Remote Usability Testing What it is & How to Conduct it

Remote Usability Testing | What it is & How to Conduct it?

Test Monitoring and Test Control in Software Testing

As software creators, we all hope that our programs will function flawlessly. However, unforeseen issues can arise, resulting in defects.&nbsp; In this post, we will discuss the types of defects in Software Testing.&nbsp;



Let&#8217;s dive in!



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_a_Defect">1 What is a Defect?</a></li><li><a href="#Common_Types_of_Defects">2 Common Types of Defects</a></li><li><a href="#Summary">3 Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">4 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_are_examples_of_software_defects">4.1 What are examples of software defects?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_an_example_of_a_functional_defect">4.2 What is an example of a functional defect?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-a-defect">What is a Defect?</h2>



Defects in a system or software application arise when there is any inconsistency with the product functional specification document or when the actual result doesn&#8217;t match the expected result.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-common-types-of-defects">Common Types of Defects</h2>



Following are some of the basic types of defects in software development:



<ol><li>Logical defects refer to errors made during the implementation of code. Such mistakes occur when the programmer needs a better understanding of the problem or approaches it incorrectly. Additionally, logical defects can arise if the programmer fails to consider corner cases while implementing the code. These defects are typically related to the core of the software. </li><li>Syntax Defects refer to mistakes in code writing style, specifically minor errors developers make during the coding process. These defects are often caused by small symbols being missed or accidentally left out. For instance, when coding in C++, it&#8217;s possible for a semicolon (;) to be accidentally omitted. </li><li>Arithmetic Defects refer to mistakes made by developers when working with arithmetic expressions or in finding solutions to such expressions. These defects are typically caused by a lack of knowledge or focus on the programmer&#8217;s part or by code congestion, making it difficult to review the written code properly. </li><li>Interface Defects refer to the flaws in how the software interacts with its users. These can come in different forms, such as a complex or unclear interface or one specific to a particular platform. Proper <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/interface-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interface testing</a> can help identify and address these issues. </li><li>Multithreading Defects: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multithreading_(computer_architecture)" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Multithreading</a> involves executing multiple tasks simultaneously, which can result in complex debugging. Sometimes, multithreading processes may lead to deadlock and starvation, ultimately causing system failure. </li><li>Interface defects refer to issues arising in software and user interaction. These defects may include complicated, unclear, or platform-specific interfaces present in various forms. </li><li>Performance Defects refer to issues where a system or software application fails to meet expected results, in terms of performance i.e. how well the system performs in specific situations. It also involves the way the system responds when subjected to varying loads. </li><li>Security Defect: Each defect poses a unique risk due to its inherent nature. These defects represent weaknesses that could be exploited in a security breach.</li></ol>



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



To summarize, software defects are similar to mosquitoes on a summer evening &#8211; bothersome but unavoidable. Knowing the various types of defects, such as functional, performance, usability, and security, can assist in reducing the risks of your software application. Therefore, keep these glitches from bothering you. Instead, adopt a farseeing approach to <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/software-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">software testing</a>.



Happy Testing!



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



<h3 id="what-are-examples-of-software-defects">What are examples of software defects?</h3>



Examples of software defects include logical errors that cause the program to produce incorrect results and memory leaks that lead to inefficient use of system resources.



<h3 id="what-is-an-example-of-a-functional-defect">What is an example of a functional defect?</h3>



An example of a functional defect could be a software bug that causes a program to crash when a specific action is performed. Another example could be a manufacturing defect in a product that prevents it from performing its intended function properly.

Types of Defects In Software Testing

Checkout Test Test Cases For Checkout Page & How to Test

Checkout Test | Importance, Test Cases & How to Test?

Experience Based Testing: What It Is and Why It Matters?

In today’s fast-paced and digital world, mobile applications have become an integral part of our daily lives. From entertainment, communication, productivity, and even commerce, these applications play an important role in enhancing user experience. Imagine being engrossed in a mobile game application, navigating its features with excitement, when suddenly a call comes in, or even a message notification comes up. What happens next can make or mar a user&#8217;s experience. This is why it is important to ensure that mobile applications can handle interruptions properly before releasing for production. In this blog, we will be diving into the world of interruption testing in mobile applications.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Interruption_Testing">1 What is Interruption Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Categories_of_Interruption_Testing_in_Mobile_Applications">2 Categories of Interruption Testing in Mobile Applications</a></li><li><a href="#Types_of_Interruptions_in_Mobile_Applications">3 Types of Interruptions in Mobile Applications</a></li><li><a href="#Resolution_in_cases_of_an_interruption">4 Resolution in cases of an interruption</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Perform_Interruption_Testing_In_Mobile_Applications">5 How to Perform Interruption Testing In Mobile Applications</a></li><li><a href="#Automating_Interruption_Testing">6 Automating Interruption Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Interruption_Testing_Checklist">7 Interruption Testing Checklist</a></li><li><a href="#Summary">8 Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">9 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#1_Is_it_possible_to_perform_interruption_testing_on_a_device_emulator">9.1 1. Is it possible to perform interruption testing on a device emulator?</a></li><li><a href="#2_Why_is_interruption_testing_necessary">9.2 2. Why is interruption testing necessary?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-interruption-testing">What is Interruption Testing?</h2>



Interruption testing is a type of <a href="https://testsigma.com/mobile-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile app testing</a> and is the process of testing a mobile application’s response and ability to handle and recover from unexpected interruptions effectively.&nbsp;



For example, let’s say you are in the middle of an online transaction on an e-commerce mobile application when you receive an important message from a potential client, and you switch to your messaging app to check the message, and upon returning to the e-commerce mobile app, you realized that all the goods you have previously added to the cart are no longer there. In this scenario, it means the e-commerce app is unable to return to its previous state after an interruption.&nbsp;



The primary objective of interruption testing is to ensure that an application maintains its integrity during and after the occurrence of interruptions, with the end goal of providing users with a smooth and uninterrupted experience.



<h2 id="categories-of-interruption-testing-in-mobile-applications">Categories of Interruption Testing in Mobile Applications</h2>



There are three categories of interruption testing in mobile applications:



<ul><li>Device Dependent &#8211; This has to do with testing a mobile app’s ability to handle interruption that is based on the built-in features of the device that is being tested. Some of these interruptions include device locking, low battery, and shutting down the device.&nbsp;</li><li>Network Dependent &#8211; This has to do with a mobile app’s ability to handle interruptions that are based on network, for example, switching from one network provider to another or switching from one type of network signal to another (3G to 4G).</li><li>Functionality Dependent &#8211; This has to do with testing a mobile app’s ability to handle a combination of interruptions from other mobile applications or from the device. These can be incoming calls, message notifications, and notifications from other applications.</li></ul>



<h2 id="types-of-interruptions-in-mobile-applications">Types of Interruptions in Mobile Applications</h2>



There are different types of interruptions in mobile applications, some of which we are very familiar with. They include and are not limited to:



<ul><li>Incoming phone calls</li><li>Incoming messages</li><li>Charging a device while using a mobile application</li><li>Disconnecting a device while using a mobile application</li><li>Alarm notifications</li><li>Network disconnection</li><li>Network switch&nbsp;</li><li>Low battery</li><li>Full battery</li><li>Network restoration</li><li>A device shutting down</li><li>Clicking on an external link</li><li>Changing network providers while using a mobile application</li></ul>



<h2 id="resolution-in-cases-of-an-interruption">Resolution in cases of an interruption</h2>



In the context of interruption testing in mobile applications, resolution refers to the actions taken by the mobile application to handle and recover from an interruption. When an interruption occurs while using a mobile application, the application is expected to respond appropriately to ensure that the user’s experience remains seamless and uninterrupted. Here are some common resolutions for different types of interruption.



1. Show Alert



This can be explained as when a mobile application is in use and messages from the device or from other applications come up. The application should show incoming messages in a non-intrusive manner, like an alert or a notification banner, providing the user with the option to read, dismiss or respond to the message without leaving the mobile application entirely.



2. Run in the background



In this case, the interruption takes over while the application takes a back seat. When an interruption occurs, some mobile applications have the capacity to run in the background, which allows the app to continue performing certain tasks while the user attends to the interruption. For example, a user is using a navigation application to find their way to a train station, and they receive an incoming call. The navigation app should run in the background, allowing the user to answer the call without leaving the navigation. Once the call ends, the user can seamlessly return to the navigation and it would look like there was never an interruption.



3. Call to Action



There are cases where an interruption in a mobile application may require a user’s input or decision-making. For example, a user is playing a game on the mobile phone and they receive a notification that the device’s battery has become critically low. The application displays a call to action message asking if the user wants to switch to a power-saving mode to conserve battery. The user can then choose to enable power saving mode to conserve the device’s battery life while continuing with the game.



4. No impact



In some certain situations, an interruption may have no significant impact on an application’s activity or a user’s experience. For example, when a device is plugged in for charging while using an application, there is no alert or call-to-action resolution. This ensures that the application continues to run seamlessly without requiring any immediate action or input from the user.



<h2 id="how-to-perform-interruption-testing-in-mobile-applications">How to Perform Interruption Testing In Mobile Applications</h2>



Performing interruption testing in mobile applications means simulating interruptions to evaluate how the application handles and recovers from them. Here are steps on how to conduct interruption testing in mobile applications.



1. Identify critical scenarios&nbsp;



It is important to identify the interruptions that are relevant to a mobile application and could potentially impact a user’s experience. Highlight common interruption scenarios like incoming calls, incoming messages, alarms, low battery warnings, and network interruptions.



2. Develop and Design Test Cases&nbsp;



After identifying these interruption scenarios, create test cases for them, highlighting the expected behavior of the mobile application to the identified interruptions and the desired outcome that is expected after the interruption has been resolved.



3. Set up Testing Environment



Prepare a <a href="https://www.tutorialspoint.com/test-environment-for-software-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing environment </a>to carry out the interruption testing. Use tools or scripts to automate the interruption events.



4. Implement Automation



Automation can significantly enhance the coverage and efficiency of interruption testing. Consider using automation tools or frameworks to automate the process. This enables us to carry out repeated testing and to ensure consistent and fast testing.



5. Execute Test Cases



Carry out testing on different mobile devices and operating systems (Android, iOS) to ensure comprehensive coverage. During the process, observe closely how the app responds during and after the interruptions.



6. Analyze the Test Results



At this stage, thoroughly analyze the test results to identify any issues or unexpected behaviors experienced during the testing. Determine if the app performs as expected in each interruption scenario and if there is room for improvement.



<h2 id="automating-interruption-testing">Automating Interruption Testing</h2>



Automating interruption testing involves leveraging specialized testing tools and frameworks to simulate interruptions automatically without the need for manual intervention. Utilizing specialized testing tools and frameworks to automatically mimic disruptions without operator involvement is known as automating interruption testing. Using an automated process, QA teams and developers can thoroughly test how well their mobile apps can manage various interruption scenarios.&nbsp;



<a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automated testing</a> mimics real-world disruptions to make sure that the app can reliably pause, restart, and recover data, ensuring a positive user experience even under difficult circumstances.



Software development and testing teams can harness the full potential of automation testing by exploring various automated testing platforms. <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a> is a powerful example of such a platform.&nbsp;



 <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 mobile application tests, 10x faster, with Testsigma</a></button> 



<h2 id="interruption-testing-checklist">Interruption Testing Checklist</h2>



Now that we have covered the basics of interruption testing and how to perform it, this checklist will help you get started with it. This checklist has been listed based on the three categories of interruption testing in mobile applications.



1. Device Dependent



<ul><li>Create an interruption by setting an alarm or running a timer to see how well the mobile application handles it.&nbsp;</li><li>Lock the device when performing a task on a mobile application and unlock it to see how the mobile application responds.</li><li>Check that every feature is operational when the device is hot because some features, like the flash, won&#8217;t function in such conditions.</li><li>Check to determine if the progress achieved on the mobile app is saved by performing a sudden device restart.</li><li>Make sure the mobile app doesn&#8217;t lag or crash when using it in battery-saving mode.</li><li>Use the mobile app when the device is charging to see if any overheating issues are present.</li></ul>



2. Network Dependent



<ul><li>Switch from WiFi to a mobile network while using a mobile application to see if it has any impact on its performance.</li><li>If the device supports two networks, try switching from one network to another while the mobile app is being used.</li><li>Connect and disconnect the mobile device to and from an external source like a speaker or earphone to see if the mobile application’s audio is routed correctly.</li><li>Check if the offline functions of your mobile app work as expected by activating Airplane mode and using it.</li><li>If a file download or upload feature is available, ensure that it continues when you reconnect to the network after any disruption.</li><li>Use your mobile app when the network is throttled to make sure the functionality is unaffected.</li></ul>



3. Functionality Dependent



<ul><li>Use the pop-up reply feature or mark a message as read to see if the mobile app responds to it appropriately.</li><li>Answer/Reject an incoming call while using your mobile app and see if the user can resume from where they left off.</li><li>See if there are any effects by opening YouTube or another media app that supports picture-in-picture mode over the app you are evaluating.</li><li>Update your mobile app to the latest version and see if all the saved data is retained safely.</li><li>Make sure all background-operating features on your mobile app, such as those that download files, track scores, and so forth, function as intended.</li><li>Use your mobile app with an active pop-up for any app like Facebook Messenger and see if it works as expected.</li></ul>



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



Interruption testing is a crucial aspect of mobile application testing that ensures uninterrupted and seamless user experiences. The resilience and recovery capacities of a mobile application can be evaluated by software testers by identifying and simulating different interruption scenarios. Utilizing automated testing tools and platforms can make the process of interruption testing more efficient and reliable.



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



<h3 id="1-is-it-possible-to-perform-interruption-testing-on-a-device-emulator">1. Is it possible to perform interruption testing on a device emulator?</h3>



Yes, it is possible to use device emulators to perform interruption testing by simulating various interruption scenarios to see how mobile applications respond and recover from them.



<h3 id="2-why-is-interruption-testing-necessary">2. Why is interruption testing necessary?</h3>



Interruption testing is needed to guarantee a smooth and seamless user experience and to also ensure the reliability of mobile applications. By simulating real-world scenarios, it ensures that mobile applications can handle interruptions effectively, prevent data loss and crashes, and ultimately improve user satisfaction.

Interruption Testing - How To Perform In Mobile Applications

Interruption Testing – How To Perform In Mobile Applications

Documentation is an important part of software development, and so is test documentation. You need to ensure your software works effectively for your end users and fulfills its intended purpose.Still, many development teams may not consider documentation the most exciting task on their to-do list.&nbsp;



And yet, manual testers, test engineers, functional testers and QA analysts all need effective documentation to achieve their goals concerning software testing in the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/phases-of-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Software Testing Lifecycle</a> (STLC).&nbsp;



Testing documentation is essential for software teams who see the value in thoroughly testing their software for bugs, poor functionality, and other issues.&nbsp;



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_Is_documentation_for_testing">1 What Is documentation for testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Importance_of_documentation_for_testers_and_testing">2 Importance of documentation for testers and testing</a></li><li><a href="#What_documentation_do_QA_teams_use">3 What documentation do QA teams use?</a><ul><li><a href="#Test_case">3.1 Test case</a></li><li><a href="#Test_plan">3.2 Test plan</a></li><li><a href="#Test_scenario">3.3 Test scenario</a></li><li><a href="#Test_report">3.4 Test report</a></li><li><a href="#Checklist">3.5 Checklist</a></li><li><a href="#Bug_report">3.6 Bug report</a></li><li><a href="#Requirements">3.7 Requirements</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#When_can_documentation_be_too_much">4 When can documentation be too much?</a></li><li><a href="#Best_practices_for_getting_best_results_from_documentation_for_testing">5 Best practices for getting best results from documentation for testing</a></li><li><a href="#Summary">6 Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">7 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#1_What_does_documentation_for_testing_contain">7.1 1. What does documentation for testing contain?</a></li><li><a href="#2_What_are_the_types_of_documentation_for_testers_and_testing">7.2 2. What are the types of documentation for testers and testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-documentation-for-testing">What Is documentation for testing?</h2>



You may be familiar with software testing, but what is testing documentation? Test documentation is defined as any documentation that is produced during the testing phase of the software development process, enabling the QA team to test the product and help fulfill requirements effectively.



Software test documentation refers to artifacts that may be produced before, during, and after the testing phase to enable successful testing. It includes records and plans for testing tasks that keep testers informed about the state of the software testing.



Test documentation enables testing teams to formulate a coherent plan for thoroughly testing a software product and systematically check all the boxes for designing, implementing tests and recording results.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-importance-of-documentation-for-testers-and-testing">Importance of documentation for testers and testing</h2>



Whether you are a C-level executive, developer, test engineer, QA analyst, or product team member, you must know about test documentation. Having <a href="https://document360.com/blog/internal-documentation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">internal documentation</a> also facilitates seamless knowledge sharing within the team, ensuring everyone is on the same page and promoting collaboration for effective testing.



<ul><li>Documentation should be part of your definition of done. For example, you shouldn’t be able to test a feature until it has the appropriate documentation. Test documentation is a vital part of that process, and receiving the correct documentation from the developers, such as a software requirements spec, is critical for effective testing.&nbsp;</li><li>Test documentation eliminates much of the confusion and anxiety involved in the testing phase of your software product when your entire testing team has access to the appropriate documents. Testing teams understand what needs to be tested and have access to detailed plans of how the testing is intended to be executed.</li><li>Test documentation saves time by clearly articulating the tasks that need to be completed by engineers, analysts, and so on. It prevents testing taking up more resources than it needs, and testers spend less time rehashing topics that have already been decided, improving overall <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-efficiency/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test efficiency</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>You have a record of the changes that have been made to your software and any bugs that have resulted.&nbsp;</li><li>New members of your team can get up to speed with the testing phase through access to comprehensive test documentation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Clients may require test documentation to arrive at the successful completion of the software project.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-what-documentation-do-qa-teams-use">What documentation do QA teams use?</h2>



The most frequently used artifacts used in test documentation are as follows:&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-test-case">Test case</h3>



A <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/what-is-test-case/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test case</a> is a detailed description of the exact steps a tester needs to go through to evaluate the functionality of a particular feature, including the criteria for passing the test. Test cases result in standardization for different testers conducting the same software test.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-test-plan">Test plan</h3>



A test plan is a comprehensive overview of all the activities involved in the testing phase of the software development cycle. It includes the testing scope, scheduling, and resources to provide a high-level perspective for the QA team when conducting their work.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-test-scenario">Test scenario</h3>



A test scenario clearly outlines the multiple methods of testing the software, which leads to individual test cases being developed. It involves identifying how the user could misuse the system and planning tests for those outcomes.



<h3 id="test-report">Test report</h3>



A record of the status of each test case that has been run so you can look back on the outcome of each test. The test report gives a broad overview of all the testing activities that have been performed, while a defect report records any feature in the software that fails to work as expected.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-checklist">Checklist</h3>



A checklist is an alternative to a test case which provides a list of the software features that the tester needs to analyze, alongside a description of their functionality and the test outcome.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-bug-report">Bug report</h3>



One of the primary jobs of a tester is to search for bugs within the software, and a bug report is a log of any bugs identified alongside the process for how to recreate the bug. It includes details of the impact the bug will have on the system and recommendations for prioritizing it.



<h3 id="h-requirements">Requirements</h3>



Also known as a software requirements specification, the requirement is a full description of the functions and features of the software being built to ensure that all teams, including software, product and testing, are fully informed.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-when-can-documentation-be-too-much">When can documentation be too much?</h2>



Though we have covered the main advantages of test documentation,&nbsp; a scenario can arise in which documentation is too much for your team. Firstly, it can be very time consuming to maintain the documentation, which is time that could be spent on other tasks that are more critical to the software development process. Your testing team members may not be best deployed in writing documentation.&nbsp;



<ul><li>If you don’t use professional writers, the documentation could be poorly written, making it hard for your testers to use the documents in their work and affecting the uptake of the documentation.&nbsp;</li><li>Outdated documentation could create confusion among your test team and slow down the software development process. Inaccuracies can lead to errors and loss of faith in your testing team, who are struggling to fulfill their roles without relevant documentation.</li><li>Finally, the cost of producing and maintaining the test documentation may outweigh its value in the organization, especially if the team uses it sparingly.&nbsp;</li></ul>



That being said, test documentation as a whole increases the chances of success for your testing team and the overall software development project, as long as you can avoid these common pitfalls.&nbsp;



Investing in just enough, rather than too much, documentation is key to an effective testing process.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-best-practices-for-getting-best-results-from-documentation-for-testing">Best practices for getting best results from documentation for testing</h2>



Here are some best practices for writing the best test documentation that performs well in practice.&nbsp;



<ul><li>Use a knowledge base system as a single source of truth – you want your test documentation to be kept all in one place so every team member knows where to find your documents without wasting time searching. Without a single source of truth, team members may lose faith in the documentation or recreate documents needlessly.&nbsp;</li><li>Keep your test documentation up-to-date in line with shifting requirements – it hardly needs to state that the requirements of a software product are constantly changing, so you’ll need to keep your documentation in line with these shifts, to reflect the state of the software accurately.&nbsp;</li><li>Keep your documentation private to protect sensitive information being leaked – another advantage of using dedicated <a href="https://youtu.be/q0hRyx2HZYo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">knowledge base software</a> is that you can keep your documentation private, restricted only to your team. High levels of security are available to ensure that no unauthorized parties have access to your documents.&nbsp;</li><li>Educate your team about the importance of test documentation – documentation will only work in your testing team if everyone involved is educated about the importance of documenting your activities. Creating, maintaining, and using documentation are all vital aspects of developing a thriving documentation culture.&nbsp;</li><li>Regularly prune your test documentation for relevancy – It get better results when you frequently remove documents that are no longer useful so that your testing team and other stakeholders get the maximum benefit from the documentation.&nbsp;</li><li>Only document what is directly related to your testing activities – documentation that is too comprehensive ends up being unwieldy and less than useful to your testers. Only document the core activities of your&nbsp; testing team to ensure that each document has a purpose.&nbsp;</li><li>Avoid treating documenting as a box-checking exercise – when your testing team only documents in order to fulfill requirements, it becomes an uninspiring box-checking exercise that feels like a waste of time. Clearly articulate the business-critical reason for documenting and your team will be more motivated.&nbsp;</li><li>Follow a style guide to ensure consistency across documentation&nbsp; – documentation must be consistent across the company no matter who is writing it, and for that you need a style guide that everyone adheres to.&nbsp;</li><li>Make use of version control to track the documentation – opt for a system that keeps track of different versions of your documentation so you always know what changes have been made and by whom. Version control shows how your documentation has changed over time and allows you to revert back if necessary.&nbsp;</li></ul>



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



Thus, as we discussed &#8211; effective test documentation is vital for successful software testing. But keeping a balance, and not over-doing it is the key.



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



<h3 id="1-what-does-documentation-for-testing-contain">1. What does documentation for testing contain?</h3>



Documentation for testing contains information relating to different aspects of the software testing process, such as planning the types of tests you intend to perform and recording and analyzing results. Test documentation is a form of communication between testers and other members of the development team.&nbsp;



<h3 id="2-what-are-the-types-of-documentation-for-testers-and-testing">2. What are the types of documentation for testers and testing?</h3>



There are several different types of documentation for testers and testing that will vary according to your organization. All types of documentation are relevant for software testing teams, and can include such artifacts as test cases, test scenarios and test reports.

Documentation for Testing Benefits, Examples, and Best Practices

Documentation for Testing: Benefits, Examples, and Best Practices

Impact Analysis In Software Testing- A Complete Overview

E-Commerce Testing - What, Why & How You Should Do It

E-Commerce Testing – What, Why & How You Should Do It?

Ever wondered how computers interact with each other, what happens behind the visible screen when systems process the user request. The answer is simple and interesting, we humans use verbal and non verbal communication to communicate with one another, similarly the computers use&nbsp; Application Programming Interface to interact with one or more computers that are connected over the internet without user intervention. The <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/api-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing</a> methods help validate the API set-up of the application.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_an_API">1 What is an API?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_API_Methods">2 What are API Methods?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_API_Testingnbsp">3 What is API Testing?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Why_test_API_methodsnbsp">4 Why test API methods?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_meant_by_Testing_API_Methodsnbsp">5 What is meant by Testing API Methods?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_test_different_API_methodsnbsp">6 How to test different API methods&nbsp;</a><ul><li><a href="#Manual_ways_to_test_APIsnbsp">6.1 Manual ways to test APIs&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Automated_ways_to_test_APIsnbsp">6.2 Automated ways to test APIs&nbsp;</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Challenges_in_testing_different_API_methodsnbsp">7 Challenges in testing different API methods&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">8 Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-an-api">What is an API?</h2>



Application Programming Interface commonly called as API, is an integral part of software testing. It deals with testing the application interface from the backend layer based on the application’s logic. It follows a request and response protocol for communication, the&nbsp; request is from the client and response is from the server side. Here the client is usually the front end software and the server is the backend logic.&nbsp;



The application interface holds the information of the internal details of how the system functions. These are not directly accessed or visible to the end users, the programmers can build tailored API for the specific system or a shared one that allows others systems to access supporting interoperability.&nbsp; Which is why the design of the API highly depends on the software architecture.&nbsp;



At a high level we can say that both systems and softwares use APIs for accessing and executing purposes. The API specifications either showcase its behavior or the way in which it links with other APIs. It helps in standardizing the data flow and data exchange between web services. When the specifications are met and are used, making it available for customer interface then that is implementing or exposing the API.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IKlWhMjGbfq1PiXVGZ2qoLU4nN2lCtSSho63DYKl0JUbSuEOA6B5D_fmN3ImrVIz7uQX8zqhOx9eEqGLZE52F2o-cjOHZaE2TmQZHsnCA-W_5ofG4sKEJhl50G8qt_gEjEzuCfka_2D7Raf8fB47tbo" alt="How API Works" width="600" height="360" /></figure></div>



There are different types of APIs :&nbsp;



<ul><li>Private APIs : It is built and assessed specifically for a particular organization and only used in-house.&nbsp;</li><li>Partner APIs : The company provides access to potential customers or partners based on agreement&nbsp;</li><li>Public APIs: The access is open to public developers and used for commercial purposes.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-what-are-api-methods">What are API Methods?</h2>



When we speak of API methods, the Web APIs use HTTP protocol for communication. As we know it follows the client server model, where the client sends the request and the server responds. There are many ways in which HTTP sends requests,which are the HTTP verbs and referred to by the value of their request method property.&nbsp; The important and most commonly used API methods&nbsp; are:&nbsp;



GET request&nbsp;



<ul><li>This is most common request and it is used to request data from the server&nbsp;</li><li>It retrieves and represents the exact data present and does not modify or perform task</li><li>Even if multiple identical requests are made, it returns the same result, this is called Idempotent&nbsp;</li><li>The Get request follows the read method from the CRUD operations&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>



Example:&nbsp;



<ul><li>Get API used to load a website or navigate to a landing page&nbsp;</li><li>To get the popular items in a particular category, say latest filter applied&nbsp; for new products under home decor section on a ecommerce website&nbsp;</li></ul>



POST&nbsp; request&nbsp;



<ul><li>It is used to send the data to the server to create or update a resource, therefore data mutation happens.&nbsp;</li><li>When same request is sent twice, it leads to duplication, it is called&nbsp; Non-Idempotent</li><li>The Post request follows the create method from the CRUD operations&nbsp;</li></ul>



Example:&nbsp;



<ul><li>When creating a new user account in gmail, it sends a Post request.&nbsp;</li><li>While registering for a webinar on a site, the Post API is used. All the data entered in the field are put in the response body of the request and sent to the server&nbsp;</li></ul>



PUT request&nbsp;



<ul><li>It is used to send data to the API for creating or updating an existing resource.</li><li>The difference between Put and Post is that the Put API is Idempotent.</li><li>Put will replace the resource in its entirety&nbsp;</li></ul>



Example:



<ul><li>Editing an existing students record in the student&#8217;s portal&nbsp;</li></ul>



DELETE request&nbsp;



<ul><li>It is used to delete a single or list of resources, more commonly found in RESTful API. It has to be used with caution.&nbsp;</li><li>Multiple identical requests for deleting the same resource will return a 404.&nbsp;</li></ul>



Example:



<ul><li>Delete API is used to remove the irrelevant user data from the records&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-what-is-api-testing">What is API Testing?&nbsp;</h2>



Software testing is done to check the quality of the software. Since API is the code that enables connection and communication between two software programs, the presentation layer and the backend database. It is important to check whether or not the APIs are connected properly.



API testing is one of the software testing practices where we test the APIs directly for its functionality, on its reliability, the performance, and most importantly the security. APIs are also tested as a part of integration testing, since the design of the software architecture and design of API are highly interdependent.



An overview of the process flow to conduct API testing is as follows:&nbsp;



Step 1: Understand and review API specification&nbsp;



Step 2: List down the API testing requirements&nbsp;



Step 3: Build the API testing strategy and API testing methods&nbsp;



Step 4: Set up the API testing environment&nbsp;



Step 5: Run tests using both positive and negative scenarios&nbsp;



Today most companies follow the concept of shift left testing, testing from the early stage to avoid bottlenecks. So testing starts from the bottom of the pyramid and goes all the way to the top. The bottom layer is the unit layer, where the developers perform code tests by writing unit test cases. Moving to the second level which is the server level where the API testing is done. It is then followed by the UI testing using GUI tests.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/PuuRMpUOlKuAp_nii5QDpnM2q_5cgAthTma6YoaHouh55u54KZyYZK37SShMR6G92Qn4Jpbbh0ewDhhPxety_WLUelH2aeUXYKJCeaS2VOHYwgqZ8e7YegzFT7mur3rz2x8gQfojTXGqMoVrEgcqp_Q" alt="API Layer" width="431" height="369" /></figure></div>



<h2 id="h-why-test-api-methods">Why test API methods?&nbsp;</h2>



With a huge number of API requests churned out each day, API testing is needed because it helps in validating if the API setup performs as expected and returns output as intended. The tests will cover API functionality, reliability, performance and security.&nbsp;



The reason why <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/sanity-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing is important</a> is because of the following reasons:&nbsp;



<ul><li>API testing process is done before UI testing and it helps identify and eliminate most of the server level errors. Also, API testing consumes less testing time and testing cost than GUI testing</li><li>Since the API testing process helps in code-level functionality validation, it helps in identifying the small bugs before it turns into a critical one.&nbsp;</li><li>It helps in securing and optimizing the communication between servers and systems. It also focuses on checking if the business logic laid down is correct at the API level. Since it also includes dealing with sensitive data, checking for API security is crucial. It checks the APIs for compliance and security.&nbsp;</li><li>By ensuring the APIs perform as expected it helps to safeguard the business reputation for quality assurance in the minds of the customer and help them develop trust.&nbsp;</li><li>Checking and aligning the API testing strategy with CI/CD pipeline is important as&nbsp; it provides room for faster release cycle with reduced number of errors.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-what-is-meant-by-testing-api-methods">What is meant by Testing API Methods?&nbsp;</h2>



Once the API set up is ready, it is tested based on the&nbsp; API testing methods. There are several ways to test the APIs and that can be done both manually and automated. From developer to testers to the DevOps engineers all create API testing strategy to conduct crucial tests in order to check and validate the API setup and its integration from end to end. Testing individual services or endpoint can be easy, but what is more important is to test the framework completely and eliminate errors in the setup at the earliest



<h2 id="h-how-to-test-different-api-methods">How to test different API methods&nbsp;</h2>



<h3 id="h-manual-ways-to-test-apis">Manual ways to test APIs&nbsp;</h3>



In Manual testing, the testing is done manually without the use of test scripts.



Exploratory testing: Just like the name suggests the testers explore the application to identify bugs. Testers could do black box testing by sending the requests to API and check if the desired output is received. In case of white box API testing, the testers usually try to find out and validate the API functions using the source code.&nbsp;



Usability testing: This type of testing depends on the API structure, usability goal and user segment. The API structure has to be reliable and usable. This testing is majorly user-centric, and the testing is carried out mimicking how the target user group&nbsp; would use the software. It helps validate the product’s functionality from the end users perspective.&nbsp;



Ad.hoc testing: It is usually carried out after the formal testing is done. The testers randomly test the product to check for any loopholes. It is done to check the stability of the overall APIs integration. It is mostly done when minor tweaks or new features are added to the product, the testers will right away check the specific update without any pre-defined planning or documentation of test cases.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-automated-ways-to-test-apis">Automated ways to test APIs&nbsp;</h3>



In automation testing the tests are automated using automation frameworks or tools.&nbsp;



Functional testing: It is performed to validate if the API performs as expected. The functionality of the API is tested using both positive and negative test scenarios to see if it returns the intended output. The API has to be well built to identify the valid and invalid requests&nbsp; Functional API testing can be a little challenging because of the lack of GUI. So the functional testing testing of API starts with verification of authentication process&nbsp;



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Load testing: This is mainly to see how the API functions under heavy traffic. Based on the requirements, it involves stimulating a large amount of request volume and checking the response output and response time (ranging from per second or per minute to per hour)&nbsp; and looking out for errors. It is to check how the API operates under load. Load testing is carried out in regular intervals to record the performance benchmarks and breaking point of the APIs.&nbsp;



Security testing: The APIs along with its basic functionality also have security requirements listed down, such as authentication and access control. It is to protect the data and application from hacker attacks.&nbsp;



Regression testing: Testers prefer regression testing when their application is updated at frequent intervals, for example if new features are added during every sprint, and when there is a need for repeated testing. It helps to save time and efforts in re-running the <a href="https://www.javatpoint.com/test-scenario" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test scenarios</a> multiple times.



Searching and selecting the right tool for API testing and forming an API testing strategy is a crucial step. Testsigma is a low-code test automation platform, where tests are created using NLPs . Since it is low-code it does not require any prior coding knowledge and also helps non-coders to perform testing with ease.&nbsp;



Testsigma also provides Integrated Automated API testing. Testsigma’s API testing capabilities helps automate API testing for web, mobile and desktop applications using Natural Language Programming. It&nbsp; becomes a one stop solution for test management, test authoring, test execution and reporting without expertise in coding languages.&nbsp;



It enables the creation of tests for REST API methods &#8211; GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH, thereby providing complete all inclusive test coverage for APIs. It also supports data driven API tests and validates expected vs actual responses in real time and reflects the errors in the test status and test reports.&nbsp;



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<h2 id="h-challenges-in-testing-different-api-methods">Challenges in testing different API methods&nbsp;</h2>



Aligning the Initial setup of APIs with the requirements and sequencing the API calls is a mandatory step and it takes time and effort. In order to reduce manual intervention in API testing, identifying, automating and validating the tests can be initially challenging.&nbsp;



<ul><li>Checking the system integration for APIs&nbsp; is a major task performed focusing more on the API design to evaluate its performance and validate each and every response to check if all the API calls are working properly.&nbsp;</li><li>Every time there are changes such as a new feature update or enhancements, it is necessary to keep track of the API tests and the impact on the API test automation process setup.</li><li>Validating the API parameters correctly and setting up required checkpoints is an important step to avoid security or stability issues.&nbsp;</li><li>Updating schema of API tests is a significant step, since schema provides the API syntax and grammar of the test documents, it is important to update the schema accordingly on every update and maintain it through the testing process.&nbsp;</li><li>It is a critical decision making process on choosing the right tool for testing API that fits the budget and also meets the API testing requirements.&nbsp;</li></ul>



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



In today’s modern business environment, API testing is blooming and is an essential part of developing the application. Conducting the automated API testing not only helps in time and cost saving, it also makes it an integral part of the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/azure-ci-cd-pipeline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI/CD pipeline</a>. It enables the business to provide quality applications and better user experience to the customers.

Testing API Methods A Comprehensive Guide