Best 10 Backend Automation Testing Tools


<p>Welcome to the exciting world of software testing! In today&#8217;s exponentially paced tech era, software testers play a pivotal role in enabling the quality and reliability of software applications. In this article, we&#8217;ll dive deep into the art of being a software tester, exploring the foundational principles, customer-centric mindset, continuous learning, social media leverage, essential skills, and tips on landing your dream testing job. So, whether you&#8217;re a budding testing enthusiast or completely new to this field, let&#8217;s unleash on this journey of becoming a software testing professional.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Foundations_Building_Your_Testing_Knowledge_Base"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Foundations: Building Your Testing Knowledge Base</a></li><li><a href="#Understanding_Customers_The_Heart_of_Software_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Understanding Customers: The Heart of Software Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Learning_to_Learn_A_Continuous_Journey"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Learning to Learn: A Continuous Journey</a></li><li><a href="#Leveraging_Social_Media_Turn_Scrolling_into_Learning"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Leveraging Social Media: Turn Scrolling into Learning</a></li><li><a href="#Skills_That_Will_Set_You_Apart"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Skills That Will Set You Apart</a></li><li><a href="#Applying_for_Your_Dream_Testing_Job_Get_Noticed"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Applying for Your Dream Testing Job: Get Noticed</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-foundations-building-your-testing-knowledge-base"><span id="Foundations_Building_Your_Testing_Knowledge_Base"><strong>Foundations: Building Your Testing Knowledge Base</strong></span></h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/tfXA6q-BTZ4E8zadrJGYx2VLUdfjdBwGK_p-TGuJA7kJrJC2y8g9JFch6sq06ZuZG4d0AfYH7nBN8pKOg0hGATveugu71cL37yYhk5AjQ97gfiGySU_q3-jjyGtO7805r_R1GSV-bWbfTpEKOHs0-w" alt="Building Your Testing Knowledge Base" width="663" height="468" /></figure></div>



<p>Before you begin your software testing journey, it&#8217;s crucial to lay a solid foundation. One excellent resource for aspiring testers is the BBST (Black Box Software Testing) 3.0 Foundations course. It provides a comprehensive understanding of software testing principles and concepts. The video lecture library for this course is available for free here: <a href="https://bbst.courses/category/open-course-materials/">BBST® Video Lectures &#8211; Learn Black Box Software Testing</a> Additionally, consider reading and revisiting this summary eBook that distills the key concepts, making it easier to grasp and refresh your testing concepts: <a href="https://www.thetesttribe.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/BBST-Foundations-2.pdf">Testing Foundations Summary</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Homework:</strong> Document your study notes and publish your learnings from this lecture in the form of a social media post or article. This will be your first step toward your <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/portfolio-ideas-for-testers/">learning portfolio</a>.</p>



<h2 id="understanding-customers-the-heart-of-software-testing"><span id="Understanding_Customers_The_Heart_of_Software_Testing"><strong>Understanding Customers: The Heart of Software Testing</strong></span></h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/u0iXp_1x7tM2XdIe-2soc5eN82G91VhXK0atSkxcWq_rrA_P29caUifKU3LDwCF1Z-6vBG9WFJQBc72JWxixp9HK_0gzsjHwbAgZoQH5B0HygA54oXgS5Nq6GsZIt-an1trzNDrSa6WwlGWCOv38pg" alt="The Heart of Software Testing" width="763" height="509" /></figure></div>



<p>In the journey of becoming a tester, many aspirants tend to direct their focus on technology and tools. However, as a software tester, your primary focus should always be on your customers. Understanding their needs, challenges, and business objectives is essential. Assume the role of a tester for a software application “A” being built by a company “C” and start by asking yourself questions like:</p>



<ul><li>Why are your customers paying for this “A” software?</li><li>What is the business model of your customer “C”, and how does the software application “A” support it?</li><li>What are the specific business challenges or contexts that “C” has?</li><li>How can your testing efforts contribute to solving these challenges?</li><li>How does the application “A” fit in the bigger picture of “C”?</li></ul>



<p>Imagine being in your customers&#8217; shoes when they encounter frustrating software bugs or issues. How would you feel? Your role as a tester is to minimize such negative experiences and ensure a smooth, user journey.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Homework: </strong>Take your favorite app. Now, as a customer of that app, write down the following:</p>



<ul><li>What makes the app so pleasurable for you?&nbsp;</li><li>What do you like the most?</li><li>What can ruin this experience in future?</li></ul>



<p>After you are done with the above points. Assume the role of a potential tester, now write down how will you test this app so that the customer experience is not ruined.</p>



<h2 id="learning-to-learn-a-continuous-journey"><span id="Learning_to_Learn_A_Continuous_Journey"><strong>Learning to Learn: A Continuous Journey</strong></span></h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/YF5_wJjPIQ0c7WYXLTjsS7mdhhP-R5ZTIBmMcOv-Zq0jfptf3FyyNlrEzct3aNNSVj_BEAs3o9IbL_DlzPUkEcnK-t2NTO_njnw01XZ7NdndSbLEtwQUh9XyLpD9D7c6vM_X0jTWhsaIy5ToCbfOJw" alt="Learning to Learn: A Continuous Journey" width="532" height="355" /></figure></div>



<p>Software testing is an ever-evolving field. With the fast changing landscape of the tech world, testing landscape is changing too. To stay relevant and excel in your role as a tester, you must be committed to continuous learning. Three areas where you will have to continuously expand your knowledge and skills are:</p>



<ol><li><strong>Core Testing</strong>: Dive deep into various testing methodologies, test design skills, exploratory testing, questioning, etc.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Technology</strong> <strong>&amp; Tools</strong>: Keep pace with the latest technological advancements in software industry, as they will directly influence your testing practices. Be up to date with state of the art tools and technology trends.</li><li><strong>Business &amp; Customer Domain</strong>: Understand the business domain of the software you are testing. It&#8217;s not enough to know how to find bugs; you must also know how those bugs affect the business. This will help you advocate better as a tester.</li></ol>



<p>To kickstart your learning journey, explore the A-Z of Testing Tips, a treasure trove of practical testing wisdom available on Testsigma blog: <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-testing-tips/">A to Z of Software Testing: Terms, Tips, &amp; Advice for Newbies (testsigma.com)</a></p>



<p class="has-text-align-center">“<em>In this era of machine learning, be a learning machine.</em>”</p>



<p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>Ajay Balamurugadas</strong></p>



<h2 id="leveraging-social-media-turn-scrolling-into-learning"><span id="Leveraging_Social_Media_Turn_Scrolling_into_Learning"><strong>Leveraging Social Media: Turn Scrolling into Learning</strong></span></h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/menW1Qq5-p6BmgbXuDkLZyRwneff2rPyB7reEXSs_03d_2HNJ78wIiNCToyBY5Dw4sEwOvGdOapLlHc_p4bFr2pdx_PYu1b-gyw4ZvsnSFkcjMJ-iOStyDPQcCH98_AZA5bEnM00jszibQVDLaVb1A" alt="Leveraging Social Media: Turn Scrolling into Learning" width="583" height="437" /></figure></div>



<p>Let&#8217;s face it; we all spend around 10% of our days’ time on social media. So, why not make it productive?&nbsp;</p>



<ol><li>Start by following popular testers, testing communities, and testing blogs on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. Here are few curated lists for you:<ol><li><a href="https://testingtitbits.com/7-testing-communities-from-where-i-learn-something-new-almost-everyday/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">7 Testing Communities from where I learn new stuff in 2023</a></li><li><a href="https://www.testingcircus.com/testers-in-twitter/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">200+ Software Testers To Follow on Twitter | X</a></li></ol></li><li>Some recommended websites / social platforms to follow include:<ol><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Testsigma</strong></a>: Offering insights into testing, tech and latest trends on testing.</li><li><a href="https://www.satisfice.com/blog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"><strong>Satisfice</strong></a>: Home to James Bach, this is a popular testing blog for serious testers.&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://testingtitbits.com/blog/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"><strong>Testing Titbits</strong></a>: A source of bite-sized testing knowledge, tips, and curated learning materials.</li><li><a href="https://testingdaily.info/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"><strong>Testing Daily</strong></a>: Daily feed on testing to stay updated on the latest testing trends and news.</li></ol></li></ol>



<p><strong>Homework:</strong> While going through all these platforms, don&#8217;t just be a passive observer; engage with the community, share your thoughts, and ask questions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The above homework will help you to find mentors and passionate peers from the industry. Mentors can be invaluable in your journey to becoming a good software tester. However, remember that your first message to any potential mentor should not be asking for help. Instead, offer your assistance or insights on a topic you&#8217;re knowledgeable about. Build a genuine relationship by discussing testing and sharing your experiences. Over time, you can seek guidance and advice as your relations grow.</p>



<h2 id="skills-that-will-set-you-apart"><span id="Skills_That_Will_Set_You_Apart"><strong>Skills That Will Set You Apart</strong></span></h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DsV_bJzJHWRwUFUeAXIaQuGU4VG9HlKZoEE4KMSUuy8u9jEIcqcnjIQhL_sgQ-2fAjXwNSWWrQvKQVoDKwehOKqX7c8S89UU1Qx4P2wRxdwnwMS79F_0JmetvsxzqfWpzKYoXX6_gL5CbszGQjvnXA" alt="Skills That Will Set You Apart" /></figure></div>



<p>While the above things will make you ready to be a software tester, you will need diverse set of skills to really stand out in this highly competitive market. Let&#8217;s understand some of our most critical ones:</p>



<ol><li><strong>Mindmapping</strong>: Use this technique for note-taking, documenting product details, creating presentations, and modeling products. It&#8217;s a versatile skill that enhances your ability to organize and communicate information effectively.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ol>



<p><strong><br></strong>Reference: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijRhVwLCHMU&amp;t=607s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Prashant Hegde &#8211; Mindmap Driven Testing &#8211; YouTube</a></p>



<ol start="2"><li><strong>Communication Skills</strong>: Testing is not just about finding bugs; it&#8217;s about conveying your findings to others. Hone your written, verbal, and visual communication skills. Presentation skills are a fusion of these three components and are essential for effectively conveying your testing results. Your bug reports are also a way for you to present your bugs.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<p><strong><br></strong>Reference: <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/bug-report-template/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to report an issue using a bug report template? (testsigma.com)</a></p>



<ol start="3"><li><strong>Business Language</strong>: A good command of English can open doors for you in the job market. The ability to communicate clearly and professionally is a valuable asset. In today’s world, you can use AI assistants to get better at business communication.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<p>Reference: <a href="https://app.yoodli.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Yoodli | Free Communication Coach</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<ol start="4"><li><strong>Programming</strong>: While not mandatory, having programming skills can be a game-changer for a tester. Choose a popular language like JavaScript, C#, Java, or Python. Learning to code and write logical test scripts will make you more versatile and adaptable in the world of testing. If you want a balance between coding and non-coding, you can also checkout platforms like Testsigma which offers you the power of no code along with the capability to extend it via code.</li></ol>



<br><p><button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Try Testsigma Open source</a></button></p><br>



<ol start="5"><li><strong>Questioning</strong>: Testing is fundamentally about asking questions. In the words of James Bach, &#8220;Testing is questioning a product in order to evaluate it.&#8221; Learn how to craft context-free questions for testing and build your questioning toolkit to extract valuable information from the software under test.</li></ol>



<p>Reference: <a href="https://developsense.com/blog/2010/11/context-free-questions-for-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Context-Free Questions for Testing – DevelopSense</a></p>



<h2 id="applying-for-your-dream-testing-job-get-noticed"><span id="Applying_for_Your_Dream_Testing_Job_Get_Noticed"><p style="padding-bottom:30px"><strong>Applying for Your Dream Testing Job: Get Noticed</strong></p></span></h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Qh8s1BO_SuLt0Y_zMNGnNL-WKhaKzXnjUUgw6of0nuEXpny0Pw4P75cR7HYsHz-1XNqf-YmlaBV2wCyuX9uGGOCIif6h_6tivIJWzUz5Q-96rI_rMumDzU6tl7325wXt7IRW7GRxorlgPSGp7Aa8UQ" alt="Applying for Your Dream Testing Job: Get Noticed" width="632" height="422" /></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px">Now that you&#8217;ve built your knowledge, skills, and network, it&#8217;s time to apply for testing jobs. Leverage social media and job handles to find opportunities. Showcase your skills and experience through a professional portfolio that prospective employers can review. Check out this article to understand the perspective of your potential interviewer and prepare for your interview: <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/an-interviewers-complete-guide-to-hire-the-best-qa-engineers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">An Interviewer&#8217;s Complete Guide to hire the best QA Engineers.</a></p></p>



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



<p>Becoming a software tester is a fulfilling journey that will require dedication and continuous learning. By understanding your customers, cultivating a learning mindset, leveraging social media, acquiring essential skills, and effectively applying for jobs, you can carve out a successful career in software testing. Remember, software testing is not just about finding bugs; it&#8217;s about ensuring that the software meets its intended purpose and provides a seamless user experience. Embrace this responsibility, and you&#8217;ll become an indispensable part of any software development team. Happy testing!</p>


How to Become a Software Tester?

Defect Removal Efficiency How To Calculate It For Test Automation

Defect Removal Efficiency: How To Calculate It For Test Automation


<p>Both DevOps and Agile frameworks focus on rapid development and delivery, and to enable this test automation becomes crucial. However, automation testing has its own challenges. Maintenance is one such challenge. If a test automation framework is not maintained correctly, automation testing starts to give False Positive and False Negative results.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#False_Positive_VS_False_Negative_8211_Overview"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> False Positive VS False Negative &#8211; Overview</a></li><li><a href="#False_Positive_VS_False_Negative_How_to_Find"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> False Positive VS False Negative: How to Find?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_do_False_Positive_and_False_Negative_Occur"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Why do False Positive and False Negative Occur?</a></li><li><a href="#Examples_of_False_Negative_and_False_Negative"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Examples of False Negative and False Negative</a></li><li><a href="#False_Positive_and_False_Negative_8211_Importance_in_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> False Positive and False Negative &#8211; Importance in Testing</a></li><li><a href="#False_Positive_and_False_Negative_8211_Importance_in_test_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> False Positive and False Negative &#8211; Importance in test automation</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Choose_the_Right_Tool"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> How to Choose the Right Tool?</a></li><li><a href="#Best_Practices_for_Reducing_False_Positive_and_False_Negative"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Best Practices for Reducing False Positive and False Negative</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="#How_to_handle_false_positive_and_negative"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.1</span> How to handle false positive and negative?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="false-positive-vs-false-negative-overview"><span id="False_Positive_VS_False_Negative_8211_Overview"><strong>False Positive VS False Negative &#8211; Overview</strong></span></h2>



<p id="h-what-is-false-positive-in-software-testing"><strong>What is False Positive in Software Testing?</strong></p>



<p>A false positive is an outcome where the model wrongly predicts the positive case.</p>



<p>if the test case is supposed to pass however due to script issues the test result is marked as fail. If you look at the application everything might be working as expected it&#8217;s just automation script marked them fail. The false positive might occur mostly due to tools, dependencies, middleware, or sometimes invalid DOM elements.</p>



<p id="h-what-is-a-false-negative-in-software-testing"><strong>What is a False Negative in Software Testing?</strong></p>



<p>A false negative is an outcome where the model wrongly predicts the negative case.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In testing, if the test case is supposed to fail due to functional issues or defects however test case ignores those defects and marks the test as pass. It can occur due to improper construction of test cases, false assumptions while writing the automation scripts, etc.</p>



<h2 id="h-false-positive-vs-false-negative-how-to-find"><span id="False_Positive_VS_False_Negative_How_to_Find"><strong>False Positive VS False Negative: How to Find?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Both false positives and false negatives are common in test automation. However, more than false positives, the false negatives have impact as it marks the defective application as pass.&nbsp;</p>



<p>If more of such issue start occurring in your application, the test automation test reports become unreliable. Thus, you should be very careful while writing the tests.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Let’s understand in detail how to find the false positives and false negatives.</p>



<p id="h-how-to-find-false-negatives"><strong>How to Find False Negatives?</strong></p>



<p>Finding a false negative is a lot more complicated than you think, as false negative results mark the test as passing inaccurately. False negatives can be caught only if you analyze them manually. You might not be able to validate a complete application manually if it is a complex application. However, you can put the strategy that whenever there are specific feature changes, you must ensure that all those test cases are validated manually and note down the expected result. The strategy needs to be improved based on its effectiveness.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Building a robust framework and having the right strategy are key to reducing false negatives.</p>



<p><strong>How to Find the False Positives?</strong></p>



<p>Unlike false negatives, finding false positives is easy. Standard practice in automation is to analyze the automation failures as and when the result/report appears.&nbsp; Before logging any issue as a defect, perform a double-check by reproducing the error manually.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In false positives scenarios, you can aim to go through the list of failure scenarios manually and analyze them before concluding.</p>



<h2 id="h-why-do-false-positive-and-false-negative-occur"><span id="Why_do_False_Positive_and_False_Negative_Occur"><strong>Why do False Positive and False Negative Occur?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Both False negatives and false positives can occur because of various reasons. However, the business impact of false negatives is more compared to false positives. As an automation team, you should always aim to have 0% false negatives. The false positive percentage can vary based on the application complexity and automation framework.</p>



<p id="h-reason-for-false-negatives"><strong>Reason for False Negatives</strong></p>



<ol><li>Poor Automation framework architecture</li><li>Skipping some of the conditions while designing the test case</li><li>Untrustworthy tools/packages are used for automation</li><li>Outdated packages, and libraries used in test automation</li><li>Unhandled pesticide paradox principle</li><li>Assumption of test coverage<br></li></ol>



<p id="h-reason-for-false-positives"><strong>Reason for False Positives</strong></p>



<ol><li>Automation scripts are not maintained regularly</li><li>Unstable <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing environment</a></li><li>Standard locator strategies are not used</li><li>Outdated frameworks, libraries, and packages used</li><li>Underlying component issues such as Incompatible browsers, browser drivers, etc.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-examples-of-false-negative-and-false-negative"><span id="Examples_of_False_Negative_and_False_Negative"><strong>Examples of False Negative and False Negative</strong></span></h2>



<p><br>When you hear about false positives and false negatives you may easily get confused, Let&#8217;s put it into analogy. When we compare with the medical test case, the medical test is done for the whether patient has some medical condition or not. Similarly, when it applies to software testing we can assume as below. <em>A positive test found a bug when there was a bug in the application</em>. This means that there was a bug in the application and automation testing found it, it is a true and ideal scenario.<br>Let&#8217;s take another example of COVID-19 test</p>



<p><strong>False Positive</strong></p>



<p>Suppose Person X doesn&#8217;t have COVID-19 and he provides the sample for testing. When the report arrived the test report was marked inaccurately COVID-19 positive though he doesn’t have an infection in his body.</p>



<p>When the same scenario is applied to testing, If you have a login scenario that is working as expected when you execute the automation test script it reports back Login functionality failed. In reality, there is no bug as such. This is a false positive.</p>



<p><strong>False Negative</strong></p>



<p>Suppose Person Y has covid infection and he provides the sample for testing. When the report arrived, report marked as “No Infections” which is COVID-19 negative. This is inaccurate, as in reality he had a COVID-19 infection.</p>



<p>Similarly, in software testing, you have a login scenario, which is failing to log in with a username and password. But, when you execute the automation script you get the report saying that the login test is passed. This is false negative.</p>



<p>If you are still confused, let&#8217;s put it in simple terms.</p>



<p>Automation test reporting failure without any valid failure in the application is called a false positive.</p>



<p>Automation test passing even if there is a valid failure in the application is called a false negative.</p>



<h2 id="h-false-positive-and-false-negative-importance-in-testing"><span id="False_Positive_and_False_Negative_8211_Importance_in_Testing"><strong>False Positive and False Negative &#8211; Importance in Testing</strong></span></h2>



<p>The <a href="https://www.javatpoint.com/software-engineering-software-development-life-cycle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Software Development Life Cycle</a>(SDLC) gives the same importance to testing as development, the reason is it aims to deliver quality products. Imagine a company has launched a car with model X, and after 6 months it finds a major issue with the car engine which can be life-critical. Now the company has to recall all the cars that are sold, and the company should provide compensation to the customer, additionally, the company might have to face lawsuits. These things might not have happened if there had been a proper check in place before releasing the car. The same thing applies to software. The quality of the application resides in the quality of the testing and testing framework. If testing itself does not report actual failures, that can incur loss and reputation damage to the organization.</p>



<p>The false negatives are scarier than the false positives. The false negatives leave the feature broken. If you are dealing with health care, defense, or automobile software the false negatives may take a toll on someone&#8217;s life. However, if the tool you choose, and the framework you build are robust and flawless then the organization gets great benefit.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In short, The good or bad quality lies in the automation framework and automation scripts.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Though the impact of false positives is lesser, if it occurs more frequently you end up with unreliable testing. The Team might have to spend a lot of time analyzing without any gain. The good news is that false positives are easy to fix especially with modern testing tools like <a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a>. It suggests the fixes for failures, and guidance and provides technical support if you are struggling to fix the critical issue.</p>



<p>Both false positives and false negatives are critical in testing. However when we compare, the false positives are tolerable to some extent, but there is zero tolerance for false negatives.</p>



<h2 id="h-false-positive-and-false-negative-importance-in-test-automation"><span id="False_Positive_and_False_Negative_8211_Importance_in_test_automation"><strong><strong>False Positive and False Negative &#8211; </strong>Importance in test automation</strong></span></h2>



<p>False positives and false negatives are most common in <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-web-application-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation</a>, however, it is not limited to test automation. If the same occurs in manual testing it will be because of human error.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The automation framework design plays a critical role when dealing with false positives and negatives. As an organization makes huge investments to set up infra for automation, skills, and resources the unreliable results may disappoint the management and it may end with questioning Return on Investment(ROI). Thus, having a robust design to tackle the false positives and false negatives is a must.</p>



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<p class="title">Here is a blog on different test automation frameworks</p>
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<h2 id="h-how-to-choose-the-right-tool"><span id="How_to_Choose_the_Right_Tool"><strong>How to Choose the Right Tool?</strong></span></h2>



<p>As mentioned earlier, the automation framework plays a very critical role in the success of test automation. The automation framework depends on the underlying tools used. The tool should be capable enough to handle all the edge cases and should be continuously updated as technology changes.</p>



<p>As technology has evolved, many legacy automation tools have disappeared. One of the reasons is they could not align with modern technology change. Importantly their architecture was not flexible.</p>



<p>The right tool for your organization will be based on many factors such as the development framework used, cost, infrastructure, required skillsets, requirement of upskills, nature of the application, application domain, etc. The below pointers are generic and irrespective of the project domain that you need to consider while choosing the right tool.</p>



<ul><li>Don&#8217;t be biased, evaluate all possible automation tools as per the requirement</li><li>The tool should be intelligent enough to choose the best stable locator</li><li>It should provide all critical functionalities natively, as it reduces the third-party library dependency. In turn, this reduces the false positives and false negatives</li><li>It should support the DevOps ecosystem</li><li>It should align with the modern Agile framework</li><li>The reporting should be comprehensive</li><li>Consider no code automation tools if your organization is short of skills or resources.</li></ul>



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<p class="title">Automate your tests for better reliability and stability</p>
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<h2 id="h-best-practices-for-reducing-false-positive-and-false-negative"><span id="Best_Practices_for_Reducing_False_Positive_and_False_Negative"><strong>Best Practices for Reducing False Positive and False Negative</strong></span></h2>



<p>The best practices for reducing false positives and false negatives vary from project to project. To reduce them you need to prepare a concrete strategy while designing the test strategy document. Below is the list of the best practices that are independent of the project and application however, list is non-exhaustive.&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li>Build it right, from the beginning. Choose the right tool and build a robust framework.</li><li>Integrate the alerting and monitoring tools wherever possible</li><li>Prepare a code review checklist and make it a mandatory requirement to follow</li><li>Never write a test case based on the assumption</li><li>Use the right testing tool after careful evaluation of your requirements</li><li>Use dedicated environment for testing. Ensure it is as stable as the production environment</li><li>Cover all possible testing scenarios, and use assertion as much as possible in your test scripts.</li><li>Learn from failures, and update the checklists, and strategy documents as and when required.</li></ul>



<p>False positives and false negatives in test automation are common, however, you should always target to minimize them. Especially when it comes to false negatives you should aim for zero. False positives are unavoidable as UI testing relies on browsers and other testing components.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Choosing the right tool can help to reduce false positives. False positives mostly occur due to latency, locator, browser incompatibility, etc. If your test automation tool is smart enough to handle such issues the false positives can be easily reduced. <a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a> is one such tool it automatically chooses the best possible locators and your test will be executed on the most stable workspaces remotely. This helps in producing the most accurate, stable, and reliable reports.</p>



<p>On the other hand, false negatives occur if you don’t write the test cases as per the requirement. False negatives require manual analysis and in-depth investigation. Remember even if you have the right toolsets, good infrastructure, and a stable application environment &#8211; if you don’t write test cases properly as per requirement then test automation will become unreliable.</p>



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



<h3 id="how-to-handle-false-positive-and-negative"><span id="How_to_handle_false_positive_and_negative"><strong>How to handle false positive and negative?</strong></span></h3>



<p>False positives can be handled by implementing the correct design strategies while building the automation framework. If the framework is robust then there will be fewer false positives. False negatives can be reduced with code review, and test case review strategies. Additionally having the right process while developing the test cases can bring you great benefits.</p>


False Positives and False Negatives in Software Testing

False Positive and False Negative in Software Testing

Test Process Improvement What, When, How & Best Practices

Test Process Improvement | What, When, How & Best Practices

Test Execution A Comprehensive Guide With Examples

Test Execution: What it is, Importance, & Best Practices

Test Data Definition, Types, Challenges, and Best Practices

Test Data in Software Testing: Challenges & Best Practices


<p>“When to stop testing” is a very interesting topic yet highly asked in many interviews these days. There are several answers to that question too such as: “you stop once you have completed an acceptance criteria”, some say “you never stop as testing is an ongoing task” and some day “it depends!”&nbsp;</p>



<p>Every company and every engineering team have their own criterias set in terms of when testing should be stopped for a particular product/feature. There are several things that impact this decision such as the entry and exit criterias too, however are these enough?&nbsp;</p>



<p>Let&#8217;s dive deeper and understand what is a good way to stop testing with enough confidence.&nbsp;</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#When_do_we_start_testingnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> When do we start testing?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#When_to_Stop_Testingnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> When to Stop Testing?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Checklistnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Checklist&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-when-do-we-start-testing"><span id="When_do_we_start_testingnbsp">When do we start testing?&nbsp;</span></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/CzPSbY-tiRvIEJ7KlE4Ukql-ZMJB5zS9ilOlkYHDma7Qa73w3RNXnHy1pPnG6BSywr_k6D8xbTUK6gnqhH3wPq4X5x1RdZTOc0ZA5vNHl_lD5GstFcZUGeRdCtlwb4IaZK-TWEdKVkHtCoV0fTdIhxk" alt="start testing"/></figure>



<p>Let&#8217;s start this blog by understanding when to really initiate your testing process. As we keep hearing a lot in communities, conferences, webinars, etc shift testing to the left and not to leave this major task later in the SDLC. The reason behind this is that it helps find defects earlier, clear any assumptions/ambiguities, reduces costs, time and effort to rework and retest on features. This then leads to a good quality product.&nbsp;</p>



<p>We can start testing as early as the requirements stage by understanding what is the ask from this feature:</p>



<ul><li>What do we already have in place?&nbsp;</li><li>How much testing will be required?</li><li>If we don&#8217;t have anything in place, then what would the system expect?</li><li>Pair with developers and Business analysts to get a clear picture and expectations</li><li>Understand if we need other teams too as this might be a feature that impacts other teams or not</li><li>Be involved with the design team to understand the design prior to testing it</li><li>If you are automating tests, you can follow a TDD process too and won&#8217;t have to wait till the feature is fully developed</li></ul>



<p>Once we are clear at this stage, deployment will become much smoother for the entire team.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-when-to-stop-testing"><span id="When_to_Stop_Testingnbsp">When to Stop Testing?&nbsp;<a href="https://qa.world/when-to-stop-testing/"></a></span></h2>



<p id="h-till-date-no-manager-director-has-ever-said-to-me-or-my-team-to-stop-testing-or-reduce-testing-all-i-hear-is-are-we-ready-to-proceed-are-we-confident-with-the-amount-that-has-been-tested-generally-testing-is-an-ongoing-task-we-do-tend-to-meet-acceptance-criterias-and-move-our-tasks-to-completion-however-sometimes-an-extension-or-enhancement-is-done-to-the-same-feature-that-means-you-have-to-test-it-again-therefore-having-an-open-mind-about-this-is-always-good-for-all-teams">Till date no manager/director has ever said to me or my team to stop testing or reduce testing. All I hear is are we ready to proceed, are we confident with the amount that has been tested? Generally testing is an ongoing task, we do tend to meet acceptance criterias and move our tasks to completion, however sometimes an extension or enhancement is done to the same feature, that means you have to test it again. Therefore having an open mind about this is always good for all teams.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The following points can be some guidelines to help you stop the testing tasks:</p>



<ul><li>Decisions from your product owners, line managers to stop the testing tasks<ul><li>a) Budget or/and resources were allocated to some other high priority project</li><li>&nbsp;b) The project was canceled (from the client’s side or the company’s side)&nbsp;</li><li>c) The allocated budget is over and no more budget is being allocated.</li></ul></li></ul>



<ul><li>Deadlines that need to be met</li><li>No high priority and severity bugs found/expected</li><li>Completion of test case execution</li><li>Completion of functional and code coverage to a certain point</li><li>Completion of the acceptance criteria and exit criteria. It is imperative that we consider multiple factors while designing exit criteria, some of which are mentioned below:<ul><li>1. Strong buy-in from the software development team. In the end, your job is to discover defects and theirs is to fix.</li><li>2. If there are clients who will further test the product, that should also be considered as to what will be an acceptable input quality.</li></ul></li><li>Good coverage of the functionality/code.</li><li>Number of bugs in the feature or too buggy to deep dive (valid criteria for exiting a testing process is the discovery of a forecasted number of bugs).</li><li>Release deadline has been met</li></ul>



<p>It is vital to pay attention to all finer details and errors in the product of the application. It is not possible to find all the bugs that may exist, but the team management will make decisions on when to release the product anyway. Also remember that if a bug is found in a live production environment that is not solely the testers responsibility, it&#8217;s the engineering team&#8217;s responsibility. Similarly, if you are retesting a vital bug and get asked “are we ready to release the testing?” it should not be the testers decision to say yes or no, it should always come from the management team. The release might go ahead with some unwanted bugs! See, we haven’t really stopped testing. The question is, can we find these bugs prior to the release, and what is their severity? And the best thing, how to stop the same bug from appearing?</p>



<p>Thereafter if you have met the exit criterias, ship it, but understand that it still has an unlimited amount of not yet discovered bugs.</p>



<h2 id="h-checklist"><span id="Checklistnbsp">Checklist&nbsp;</span></h2>



<p id="h-this-checklist-can-serve-as-a-guide-to-determine-whether-or-not-your-team-have-enough-confidence-for-completing-the-testing">This checklist can serve as a guide to determine whether or not your team have enough confidence for completing the testing:</p>



<ul><li>Stop the testing when deadlines like release deadlines or testing deadlines have reached.</li><li>Stop the testing when the test cases have been completed with some prescribed pass percentage.</li><li>Stop the testing when the testing budget comes to its end.</li><li>Stop the testing when the code coverage and functionality requirements come to the desired level.</li><li>Stop the testing when the bug rate drops below a prescribed level.</li><li>Stop the testing when the number of high severity Open Bugs is very low.</li><li>Stop the testing when the period of beta testing/alpha testing is over.</li></ul>



<p>Some useful metrics you could also use :</p>



<ul><li>Have a dashboard of the percentage of test cases that have passed.</li><li>Have a completion percentage based on the number of test cases executed.</li><li>Have a percentage of failed test cases.</li></ul>



<p>One way to speed up your testing is when you automate your tests. Automation, though, should only be taken up if you <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/roi-test-automation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">see an ROI</a> in the long run at least.</p>



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<p class="title">Here is a guide with in-depth discussions on do&#8217;s and don&#8217;ts of  automated testing. </p>
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<p><a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a> is one such tool that comes with features made specifically to help you speed up your testing. It is a codeless platform thus you don’t need to learn to code too. Learn more about it here: testsigma.com</p>



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



<p>Determining when to stop testing is subjective and a complex matter. I believe testing is a never-ending process in a positive way. I have yet to hear from someone that the software is 100% complete from testing. Criteria once designed are not meant to be carved in stone. It should be reviewed constantly in light of the adherence and the post-release issues which come after we meet a set criterion. Therefore, by exploring factors such as meeting release deadlines, the severity of bugs, management decisions, and establishing effective exit criteria, we have equipped you with the necessary thinking points to make informed choices. While the decision may still require careful consideration and evaluation of specific project circumstances, we are confident that the information shared in this blog will empower you to determine appropriate exit criteria and identify the right time to conclude testing. Remember, success lies in finding the right balance between thorough testing and project constraints.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Happy testing!</p>


When to STOP testing?


<p>When software is tested through several phases of software development, there are multiple issues that can occur. They can be functionality issues or a non-functionality one that the software engineers might need to debug. And, there could be some issues that may go unnoticed because of a lot of error clutter. This is what is the concept of defect masking. This phenomenon occurs when a significant software flaw could potentially lead to critical system failures. Therefore, effective testing strategies and thorough defect prioritization are crucial to mitigate this risk and ensure the identification of all critical defects during the testing phase.</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_defect_masking"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is defect masking?</a></li><li><a href="#Masked_Defects_Example"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Masked Defects Example</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Masked_Defect"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Why Masked Defect?</a></li><li><a href="#Practical_description_of_masked_errors"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Practical description of masked errors</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_difference_between_latent_and_masked_defects"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> What is the difference between latent and masked defects?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-defect-masking"><span id="What_is_defect_masking">What is defect masking?</span></h2>



<p>Defect masking is a terminology in software testing that refers to a scenario where a critical defect goes undetected due to another defect or issue that attracts more attention during the testing process. Defect masking can be a serious concern as it may result in the release of faulty software, ultimately compromising system reliability and user satisfaction.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-masked-defects-example"><span id="Masked_Defects_Example">Masked Defects Example</span></h2>



<p>An example of a masked defect that is easily visible but unnoticed is a faulty user interface. Let’s say the UI that was built is extremely visually attractive but some of the most important functionalities according to the requirements of the application might not be easily visible which would impact the business revenue.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Another example would be when integrating multiple software components or third-party libraries, integration issues may arise. These issues can sometimes mask defects within individual components. For instance, a defect in one module may only become apparent when integrated with others, making it harder to trace the root cause.</p>



<p>One of the most common examples is that a software product may function flawlessly in one environment but exhibit critical defects in another, like a production environment versus a development or testing environment. Testers might not discover these defects if they primarily focus on one environment and assume that the software is functioning correctly elsewhere.</p>



<h2 id="h-why-masked-defect"><span id="Why_Masked_Defect">Why Masked Defect?</span></h2>



<p>Defects can become masked because of a combination of factors like limited resources, shifting priorities, and the complexity of software systems. When teams have constraints in resources and limited time, they often prioritize addressing more visible or urgent defects allowing less critical ones to remain hidden.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This results in a scenario where the presence of defects is masked by other issues, becoming an unintentional byproduct of the software. These interdependencies often involve complex relationships between various components or modules within the software, making it challenging to predict how a defect in one area might affect or be obscured by defects in another. This phenomenon underscores the importance of meticulous testing, rigorous defect tracking, and comprehensive quality assurance practices to uncover and rectify all <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/types-of-defects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">types of defects</a>, especially those that could otherwise remain hidden and compromise the software&#8217;s integrity and functionality.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In essence, defect masking is a nuanced challenge that requires vigilant attention to detail and effective <a href="https://www.javatpoint.com/test-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing strategies</a> to mitigate its impact.</p>



<h2 id="h-practical-description-of-masked-errors"><span id="Practical_description_of_masked_errors">Practical description of masked errors</span></h2>



<p>In practical terms, consider a scenario in which a software development team is working on an e-commerce platform. During testing, they discovered a minor formatting issue in the product description section that caused a huge misalignment in the text. This cosmetic issue is quickly identified and resolved because it&#8217;s readily available to testers.&nbsp;</p>



<p>However, buried within the same codebase, there&#8217;s a more critical defect related to payment processing that occasionally results in incorrect transactions, but it&#8217;s rare and doesn&#8217;t consistently trigger errors. This severe payment bug remains unnoticed because the team&#8217;s attention is predominantly focused on fixing the visual flaw.&nbsp;</p>



<p>So, the payment error remains masked by the less impactful formatting issue, posing a significant risk to the system&#8217;s financial integrity and user trust. This practical example illustrates how a less critical defect can mask a far more severe one when testing and development priorities are not effectively managed.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-is-the-difference-between-latent-and-masked-defects"><span id="What_is_the_difference_between_latent_and_masked_defects">What is the difference between latent and masked defects?</span></h2>



<p>There often is a misconception between masked and latent defects. So here are its differences.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Latent Defects</strong></td><td><strong>Masked Defects</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Latent defects are defects within the software that are present but dormant or inactive. They do not manifest themselves until specific conditions or scenarios arise.</td><td>Masked defects are defects that go unnoticed or undetected during testing due to the presence of other defects or because they are overshadowed by more visible issues.</td></tr><tr><td>Latent defects are triggered by specific and often uncommon usage patterns, data inputs, or environmental conditions that are not typically encountered during regular testing.</td><td>Masked defects are concealed by other defects and may only become apparent when the masking defects are resolved, or under specific, often uncommon, circumstances.</td></tr><tr><td>Latent defects may remain dormant for an extended period and can potentially go undetected for a long time if the triggering conditions do not occur.</td><td>Masked defects are usually detected only when the defects masking them are fixed or when the right set of conditions is met during testing or real-world usage.</td></tr><tr><td>A latent defect in a backup system might only become active and noticeable when a specific type of system failure occurs, triggering the backup process.</td><td>A masked defect might occur when a critical software bug is concealed by the presence of other, less impactful issues, leading testers and developers to overlook it during testing.</td></tr><tr><td>Latent defects can have severe consequences when they become active, potentially leading to system failures, data loss, or other critical issues.</td><td>Masked defects can impact software quality by allowing critical issues to go unnoticed, potentially leading to user dissatisfaction, financial losses, or compromised system reliability.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p><strong>How can test automation help?</strong></p>



<p>If you have test cases that need to be executed repeatedly, and you see test automation generating an ROI in the long run, it is always recommended to automate your tests.</p>



<p>Automating these tests ensures there is no masked defect in the areas where tests are automated.</p>



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



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



<p>In conclusion, defect masking is a significant concern in software testing that can lead to the release of faulty software. Addressing this issue requires a combination of robust testing practices, effective communication, defect prioritization, and a commitment to delivering high-quality software to end-users. </p>



<faq>
  <ts-list-item>
    <ts-title-value>What is defect leakage?</ts-title-value>
    <ts-content-value>Defect leakage occurs in a software application when issues that were previously identified and supposedly fixed reappear in later stages of development or even after the software has been released to users. This phenomenon indicates that defects have &#8220;leaked&#8221; from one phase of development or testing into another, often going unnoticed until they resurface in a more critical context.</ts-content-value>
  </ts-list-item>
</faq>



<customlinks>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Automated mobile app testing</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/automated-mobile-app-testing</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
<ts-link-item>
<ts-linktext-value>Automated web application testing</ts-linktext-value>
<ts-linkurl-value>https://testsigma.com/automated-web-application-testing</ts-linkurl-value>
</ts-link-item>
</customlinks>


Defect Masking in Software Testing What it is & Why it Matters

Defect Masking in Software Testing | What it is & Why it Matters?


<p>In this month&#8217;s release, our product team has packed some cool new features like GraphQL support, native AWS integration, and testing capabilities to better simulate real-world usage conditions in an effort to continue to revolutionize your testing experience.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Let&#8217;s dive into the details:</p>



<ol><li><strong>Optimized <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-graphql/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GraphQL testing</a> (Beta</strong>): Say goodbye to overfetching and underfetching. Testsigma&#8217;s support for GraphQL simplifies testing while enhancing accuracy. It lets you request multiple resources in a single query call, reducing back-and-forth between your app and the server. This optimization not only saves time but also minimizes bandwidth usage.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li><strong>Native AWS Integration</strong>: Seamlessly merge your testing and deployment efforts with our AWS integration. Our native integration allows you to trigger Testsigma Test plans within your CI/CD pipeline, ensuring a smooth workflow based on Test Plan Results.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li><strong>Network Throttling:</strong> Experience your website&#8217;s performance under real-world conditions of limited bandwidths and network speeds. Simulate scenarios with low network speeds and analyze your website&#8217;s performance to ensure optimal user experience, even in challenging network environments.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li><strong>Geolocation Testing:</strong> Accurate and contextually relevant translations, culturally appropriate content, functional adaptability and more, localization features enable you to address diverse user preferences and languages. With our Geolocation testing capabilities, you can effortlessly test these features for your web and mobile apps, ensuring quality releases for users across the globe.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<p>Stay tuned for more updates from our Product Team. And if you haven&#8217;t experienced the effect that Testsigma can have on your release velocity, <a href="https://testsigma.com/signup">try it for free</a>.</p>


August ’23 Product Digest The latest on Testsigma

August ’23 Product Digest: The latest on Testsigma

A Guide on Requirements Traceability Matrix Template

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