
<p>In the dynamic landscape of software testing, understanding the fundamentals is paramount. When we talk about the fundamentals of testing, the first thing that comes to mind is a test case. A test step is the most crucial part of a test step. Let&#8217;s understand more about it in this blog.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_are_Test_steps"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What are Test steps :</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Create_Test_Steps"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Why Create Test Steps?</a></li><li><a href="#Who_creates_test_steps"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Who creates test steps?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Create_Test_Steps"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> How to Create Test Steps:</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Steps_for_Manual_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Test Steps for Manual Testing:</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Steps_for_Test_Automation_Explained_with_Testsigma"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Test Steps for Test Automation (Explained with Testsigma):</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Conclusion : </a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="what-are-test-steps"><span id="What_are_Test_steps"><strong>What are Test steps :</strong></span></h2>



<p>we often hear and talk about the term &#8220;test steps,&#8221; a key term for testers. Put simply, test steps are like the building blocks of tests. They are designed to simplify the testing process and facilitate the seamless execution of scenarios over an extended period. Each step corresponds to an action taken to comprehensively cover a scenario in a systematic manner.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/reMCg_Bm20bFrX0mCTk1ZzS2yvxdvXk_vQ-iV6puUI4fTVbbS-7NAMd0SrT9mz9bpYwJH6sfVXdvirtz7h88jmgKUkThmhss_vgO_1kxVkqkvbtVVRxEDYzVnOHifp2e1jWeY4LOoR4XqNo4a32vDQk" alt="test steps" width="400" height="250" /></figure></div>



<h2 id="why-create-test-steps"><span id="Why_Create_Test_Steps"><strong>Why Create Test Steps?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Creating test steps is a crucial aspect of the testing process, serving several purposes to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the overall testing effort. Let&#8217;s understand the reasons behind the creation of test steps, exploring key pointers for their significance.</p>



<p><strong>Enhanced Clarity and Organization:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Test steps introduce a structured and organized method to the testing process.</li><li>They simplify complex test steps by breaking them down into manageable components, improving overall clarity.</li><li>The step-by-step format guarantees that each action is precisely defined, eliminating any potential for ambiguity.</li></ul>



<p><strong>Ease of Execution:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Well-defined test steps facilitate easy execution of test cases.</li><li>Testers can follow a systematic sequence, reducing the likelihood of errors during testing.</li><li>It streamlines the testing process, making it more straightforward and manageable.</li></ul>



<p><strong>Reusability:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Test steps contribute to reusability by breaking down scenarios into reusable components.</li><li>Common actions or validations can be replicated across multiple test cases, saving time and effort.</li></ul>



<p><strong>Collaboration and Documentation:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Test steps serve as a communication tool among team members.</li><li>They enable clear documentation of the testing process, making it accessible to the entire team.</li><li>Team collaboration is enhanced as testers can easily understand, share, and contribute to test cases.</li></ul>



<p><strong>Traceability:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Each test step establishes a traceable link between the requirements and the testing process.</li><li>It becomes easier to track which steps correspond to specific functionalities or user scenarios. This traceability aids in comprehensive test coverage.</li></ul>



<p><strong>Automation readiness:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Test steps lay the groundwork for test automation.</li><li>Clearly defined manual test steps can be translated into automated scripts, facilitating a seamless transition to automated testing.</li><li>Automation frameworks often leverage well-structured test steps for efficient script creation.</li></ul>



<p><strong>Error Isolation:</strong></p>



<ul><li>In the event of a test failure, well-defined test steps assist in isolating the source of the error.</li><li>Testers can pinpoint the specific step that failed, expediting the debugging process. It contributes to faster issue resolution and a more agile testing cycle.</li></ul>



<h2 id="who-creates-test-steps"><span id="Who_creates_test_steps"><strong>Who creates test steps?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Test steps are mainly made by the testing team, which includes both manual and automated testers. These testers understand the software well. In manual testing, individual testers are important for creating detailed test steps. They use their knowledge to turn big test cases into clear and organized steps. Automated testers, especially those using tools like Testsigma, also help make automated test steps. They use their programming skills and knowledge to change manual steps into automated scripts. Working closely with other team members like developers and product managers ensures that the steps match what the software should do. The team keeps learning and improving the steps based on project changes, creating a cycle of feedback for better testing<strong>.</strong></p>



<br><p><button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Learn more about automating your tests</a></button></p><br>



<h2 id="how-to-create-test-steps"><span id="How_to_Create_Test_Steps"><strong>How to Create Test Steps:</strong></span></h2>



<p>Creating effective test steps is a crucial aspect of the testing process, requiring careful planning and precision. Here are some pointers to keep in mind before start writing the test steps :&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li>&nbsp;Begin with a comprehensive understanding of software requirements and the specific functionality to be tested.</li><li>Break down the overall testing scope into specific test scenarios, focusing on critical paths and user interactions.</li><li>Create granular, detailed actions for each test scenario, ensuring clarity and precision.</li><li>Clearly define inputs and articulate expected outputs for each test step.</li><li>Consider and document any preconditions required for valid test execution.</li><li>Organize the test steps in a logical and sequential order, following the natural flow of user interactions.</li><li>Review and refine test steps for alignment with testing objectives, removing ambiguity or redundancy.</li><li>Find a balance between providing sufficient detail and keeping steps simple and easy to follow.</li><li>Anticipate and include steps to cover edge cases or scenarios under unique conditions.</li><li>Thoroughly document test steps, including expected outcomes, data inputs, and specific execution conditions.</li><li>Collaborate with team members for validation, incorporating feedback to enhance step quality.</li><li>Structure test steps for adaptability to automation, facilitating seamless translation into automated scripts.</li><li>Treat the creation of test steps as an iterative process, continuously learning and adapting based on feedback and evolving project requirements.</li></ul>



<h2 id="test-steps-for-manual-testing"><span id="Test_Steps_for_Manual_Testing"><strong>Test Steps for Manual Testing:</strong></span></h2>



<p>In <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/manual-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manual testing</a>, human involvement is crucial for assessing software functionality. Manual test steps consist of a set of carefully designed actions and guidelines, aiming to comprehensively evaluate specific aspects of the software. Let&#8217;s simplify the concept of test steps in manual testing:</p>



<ul><li>Understand the specific scenario or functionality in the test case.<br></li><li>Break down the overall test case into step-by-step actions for a systematic approach.<br></li><li>Define inputs and articulate expected outputs for each test step.<br></li><li>Document any preconditions required for valid test execution.<br></li><li>Organize test steps in a logical sequence for comprehensive coverage.<br></li><li>Verify actual outcomes align with expected results during execution.<br></li><li>Thoroughly document each step, recording any encountered issues.<br></li><li>Generate a comprehensive report detailing execution, outcomes, and issues.</li><li>Craft test steps for reusability and adaptability across different cases.<br></li><li>Update specific test steps as needed for easy maintenance.</li></ul>



<h2 id="test-steps-for-test-automation-explained-with-testsigma"><span id="Test_Steps_for_Test_Automation_Explained_with_Testsigma"><strong>Test Steps for Test Automation (Explained with Testsigma):</strong></span></h2>



<p><strong>Creating test steps for automation with Testsigma is a step-by-step process.&nbsp;</strong></p>



<ol><li>Begin by choosing Testsigma, a user-friendly tool for scriptless automation.&nbsp;</li><li>Once your testing environment is set up, identify suitable test cases and organize them into test suites within Testsigma.&nbsp;</li><li>Using Testsigma&#8217;s scriptless test design, define actions, conditions, and assertions for each case.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<p>Below are how test steps created with Testsigma look like:</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/C9aU5EGoLIncW7B3zC105fPZ9_8NTQuqMTyQQ-WQ6NYyFIPQB2cg_Cvzs4uB2fBHkvuwDmCJfo1OGKgpL0z_TCyNwLbBzKNBpnVaBoauYZwjPqade0iP-L1XoJxzP7b276aoK17R8Tmi4QQLnPXHfPo" alt="Record Elements" width="630" height="497" /></figure></div>



<ol start="4"><li>Make your tests dynamic by using parameterization and <a href="https://testsigma.com/data-driven-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data-driven testing</a>, testing a variety of inputs.&nbsp;</li><li>Configure execution settings in Testsigma, execute and debug tests, and analyze generated reports for insights.&nbsp;</li><li>Regularly update your automated test suite in Testsigma to keep it relevant, and integrate with CI/CD pipelines for seamless automation in the software development lifecycle.&nbsp;</li><li>Collaboration and documentation within Testsigma enhance communication among team members for efficient automated testing processes.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<p>Learn more about Testsigm<strong>a </strong><a href="https://testsigma.com/"><strong>here</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>



<p><button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/qa-automation-tools" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Need a tool for test automation? Check out the most popular one&#8217;s</a></button></p>



<h2 id="h-conclusion"><span id="Conclusion"><strong>Conclusion : </strong></span></h2>



<p>In summary, test steps are like building blocks in software testing, making things clear and easy. They help us work together and make testing efficient. For manual testing, we follow a step-by-step approach, and for automated testing using Testsigma, it&#8217;s even simpler with a tool that doesn&#8217;t need scripts. Everyone in the testing team, whether doing manual or automated testing, helps create these steps, promoting teamwork and learning. Understanding what&#8217;s needed and keeping things simple is crucial.</p>


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<p>Automation has worked as a catalyst in testing software. It has saved more than $2.9 million and has reduced bugs by 20% on average over all the companies. While it is implemented in testing predominately, the impact is seen across each of the teams including developers and business analysts. Its heavy usage and wide acceptance have made it complex leading to too many elements scattered around all the place. If this is how a tester would want to work, test automation would not be implemented in its most efficient form. All it needs is a little extra time to brainstorm and develop a test automation framework design that establishes finer details and provides a skeleton of what’s about to happen during the automation process. However, this step needs a thorough understanding of a few principles before starting the actual design process. We will try to understand these elements throughout this post with real-life examples.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_test_automation_framework_design"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is test automation framework design?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_design_an_effective_test_automation_framework"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> How to design an effective test automation framework?</a></li><li><a href="#Pre-requisites_for_Test_Automation_Framework_Design"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Pre-requisites for Test Automation Framework Design</a></li><li><a href="#Top_design_patterns_for_test_automation_frameworks"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Top design patterns for test automation frameworks</a><ul><li><a href="#Page_object_model_design_pattern"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.1</span> Page object model design pattern</a></li><li><a href="#Factory_design_pattern"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.2</span> Factory design pattern</a></li><li><a href="#Facade_Design_Pattern"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.3</span> Facade Design Pattern</a></li><li><a href="#Singleton_Design_Pattern"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.4</span> Singleton Design Pattern</a></li><li><a href="#Fluent_Page_Object_Model"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.5</span> Fluent Page Object Model</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Pitfalls_of_automation_testing_Frameworks_design"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Pitfalls of automation testing Frameworks design</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Question"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Frequently Asked Question</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_best_design_pattern_for_test_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.1</span> What is the best design pattern for test automation?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-test-automation-framework-design"><span id="What_is_test_automation_framework_design">What is test automation framework design?</span></h2>



<p>Test automation framework design is the blueprint of the elements that make the test automation framework. The design part in the test automation framework is considered the most challenging work as the team takes a lot of time analyzing various requirements of the project. Once the test automation framework design is completed, creating a test automation framework is a quick and cost-effective part of the process.</p>



<p>Test automation framework design can be considered as a standard or go-to document where we know what strategies and protocols are being implemented. Since the test automation framework is a collection of a lot of elements, their work should be discussed and understood by the team members before starting the actual framework development part. Test automation framework design fills this gap and informs the testers about the elements, challenges, and expected output from the framework. This helps save a lot of time and money for each of the team members and hence for the organization overall.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-to-design-an-effective-test-automation-framework"><span id="How_to_design_an_effective_test_automation_framework">How to design an effective test automation framework?</span></h2>



<p>To design an effective test automation framework, we need to follow a few steps in the same order as listed below:</p>



<ul><li><strong>Plan and lay down rules</strong>: The first step is to plan a design based on the project and team’s requirements. For instance, the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/types-of-automation-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">type of automation</a> (scripted or codeless) has to be finalized at this point as different approaches will yield an entirely different design.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Implement function wrappers</strong>: The technology we are using will come with its own set of libraries that contain the functions. For instance, Selenium (a popular web app testing framework) has a “click” function that clicks an element on the web page. These functions can be altered according to our requirements by creating a wrapper around them. It is a very efficient method of designing an effective test automation framework.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Implement logging facilities</strong>: The next important step is to implement logging facilities all across the framework for effective maintenance and debugging when testing is done. It should be finalized beforehand as there are many loggers and different testers will start to choose as per their convenience which will create confusion in later stages.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Incorporate a design pattern</strong>: The test automation framework has to follow a design pattern already established in the testing industry. They provide a skeleton to the framework and lay down set rules and protocols tested over time with scalable applications.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Isolate test scripts from the framework</strong>: Test automation framework and test scripts both can produce failed results and when kept intertwined with each other can prove to be extra time-consuming for the testers. It is therefore always advised to design the test automation framework by keeping test scripts and the framework separate from each other.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Implement testing plans</strong>: The next step is implementing the plans of testing and how the actual testing will be conducted. This is purely technical and should be left to the team members and their experience. The team can analyze the areas where automation will be implemented and where the manual will work and proceed accordingly.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Attach pipeline</strong>: Finally, the test automation framework design is completed by attaching the pipeline at the end. A framework should be able to integrate pipeline technologies and run the new code changes automatically before integration with the help of CI.</li></ul>



<p>These points make sure the design of the test automation framework is efficient and robust and does not break even if the team members change, technologies change, or the architectural elements are altered.</p>



<h2 id="h-pre-requisites-for-test-automation-framework-design"><span id="Pre-requisites_for_Test_Automation_Framework_Design">Pre-requisites for Test Automation Framework Design</span></h2>



<p>Before starting the design of the test automation framework, there are certain characteristics of the framework that the designers need to keep in mind for a better quality product.</p>



<ul><li><strong>Maintainable</strong>: The test automation framework should be highly maintainable as maintaining the software takes the majority of the time of testers.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Technology friendly</strong>: The test automation framework will be designed according to certain technologies. In such cases, it should facilitate methods used in that technology and not just merely support it.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Works within design model/pattern</strong>: The final design model and pattern selected for the test framework should guide the testers working on it during testing. It should create boundaries to establish protocols that constantly remind the testers about their efficiency with respect to the design model.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Reliable</strong>: The test automation framework should be reliable and designers should keep this in mind while designing any element of the framework.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Reusable</strong>: The design should facilitate reusability inside the test automation framework. This will help save time and costs that mount up to a big number in the long term as the application scales.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Test data support</strong> &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/data-driven-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Data-driven testing</a> will be a part of the software testing process no matter what kind of application we are building (except maybe simple gaming applications). Even if we are not, we cannot always keep designing newer frameworks for new projects. Test data support will help a test automation framework attach data in various formats and facilitate testing on it. It is an important prerequisite for designing the framework.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Integration-enabled</strong>: A final pre-requisite for designing a test automation framework is the knowledge of wide areas of integrations and accepting it into the framework. Integration is a powerful feature of a framework and has definitely become a set standard among all.</li></ul>



<p>Working on these prerequisites before starting the actual design process will help in constructing a robust and quality automation framework for the future.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-top-design-patterns-for-test-automation-frameworks"><span id="Top_design_patterns_for_test_automation_frameworks">Top design patterns for test automation frameworks</span></h2>



<p>We started this post by mentioning how test automation has expanded to various domains today and how it all has become unstructured and unorganized due to that. It is only obvious that when some problem happens at such a large scale with so much at stake, it becomes a focal point of research and innovation. The solution to those problems is the design patterns for test automation frameworks that provide a fixed set of standards to follow and eliminate all standard and conventional problems from the mix.</p>



<h3 id="h-page-object-model-design-pattern"><span id="Page_object_model_design_pattern">Page object model design pattern</span></h3>



<p>The page object model, as it sounds like, creates objects from the page elements to target them from a single space while testing. These objects help separate the test code from the page code and increase the maintenance and reusability of the framework. The most popular framework that uses page object design patterns is Selenium.</p>



<h3 id="h-factory-design-pattern"><span id="Factory_design_pattern">Factory design pattern</span></h3>



<p>Another extremely popular method to generate tightly coupled code in test automation is the factory design pattern. The factory design pattern designates a class, called the factory class, that has a responsibility to instantiate the objects or create subclasses through inheritance. This enables all the code to be connected and dependent which helps us separate the code logically and avoid multiple impact points overall.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/6E9K2p2a0Ij0T44GI_FvQPTzpOLyg_3AV5z7J2JbfHmW5MSbF-O8Fkdp2plAbLsPHGSGvpG-XDgQQInl3XBzm0ziG_PsMFR-cFmT2SJijmiKjxVFZFUklbeuoYAqNrFrH0sOd6W1mDAbs1pfCceHcu4" alt="Factory design pattern" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://www.startertutorials.com/patterns/factory-method-pattern.html"><em>Source</em></a></p>



<h3 id="h-facade-design-pattern"><span id="Facade_Design_Pattern">Facade Design Pattern</span></h3>



<p>A facade in architecture is the front part of the building visible to the people. Similarly, in a facade design pattern, the developers create a simpler object (a facade) that connects the messy and complex source code beneath it. All that the user sees is this simpler mechanism and everything else is hidden from him. It is a great design pattern when there are too many interdependent classes and the code is confusing to understand.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/TskepVN7N-bLSqoGxgBKOf_twt8RVZLQP8BKg2civPdZjgBWHnbpsbYz96A_tPtRm3ZKwC-0dad76mEmxJCqmMwp_UgeQkR_0CPKuqof_wNQEGMvqsqy4GWMVBDz64Hvm-c5QH6osPK7SngzuPFilu4" alt="Facade Design Pattern" /></figure>



<p>Source: starter tutorials</p>



<h3 id="h-singleton-design-pattern"><span id="Singleton_Design_Pattern">Singleton Design Pattern</span></h3>



<p>The singleton design pattern aims to keep the <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation</a> methods in the simplest form. In this design pattern, the testers (or developers) are allowed to instantiate a single class and a single object out from it (hence the name singleton). This keeps the complexity to a minimum because we need to track only a single object. It will also enhance the reusability of the code in the framework.</p>



<h3 id="h-fluent-page-object-model"><span id="Fluent_Page_Object_Model">Fluent Page Object Model</span></h3>



<p>To simplify the working and development of the page object model, a new API called Fluent API was released. It makes the code more readable and reusable and hence becomes the basis of the Fluent page object model. The model uses page objects but through method cascading (or method chaining) to relay the instruction contexts of the current page to the called method.</p>



<p>While these are just a few design patterns, there are around 23 in total that can be considered for designing the test automation framework. However, since these are the most popularly used, they are good for a start and would definitely yield fruitful results.</p>



<h2 id="h-pitfalls-of-automation-testing-frameworks-design"><span id="Pitfalls_of_automation_testing_Frameworks_design">Pitfalls of automation testing Frameworks design</span></h2>



<p>A poor design will create a poor test automation framework in the end which in turn will not perform testing efficiently. In a way, the quality of every process including the quality of the end product depends on how well the framework is designed. Hence, it is important to know about the pitfalls of automation testing frameworks to avoid committing these mistakes.</p>



<ul><li><strong>Inexperience</strong>: The inexperience of the people working on the design in any way will make the framework and the quality suffer. The most important pieces to look at here are a programmer’s inexperience in programming languages and in designing a framework according to the requirements in the past. For instance, a <a href="https://testsigma.com/mobile-testing-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mobile test automation framework</a> will have entirely different requirements and procedures than a web app automation framework. It is always better to work under experienced designers first and then move on to handle the critical jobs later.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Misjudgments about the project</strong>: Making wrong predictions about the project’s scale and other future prospects can twist the design into something that will not support it when the time comes. Some irreversible changes can force the team to start the process again from scratch which would waste a lot of time and money.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Short time frame</strong>: Designers should be given ample time to conduct their business. A deduction in this part can make them take shortcuts and other decisions that will impact the quality of the framework. Hence, to save time in the future, the design time should depend on the team designing the framework only.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Hurrying to get things done</strong>: Finally, if the team itself is hurrying to start the actual testing and not focusing well enough on the design, the framework is set to suffer from this. The process requires complete focus and dedication in each step for a fruitful result.</li></ul>



<p>Pitfalls are an important part of design (or planning) or anything that initiates a series of processes after its completion. These should be managed under experienced supervision and analyzing each step as we go through.</p>



<p>Sometimes its advisable to use a pre-built test automation tool, considering it fulfils your test automation needs.</p>



<p>Here is a blog that throws light on how to choose a test automation tool that meets your needs: <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/10-points-to-help-you-choose-the-right-test-automation-tool/">https://testsigma.com/blog/10-points-to-help-you-choose-the-right-test-automation-tool/</a></p>



<br><p><br><button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/newsletter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">To join our QA community and stay up to date with such resourceful blogs, subscribe to our monthly newsletter</a></button><br>



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



<p>Test automation frameworks cut down costs, time, errors, repetitiveness, and a lot more elements that could prove harmful to the software and the business. It would not be wrong to say that a lot of responsibilities ride on the quality of the test automation framework itself as its quality impacts the quality of the software. Therefore, teams design the test automation framework beforehand to analyze all the parameters and determine the best tool according to their project and requirements. This involves understanding the design process, the design models, and of course, the pitfalls that challenge us at each step. This post highlights all these ingredients to collectively provide a guide that helps in each phase of testing. We hope this will help the testers in their future projects.</p>



<h2 id="h-frequently-asked-question"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Question">Frequently Asked Question</span></h2>



<h3 id="h-what-is-the-best-design-pattern-for-test-automation"><span id="What_is_the_best_design_pattern_for_test_automation">What is the best design pattern for test automation?</span></h3>



<p>While it has been a popular question whether one design pattern is the best one, practically, there are none of them. Each design pattern brings something to the table that others don’t and vice-versa. I believe each of them works towards reusability and simplicity, but technically they do tend to differ in the process of achieving that. It is recommended to go through either “<em>Gang of Four</em>” design patterns or the 23 most popular listed patterns to understand which one suits the most according to your project.</p>


How to Create a Test Automation Framework Design?

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<p>Software testing is a process to check a software or an application for any defects, identify and rectify those defects to ensure the system meets its requirements. Software testing is  majorly categorised as Functional and Non functioning testing. These types are further divided into various types. </p>



<p>Let us consider an example of an online shopping application. Imagine this system to have different states like Empty cart, Adding items, Removing items and so on. The transition from these states can be represented with a graph. This takes us to the topic of this blog &#8211; <em>Graph Based Testing.</em></p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_State_or_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is State or Graph based Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_different_types_of_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> What are the different types of Graph based Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Advantages_of_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Advantages of Graph based Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Disadvantages_of_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Disadvantages of Graph based Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Steps_for_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Steps for Graph based Testing</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_automate_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> How to automate Graph based Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_challenges_for_Graph_based_testing_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> What are the challenges for Graph based testing automation?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">9</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_flow_graph_and_path_testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.1</span> What is flow graph and path testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-state-or-graph-based-testing"><span id="What_is_State_or_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>What is State or Graph based Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Graph based testing is a method to test a software or an application by representing it as a graph. The graph consists of nodes that represent different components or states and edges that represent the transitions or interactions between these nodes. The goal of this approach is to test different scenarios by traversing through this graph created for the software.</p>



<h2 id="what-are-the-different-types-of-graph-based-testing"><span id="What_are_the_different_types_of_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>What are the different types of Graph based Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>There are different types of graph testing approaches based on different requirements. Let us discuss some of them here.</p>



<ol><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/state-transition-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">State Transition Testing</a> &#8211; This is used for testing transitions between different states in a software. This approach is used when a software has multiple states and the transitions between states should be represented.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Data Flow Testing &#8211; This is to test the input, transition and output of data in a system. It ensures that the data is rightly being used and manipulated in a system.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/control-flow-graph-in-software-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Control Flow Testing</a> &#8211; This method is used to test the control within the software code. The control flow graph is designed to represent different branches of code that helps in designing different test cases.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Interaction Flow Testing &#8211; This is used to test different interactions between components in a software. This graph is used to write different test cases that help in testing all possible scenarios.</li></ol>



<h2 id="advantages-of-graph-based-testing"><span id="Advantages_of_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>Advantages of Graph based Testing</strong></span></h2>



<p>There are various advantages of graph based testing predominantly in systems with complex workflows. Let us know some of the advantages here.</p>



<ol><li>Graph based approach gives a visual representation of the workflow within a software. This helps the testers to understand better and also test different scenarios.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Graph based testing approach helps the testers to test different scenarios at earlier stages of software development. This helps to reduce the cost and effort at a later stage of development.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Systems where there are state based transitions and complex user interfaces benefit from graph based testing.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Graph based models represent different states, their transitions and workflow within an application. This helps testers to design a large number of test scenarios which in turn makes the application more stable and efficient.</li></ol>



<ol start="5"><li>Graph based testing helps in test automation. This testing follows certain paths and transitions that can be automated. Automation tools can navigate these paths, execute the test cases and check the system efficiency.</li></ol>



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<h2 id="disadvantages-of-graph-based-testing"><span id="Disadvantages_of_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>Disadvantages of Graph based Testing</strong></span></h2>



<p>Every approach has its own advantages and disadvantages. Likewise, let us discuss some of the disadvantages of graph based testing in this section.</p>



<ol><li>Designing graph models can be complex and challenging. Also, designing test cases based on complex graphs can be a time consuming task.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>With increasing software complexity, the graph needs to change which can be time consuming, complex and difficult to understand.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Designing these graphs needs expertise and dedication. The experts should design, maintain and write test cases for these graph models. This can be a barrier in some projects.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Different softwares would have different workflow and hence require different graph models. This lacks in standardisation and hence testers need time to understand and test new projects.</li></ol>



<ol start="5"><li>Graph models are to be designed such that it covers all the states and their transitions. Any deviation would result in missing some test cases. This in turn increases unidentified defects.</li></ol>



<h2 id="steps-for-graph-based-testing"><span id="Steps_for_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>Steps for Graph based Testing</strong></span></h2>



<ol><li><strong>Identify the test requirements &#8211;</strong> Understand the system for which the graph needs to be designed &#8211; its components , their transitions and the interactions between them. Define the goals and objectives of this method of testing. Choose the type of graph testing required.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li><strong>Build the graph model</strong> &#8211; Design the graph model based on the type selected. Represent each state or component and their interactions using edges and nodes respectively. Make sure to include all the states and all possible interactions are covered so the test cases can be built efficiently.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li><strong>Select the path to cover the requirements &#8211; </strong>Once the model is ready, identify the test cases, paths and scenarios that need to be tested<strong>. </strong>Design the test cases based on these observations. The test cases are to be written such that all possible scenarios are covered.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li><strong>Select the data to be entered &#8211;</strong> Once the test cases are ready, specify the data input for each test case. Execute the test cases based on the input selected. Record these test results and analyse to make fixes if required.</li></ol>



<h2 id="how-to-automate-graph-based-testing"><span id="How_to_automate_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>How to automate Graph based Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p><a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test automation</a> is the best way to achieve maximum results with minimum manual&nbsp; effort and time. Automating the graph based testing, primarily requires you to understand the model thoroughly. Some of the basic things to be followed for automating are &#8211;&nbsp;</p>



<ol><li>Selecting the right automation tool.</li><li>Understanding the model and writing automated test scripts.</li><li>Designing navigation logic to traverse through the graph. Also, handling decision points if there are branches in the graph.</li><li>Parameterise the test data to achieve reusability and flexibility.</li></ol>



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<h2 id="what-are-the-challenges-for-graph-based-testing-automation"><span id="What_are_the_challenges_for_Graph_based_testing_automation"><strong>What are the challenges for Graph based testing automation?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Although automation of graph based testing is possible, it can also be challenging. Let us see some of those challenges here.</p>



<ol><li>Complex applications require complex graph models. This can pose a problem for automation.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Any changes to an application requires change in graph models. This in turn requires change in automation scripts. This can be a maintenance overhead and also time consuming.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Some graph based testing may have some scenarios where the automation tool is not efficient enough. Tool flexibility is also a concern.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Learning graph based testing is a task. In addition to this, learning a tool as well can be overwhelming for a team.</li></ol>



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



<p>So far in this blog, we have tried to address the meaning, advantages, disadvantages , automation and the challenges for automation of graph based testing. Although there are challenges, graph based testing is the most effective way of testing for complex systems. It helps in early defect detection and covering more test cases. In conclusion, graph based testing is an effective and visual approach of testing by representing states and their transitions using graphs.</p>



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



<h3 id="what-is-flow-graph-and-path-testing"><span id="What_is_flow_graph_and_path_testing"><strong>What is flow graph and path testing?</strong></span></h3>



<p><a href="https://www.javatpoint.com/flow-graph" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flow graph</a> is a graph that represents the control flow of a program. It is used to show how the statements and functions in a program are executed. Flow graph testing is a method of testing the flow graph in a program.</p>



<p>Path testing is an approach that is used to cover different scenarios or use cases in a program. It is used to make sure that all possible paths of a program are tested.</p>



<p>Would you like to know more about <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/software-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Software Testing</a>? Follow the below links &#8211;&nbsp;</p>



<ol><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/phases-of-testing/">6 Key Phases of Testing in Software Testing (testsigma.com)</a></li><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/goals-of-software-testing/">What Are the Ultimate Goals of Software Testing? (testsigma.com)</a></li></ol>
