Native App Testing – How to Perform & Best Practices?

Does your app meet a good UI standard? Are there any system-specific issues that recur in it? Just like a couture tailored to your fit, your apps can also be crafted based on the type of devices on which they will be installed. These apps are called native apps. They play a huge role in leveraging the full potential of the device’s hardware and software capabilities, resulting in the development of high-quality apps with superior performance. In this comprehensive overview of native app testing, we will discuss why it matters ,the step-by-step process, and the best practices of native app testing.

What is Native App Testing?

Native app testing evaluates apps built specifically for particular operating systems, like Android and iOS, to check their user experience, responsiveness, performance, and ability to function well under different conditions. Since these are device-specific applications designed to maximize the device’s potential, testing them requires a dedicated approach.

Why Does Native App Testing Matter?

Testing native apps is so vital because they provide high-quality, superior-performance, and user-friendly applications. Native apps are becoming increasingly popular among everyone. Any anomaly in these applications can lead to several issues like negative user experience, lack of trust, and brand damage.

Let us see what a lack of native app testing can do to your business. In 2018, Snapchat rolled out a major redesign without adequate compatibility and usability testing. This caused the app to function differently on different devices. Users found this confusing, difficult to use, and not up to their expectations. Over 1.2 million users filed a petition to revert this update. The company had to roll back some changes to this update in response to backlash. 

Native App Testing Prerequisites

Before testing a native application, there are a few factors to consider, 

Requirement analysis

Understand what your app offers and the problem it solves. Clearly define the functional and non-functional requirements and ensure they match the business requirements.

Test plan and strategy

Develop a comprehensive approach to include different testing types, scenarios, and test cases.

Device and OS selection

Include a mix of the latest and older devices to ensure the app is efficient with all systems. This ensures that the app is compatible with all devices and operating systems.

Test data preparation

Prepare valid test data to simulate real user interactions for comprehensive test coverage and scenario-based validation.

Tools and framework setup

Install and configure testing tools based on the project needs, so that the tester can perform testing more efficiently.

CI/CD integration

Quickly detect bugs and provide fixes by integrating CI/CD tools with your testing tools.

Test case creation

Write detailed test cases based on app functionality and user flows. 

Security and compliance

Verify that data encryption and authentication are in place, as they protect user data and ensure legal compliance.

How do you Test Native Apps?

Testing a native app requires a dedicated approach because of its integration with the device hardware and OS-specific features. Here are a few aspects to consider for native app testing.

• Functional testing – To test if all the functions of the app work as expected. Examples include input validation, API integrations, data synchronization, and error handling.
• Performance testing – Measures the application’s speed, responsiveness, and stability under different conditions.
• Usability testing – Evaluate the app’s ease of use and overall usability. Apps’ intuitiveness and accessibility are major considerations.
• UI/UX testing – To ensure that the app’s interface is consistent across different OS and adaptable to screen sizes and resolutions.
• Compatibility testing – To check if the app is compatible with different devices, OS platforms, and screen configurations.
• Network testing – Tests how the app works under different network conditions and connectivity issues.
• Regression testing – Verifies if any new updates do not affect the app’s existing functioning.

Principles of Native App Testing

To achieve better outcomes from testing, here are a few principles we must consider:

• Better planning yields better results – Plan your testing cycle considering the resources available. A well-planned test that is well-executed can leverage excellent outcomes.
• Using the right testing environment and frameworks – Choose the tools and frameworks to perform testing. Equip your QA team with adequate training on tool usage.
• Choosing automated testing – There are a lot of automated testing tools available in the market now. Using automation tools can produce better results and reduce a lot of time spent on testing.
• Ensuring security and privacy – Data leaks can lead to breaches of security and brand damage. Adhere to the privacy and compliance policies of your organization.
• Frequent regression testing – Any update made to your app shouldn’t affect the existing functionality. Ensure that you perform frequent regression testing on your application.

Challenges in Native App Testing

• OS updates – Updates for the API can impact the existing features. Frequent updates happening in the device can cause compatibility issues.
• Affecting performance – Native apps using the device’s GPS or other features can lead to higher battery consumption. 
• Different screen sizes – The UI designed for a specific set of devices cannot match all the devices. UI should be responsive to all screen sizes.
• Test automation challenges – Automated mobile app testing is challenging due to dynamic UI elements, gesture-based interactions, and platform-specific differences.
• Third-party integrations – Native apps rely on third-party integrations for payments, analytics, etc, which can lead to security issues.

Best Practices for Native App Testing

• Prioritize all kinds of testing – Perform all types of mobile app testing like functional, usability, performance, regression testing, etc. 
• Handle different conditions – Test how the app functions when it is switched frequently, under different network conditions, with different battery levels to evaluate its efficiency. 
• Test how different device permissions impact the app – When some app permissions are disabled, check if the behavior is overridden or functions correctly. 
• Monitor crash reports and analytics – Maintain app crash reports and analyze them to mitigate vulnerabilities immediately.
• Validate compliance and guidelines – Ensure that your app is compliant with guidelines from the App Store or Google Play. 
• Automation – Rely on automation as it provides huge test coverage and improves the quality of your application in a much shorter time.

How to Test Native Apps – A Step-by-Step Guide

To ensure a seamless user experience and optimal performance, follow this structured approach to native app testing:

1. Define Test Requirements
   • Clearly outline the app’s purpose, target users, and expected functionalities.
   • Align testing strategies with business goals and regulatory requirements.
2. Set Up the Right Testing Environment
   • Utilize a mix of real devices, emulators, and automated testing tools for accurate results.

• Simulate different network conditions and device configurations.
• The use of cloud labs can solve the issue of testing on different screen resolutions. Many test automation tools, like Testsigma, offer in-house test labs and other cloud labs.   

3. Perform Core Testing Types:
   • Functional Testing: Validate the app’s core features and ensure smooth workflows.
   • UI/UX Testing: Assess responsiveness, visual consistency, and user-friendliness.
   • Compatibility Testing: Check performance across multiple OS versions, screen sizes, and devices.
   • Performance Testing: Optimize speed, battery consumption, and resource utilization.
   • Regression Testing: Ensure new updates don’t affect existing functionalities.
   • User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Conduct real-world testing with end-users to confirm usability.
4. Ensure Compliance and Security
   • Verify adherence to data privacy, security regulations, and app store guidelines.
   • Test authentication, data encryption, and permissions for secure operations.
5. Continuous Monitoring and Improvements
   • Use analytics and crash reports to track app performance post-release.
   • Regular updates and patches based on user feedback and performance insights.

Start Testing Your Native Apps with Testsigma Today

Testsigma offers a comprehensive suite of features tailored for native app testing that are designed to streamline the testing process and enhance efficiency. Key features include:

1. Codeless Test Automation: Empower your team to create automated tests in plain English, eliminating the need for coding skills. This approach accelerates test creation and reduces the learning curve.
2. Cross-Platform Compatibility: Automate tests for various mobile frameworks, including Flutter testing, and execute them on over 3,000 real devices. This ensures robust cross-platform compatibility and reliable test results.
3. AI-Powered Test Maintenance: Leverage AI-driven capabilities to reduce maintenance efforts by up to 70%. Self-healing test scripts adapt automatically to application changes, ensuring stability and reducing manual intervention.
4. Parallel Testing: Execute multiple tests simultaneously across different devices, significantly speeding up test cycles and reducing time to market.
5. CI/CD Integration: Seamlessly integrate Testsigma into your Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment pipelines, facilitating continuous testing throughout the development lifecycle.
6. Real-Time Reporting and Analytics: Gain actionable insights with detailed reports and metrics, enabling you to optimize your testing strategy effectively.
7. Comprehensive API Testing: Beyond UI testing, validate APIs and web services with integrated API testing capabilities, ensuring end-to-end application quality.

8. Scalable Testing Infrastructure: Accommodate projects of any scale with a flexible, cloud-based platform designed for rapid adaptability and scalability.
9. 24/7 Expert Support: Rely on round-the-clock support to troubleshoot issues and maintain an uninterrupted testing workflow. 

Conclusion

Native app testing is critical in delivering high-quality applications that provide seamless user experiences across various devices and platforms. With the increasing complexity of mobile ecosystems, a robust and efficient testing approach is essential to ensure functionality, performance, and security.

Testsigma offers an all-in-one, AI-powered test automation platform that simplifies native app testing with its codeless automation, extensive device coverage, and seamless CI/CD integration. By leveraging Testsigma, teams can accelerate their testing cycles, reduce manual effort, and ensure their apps meet the highest quality standards. Whether you’re looking to improve test coverage, streamline workflows, or enhance collaboration, Testsigma provides the tools you need to achieve your testing goals efficiently.

Start testing smarter and faster with Testsigma today and take your native app quality to the next level.