with less care.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-40.png" alt="Test Layering " class="wp-image-27475" width="600" height="400"/><figcaption>Performance Checks</figcaption></figure></div>



<h3 id="6-frequency-of-test-execution">6. Frequency of test execution&nbsp;</h3>



&nbsp;A team of active developers generate more PRs in a day compared to conservative development team. The main goal behind <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automating tests</a> is to free up test engineers time for more critical tasks and also to achieve flexibility in executing the tests wherever required without having to worry about environments where the tests are triggered.&nbsp;



A team with higher PR traffic cannot afford to wait until all tests get executed to receive the early feedback. As this becomes the bottleneck in the <a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/devops/what-cicd-pipeline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI pipeline</a> as agents get busy building the code for a long. Thus, as a team, the last principle of software test automation is to decide on the type and frequency of tests to be performed during the code build, during the nightly executions etc.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-41.png" alt="Frequency of test execution" class="wp-image-27477" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



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Read more articles written by Sowmya Sridharamurthy:



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/the-unpleasant-phenomenon-in-agile-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Unpleasant Phenomenon In Agile Testing</a>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/api-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing basics for beginners</a>

6 elemental principles to be discussed before initiating test automation

6 Elemental Principles of Automation: Why They Matter?

API vs UI Testing: Which one should you choose? Well, that&#8217;s a tricky choice because both these testing types play crucial roles in ensuring the overall functionality and reliability of an application.&nbsp;



Validating the front end and back end is crucial to ensuring the smooth operation of any application type. This blog will discuss the basics of API and UI testing, their differences and advantages, and how they impact an application&#8217;s quality.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1000" height="420" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03123538/API-testing.webp" alt="API vs UI testing using Testsigma
" class="wp-image-53702" srcset="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03123538/API-testing.webp 1000w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03123538/API-testing-768x323.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_API_Testing">1 What is API Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_UI_Testing">2 What is UI Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#API_vs_UI_Testing_The_Core_Differences">3 API vs UI Testing: The Core Differences</a></li><li><a href="#Automating_API_and_UI_Testing_With_Testsigma">4 Automating API and UI Testing With Testsigma</a><ul><li><a href="#API_Test_Case_Generation_Using_Copilot">4.1 API Test Case Generation Using Copilot</a></li><li><a href="#No-Code_Test_Automation_for_UI_Testing">4.2 No-Code Test Automation for UI Testing</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">5 Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-api-testing">What is API Testing?</h2>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/api-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing</a> is a software testing technique that tests the APIs and the business logic of the application. It helps check if the APIs are working fine as expected in terms of functionality, performance, reliability, and security.&nbsp;



Also, this testing requires software to send calls to the API. The software will send requests to API, receive output, and compare the actual responses with the expected responses. Thus, it helps check if the API is working correctly.



<h2 id="h-what-is-ui-testing">What is UI Testing?</h2>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/ui-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UI testing</a> is the process of testing the design and layout of the application. It involves testing the individual components of the interface, such as button color, input fields, and menus, as well as how they interact with each other.&nbsp;



Testers focus on evaluating the look and feel of the application to identify any design defects, errors, or usability issues before the product is released to end users.



The importance of testing UI cannot be overstated. A recent survey stated that <a href="https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/website-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">21%</a> of businesses have low website traffic due to issues with their website performance. Also, a recent Google survey revealed that over <a href="https://www.marketingdive.com/news/google-53-of-mobile-users-abandon-sites-that-take-over-3-seconds-to-load/426070/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">53%</a> of mobile site visitors leave the web page if it takes more than three seconds to load.



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<h2 id="h-api-vs-ui-testing-the-core-differences">API vs UI Testing: The Core Differences</h2>



Both testing types play a major role in assuring a product&#8217;s quality. Let&#8217;s take a quick look at the major differences to understand these concepts better.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>UI Testing</td><td>API Testing</td></tr><tr><td>Testers perform it</td><td>Developers and testers perform it</td></tr><tr><td>The functionality of the application is tested</td><td>The Business Logic of the application is validated</td></tr><tr><td>Testing is between the user and front-end of the application</td><td>Testing is between back-end of one application and back-end of another application</td></tr><tr><td>It is performed on the presentation layer, i.e., the front-end</td><td>It is performed on the business layer, i.e., the back-end</td></tr><tr><td>Slow execution time</td><td>Fast execution time as no user interface is required for this testing.</td></tr><tr><td>Both manual and automated testing are possible.&nbsp;</td><td>Both manual and automated testing are possible.&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Manual UI testing is preferred only in the case of small websites that consist of a minimum number of web pages and UI elements.&nbsp;</td><td>Though manual API testing is possible, it is highly daunting as you need to process a large amount of data for testing.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/automated-ui-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automated UI testing</a> is considered the best for fast and efficient results.</td><td>Automated API testing offers fast and efficient results.</td></tr><tr><td>Top test automation tools like <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a>, Selenium, or Cypress can be used.</td><td>Top test automation tools like Testsigma, Apache JMeter, Postman, or SoapUI can be used.</td></tr><tr><td>Improves your application&#8217;s quality and stability as it helps find and fix bugs in the UI.</td><td>Improves the overall security of the application as it helps identify security vulnerabilities in the API.</td></tr><tr><td>Ensures users have a positive experience while using your product.&nbsp;</td><td>Tests the product in-depth and validates if all the system components and databases are working as expected.</td></tr><tr><td>High test maintenance because changes to the UI can be quite frequent</td><td>Low test maintenance as changes to the API are mostly rare.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Though various tools are available in the market, Testsigma is one of a kind that allows you to automate both these tests in one platform.



<h2 id="h-automating-api-and-ui-testing-with-testsigma">Automating API and UI Testing With Testsigma</h2>



Testsigma is a powerful <a href="https://testsigma.com/ai-driven-test-automation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GenAI-powered test automation</a> platform that lets you automate both UI and API testing in the same place. It is a cloud-based codeless testing platform that allows you to create and execute automated tests for web, mobile, desktop, API, Salesforce, and SAP applications. A quick look at the benefits,



<ul><li>GenAI-powered testing: Interact with Copilot using prompts. Copilot generates automated test cases and test scenarios within seconds based on user prompts. </li></ul>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1918" height="981" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03121740/Gen-Ai-powered-testing.jpg" alt="GenAI-powered test automation
" class="wp-image-53700" srcset="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03121740/Gen-Ai-powered-testing.jpg 1918w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03121740/Gen-Ai-powered-testing-768x393.jpg 768w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03121740/Gen-Ai-powered-testing-1536x786.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1918px) 100vw, 1918px" /></figure></div>



<ul><li>Faster test development: Create your automated tests in seconds using GenAI and codeless testing.</li><li>70% more test coverage: Cover multiple test scenarios including edge cases, by getting test suggestions from Copilot.</li><li>Zero setup time: No infrastructure setup is required. You can quickly execute your API tests on the cloud.</li><li>10x Faster: It makes your entire test automation process 10x faster and more efficient.</li><li>Unified testing: Automate your web, mobile, desktop, API, Salesforce, and SAP tests in one place.</li><li>Faster execution time: Run your UI, functional, API, visual, and accessibility tests in the same run.</li><li>70% reduced test maintenance: AI-powered auto-healing tests can help reduce test failures by adapting to UI changes.</li><li>Test continuously: Integrate automated tests into your existing CI/CD and DevOps pipeline. Testsigma offers 30+ integrations with popular tools to ensure continuous testing.</li><li>Parallel testing: Run multiple tests simultaneously on various test environments on the cloud.</li><li>Read device testing: Use our real device cloud to test across 3000+ real devices/platforms/browsers on the cloud.</li><li>Actionable test insights: Get automated test reports that highlight failures or errors and provide detailed insights into the performance of your application.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-api-test-case-generation-using-copilot">API Test Case Generation Using Copilot</h3>



With Testsigma, you can <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-api-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automate API testing</a> in minutes using Copilot. How can Copilot enhance your API test automation? Let&#8217;s discuss:



<ul><li>Build API tests and validate responses in real-time</li><li>Improve your test coverage by 3X with data-driven testing</li><li>Validate your API using various REST API methods like GET, POST, DELETE, PUT, and HEAD via one integrated test or separate tests for each method.</li><li>Perform both API and functional UI tests using the same platform.</li><li>Validate API responses using various comparison modes</li><li>Easily send multiple API requests to test whether the communication channels are working properly.</li></ul>



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<h3 id="h-no-code-test-automation-for-ui-testing"><a href="https://testsigma.com/low-code-test-automation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">No-Code Test Automation</a> for UI Testing</h3>



Testsigma allows you to test the application&#8217;s UI without requiring any coding. You can create automated UI tests in plain English using the Testsigma Recorder or NLP Engine. The powerful and intuitive UI makes it easy for technical and non-technical team members to collaborate and deliver quality products in a short time. 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1918" height="978" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03121520/No-code-test-automation.jpg" alt="Automated UI testing with Testsigma
" class="wp-image-53698" srcset="https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03121520/No-code-test-automation.jpg 1918w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03121520/No-code-test-automation-768x392.jpg 768w, https://s3.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/03121520/No-code-test-automation-1536x783.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1918px) 100vw, 1918px" /></figure></div>



<ul><li>Intelligent test recorder that allows you to create automated tests in minutes.</li><li>Via Testsgima Coilpot &#8211; you can generate automated UI tests in minutes based on prompts, user stories, Figma design, or screenshots.</li><li>Easily run <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automated cross-browser tests</a> on thousands of devices and browsers on the cloud.</li><li>You can also <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/testsigma-recorder/epmomlhdjfgdobefcpocockpjihaabdp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">install Testsigma Recorder</a>, the Chrome extension lets you easily record the web interactions and store them as test steps in plain English, which you can directly run on the cloud.</li><li>Automate visual and functional UI tests in the same run with just a few clicks.</li></ul>



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<h2 id="h-conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



It is worth noting that both API and UI tests are equally important and complement each other. Both help ensure that an application is working as expected and that it meets the desired quality standards.



With Testsigma, you can avoid the hassle of installing and setting up multiple tools. Testsigma is an all-in-one test automation platform that allows you to perform both UI and API testing in one place, making it easier to manage and maintain your test suite.



I hope this article helped you understand the differences between API vs UI testing, and now you know which testing needs to be done when. Do let me know your thoughts in the comments section.

API vs UI Testing Which One Should You Pick

API vs UI Testing: Which One Should You Pick

Test Automation Frameworks: Types, Benefits, and How to Choose the Right One

How to perform Mouse Hover Action in Selenium

How to perform Mouse Hover Action in Selenium￼

When automating a web application, we occasionally run across the NoSuchElementException exception, which is thrown when the element being interacted with cannot be located.



The main reason for this error is that the element that has to be interacted with is present on the page but takes some time to load and show up for the user. You can see how this could become a significant problem during automation and cause our scripts to fail. Here is when Selenium Java&#8217;s Thread.sleep() function comes into action. 



Let&#8217;s first learn the fundamentals of the Thread.sleep() Selenium sleep function before we look at how to use it effectively.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Overview_of_Threadsleep">1 Overview of Thread.sleep()?</a></li><li><a href="#Types_of_Wait_Commands_in_Selenium_Java">2 Types of Wait Commands in Selenium Java.</a></li><li><a href="#How_does_Threadsleep_work">3 How does Thread.sleep() work?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Do_We_Use_Threadsleep_in_Selenium">4 Why Do We Use Thread.sleep() in Selenium?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_use_Threadsleep_in_Selenium_test_automation">5 How to use Thread.sleep() in Selenium test automation?</a></li><li><a href="#Alternatives_to_Threadsleep">6 Alternatives to Thread.sleep().</a></li><li><a href="#Limitation_of_Threadsleep">7 Limitation of Thread.sleep().</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">8 Conclusion</a><ul><li><a href="#A_new_approach_to_Test_Automation">8.1 A new approach to Test Automation</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">9 Frequently Asked Questions:</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_alternative_for_thread_sleep_in_Selenium">9.1 What is the alternative for thread sleep in Selenium?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-overview-of-thread-sleep">Overview of Thread.sleep()?</h2>



Thread.sleep is a <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/selenium-wait-for-page-to-load/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wait command in Selenium</a>&nbsp; that instructs the program to suspend the execution for a certain condition or a specific amount of time.



Here are some reasons why wait commands are necessary in Selenium.



<ul><li>Page loading: Web pages can take varying amounts of time to load depending on network speed, server response time, and other factors. If you try to interact with elements on the page before the page has fully loaded, your script may fail.</li> <li>Dynamic content: Many modern web pages use dynamic content that is loaded asynchronously, meaning that it can take time for certain elements to become available. If you try to interact with these elements before they are available, your script may fail.</li> <li>Latency: Network latency can cause delays in the time it takes for elements on a page to become available. If you don&#8217;t use wait commands, your script may fail if it attempts to interact with elements before they are fully loaded.</li> <li>Animations: Some web pages use animations or other visual effects that can cause delays in the loading of elements or the timing of events on the page. If you don&#8217;t use wait commands, your script may fail if it attempts to interact with elements during these animations.</li></ul>



<h2 id="types-of-wait-commands-in-selenium-java">Types of Wait Commands in Selenium Java.</h2>



There are three types of wait commands in Selenium Java:



<ul><li>Implicit Wait: Implicit waits are used to set a default waiting time for the web driver to search for an element if it is not immediately available. It is applied to the driver instance globally and is set using the driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait() method. Once set, the implicit wait will remain in effect for the entire lifetime of the WebDriver object, and it will wait for the specified time before throwing a NoSuchElementException. This is useful when you have to perform several operations on a web page that may load or change over time.</li> <li>Explicit Wait: Explicit waits are used to wait for a specific condition to occur before proceeding further in the script. You can define a custom wait condition using the ExpectedConditions class provided by Selenium. The explicit wait is triggered when you use the WebDriverWait class and specify a maximum wait time using the until method. It checks for the presence, visibility, or any other condition of a web element before proceeding. If the condition is not met within the specified time, it throws a TimeoutException.</li> <li>Fluent Wait: Fluent waits are used to define more complex waiting strategies that involve polling for an element repeatedly until a specific condition is met. It can be used to wait for an element to become clickable, and visible, or to wait for a certain amount of time. It is created using the Wait interface and is used to define the maximum wait time, the polling interval, and the condition to wait for. The fluent wait is more flexible than the implicit and explicit waits and allows you to define a custom condition and polling interval, making it useful for waiting for elements that may load or change over time.</li></ul>



Using these wait commands can help to ensure that your Selenium scripts are more stable and reliable by allowing the script to wait for the web page to load or for specific elements to become available before proceeding further.



<h2 id="how-does-thread-sleep-work">How does Thread.sleep() work?</h2>



Thread.sleep() is a method in Java that pauses the current thread for a specified amount of time, allowing other threads to execute. When you call Thread.sleep(), the current thread enters a blocked state for the duration of the sleep period. During this time, the thread doesn&#8217;t execute any code and doesn&#8217;t consume any CPU resources.



Here&#8217;s how Thread.sleep() works:



<ol><li>When you call Thread.sleep(), the current thread enters a blocked state, which means it&#8217;s waiting for a certain amount of time to elapse.</li> <li>The thread scheduler removes the blocked thread from the list of threads that are ready to execute and puts it in a waiting state.</li> <li>While the thread is in a waiting state, the CPU is free to execute other threads that are ready to run.</li> <li>After the specified time has elapsed, the thread scheduler moves the blocked thread back to the list of threads that are ready to execute.</li> <li>The blocked thread is now ready to execute again, and the CPU can execute it along with other ready threads.</li></ol>



It&#8217;s important to note that the actual amount of time that a thread is blocked by Thread.sleep() may be longer or shorter than the specified sleep period. This is because the thread scheduler doesn&#8217;t guarantee precise timing of thread execution, and there may be other factors that affect the thread&#8217;s ability to execute, such as CPU load or other system resources.



<h2 id="why-do-we-use-thread-sleep-in-selenium">Why Do We Use Thread.sleep() in Selenium?</h2>



In Selenium sleep, Thread.sleep() is used to add a delay between operations or to wait for an element to appear on the page. This delay can be useful in a variety of scenarios, such as:



<ul><li>Waiting for page loading: Sometimes, the web page can take a while to load, and you need to wait for it to finish loading before performing any operations on it. In this case, Thread.sleep() can be used to add a delay to allow the page to finish loading.</li> <li>Waiting for element visibility: In some cases, you may need to wait for an element to become visible on the page before you can interact with it. Thread.sleep() can be used to wait for the element to appear on the page.</li> <li>Waiting for element interaction: Sometimes, you need to wait for an element to be interactable before you can click on it or perform any other operation on it. In this case, Thread.sleep() can be used to add a delay to allow the element to become interactable.</li></ul>



<h2 id="how-to-use-thread-sleep-in-selenium-test-automation">How to use Thread.sleep() in Selenium test automation?</h2>



To use the Thread.sleep() method in Java, you need to have a Java program with at least one thread. The Thread.sleep() method is used to pause the execution of a thread for a specified amount of time.



Snippet Code:



<styled-code>
import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
import org.openqa.selenium.By;
import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;
import org.testng.Assert;
import org.testng.annotations.Test;

public class Sample {
	@Test
	public void TestSigmaLogin() {
		System.setProperty(&#8220;webdriver.chrome.driver&#8221;, &#8220;path of driver&#8221;);

		WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver(); // instantiate the browser
		driver.manage().window().maximize(); // maximize the browser
		driver.get(&#8220;https://app.testsigma.com/ui&#8221;); // opening the application
		Thread.sleep(3000); //It will wait for 3sec.
											 
		driver.findElement(By.id(&#8220;loginUsername&#8221;)).sendKeys(&#8220;xxxxxx@abc.com&#8221;);			 driver.findElement(By.name(&#8220;password&#8221;)).sendKeys(&#8220;xxxxxxx&#8221;); 
		driver.findElement(By.xpath(&#8220;//button[text()=&#8217;SIGN IN&#8217;]&#8221;)).click();
											
		String actualURL = &#8220;https://app.testsigma.com/home&#8221;;
		String expectedURL = driver.getCurrentUrl(); // It will fetch the current URL
		Assert.assertEquals(expectedURL, actualURL); 
		driver.close(); // It will close the current browser.
	}
}
</styled-code>



<h2 id="alternatives-to-thread-sleep">Alternatives to Thread.sleep().</h2>



<ol><li>Implicit waits: Implicit waits are used to tell Selenium to wait for a certain amount of time before throwing a &#8220;NoSuchElementException&#8221;. Implicit waits are set once and will be in effect for the entire duration of your test script.</li></ol>



Syntax:



<styled-code>
driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(10, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
</styled-code>



This code will set the implicit wait time to 10 seconds. If the element is not found within 10 seconds, a&nbsp; &nbsp; &#8220;NoSuchElementException&#8221; will be thrown.



 <ol start="2"><li>Explicit waits: Explicit waits are used to tell Selenium to wait for a certain condition to occur before moving on to the next step in your script. You can specify the maximum amount of time to wait, and the condition that must be met.</li></ol>



Syntax:



<styled-code>
WebDriverWait wait = new WebDriverWait(driver, 10);
WebElement element = wait.until(ExpectedConditions.elementToBeClickable(By.id(&#8220;someid&#8221;)));
</styled-code>



This code will wait up to 10 seconds for the element with the ID &#8220;someid&#8221; to be clickable. Once the element is clickable, it will be returned and you can interact with it.



 <ol start="3"><li>Fluent waits: Fluent waits are similar to explicit waits, but they allow you to chain together multiple conditions that must be met before moving on to the next step in your script.</li></ol>



Syntax:



<styled-code>
Wait<WebDriver> wait = new FluentWait<WebDriver>(driver)
 .withTimeout(Duration.ofSeconds(10))
 .pollingEvery(Duration.ofSeconds(1))
 .ignoring(NoSuchElementException.class);

WebElement element = wait.until(new Function<WebDriver, WebElement>() {
 public WebElement apply(WebDriver driver) {
 return driver.findElement(By.id(&#8220;someid&#8221;));
 }
});
</styled-code>



 <h2 id="limitation-of-thread-sleep">Limitation of Thread.sleep().</h2>



There are several limitations of using Thread.sleep() in your code:



<ul><li>Fixed wait time: When you use Thread.sleep(), you are specifying a fixed wait time, which means your code will wait for that exact amount of time before moving on to the next step, regardless of whether the operation it is waiting for has actually finished. This can cause your code to waste time waiting for something that has already been completed, or to move on before an operation has finished.</li> <li>Inaccurate timing: The Thread.sleep() method can be inaccurate, as the time it waits can be affected by external factors such as the performance of the machine running the code or other processes that are running at the same time.</li> <li>Hard to maintain: When you use Thread.sleep(), it can be difficult to maintain your code over time, as you may need to adjust the wait times based on changes to your application or system performance. This can make your code harder to read and understand.</li> <li>Potential for race conditions: Using Thread.sleep() can also create potential race conditions in your code, where one thread is waiting for a certain amount of time while another thread is attempting to perform an operation that the first thread is waiting for. This can cause unexpected behavior and bugs in your code.</li></ul>



<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



Waits play a significant role in<a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> test automation</a>. The Cost of maintenance becomes a challenge without using correct waiting techniques. In the above article, we have advantages and disadvantages for Thread.sleep().



Thread.sleep() has its own limitation. Waits like implicit and explicit waits are more precise and maintainable than Thread.sleep(), as they allow you to specify the maximum amount of time to wait, and the condition that must be met.



Waits like implicit and explicit waits are more precise and maintainable than Thread.sleep(), as they allow you to specify the maximum amount of time to wait, and the condition that must be met



<h3 id="a-new-approach-to-test-automation">A new approach to Test Automation</h3>



While Selenium is an open source and free tool for automating your cross browser tests, it also requires coding expertise. There might be times when you need a tool that would let you do all you do in Selenium, without the need of any coding experience. At such times you can use Testsigma, a no-code test automation tool that is open source too. With Testsigma, You can automate your tests for web, mobile, APIs and desktops from the same place. Not only that, you can start <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/what-types-of-test-cases-should-be-automated-for-efficient-cross-browser-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automating your test cases</a> with Testsigma, from day 1.



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



<h3 id="what-is-the-alternative-for-thread-sleep-in-selenium">What is the alternative for thread sleep in Selenium?</h3>



In Selenium, there are several alternatives to using Thread.sleep() to pause the execution of your test script for a specific amount of time:



<ol><li>Implicit Wait</li><li>Explicit Wait</li><li>Fluent Wait.</li></ol>

Role of Thread.sleep() in Selenium Webdriver

Role of Thread.sleep() in Selenium

API Testing Service: Is Outsourcing the Best Choice for API Testing?

According to recent studies, more than 86% of businesses worldwide now rely on software testing to ensure the quality and reliability of their applications. When a tester begins their testing journey, the first thing they usually learn is how to document test cases. And when they learn test automation, they convert those test cases to test scripts. This blog will take you on a journey to understand the difference between test cases vs test scripts.



<ul><li>A test case refers to a set of conditions or actions designed to verify a particular application functionality under test.</li><li>A test script is an automated computer program that performs the same steps as a test case but via a tool.</li></ul>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Test_Case_vs_Test_Script_8211_Overview">1 Test Case vs Test Script &#8211; Overview</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_a_Test_Case">1.1 What is a Test Case?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_a_Test_Script">1.2 What is a Test Script?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Difference_Between_Test_Case_vs_Test_Script">2 Difference Between Test Case vs Test Script</a></li><li><a href="#Wrapping_up">3 Wrapping up</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="test-case-vs-test-script-overview">Test Case vs Test Script &#8211; Overview</h2>



<h3 id="h-what-is-a-test-case">What is a Test Case?</h3>



A test case refers to testers&#8217; instructions to validate a particular functionality or software application feature. It is a detailed description of a test&#8217;s inputs, operating conditions, and expected outputs. These test cases



<ul><li>Find software errors, bugs, or problems, which developers can fix.</li><li>They help ensure the quality and reliability of the software by providing a systematic approach to testing.</li><li>It is necessary to ensure that each test case is clear and concise, referencing the relevant requirement or features of the software.</li><li>Proper documentation and management of all test cases are necessary for successful testing and quality product delivery.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-what-is-a-test-script">What is a Test Script?</h3>



When you take the steps from a test case and automate them via some tool, usually a test automation tool, it becomes a test script.



Image showing a test script example in <a href="https://staging.testsigma.com/ui/dashboard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/blog-assets-production.testsigma.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/migrated_images/image_aa0a53d923147684edac39c0d6a8051c_2000.png_1748948127.png" alt="Test script example in Testsigma" width="600" height="400"/><figcaption>Test cases and Test steps</figcaption></figure></div>



Testsigma is a no-code test automation tool, and thus, as you can see in the image above, you can automate your tests in plain English without learning any programming language. Testsigma lets you automate your tests for web, mobile, APIs, and desktop from the same place.



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<h2 id="h-difference-between-test-case-vs-test-script">Difference Between Test Case vs Test Script</h2>



The difference between the Test case and Test Script is summarized in the table below:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="border: 1px solid black;border-collapse: collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Test Case</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Test Script</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Test cases are written before the actual testing is done to define the scope of the testing.</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Test scripts are usually written after certain rounds of testing are done and we know that the functionality being automated works.</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Test cases are written for manual test execution.&nbsp;</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Test scripts are written for automated test execution.</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Test cases are written in English or the language of the tester.</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Test scripts are written in the language supported by the tool being used for automated test execution.</td></tr><tr style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse"><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Test cases document the steps to be followed during testing.</td><td style="border: 1px solid black;padding: 10px;border-collapse: collapse">Test scripts automate the test steps for test execution.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="h-wrapping-up">Wrapping up</h2>



We now understand the part test cases and test scripts play in the different testing processes. Test cases are the first step in documenting the testing process for a function or a feature. Each test case tests one aspect of the software. On the other hand, test scripts automate the test steps for a test case.<gwmw style="display:none;">

Exploring Test Case vs Test Script: What's the Difference?

Test Case vs Test Script: What’s the Difference?

As a software tester, I have been fortunate enough to work on a variety of projects, from web services to SDK (Software Development Kit) APIs, and in different industries. Throughout my journey, I have learned some valuable lessons, mostly from my own failures. In this article, I would like to share those lessons with you. Whether you are an experienced tester or just starting out, I hope these lessons will help you to be more successful and efficient in your role.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Mistake_1_Neglecting_UX_Over_Focus_on_Functionality">1 Mistake 1: Neglecting UX: Over Focus on Functionality.</a></li><li><a href="#Mistake_2_Chasing_Trends_Hunt_Latest_Tools">2 Mistake 2: Chasing Trends: Hunt Latest Tools</a></li><li><a href="#Mistake_3_No_Pairing_Collaboration_with_Dev_Team">3 Mistake 3: No Pairing &amp; Collaboration with Dev Team</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">4 Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-mistake-1-neglecting-ux-over-focus-on-functionality">Mistake 1: Neglecting UX: Over Focus on Functionality.</h2> 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/mistake-1.jpg" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" class="wp-image-26845" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



When testing software, it is easy to get caught up in checking that the functionality works as expected. However, testing for usability and user experience is equally important. The software may be functioning correctly, but if it is difficult to use or understand, it will not be adopted by developers and would not be met with a positive response from the customers. Without good usability, you will always risk dealing with people’s problems more instead of technical problems.&nbsp;



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“No matter what they tell you, it&#8217;s always a people problem.” <cite>– Jerry Weinberg</cite></blockquote>



Lesson 1: Don&#8217;t Neglect the UX: Balance Functionality Testing with Usability Testing



<ul><li>Implement steps to improve the usability of software, such as clear and easy-to-follow documentation, helpful error messages, unique error codes, avoiding breaking changes, etc.</li> <li>Increase the selling potential of software through good usability testing.</li> <li>Focus on the usability feedback about the product from the sales and customer relationship team.</li></ul>



To ensure that your software is usable, ensure the following:



<ul><li>The documentation is clear and easy to follow.</li> <li>The error messages are helpful.</li> <li>There are unique error codes for unique errors.</li> <li>Make sure the documentation does not assume the user to be knowledgeable of the technical jargon.</li> <li>All jargon and abbreviations are documented.</li> <li>Avoid any changes that break the existing functionality without repeated prior notifications in release notes. Ex: It’s very important to mark APIs deprecated well in advance instead of surprising them with breaking changes.</li></ul>



Good usability testing of your software can help you to increase your software’s selling ability. Here is a checklist that I have made to cover important usability checkpoints for your usability testing: <a href="https://testingtitbits.com/usabilitychecklist/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Usability Heuristic Checklist &#8211; Testing Titbits &#8211; Rahul Parwal</a>



Also, Checkout these articles on Testsigma blog to learn more about UX Lessons:&nbsp;



<ul><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/ux-testing-ux-lessons-learned-from-my-real-life-experiences-part-1/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UX &amp; Testing: UX Lessons Learned From My Real-Life Experiences &#8211; Part 1 (testsigma.com)</a></li> <li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/ux-lessons/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UX Lessons Learned From My Real-Life Experiences Part &#8211; 2 (testsigma.com)</a></li></ul>



<h2 id="mistake-2-chasing-trends-hunt-latest-tools">Mistake 2: Chasing Trends: Hunt Latest Tools</h2> 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/mistake2.jpg" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" class="wp-image-26847" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



In one of my initial projects, we made the mistake of using a popular testing tool without fully considering its suitability for our specific use case and problem statement. This turned out to be a costly mistake in the long run, as the tool did not provide the features and capabilities we needed to effectively test and validate our software. We delayed switching to another suitable tool due to sunk cost fallacy. 



Sunk cost fallacy is the phenomenon whereby a person is reluctant to abandon a strategy or course of action because they have invested heavily in it, even when it is clear that abandonment would be more beneficial. We eventually had to switch to a different tool that was better suited to our use case and problem statement, but the cost of this transition was significant.&nbsp;



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">&#8220;The sunk cost fallacy is throwing good money after bad.&#8221; <cite>&#8211; Unknown</cite></blockquote>



Lesson 2: Solve the Problem, don’t just chase Trends: Choose Tools Wisely



While it&#8217;s understandable to be drawn to a popular tool, it&#8217;s crucial to take the time to perform a detailed tool analysis for your current and future needs before making a decision. Having learned this lesson, these are the changes that I have done to my tooling approach:



<ul><li>Started a practice of conducting tool analysis before making a decision, taking into consideration parameters such as supported protocols, testability, documentation and community, capabilities, adaptability, etc.</li> <li>Shifted focus from finding a problem for a trending solution (or tool) to solving the real problem.</li> <li>Enabled deep testing by using customizable and flexible tools.</li></ul>



When selecting a tool, consider the following parameters:



<ul><li>Supported protocols and standards.</li> <li>The tool should enable your testability.</li> <li>The tool has good documentation and a supportive community.</li> <li>Capabilities of the tool, how well it integrates with your existing systems, and how easily it can be customized to fit your needs.</li> <li>Can it be adapted to accommodate growth, new technologies, and changes in the market.</li></ul>



Testsigma is one such platform that checks all these parameters.



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The list of possible factors can be very exhaustive. To ensure that I cover all important points, here is a checklist that I personally use when evaluating new tools: <a href="https://www.developsense.com/resource/RapidSoftwareTestingHeuristicsForEvaluatingTestingTools.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rapid Software Testing Heuristics for Evaluating Testing Tools</a>.



<h2 id="mistake-3-no-pairing-collaboration-with-dev-team">Mistake 3: No Pairing &amp; Collaboration with Dev Team</h2> 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/mistake3.jpg" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" class="wp-image-26853" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



During the early stages of my career, I did not collaborate or interact much with my developers. I believed that my role as a tester might get biased if I talk with them or listen to their opinions on testing. However, this is a double edge sword.&nbsp;



Lesson 3: Unleash Pairing: Collaborate to Innovate



Over the years, I have realized that collaboration is the key when it comes to innovation and one of the most effective ways to do this is through pairing. By pairing with your developers, you can share technical skills, and testing knowledge, and help identify potential risks and challenges early on. This would also contribute towards preventing bugs instead of fixing them.&nbsp;



One can also ask questions to better plan their testing:



<ul><li>What have you tested already?</li><li>What testing is remaining?</li><li>How are you mocking the API for your development?</li><li>Do you have some tools that I can also use?</li><li>Can we add this feature to enable testability?</li><li>What are you worried about?</li><li>Do you want me to deep test certain areas?</li></ul>



By doing so, you tap into the tacit knowledge of your development team and upskill your testing game. Transferring great inter-disciplinary knowledge is also a key aspect of pairing, as it helps bridge the gap between different departments and enhances cross-functional collaboration.



When working with developers, I have found the below practices to be useful in increasing collaboration:



<ul><li>Share your testing plans and results with the developers.</li><li>Ask for their input on the testing process.</li><li>Debrief your test strategy and test notes.</li><li>Talk about testability and how developers can enable you to test better.</li><li>Documenting your <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation</a> solutions to enable test collaboration.</li></ul>



By collaborating well with your developers, you can help to ensure that the testing of software is done with good quality and meets the expectations of your stakeholders.



<h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2>



These are just a few of the lessons that I have learnt from my journey as a software tester. I hope that these lessons will help you to be more successful in your role as a software tester. Whether you are just starting out or are an experienced tester, never stop learning and improving your skills. 



The world of technology is changing constantly and it’s important to change, upskill and adapt to the times today. It is also important to treat every failure as a learning opportunity and use it as a building block towards becoming a better testing craftsperson.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don&#8217;t wish it were easier; wish you were better. <cite>&#8211; Jim Rohn</cite></blockquote>


For all our visual readers, I have summarized this entire article in this <a href="https://xmind.app/m/ADviJG/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mind map</a>.


Embed URL:<iframe loading="lazy" src="https://www.xmind.app/embed/ADviJG/" width="750" height="422" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>



Until next time, Happy Testing, Happy Learning!

My Career in Software Testing A Reflection on 3 Mistakes and What They Taught Me

My Career in Software Testing: Learnings from 3 Mistakes

71% of businesses are using an agile development methodology. Agile emphasizes continuous integrations to produce incremental value often. Although this strategy is fancy in theory, it involves a lot of regression testing for the testers. Maintaining all the application features and offering continuous testing assistance becomes a headache for testing teams, particularly when the application is moving toward perpetual expansion. 



The majority of teams use the shift-left methodology, where rapid checks are made at the integration point using automated tests. Operations may automatically start a series of tests when the implemented code is pushed for merging with the master branch. Moving away from unicorns and rainbows, we get to see the ground reality of most development teams where the challenge is not just about the number of people, but also about available skill sets, supportive tools, technology, non-supportive processes, etc.&nbsp;



Having worked across different regions, I have been associated with teams of varied organizational structures. In each of those teams, the value proposition of test automation has been driven in a unique way. Why do I say that? test automation turns out to become time intensive activity if it’s not planned well. It is not something that can be done once and forgotten. Test automation requires ongoing attention and upkeep.&nbsp;



The only focus of test automation autonomy is on who is responsible for writing test scripts, running them on a regular basis, making decisions about test environments, maintaining the tests, and scaling these tests. I have seen numerous forms of autonomy and their benefits and drawbacks while working with diverse teams with varying demands.&nbsp;



Let&#8217;s examine a few commonly used test automation team structures. 



1. Developer-led test automation team



&nbsp;Organizations with 1-2 scrum teams usually suffer from the non-availability of dedicated resources. Team members play multiple roles to get things done. These are usually energetic and self-driven environments, no formal processes are set up and team members just carry out the tasks according to what they see as right. It is hard to find uniform practices in such teams.&nbsp;



In these cases, developers take ownership of writing a few automated tests along with their unit tests. Most UI developers also take care of front-end and End-to-End testing.&nbsp;



PROS:



Self-managed and driven&nbsp;



Test code is written along with the development



Good test code principles in action&nbsp;



Failing tests can be fixed along/during the development timeline 



CONS



Miss out on various <a href="https://testsigma.com/end-to-end-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">End-to-End testing</a> scenarios&nbsp;&nbsp;



Tries to programmatically get things done by calling DB or log in directly escaping actual checks&nbsp;



The tests added are of limited support&nbsp;



Regular maintenance of failing scripts needs constant followup&nbsp;



Neglected and forgotten after a period of time&nbsp;



2. Split responsibility test automation team&nbsp;



In most small-scale organizations with 2-3 scrum teams, an individual tester is assigned to each scrum team. In such scenarios, the test colleague must take care of new features testing, perform regression, support non-functional tests and be available for any hot fixes/upgrades/migrations planned for the ongoing sprint. A split approach was taken, where developers would write the automated tests for all the new features and hand over the test code to the test colleague for execution, managing, and maintenance.



PROS



Development and test code go hand in hand within sprint&nbsp;



Good code practices are implemented&nbsp;



Shared effort, reduces the burden on single person&nbsp;



CONS



Compromises in test coverage&nbsp;



Added responsibility for developers along with Unit tests&nbsp;



Pressing priorities take away the attention from developers&nbsp;



Maintenance onus leads to more work for test engineers&nbsp;



Technical skills should be sharpened for test engineers to manage and maintain the code&nbsp;



3. Tester-led automation team 



Each scrum team would be given at least two test engineers in organizations where resource fulfilment was not a problem. where the workload on one person is reduced by dividing the testing jobs among the test engineers. Test engineers were solely responsible for writing, running, maintaining, and upgrading the test scripts. In scrum teams, this kind of test autonomy is typically favored. However, the process becomes more difficult because there are so many integration points in large agile teams. if the test cases are not carefully identified and mapped out. Failures start to multiply at the integration points.&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/tester-led-automation-team-.jpg" alt="Tester-led automation team" class="wp-image-26793" width="600" height="400"/></figure></div>



PROS:



Clearly defined accountability of test automation&nbsp;



Analysis of automation requirements and scenario coverage are taken care Enough time and care is dedicated to the tools and tech.&nbsp;



CONS



The hygiene of test code is dependent on test engineers’ tech skills Scaled agile can get overwhelming if there are no guardrails put in place&nbsp;



This can be resource intensive, as the application grows there will be a need for more hands on deck.&nbsp;



4. Outsourced (Qaas) test automation team



Organizations are choosing external testing services more frequently these days simply because they have more time to concentrate on innovation and be flexible while developing their expansion strategies. Since delivery times are getting shorter due to intense competition, firms cannot afford to spend their time investing in internal talent development because it is an expensive and resource-intensive activity. By contracting out test activities, a significant amount of responsibility is transferred to the test service provider. Having said that, outsourcing test activities comes with its own framework of challenges.



PROS



Required skills are readily available&nbsp;



Testing and test automation are taken care by the service provider&nbsp;



Test coverage through test automation is achieved. Teams may just have to overlook the ongoing deliverables&nbsp;



CONS



Someone within the team/organisation should lead the discussions with regard to testing&nbsp;



The Leading person should have a good understanding of what should be expected from the service provider&nbsp;



Regular audits of the tests prepared and executed should be carried out&nbsp;



Test code and other artifacts to be handed over should be clearly discussed while drawing the SLAs&nbsp;



Try out Testsigma, the test automation tool that enables collaboration for all members of your team.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-final-thoughts">Final thoughts&nbsp;</h2>



It goes without saying that test automation is the key to maximizing regression testing in agile teams. It is a significant test activity that cannot be disregarded. Teams should evaluate their current circumstances before deciding on a specific strategy for test automation.&nbsp;



There is only the likelihood and availability game; there is no foolproof technique to move things around. Although large organizations may hire additional people as needed, they occasionally run into trouble finding technically proficient testers in time for a project. However, because they must maintain lower operating expenses, small businesses cannot truly invest in tools, up-skilling, or other areas where outsourcing may be appropriate.

Different test automation team structures and their levels of autonomy