In this post, we will introduce CI/CD by taking reference to two of the most popular tools used in software development today: GitLab vs Jenkins. With their benefits to methods of working, we will explore more of CI/CD and why it is an integral part of SDLC today.



A brief introduction to <a href="https://testsigma.com/continuous-integration#Continuous_Integration:~:text=too%20many%20conflicts.-,Continuous%20Integration%20Vs%20Continuous%20Deployment%20Vs%20Continuous%20Delivery,-Continuous%20Integration%2C%20Continuous" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery</a>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_d44f7e683445451a189eb6e9d83d02eb_2000.png" alt="GitLab vs Jenkins - introduction to CI/CD" width="600" height="200" /></figure></div>



When these concepts are attached to one another to work in automation on a project, we call this a pipeline. A “pipeline” because it is serial like a pipe and no state can be jumped or skipped. You cannot achieve continuous delivery when continuous integration is not achieved. However, for this post, we can limit ourselves to just this brief introduction of CI/CD pipelines. Although, with the detailed analysis of GitLab vs Jenkins, we will touch on the concepts at various places.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#GitLab_vs_Jenkins_Point-by-Point_Comparison">1 GitLab vs Jenkins – Point-by-Point Comparison</a></li><li><a href="#Icebreaker_Between_GitLab_CICD_vs_Jenkins">2 Icebreaker Between GitLab CI/CD vs Jenkins</a></li><li><a href="#Alternatives_to_GitLab_CICD_and_Jenkins">3 Alternatives to GitLab CI/CD and Jenkins</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">4 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">5 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#Does_GitLab_use_Jenkins">5.1 Does GitLab use Jenkins?</a></li><li><a href="#Can_GitHub_Actions_replace_Jenkins">5.2 Can GitHub Actions replace Jenkins?</a></li><li><a href="#Is_GitLab_good_for_CI-CD">5.3 Is GitLab good for CI-CD?</a></li><li><a href="#How_does_Jenkins_connect_to_GitLab">5.4 How does Jenkins connect to GitLab?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="gitlab-vs-jenkins-point-by-point-comparison">GitLab vs Jenkins – Point-by-Point Comparison</h2>



For a quick reference for testers and developers, we have created the following table that highlights GitLab vs Jenkins comparison,



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Parameter</td><td>GitLab</td><td>Jenkins</td></tr><tr><td>Integrated Platform</td><td>Majorly a CI/CD platform. But lacks code review, version control, and other DevOps features.</td><td>A comprehensive DevOps platform with proper version control, code review, bug tracking, <a href="https://about.gitlab.com/topics/ci-cd/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI/CD,</a> and more.</td></tr><tr><td>Development method</td><td>Open-source</td><td>Open-source</td></tr><tr><td>Price</td><td>Free version + Paid Version</td><td>Free</td></tr><tr><td>Language</td><td>Ruby</td><td>Java</td></tr><tr><td>Working Architecture</td><td>GitLab CI and GitLab Runner</td><td>Master-Slave</td></tr><tr><td>Plugins</td><td>Limited plugins</td><td>1700+ Plugins to choose from</td></tr><tr><td>Community Size</td><td>Comparatively Smaller</td><td>Large Community</td></tr><tr><td>Platform Support</td><td>Supports only Unix-based OS such as Debian, Red Hat Linux, Ubuntu, Scientific Linux, CentOS, Oracle Linux, etc. It does not support Windows or macOS.</td><td>Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like OS</td></tr><tr><td>Support</td><td>Provides 24&#215;5 support for paid users, and community support is available for free users</td><td>Offers community support and documentation</td></tr><tr><td>Ease of use</td><td>Modern and easy-to-use, user-friendly interface</td><td>Older interface, so can be complex to use</td></tr><tr><td>CI/CD integration</td><td>Provides native CI/CD capabilities</td><td>Focuses on CI/CD automation</td></tr><tr><td>Containerization</td><td>Provides built-in support for Docker containers and Kubernetes orchestration</td><td>Provides support via plugins, but does not offer extensive native integration</td></tr><tr><td>Setup </td><td>Intuitive configuration and navigation</td><td>Configuration can be complex for new users</td></tr><tr><td>Release frequency</td><td>Provides updates and feature releases on a regular basis</td><td>Provides frequent updates and feature releases</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="h-icebreaker-between-gitlab-ci-cd-vs-jenkins">Icebreaker Between GitLab CI/CD vs Jenkins</h2>



While GitLab CI/CD and Jenkins both are exceptionally good software that currently rules the market but there can be an ice-breaking point that can help you decide clearly which tool to choose.



Firstly, GitLab’s main strength comes from being cloud-based and having good monitoring features. Be it branch monitoring or performance monitoring, GitLab has a really good UI and great metric system that help analyze things clearly at any point in software development. This is not true with Jenkins or maybe with any other CI tool currently available. However, it all comes at a price as GitLab comes in free and premium packages. The main point of this section is to let you know that if monitoring and metrics are your priority, your bucks will be well spent on GitLab.



On the other hand, Jenkins is completely free to use and is a popular choice just for this part. As free software, it gives you a lot of things that the majority of paid CI tools do not give. The main strength of Jenkins comes from its plugins, which are thousands in number. As a tester, whatever you may need can be found in a plugin which gives a lot more flexibility. 



Another good thing about having an open-source plugin-based system is that you can build your own if feasible. It has a good UI (which is rare in CI-based systems) and is continuously updated by developers. Jenkins should be your first choice when the team is satisfied with the available plugins, and there are no major requirements that Jenkins can’t suffice. It is also extremely easy to learn and use for a beginner.



<h2 id="h-alternatives-to-gitlab-ci-cd-and-jenkins">Alternatives to GitLab CI/CD and Jenkins</h2>



For people who wish to explore a few more tools other than GitLab and Jenkins for CI capabilities can refer to the following list of five most preferred:



<ul><li>Circle CI</li><li>Bamboo</li><li>Teamcity</li><li>Travis CI</li><li>Codeship</li></ul>



Let us know in the comment section if you are a user of one of these tools and how it compares with GitLab vs Jenkins.



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



The concept of continuous integration and continuous development has seeped too deep into SDLC that even smaller companies of just a few developers also find it relevant. It helps merge code smoothly and run various tests upgrading the application&#8217;s quality and minimizing the chances of errors at the user’s end. 



In this post about Gitlab vs Jenkins, we took two of the most popular tools that help us achieve just that. GitLab CI/CD and Jenkins are equally efficient with uniquely different features that help us make a clear choice between them. 



Starting with why to choose each of them to how to set them up on your machine, I hope this post will help you start your journey with the best <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/ci-cd-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI/CD tools</a> in the market. For any clarifications and suggestions, do let us know in the comment section. Thank you for giving this post your valuable time.



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



<h3 id="h-does-gitlab-use-jenkins">Does GitLab use Jenkins?</h3>



No. GitLab and Jenkins are two popular tools used for continuous integration and continuous development/deployment features. They both offer their own set of pros and cons which are discussed in this post. None of the tools takes the help of another; they work independently.



<h3 id="h-can-github-actions-replace-jenkins">Can GitHub Actions replace Jenkins?</h3>



GitHub actions and Jenkins both provide great workflow features to build, test, release, and deploy your code. For a developer, they both are equally popular and equally powerful. In the end, the question comes down to which one you should choose between Jenkins and GitHub actions rather than which one will replace what.



<h3 id="h-is-gitlab-good-for-ci-cd">Is GitLab good for CI-CD?</h3>



Yes, GitLab is a very powerful CI/CD tool with tons of features crafted just for developers and testers. It has excellent UI and monitoring capabilities.



<h3 id="h-how-does-jenkins-connect-to-gitlab">How does Jenkins connect to GitLab?</h3>



GitLab is available as a plugin system for Jenkins. To add GitLab to Jenkins, visit the plugin section and install GitLab and Git plugins to enjoy Jenkins along with GitLab.

GitLab vs Jenkins - Which CI/CD tool should you choose?

GitLab vs Jenkins – Which CI/CD tool should you choose?

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What is QA Environment? | Importance & Best Practices

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();



Read here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/setproperty-in-selenium/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Setproperty in Selenium</a>



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="Code Implementation" 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.

}

}



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
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Automate login and other scenarios, 10x faster, with Testsigma
</div>
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<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>



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/otp-test-cases/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OTP Test Cases</a>

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

QR Code Test: How To Check If a QR Code Works

Jenkins and Maven are quite the names in the realm of CI/CD due to their ability to facilitate continuous integration and delivery in software development. Jenkins is an automation platform that has a wide range of plugins and customizable settings, while Maven is a powerful build manager designed to help maintain consistent environments across the development cycle. Let&#8217;s compare them in detail.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Maven_vs_Jenkins_8211_Overview">1 Maven vs Jenkins &#8211; Overview</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_Maven">1.1 What is Maven?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_Jenkins">1.2 What is Jenkins?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Maven_vs_Jenkins_Key_Points_of_Comparison">2 Maven vs Jenkins: Key Points of Comparison</a></li><li><a href="#Maven_vs_Jenkins_How_to_Choose">3 Maven vs Jenkins: How to Choose?</a></li><li><a href="#Summary">4 Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">5 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#Does_Jenkins_use_Maven">5.1 Does Jenkins use Maven?</a></li><li><a href="#Can_I_use_Jenkins_without_Maven">5.2 Can I use Jenkins without Maven?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-maven-vs-jenkins-overview">Maven vs Jenkins &#8211; Overview</h2>



Maven and Jenkins are both very important tools in software development, though they serve different purposes. Maven is a build automation tool used specifically for Java projects while focusing on dependency management and project structuring.&nbsp;



As for Jenkins, it is an open-source automation server that makes <a href="https://testsigma.com/continuous-integration">continuous integration </a>and continuous delivery (CI/CD) possible by automating the building, testing, and deployment of applications.&nbsp;



In other words, Maven takes care of the build lifecycle, while Jenkins orchestrates the workflow. Thus, they are complementary tools in modern DevOps practices.&nbsp;



<h3 id="h-what-is-maven">What is Maven?</h3>



Maven is the most commonly used build tool for Java applications. It simplifies project management by handling dependencies, managing project structure, and automating the build process based on a set of standard conventions.



<h3 id="h-what-is-jenkins">What is Jenkins?</h3>



Jenkins is an open-source automation server software that accelerates the delivery pipeline through robust operational testing functionality. This helps ensure that your teams can deliver applications more quickly and with more confidence.



<h2 id="h-maven-vs-jenkins-key-points-of-comparison">Maven vs Jenkins: Key Points of Comparison</h2>



Let us take a detailed look at the comparison table:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature/Aspect</td><td>Maven</td><td>Jenkins</td></tr><tr><td>Purpose</td><td>Build automation and dependency management</td><td>Continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD)</td></tr><tr><td>Advantages</td><td>&#8211; Standardizes build processes&nbsp; &#8211; Manages dependencies effectively&nbsp; &#8211; Provides a clean project structure&nbsp; &#8211; Supports various build lifecycles&nbsp; &#8211; Integrates well with other tools (e.g., IDEs)&nbsp; &#8211; Dependency resolution&nbsp; &#8211; Inheritance and aggregation</td><td>&#8211; Flexible and customizable&nbsp; &#8211; Integrates with various tools and platforms&nbsp; &#8211; Offers a wide range of plugins &#8211; Supports parallel builds&nbsp; &#8211; Provides visibility into the build process&nbsp; &#8211; Supports a wide range of languages&nbsp; &#8211; Can be integrated with various tools and platforms&nbsp; &#8211; User-friendly web interface&nbsp; &#8211; Good for both small and large projects</td></tr><tr><td>Disadvantages</td><td>&#8211; Can be complex for beginners&nbsp; &#8211; Requires a learning curve&nbsp; &#8211; May have performance issues with large projects&nbsp; &#8211; Can be less flexible for non-Java projects</td><td>&#8211; Can be complex to configure&nbsp; &#8211; Requires a certain level of technical expertise&nbsp; &#8211; May have performance issues with large projects&nbsp; &#8211; Can be resource -intensive for complex pipelines</td></tr><tr><td>Key Features</td><td>&#8211; Dependency management (POM)&nbsp; &#8211; Build lifecycle (clean, compile, test, package, install, deploy)&nbsp; &#8211; Site generation&nbsp; &#8211; Plugin ecosystem</td><td>&#8211; Pipeline creation and management&nbsp; &#8211; Integration with source control systems (Git, SVN, etc.)&nbsp; &#8211; Integration with testing frameworks (JUnit, TestNG, etc.)&nbsp; &#8211; Notification and reporting features</td></tr><tr><td>Use Cases</td><td>&#8211; Building Java projects&nbsp; &#8211; Managing dependencies&nbsp; &#8211; Creating project documentation&nbsp; &#8211; Automating release processes</td><td>&#8211; Continuous integration (CI)&nbsp; &#8211; Continuous delivery (CD)&nbsp; &#8211; Automated testing&nbsp; &#8211; Deployment automation&nbsp; &#8211; Monitoring and reporting</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="h-maven-vs-jenkins-how-to-choose">Maven vs Jenkins: How to Choose?</h2>



When choosing between Maven and Jenkins, consider their purposes:&nbsp;



Maven is build and dependency management tool-specialized for Java projects; On the other hand, Jenkins specializes in pipeline automation for facilitating the CI/CD process.&nbsp;



Take note of your project requirements—where Maven integrates well with the project structure, Jenkins is required to automate testing and deployment.&nbsp;



Consider your team&#8217;s familiarity with each tool since adoption plays a role.



Integration needs with existing tools should also be taken into account.&nbsp;



More often than not, using both would be ideal to have an &#8220;all-inclusive&#8221; solution for effective project management and automation.



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



Although it is crucial to understand the difference between Jenkins and Maven, the two commonly used frameworks, developers, and testers that utilize Maven-Jenkins integration typically achieve the greatest outcomes.



When comparing Jenkins vs Maven, we must understand that they are separate technologies, each designed to play a specific function in the design process. Maven-Jenkins integration is a key component of the most successful DevOps journeys.



Maven excels in compiling code and running tests, which is one aspect of the process. However, Jenkins has complete control over the <a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/devops/what-cicd-pipeline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI/CD pipeline</a> and is essential to a successful DevOps environment.



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



<h3 id="does-jenkins-use-maven">Does Jenkins use Maven?</h3>



Yes, Jenkins can use Maven for building and testing projects. Maven is a popular build tool used by many Java developers, and it is well-supported by Jenkins. When configuring a project in Jenkins, you can specify that it should use Maven by selecting the “Maven Project” option in the “New Item” menu.



<h3 id="can-i-use-jenkins-without-maven">Can I use Jenkins without Maven?</h3>



Without Maven, Jenkins will not be able to handle dependencies properly or automatically generate builds. As a result, it is recommended that Jenkins be used in conjunction with Maven.





Jenkins vs Ansible
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Circle CI VS Jenkins
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Jenkins VS Travis
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Analyzing Maven and Jenkins: Knowing the Best of the CI Tools

Maven vs Jenkins – Top Key Differences

9 Major Reasons for Mobile App Failure and How to Avoid Them

As the internet becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it&#8217;s important that websites are accessible to all users, regardless of their disabilities. However, ensuring accessibility can be a challenging and time-consuming task for web developers and testers. That&#8217;s where automated accessibility testing comes in. By testing for accessibility, teams can address issues before they become more challenging and costly to fix. In this article, we&#8217;ll discuss what automated accessibility testing is, including what it is, its pros and cons, and more.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Automated_Accessibility_Testing">1 What is Automated Accessibility Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Can_Accessibility_Testing_be_Automated_with_Tools">2 Can Accessibility Testing be Automated with Tools?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Automated_Accessibility_Testing_is_Important">3 Why Automated Accessibility Testing is Important?</a></li><li><a href="#Pros_and_Cons_of_Automated_Accessibility_Tests">4 Pros and Cons of Automated Accessibility Tests</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Achieve_Automated_Accessibility_Testing">5 How to Achieve Automated Accessibility Testing?</a><ul><li><a href="#Make_Accessibility_a_Focus_Earlier_During_Design">5.1 Make Accessibility a Focus Earlier — During Design</a></li><li><a href="#Leverage_Accessibility_Testing_Tools">5.2 Leverage Accessibility Testing Tools</a></li><li><a href="#Create_Automated_Regression_Tests_For_Accessibility">5.3 Create Automated Regression Tests For Accessibility</a></li><li><a href="#Use_the_Right_Test_Automation_Platform">5.4 Use the Right Test Automation Platform</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">6 Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-automated-accessibility-testing">What is Automated Accessibility Testing?</h2>



Automated accessibility testing is a process of using software to test for accessibility issues in websites and web applications. This process ensures your app’s content and services are usable by people with disabilities of various types (vision, hearing, etc.). This <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/the-different-software-testing-types-explained/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">type of testing</a> can be used to find and fix issues related to web accessibility, such as missing alt text, improper use of color contrast, and more. 



For instance, overcoming the challenges that a person with vision impairment would encounter when attempting to use any app because the person would be unable to view visuals is what accessibility concerns are about. Keep in mind that automated accessibility testing verifies specific application features to ensure that it is usable by everyone.



While automated accessibility testing is a great tool for finding and fixing accessibility issues, it is important to note that it cannot catch everything. For example, automated testing cannot test for issues related to how well a person can use a website or web application. For this reason, it is also important to manually test websites and web applications to ensure they are accessible to everyone.



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/accessibility-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Accessibility Testing</a>



<h2 id="h-can-accessibility-testing-be-automated-with-tools">Can Accessibility Testing be Automated with Tools?</h2>



There is no simple answer to the question of whether web accessibility testing can be automated. While there are some automated tools available, they are not always reliable, and they often require a human touch to be effective.



That said, there are some ways to automate web accessibility testing to some extent. For example, you can use a tool to scan your site for potential accessibility issues and then have a human test those issues to confirm whether they are actually problems. You can also use a tool to generate a report of accessibility issues, which can then be reviewed manually.



Ultimately, the decision of whether to automate web accessibility testing will come down to a cost-benefit analysis. Automated tools can save time and money, but they are not always 100% accurate. So the combination of both automated and <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/manual-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manual testing</a> is ultimately the most effective method for accessibility testing.



Get here the list of <a href="https://testsigma.com/tools/accessibility-testing-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Web Accessibility Testing Tools</a>



<h2 id="h-why-automated-accessibility-testing-is-important">Why Automated Accessibility Testing is Important?</h2>



More people are now using digital tools due to the expanding significance of digital technology and applications. However, 70% of websites worldwide are not user-friendly for those with disabilities. Global governments are currently working to make web content accessible to people with impairments as part of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (<a href="https://www.wcag.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WCAG</a>) 2.0.



Government regulations also mandate that software products be usable by people with impairments. So, as an organization, you should consider these users’ needs as well as those of older adults, children, left-handed users, anti-English speakers, and many others. 



In addition, inaccessible websites cause significant reputational damage to the brand, which is why it&#8217;s crucial to routinely check your site for accessibility blockers using tools.



Related Resources &gt;&gt;<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/how-big-is-the-global-accessibility-testing-market-and-how-fast-is-it-growing/#Accessibility_Testing_Service_Market_Competitors" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> How Big is the Global Accessibility Testing Market and How Fast is it Growing?</a>



<h2 id="pros-and-cons-of-automated-accessibility-tests">Pros and Cons of Automated Accessibility Tests</h2>



The following are some of the pros and cons of automating your accessibility tests,



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Pros</td><td>Cons</td></tr><tr><td>Easy and quick to repeat tests at different stages of the development cycle</td><td>Automation tools will not catch all the accessibility errors in your application</td></tr><tr><td>Very few steps to run and get quick results</td><td>Might report false positives&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>A little accessibility knowledge is required to perform testing and understand the results</td><td>Various tools might be required for different product types</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="h-how-to-achieve-automated-accessibility-testing">How to Achieve Automated Accessibility Testing?</h2>



We all know that accessibility is essential. We also know that testing for accessibility can be time-consuming and tedious. But what if there was a way to automate accessibility testing?



There are many tools available that can help speed up the testing process. By using one of these tools, you can quickly check for common accessibility issues on your website or app. This can save you a lot of time and help ensure that your site or app is accessible to everyone.



There are a few things to keep in mind when automating accessibility testing.



<h3 id="h-make-accessibility-a-focus-earlier-during-design">Make Accessibility a Focus Earlier — During Design</h3>



As designers are often tasked with creating products that are both unique and functional. But what about products that are accessible to everyone?



Designing with accessibility in mind is crucial to ensure that your products/platform can be used by everyone, regardless of ability. And while it’s important to consider accessibility at all stages of the agile process, it’s imperative to make it a focus earlier on.



Here are a few tips on how to make accessibility a focus earlier in the design process:



<ul><li>Educate yourself on accessibility standards and guidelines.</li><li>Incorporate accessibility into your design process from the beginning.</li><li>Make sure your designs are tested for accessibility before launch.</li><li>Continuously monitor your designs for accessibility issues.</li></ul>



By following these tips, you can incorporate accessibility from the beginning.



<h3 id="h-leverage-accessibility-testing-tools">Leverage <a href="https://testsigma.com/tools/accessibility-testing-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Accessibility Testing Tools</a></h3>



How do you choose the right tools when you&#8217;re just getting started in the accessibility world?



It is crucial to group potential tools into the following three categories before you start:



<ul><li>Tools that require human interaction &#8211; This testing still needs humanitarian aid even if more automated methods are available. This ensures that the experience we evaluate closely resembles what our users will have. Some of these will include tools like <a href="https://www.apple.com/voiceover/info/guide/_1121.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">VoiceOver</a>, <a href="https://www.sightandsound.co.uk/product/jaws-home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">JAWS</a>, etc.</li><li>Tools for semi-automated accessibility testing that are browser add-ons &#8211; You may quickly identify any accessibility problems with your websites using browser extensions. The majority of browser extensions come with limited functionality that can be unlocked by buying the paid version. A few of these tools include <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/axe-devtools-web-accessib/lhdoppojpmngadmnindnejefpokejbdd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Axe DevTools</a>, <a href="https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/wave-evaluation-tool/jbbplnpkjmmeebjpijfedlgcdilocofh" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">WAVE</a>, etc.</li><li>Fully Automated testing tools &#8211; Utilizing automation is essential to shifting accessibility testing as early as possible so that you can concentrate on the places where it is most necessary. One such tool that’s fully automated is <a href="https://www.npmjs.com/package/@axe-core/cli" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Axe CLI</a>.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-create-automated-regression-tests-for-accessibility">Create Automated Regression Tests For Accessibility</h3>



As a web developer/owner, it&#8217;s important to ensure that the site is accessible to everyone. One way to do this is to create automated <a href="https://testsigma.com/regression-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">regression tests</a> that check for accessibility issues.



There are a few different ways to do this, but one tool you can use is the axe-core library. This library provides a set of rules that can be used to automatically test for accessibility issues.



To use the axe-core library, you first need to install it. You can do this by using the following command:



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>npm install axe-core</code></pre>



After installing axe-core, include the JavaScript file in each of your iframes in your fixtures or test systems to test your site for accessibility issues.



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code>axe
.run()
.then(results => {
if (results.violations.length) {
throw new Error('Accessibility issues found');
}
})
.catch(err => {
console.error('Something bad happened:', err.message);
});</code></pre>



It is possible to create automated accessibility regression testing using the method mentioned above. Additionally, you can completely get rid of most manual testing during the development phase.



<h3 id="h-use-the-right-test-automation-platform">Use the Right Test Automation Platform</h3>



Traditionally, this testing has been done manually. However, with the rise of test automation, it is now possible to do automated accessibility testing. This can save a lot of time and effort.



There are a number of different tools and platforms available for automated accessibility testing. However, not all of them are equal and have apt features.



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



Automated accessibility testing has become an essential aspect of web development. With the growing demand for inclusive and accessible websites, it&#8217;s crucial to ensure that everyone can access and interact with your site regardless of their abilities.



With the right automation tools and techniques, it&#8217;s possible to test for accessibility issues automatically, saving time, effort, and cost while ensuring compliance with accessibility guidelines.



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How to Automate Accessibility Testing: Steps & Tools You Should Know