TDD vs BDD vs ATDD: Key Differences

Automating an application can be performed in various ways with various tools. Selenium WebDriver is most used among those because of being an open source and ease of use. Selenium WebDriver gives users a lot of flexibility to write their test in different programming language and allow the user to execute their test on different browser like Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, etc. It can also be integrated with other 3rd party tools like TestNG, Junit, etc.&nbsp;



The login feature is a critical component of many websites. The login page is the most crucial component when developing a website. The login page also plays a vital role from a security point of view. This blog will show how easy it is to automate Login to an application using Selenium WebDriver.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Prerequisites_for_Automated_Login_using_Selenium_WebDriver">1 Prerequisites for Automated Login using Selenium WebDriver</a></li><li><a href="#Selenium_and_Selenium_WebDriver">2 Selenium and Selenium WebDriver</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">3 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#FAQs">4 FAQs</a><ul><li><a href="#How_do_you_automate_login_in_Python">4.1 How do you automate login in Python?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_automate_login_with_OTP_in_Selenium">4.2 How to automate login with OTP in Selenium</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-prerequisites-for-automated-login-using-selenium-webdriver">Prerequisites for Automated Login using Selenium WebDriver</h2>



To get started with <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/selenium-based-automated-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Selenium</a> automation login, the following components are necessary.



<ol><li>Download and Install JDK</li><li>Download and Install IDE (Integrated Development Environment) like Eclipse, and IntelliJ</li><li>Selenium Client Configuration</li><li>Integrate TestNG with IDE</li><li>Browser drivers for Firefox, Chrome, IE, etc.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<h2 id="selenium-and-selenium-webdriver">Selenium and Selenium WebDriver</h2>



<a href="https://www.selenium.dev/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Selenium</a> is a free, open-source automated testing framework that tests web applications across different browsers and platforms. Testing was done using Selenium, usually referred to as Selenium testing. Being an open source in nature, the Selenium framework can be integrated with other 3rd party tools.&nbsp;



Since Selenium is an open-source tool, there is no licensing cost involved, which is one of the greatest advantages over any other testing tool.



<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/selenium-based-automated-testing/#Selenium_WebDriver" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Selenium WebDriver</a> API provides a communication channel between languages and browsers. Selenium WebDriver is a framework that permits you to execute a cross-browser test.&nbsp;



Selenium WebDriver is an upgrade of Selenium RC. Selenium WebDriver is a bridge between the Selenium test and your browser.



Steps for Automate Login functionality



<ol><li>Instantiate the Selenium WebDriver</li><li>Maximize the browser</li><li>Navigate to URL</li><li>Synchronization using implicit wait</li><li>Identify the web element by using locating technique of Selenium</li><li>Verification and Validation</li></ol>



Now let&#8217;s go through each step in detail:



1. Instantiate the Selenium WebDriver



Launching any web browser requires setting the driver&#8217;s path and instantiating the required browser. To instantiate the object of the browser driver, you can simply create the object with the help of the below command



For Chrome:



System.setProperty(&#8220;webdriver.chrome.driver&#8221;, &#8220;path of driver&#8221;); WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();&nbsp;



For Firefox:



 System.setProperty(&#8220;webdriver.gecko.driver&#8221;, &#8220;path of driver&#8221;); WebDriver driver = new FirefoxDriver();



For Edge:



System.setProperty(&#8220;webdriver.edge.driver&#8221;, &#8220;path of driver&#8221;); WebDriver driver = new EdgeDriver();



Maximize the Browser



Selenium does not launch the browser in maximize mode, so we need to call maximize() Selenium method to maximize the browser so that test scripts can execute without any errors.



So below code snippet would help to open the browser in Maximize mode.



driver.manage().window().maximize();



3. Navigate to URL



Once the browser opens in maximize mode, we must navigate to the required website. This can achieve by using the get() Selenium method. It accepts a string as a parameter, usually a URL of the application under test, and returns void.&nbsp;



driver.get(&#8220;URL of the application/Website&#8221;);



4. Synchronization using Implicit wait



Synchronization plays a very vital role in test automation. We&#8217;ve seen instances where applications take longer to load, and our test script fails. To handle this dynamic, Selenium introduces <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/selenium-wait-for-page-to-load/#How_to_Apply_Waits_in_Selenium_for_Page_Load" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">implicit waiting</a>.



With Implicit wait, we specify a maximum time we would want to wait for an element to be present. In the below snippets, it will wait a maximum of 30 seconds for each element.



driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(30, TimeUnit.SECONDS);



5. Identify the web element by using locating technique of Selenium.



There are different ways by which users can identify the elements of an application.



<ul><li>ID</li><li>className</li><li>Name</li><li>XPath</li><li>tagName</li><li>CssSelector</li><li>linkText</li><li>partialLinkText</li></ul>



To learn more about Xpath in detail, please refer to the link: <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/xpath-in-selenium/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Xpath selector</a>



6. Verification and Validation



Assertions are used to compare your actual and expected result. If your actual value and expected match, the test case passes. If not, then the test case fails.&nbsp;



Assert.assertEquals(expectedValue, actualValue);



Code Implementation: 



We will automate login functionality for the Testsigma application.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/BaldgaS7Oq1z9QxRo9l-KW7wxfqJO9o_QrLk7xrRdI1pur2pBCBekrtMeYSBInBYx2z1qTDTopJPiOMP9U7wkbcnhvrft18Ixz7SR-cxrZq9dFjPoKeRDAW2o55mTZiE6Z11K-RTxF2LBtspK8I1a7mxyKkhaezHaZZhCZd3Hf-o_ciuh69Q7y9fUmkviMjbise-R63MyQ" alt="" width="600" height="400" /></figure></div>



Let&#8217;s see the code snippet for login automation.



Code:





import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;

import org.openqa.selenium.By;

import org.openqa.selenium.WebDriver;

import org.openqa.selenium.chrome.ChromeDriver;

import org.testng.Assert;

import org.testng.annotations.Test;

public class Sample {

@Test

public void TestSigmaLogin() {

System.setProperty(“webdriver.chrome.driver”, “path of driver”);

WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver(); // instantiate the browser

driver.manage().window().maximize(); // maximize the browser

driver.get(“https://app.testsigma.com/ui”); // opening the application

driver.manage().timeouts().implicitlyWait(30, TimeUnit.SECONDS);

driver.findElement(By.id(“loginUsername”)).sendKeys(“xxxxxx@abc.com”); driver.findElement(By.name(“password”)).sendKeys(“xxxxxxx”); 

driver.findElement(By.xpath(“//button[text()=’SIGN IN’]”)).click();

String actualURL = “https://app.testsigma.com/home”;

String expectedURL = driver.getCurrentUrl(); // It will fetch the current URL

Assert.assertEquals(expectedURL, actualURL); // It will verify both the URL are equal 

driver.close(); // It will close the current browser.

}

}





 
<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 Automate Login Functionality Using Testsigma Open source</a></button>
 



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



The login feature has always been an essential feature of any website. Testing login functionality is simple and easy with Selenium WebDriver. You may test all boundary value conditions, negative situations, and optimistic scenarios with automation. The above articles demonstrate how you can automate the Testsigma login page with the help of Selenium. We have also given you a sample code to log in to the Testsigma application.&nbsp;



The above articles help you to implement login functionality using Selenium WebDriver. Feel free to provide your feedback in the comment section. Happy testing 😊



<h2 id="faqs">FAQs</h2>



<h3 id="how-do-you-automate-login-in-python">How do you automate login in Python?</h3>



<ul><li>Download and install python on your system</li><li>Install python related libraries into your project</li><li>Download and install PyCharm</li><li>Write your test script in python related syntax</li><li>Run and validate your test results.&nbsp;</li></ul>



Note – Syntax in Selenium with Python is a little different from Selenium with Java.



<h3 id="how-to-automate-login-with-otp-in-selenium">How to automate login with OTP in Selenium</h3>



<ul><li>Download and install Appium</li><li>Integrate it with your Selenium framework</li><li>Connect your device with your system for OTP</li><li>Write a method to read OTP</li></ul>

How To Automate Login Functionality Using Selenium WebDriver

As a software developer or project manager, you know that ensuring the quality and reliability of your software is crucial to its success. But how do you create a solid Software Quality Assurance plan to help you achieve these goals?, this blog post will explore the critical elements of a successful SQA plan and provide tips and techniques for implementing it in your project. 



We&#8217;ll cover topics such as setting clear objectives, defining your target audience, and choosing the right testing tools and techniques. Whether you&#8217;re just starting with SQA or looking to improve your existing processes, this post has something for you. So let&#8217;s get started!



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_Is_a_Quality_Assurance_Plan">1 What Is a Quality Assurance Plan?</a></li><li><a href="#Objectives_And_Goals_of_Quality_Assurance_Plan">2 Objectives And Goals of Quality Assurance Plan</a></li><li><a href="#Develop_Quality_Assurance_Plan">3 Develop Quality Assurance Plan </a><ul><li><a href="#Identify_the_role_and_responsibilities_of_the_SQA_team">3.1 Identify the role and responsibilities of the SQA team-</a></li><li><a href="#List_of_the_work_products_the_SQA_auditor_will_review_and_audit-nbsp">3.2 List of the work products the SQA auditor will review and audit-&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Create_the_schedule_to_perform_the_SQA_tasks">3.3 Create the schedule to perform the SQA tasks-</a></li><li><a href="#Define_the_standardsmethodology">3.4 Define the standards/methodology: </a></li><li><a href="#Review_the_process">3.5 Review the process</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Things_To_Remember_While_Creating_A_Quality_Assurance_Plan_Best_Practices">4 Things To Remember While Creating A Quality Assurance Plan (Best Practices)</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Is_a_Quality_Assurance_Plan_Important_for_Software_Companies">5 Why Is a Quality Assurance Plan Important for Software Companies?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">6 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">7 Frequently Asked Questions:</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_quality_assurance_plan_process">7.1 What is the quality assurance plan process?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_components_of_a_quality_assurance_plan">7.2 What are the components of a quality assurance plan?</a></li><li><a href="#Where_is_SQA_used">7.3 Where is SQA used?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_SQA_software_testing">7.4 What is SQA software testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-a-quality-assurance-plan">What Is a Quality Assurance Plan?</h2>



A Software Quality Assurance Plan is a managerial tool and a proactive measure to prevent defects and consumes less time. It is usually associated with two teams. It has auditing and reporting functions. It ensures that the software being developed meets the standard demand and works parallel to its development. Thus, it ensures that the result will meet the expectations of the customer/client or business. It is used for both small and big industry businesses. 



The first team includes the Software engineers assigned to develop the product. The second team consists of the SQA team responsible for performing quality assurance planning, oversight, record keeping, and reporting.  



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Read More on : <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/metrics-for-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Metrics for Testing</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="objectives-and-goals-of-quality-assurance-plan">Objectives And Goals of Quality Assurance Plan</h2>



Creating a fantastic quality assurance strategy is an exciting endeavor. But, before we get started, let&#8217;s define our objectives and aims to ensure we&#8217;re on the right track. Here are some critical considerations:



1. Customer requirements and expectations: Put yourself in the shoes of your customers and learn what they actually want from your products or services. This will direct you towards exceeding their expectations and providing complete fulfillment.



2. Company Objectives: Every company has its own set of goals and dreams. Determine your company&#8217;s goals and align your quality assurance approach accordingly. It&#8217;s like striking the proper balance between your goals and the path to accomplishment.



3. Industry Standards: Who wants to be left in the dust? Stay ahead of the competition by researching and comprehending industry standards. Knowing the benchmarks allows you to guarantee that your products or services meet or exceed the defined standards.



After we&#8217;ve completed our research, it&#8217;s time to set ship for the country of aims and goals. But keep in mind that we want to be SMART about it:



4. Specific: Identify the specific areas you wish to improve or concentrate on. Vague ideas will not suffice. Let&#8217;s go specific and focus on the target.



5. Measurable: Establish measurable criteria to track your progress. It&#8217;s similar to having a fitness tracker for your quality assurance strategy. Set milestones and metrics that will help you to measure your progress and celebrate your victories.



6. Achievable: Dreams are wonderful, but let us be practical, will we? Make certain that your aims and goals are attainable. It&#8217;s like attempting to climb a mountain that is difficult but not impossible. Remember that small steps lead to big leaps!



7. Relevant: Stick to the path that is consistent with your main purpose. Your objectives and goals should be pertinent to your company and the quality improvements you desire. It&#8217;s like selecting the best tool for the job—the ideal match that guarantees your efforts have meaning and impact.



8. Time-bound: Time does not wait for anybody, therefore let us set deadlines. Establish a timetable for achieving your objectives and ambitions. It&#8217;s like having a countdown clock that motivates you and keeps you on target.



Your quality assurance strategy will have a clear direction and a tactical roadmap if these objectives and goals are in sight.



<h2 id="h-develop-quality-assurance-plan">Develop Quality Assurance Plan </h2>



Just like a test requires a test plan; similarly, an SQA requires a Quality Assurance plan before its implementation. The primary aim of devising an SQA plan is to ensure that the best quality is delivered to the end user. 



The QA team should focus on the following aspects to prepare an SQA plan:



<h3 id="h-identify-the-role-and-responsibilities-of-the-sqa-team">Identify the role and responsibilities of the SQA team-</h3>



<ol><li>The&nbsp;SQA testing&nbsp;team plans the tests and works on possible scenarios, procedures, and scripts.&nbsp;</li><li>The team is responsible for setting benchmark standards, procedures, and methods for&nbsp;software quality assurance testing&nbsp;and maintaining product quality.</li><li>The team is assigned to report any defects in the&nbsp;software quality assurance activities&nbsp;using bug-tracking mechanisms.</li><li>The team also identifies and analyses problems encountered in program functioning or output.</li><li>It is also responsible for implementing audits and checks and works on follow-up.</li><li>The team also conducts Training for process implementors.</li></ol>



<h3 id="h-list-of-the-work-products-the-sqa-auditor-will-review-and-audit">List of the work products the SQA auditor will review and audit-&nbsp;</h3>



<ol><li>The SQA auditor documents the risk management activities.</li><li>An SQA auditor also prepares metrics reports and estimates the budget required.</li><li>An SQA auditor is involved in planning and preparing the documents for a test.</li><li>SQA auditors are responsible for the overall organization, human resource planning, and devising a training plan.</li><li>SQA auditor is entrusted with monitoring and controlling the collected metrics.</li><li>Another work product that an SQA auditor will review and audit is the report on issue management.</li><li>An SQA auditor will also review and audit the test report documents.</li></ol>



<h3 id="h-create-the-schedule-to-perform-the-sqa-tasks">Create the schedule to perform the SQA tasks-</h3>



&nbsp;The Test Manager should emphasize&nbsp;SQA activities&nbsp;and the work output for each job when they describe the functions for the SQA auditor to complete in this step. The project development timetable often determines the SQA schedule.



<h3 id="h-define-the-standards-methodology">Define the standards/methodology: </h3>



There are specific methods that ought to be followed in the&nbsp;software quality assurance technique:&nbsp;



<ol><li>Defining the policies and methods that are intended to avert defects that occur in the management process.</li><li>Documenting and compiling the procedures and guidelines.</li><li>Informing and training the staff to use the policies and guidelines.</li></ol>



<h3 id="h-review-the-process">Review the process</h3>



The entire&nbsp;SQA techniques&nbsp;should be reviewed periodically to ensure the guidelines and policy procedures are duly met. There are five significant reviews:



<ol><li>Reviewing the project planning</li><li>Reviewing the analysis done for software requirement</li><li>Reviewing the <a href="https://testsigma.com/testplan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test plan</a> and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-design/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test design</a></li><li>Checking the entire process before the final release</li><li>Reviewing the closing of the project.</li></ol>



<h2 id="things-to-remember-while-creating-a-quality-assurance-plan-best-practices">Things To Remember While Creating A Quality Assurance Plan (Best Practices)</h2>



Alright, let&#8217;s continue our quality assurance journey and dive into the other important elements of a well-crafted plan. Here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ll be exploring:



Setting Procedures and Policies for All: 



Establishing clear processes and regulations ensures everyone is aware of expectations and upholds quality standards, ensuring everyone follows the appropriate standards.



Schedule Roles and Responsibilities: 



During the quality assurance process, team members will be aware of their roles and duties, akin to actors knowing their lines and cues.



Documentation in Different Phases: 



Documenting our quality journey through project phases, similar to taking pictures, will help us develop, learn, and make adjustments, providing valuable resources for future initiatives.



Review and Audit: 



Routine quality inspections assess and audit quality assurance initiatives to ensure they align with goals and are worthwhile. This process is similar to a strategy checkup to ensure soundness and functionality.



Testing Phase: 



The action takes place here! To find any bugs or problems, we&#8217;ll put our goods and services through a thorough testing process. To make sure they are top-notch, it&#8217;s like taking our inventions for a test drive and pushing them to their limits.



Troubleshooting Problems: 



Address obstacles head-on, examining underlying reasons, devising cures, and implementing them like sleuths to maintain proper functioning and address issues effectively.



Project Control: 



Imagine yourself as the leader of our quality project, monitoring key performance indicators and making wise decisions to ensure we&#8217;re heading in the right direction.



Training: 



Fund training initiatives to enhance team members&#8217; abilities and expertise, fostering a high-quality culture and thriving in their professions. Provide necessary tools for success.



Risk Management: 



Proactively identifying potential dangers and developing plans to reduce them serves as a safety net, ensuring quality issues are mitigated and preparing for outstanding achievements by controlling risks.



Proactively identifying potential dangers and developing plans to reduce them serves as a safety net, ensuring quality issues are mitigated and preparing for outstanding achievements by controlling risks.



<h2 id="why-is-a-quality-assurance-plan-important-for-software-companies">Why Is a Quality Assurance Plan Important for Software Companies?</h2>



A quality assurance plan is crucial for software companies due to the following reasons:



1. Assures product dependability through extensive testing and validation.



2. Keeps customers satisfied by providing high-quality items.



3. Reduces risks and expenses by detecting problems early on.



4. Ensures industry standards and laws are followed.



5. Encourages ongoing improvement and efficiency in development practices.



Overall, a quality assurance plan is vital for software companies to deliver reliable, high-quality products, maintain customer satisfaction, reduce risks and costs, comply with industry standards, and drive continuous improvement.



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



Any business, regardless of size, relies on&nbsp;Software quality assurance techniques&nbsp;and plans used by Software testers, Project managers, and Quality assurance professionals to produce successful and smooth deliveries without any defects. 



Software Quality Assurance Plan is essential when fulfilling the promises made to the customers and clients.  It must be noted that creating a schedule for the SQA task is the most critical step in implementing it as it assists in the time management and timely delivery of the software development project, which produces customer satisfaction and sustains the name of your business in the market. 



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



<h3 id="what-is-the-quality-assurance-plan-process">What is the quality assurance plan process?</h3>



The&nbsp;quality assurance (QA) plan&nbsp;process involves developing and implementing a document that outlines the strategies and activities that will be used to ensure that a product or service meets certain standards of quality. The specific steps in the QA plan process can vary depending on the needs and goals of an organization. Still, a typical approach might include the following efforts: Define the plan&#8217;s scope, Identify the stakeholders, establish a testing strategy, Create test cases, review and report on test results, etc.



<h3 id="what-are-the-components-of-a-quality-assurance-plan">What are the components of a quality assurance plan?</h3>



The components of a QA plan can vary depending on an organization&#8217;s specific needs and goals. Still, some common elements include Quality objectives, Scope, Quality standards, Quality control processes, Quality assurance activities, <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-testing-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Software Testing Strategies</a>, Training and education, Quality metrics, and Continuous improvement. Read More on <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/testing-vs-quality-assurance-vs-quality-control-whats-the-difference/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Quality Control VS Quality Assurance</a>



<h3 id="where-is-sqa-used">Where is SQA used?</h3>



Software quality assurance (QA) is used throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC) to ensure that a software product meets specified requirements and is fit for its intended purpose. QA activities may involve verifying the software&#8217;s functionality, testing its performance and scalability, and checking for security vulnerabilities.



<h3 id="what-is-sqa-software-testing">What is SQA software testing?</h3>



Software quality assurance (SQA) is the testing process of evaluating a software product or system to determine whether it meets the requirements and standards. QA testing aims to identify and fix the defects before they are released to the users.&nbsp;

Creating a Comprehensive Software Quality Assurance Plan for your Project

6 Key Steps to Creating A Quality Assurance Plan

Once Unit testing is over and you integrate separate modules to form a complete system, Integration testing comes into the picture. It follows certain specifications to examine the interaction and behavior of different modules as they come together to build a system. 



As such, Integration testing follows two approaches—Top-down and Bottom-up—that offer an organized way of building a programming structure, all the while continuing the testing processes. And this is the exact topic of this article. We will talk about the difference between Top-down and Bottom-up Integration testing for you to understand both approaches in detail.



However, you must have a thorough knowledge of Integration testing and its requirements before you jump to understanding its different approaches. So, here we begin.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Integration_Testing">1 What is Integration Testing?</a><ul><li><a href="#What_are_Different_Types_of_Integration_Testing">1.1 What are Different Types of Integration Testing?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#What_is_Top-Down_Integration_Testing">2 What is Top-Down Integration Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_Bottom-Up_Integration_Testing">3 What is Bottom-Up Integration Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Difference_Between_Top_Down_and_Bottom_Up_Integration_Testing">4 Difference Between Top Down and Bottom Up Integration Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Key_Takeaways">5 Key Takeaways</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">6 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_purpose_of_Bottom-up_testing">6.1 What is the purpose of Bottom-up testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_purpose_of_Top-down_testing">6.2 What is the purpose of Top-down testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-integration-testing">What is <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Integration Testing</a>?</h2>



Integration testing comes after <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/unit-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Unit testing</a> and follows the communication between several software modules after their design, development, and integration. Testers analyze connected components in this methodology to check for compatibility issues. Often, such issues arise between modules due to data transfer and software-hardware incompatibility.



There are several automation tools available to help you perform Integration testing. Some of the popular tools, such as Selenium, <a href="https://docs.pytest.org/en/7.2.x/contents.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Pytest</a>, Testsigma, and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/comparison-between-testsigma-and-protractor-alternatives/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Protractor</a>, are all open source and offer several in-house options and <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/use-case-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">use cases for testing</a> purposes.



Integration testing is conducted iteratively for the module group (making up the system) to find the errors. It is an <a href="https://www.planview.com/resources/guide/agile-methodologies-a-beginners-guide/benefits-of-agile-development/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">agile methodology</a> that follows the sprint cycle technique.



<h3 id="h-what-are-different-types-of-integration-testing">What are Different Types of Integration Testing?</h3>



As already mentioned, there are two approaches to Integration testing. But those are not the only two types. Integration testing has five types in total that testers can employ to perform as per their need:



1. <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/big-bang-integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Big Bang Approach</a>



Under this technique, either all or major modules are integrated for testing. It is only done after all the components are up and running.



2. <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/incremental-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Incremental Integration </a>



Incremental testing is when a minimum of two (sometimes more) logically related modules are connected for testing, and the same process continues as more modules add to the system.



3. Top-Down Testing



Top-down testing follows a sequential path of dealing with the top modules before moving on to later or sub-modules.



4. <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/bottom-up-integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bottom-Up Testing</a>



The bottom-up approach is simply the opposite of Top-down testing.



5. Hybrid/Mixed 



As the name suggests, hybrid or mixed Integration testing combines Top-down and Bottom-up to achieve the advantages of both types.



Although all these types have their use cases and advantages, this blog focuses on Top-down and Bottom-up approaches and the differences between them.



Point to Note: Top-down and Bottom-up come under the Incremental Integration testing approach.



<h2 id="h-what-is-top-down-integration-testing">What is Top-Down Integration Testing?</h2>



Top-down incremental Integration testing builds the program structure by moving from the top module to the lower modules. The process follows a certain downward hierarchy where the lower-level (sub-modules) modules are integrated into the top-level module (main module) using either a depth-first or breadth-first method. The primary advantage of this technique is to verify the control transfer and ease of integration as early as possible.



Almost all the Top-down models rely on Stubs (also called dummy programs) to run the testing. These stubs simulate the functioning of sub-modules.



<h2 id="h-what-is-bottom-up-integration-testing">What is <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/bottom-up-integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bottom-Up Integration Testing</a>?</h2>



By the name of it, we are sure you know what Bottom-up Integration testing is and how it functions. But for more clarity, here&#8217;s the definition: Bottom-up Integration takes into account sub-modules and moves upward in the integration process. It eliminates the need for stubs, as lower-level modules are already available for integration before moving on to using the top module. It decreases the amount of overhead present in the Top-down approach.



However, there could be a few instances where all modules are still in production and require a dummy program. In such cases, drivers are used in Bottom-up Integration testing as opposed to stubs used in Top-down Integration testing. Drivers act as &#8216;calling programs&#8217; as opposed to stubs that act as &#8216;called programs.



<h2 id="h-difference-between-top-down-and-bottom-up-integration-testing">Difference Between Top Down and Bottom Up Integration Testing</h2>



Integration testing can be done in two ways: Top-down and Bottom-up. The fundamental difference between these two approaches is the direction of testing.&nbsp;



In Top-down testing, the testing process starts from the top module and moves downwards towards the sub-modules. The main focus is testing the top module before integrating it with the sub-modules.&nbsp;



In Bottom-up testing, the testing process is initiated by combining the sub-modules and then moving upwards to the top module.



The difference between Top-down and Bottom-up Integration testing is that the former moves downward, and the latter moves upward. Top-down focuses on designing and testing the top module before merging it with sub-modules. Bottom-up, on the other hand, combines the sub-modules to test them and moves upward thereafter.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Characteristic</td><td>Top-Down Integration Testing</td><td>Bottom-Up Integration Testing</td></tr><tr><td>Approach</td><td>Tests the highest-level modules first and then works down the hierarchy.</td><td>Tests the lowest-level modules first and then works up the order.</td></tr><tr><td>Stubs</td><td>It uses stubs to simulate the lower-level modules.</td><td>It uses drivers to simulate the higher-level modules.</td></tr><tr><td>Complexity</td><td>Less complex.</td><td>More complex.</td></tr><tr><td>Data Intensity</td><td>Less data intensive.</td><td>More data intensive.</td></tr><tr><td>Risk coverage</td><td>Focuses on identifying and mitigating risks early on.</td><td>Focuses on identifying and mitigating risks later in the testing process.</td></tr><tr><td>Scope</td><td>It can be used to test large and complex systems.</td><td>It is better suited for testing smaller and less complex systems.</td></tr><tr><td>Suitability</td><td>It is suitable for systems that have a clear hierarchical structure.</td><td>It is suitable for systems that need a clear hierarchical structure.</td></tr><tr><td>Benefits</td><td>It can help to identify and mitigate risks early on.</td><td>It can help to ensure that the lower-level modules are working as expected.</td></tr><tr><td>Drawbacks</td><td>It can be challenging to implement for large and complex systems.</td><td>It can be time-consuming and data-intensive to execute.</td></tr><tr><td>Examples</td><td>Operating systems, database systems, and word-processing software.</td><td>Device drivers, embedded systems, and microcontrollers.</td></tr><tr><td>Other Differences</td><td>Main module calls the sub modules Uses stubs as a replacement for missing sub modules  Implemented on structured/procedure-oriented programming  Significant to identify errors at the top levels Difficult to observe the output  Simple to perform </td><td>Sub modules integrated with the top module(s) Makes use of drivers as a replacement for main/top modules  Beneficial for object-oriented programming  Good to determine defects at lower levels  Easy to observe and record the results  Highly complex and data-driven </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="h-key-takeaways">Key Takeaways</h2>



At its foundation, Integration testing is the second level of testing right after Unit testing. All the system modules that are designed, developed, and tested during the Unit testing stage go through integration and further examination to check for compatibility issues. While Integration testing has multiple approaches that you can adopt as per your testing needs, two of the popular ones are Top-down and Bottom-up.



Both types have their advantages and disadvantages to help you decide which approach will best serve your needs. And if you are on the lookout for <a href="https://testsigma.com/qa-automation-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automation tools</a> that guide your QA team to start and continue <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Integration testing</a> based on any one of these two types, we recommend Testsigma and Selenium, as they both offer multiple options in terms of testing. You can choose the former if your team wishes to skip the coding part and move directly on to testing the application.



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



<h3 id="h-what-is-the-purpose-of-bottom-up-testing">What is the purpose of Bottom-up testing?</h3>



The purpose of Bottom-up Integration testing is to uncover crucial issues like input or output data usage, which are usually performed by sub-modules early in the testing stage. In short, it focuses on the analysis of specific characteristics and micro attributes of lower modules as per user requirements.



<h3 id="h-what-is-the-purpose-of-top-down-testing">What is the purpose of Top-down testing?</h3>



The purpose of Top-down integration testing is to view all the components from the top and move downward in a manner to check the system&#8217;s functioning before starting to build the sub-modules. It will help you to catch errors even before you start working on every module of your application system.

Key Differences Between Top-Down and Bottom-Up Integration Testing

Key Differences Between Top Down and Bottom Up Integration Testing

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