25 Top Software Testing Trends to Look Out for this Year

The software industry goes through a lot of research and modified methodologies that keep the software quality top-notch for the end-user. 2014 saw the trend of mobile app testing as they were becoming a multi-billion dollar business all over the world. 2015 saw the trend of scriptless testing and IoT focussed methodologies.

Again, this was shaped by the market trends and the increasing importance of both of these software. In 2016, Google made it clear that since mobile traffic is more than all else, mobile-friendly websites will be prioritized when a user searches on mobile. So the trend of mobile web testing came into the picture. The story has continued since then for each year. With the end of 2022, we are here after careful analysis of the market trend and the latest prioritized technologies that we believe will be important in the future. These technologies have started to pick up as trends in software testing and have the most potential of growing at a significant rate .

Let’s see what is added more to the list as new Software Testing Trends trends in 2024 and why they are important this year.

The Evolution Of Software Testing Trends

The following Software Testing Trends , 25 radical waves will thus sweep the shores of software testing come 2024: 

1.Shift-Left Testing:

This is a strategy that places testing as the core activity during the entire development lifecycle, not only towards the end. This enables identification of issues at an earlier stage which leads to prompt resolution — saving time and money in return. Testsigma empowers you to achieve this goal by facilitating Shift-Left Testing. This approach prioritizes testing throughout the development lifecycle, not just at the end.

2.AI and Machine Learning (AI/ML) in Testing:

The start of AI and ML has permanently altered the realm of testing— they have the capability to automate boring tasks, study large volumes of test data intelligently during testing, and catch failure-prone areas without any manual guidance.

AI can also be used in analyzing any leaks in testing, defaults, and predicting the test coverage even before running the test cases to save time. If you have something in mind, feel free to comment down below.

AI is coming to the deeper scenarios of software testing but one tool has been quick to pick up the trend and implement it in their DNA. Testsigma, a completely cloud-based test automation tool uses AI technology in software testing to save time, costs and smoothen out the learning curve of the testers.

With AI technology, the tester can write the test cases in the English language that can be translated into programming language by the tool. Testsigma also comes with self-healing technologies that can detect changes in the user interface and change the test script corresponding to that element automatically. Such as artificial intelligence practices can improve the quality of processes and save time. 

3. Increasing Popularity of IoT:

IoT is gaining more and more traction. It indicates that we are on the threshold of an interesting future when smart devices and IoT solutions will become ubiquitous and grow.

IT expansion suffered setback in early 2020 as a result of low investment, yet it later gained momentum and is expected by IDC to reach more than $437 billion in Asia Pacific by 2025.

Introducing the future prospects for IoT: what could be expected by 2024. 

• Organizations are benefiting from the growth of IoT in parallel with Machine Learning and coming up with smart ways to analyze data without manual efforts; this can simplify the workflow.

• Smart cities are adopting IoT widely: innovation in urban living has revolutionized traffic management and enabled smart surveillance making it safer for the city residents. With these smart IoT solutions, city governments can re-engineer their infrastructural needs to quality technology at the best level which is more innovative and user-friendly.

• The use of automation by manufacturers is a trend growing throughout the industry— strong not only this year but well into 2024 and beyond.

• Healthcare IoT devices’ innovation changes the way diseases can be detected and treated: which makes it possible to detect diseases at an early stage. This ensures better chances of recovery for those affected by the disease.

4. Increased Automation testing:

Trendy automation frameworks seek finesse at their peak— ensuring that minimal human effort is required while also guaranteeing that every nook and cranny is well-covered with tests throughout, consistently. Testsigma empowers you to create automated tests for web, mobile, and API functionalities using a user-friendly interface and simple English commands. No coding expertise is required!

5. Large Language Models (LLMs)

with their ability to process and understand vast amounts of text data, are transforming the way we write and execute automated tests. LLMs can understand the natural language used in test case descriptions and specifications, allowing testers to create more human-readable and maintainable tests. Also, LLMs can be used to analyze test results and generate clear, concise reports, saving testers valuable time and effort.

For example, an LLM can analyze a test case written in plain English like “Verify user login fails with an invalid password” and automatically translate it into the appropriate code for the testing framework. This not only simplifies test creation but also reduces the risk of errors due to manual coding.

6. Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

Robotic process automation has already been involved in the software testing process and we believe that it will continue to be in the trend with an increased acceptance.

Research and market survey projects the revenue from RPA to be around 3.4 billion US dollars by 2027. With 28.2% year-on-year growth, RPA is always preferred to be the first choice for performing the automation of mundane tasks.

RPA, also called robotic process automation, is a process of automating tasks that are repetitive and require no manual intervention as such. RPA takes down the actions of the tester for the first time to make note of what has to be done.

Using artificial intelligence and machine learning, RPA then executes multiple scenarios using the same actions on the screen. Since it is automatic, it saves time and costs for the company.

From the above definition, you might think it resembles automating tests since it also talks about performing repetitive tasks as it does. It is a genuine confusion, and therefore we have written a dedicated post on how RPA differs from test automation with various use cases and examples. 

7.DevOps and Agile Testing:

The testing process is integrated into the DevOps process — which implies a close partnership between developers and testers — so that high-quality software is created and the delivery cycles are made faster to address user requirements.

8.Microservices Testing:

Every part is tested to ensure it works well alone and together with other components. Test individual microservices or containerized applications (e.g., Docker) with ease. Testsigma ensures seamless integration and functionality within your microservices architecture.

9. API-Centric Testing:

API is vital for any modern application; therefore, its functionality, reliability, performance and most importantly its security need to be scrutinized thoroughly. In Testsigma you can create and execute automated tests for your application’s APIs, guaranteeing their functionality, performance, and security.

10. Focus on Security:

The elimination of security vulnerabilities is pivotal during the software process evolution, through each and every developmental step. Security testing tools and techniques are progressively changing with changes in the threats so as to ensure that they address them effectively.

11.Controlling performance:

The system should be optimized to ensure that it is meeting performance requirements when a single user has not yet accessed it— under normal stress conditions, effective user experience is ensured.

12.Mobile App Testing Evolution:

Testing mobile applications is critical because of the variations that exist with different devices, operating systems, and network conditions to ensure compatibility and usability across all platforms. Perform thorough testing of your mobile applications on a variety of real devices and emulators directly within Testsigma. This eliminates the need for complex device management setups.

13. Test Data Management:

While conducting a test for data management, there should be value in managing and deploying test data to support various testing activities. Also it is important to pay attention to compliance or data protection regulations without failing tests.

14. Shift-Right Testing:

Post-release monitoring and Testing in production environments gather real-world user feedback for continuous improvement in subsequent releases.

15. Behavior-Driven Development (BDD):

Collaboration through BDD allows developers, testers, and stakeholders to define and test application behavior using natural language, fostering a shared understanding of requirements.

16. Low-Code/No-Code Testing Solutions:

There are testing solutions that are engineered to work with low-code/no-code development platforms, ensuring the strength and quality of applications created using these tools. Testsigma’s intuitive interface allows testers with minimal coding experience to create and execute automated tests. This empowers a wider range of testers to contribute to the testing process.

17. In-Sprint Test Automation

In-sprint test automation is a software testing methodology that picked up as a trend in 2021 and will still continue to do so in 2024. Agile methodology forces organizations to work speedily and release new versions quickly.

As a result, one sprint consists of 2 – 4 weeks of time after which there is no time left for testing the software. So testers are often found testing a previous version which has a major drawback. If your version is released with just regression and DDT methods, a few of the bugs might seep into the production which can cost even 100 times more.

In-sprint changes this process by allowing the testers to work in the same sprint step by step. So a testing team need not wait till the complete development is over and can start during the development process. This keeps the quality of software on the better side while allowing testers to test the same version to be in sync.

18. Shift from Function to Non-Function:

Non-functional aspects like usability, accessibility, and reliability are receiving increased attention through dedicated testing methodologies.

19. Blockchain Testing:

When testing decentralized applications (DApps) and smart contracts, the primary areas include security performance levels as well as how far the applications follow blockchain protocols.

20.Chaos Engineering:

By intentionally introducing controlled system failures we can reveal weaknesses within the systems themselves — failure helps strengthen resilience — and ensure a readiness for unexpected events.

21.Cybersecurity with DevSecOps

Development + Security + Operations = DevSecOps

DevSecOps is a method consisting of automation, platform design, and culture that treats security as a shared responsibility across all IT processes. It is more about security ingrained within the system than one that surrounds data and applications like a fortress.

With DevSecOps, identifying possible security threats at their nascent stage becomes viable; upon discovery of such a security risk, it rectifies those loopholes very early on.

Cybersecurity through DevSecOps

In this regard, DevSecOps has the potential to be a significant step in the establishment of strong security standards, as it involves security at every commit and pull request level. This allows organizations that implement security across the entire lifecycle of products and applications to easily discover any threats that may exist and promptly address them.

Benefits of implementing DevSecOps:

The major advantage that comes with implementing DevSecOps is breaking down silos between different teams.

It helps you catch code vulnerabilities early. DevSecOps specialists ensure that compliance takes priority position by weaving compliance and security checks into the DevOps pipeline.

22. Crowdsourced Testing:

Involving the wider audience of users for Testing in a realistic situation whereby the application is used across different settings and situations leads to understanding user behavior and how the application performs under various conditions.

23. Compliance Testing:

Testing compliance is one of the most important stages that software undergoes. The purpose is to see if it matches up to the rules set by certain regulators, those established by law, and also those followed within the industry. This validation exercise is very thorough because it needs to ensure that all requirements are met — whether they relate to data privacy or security protocols or even accessibility standards.

As such, this test guarantees organizations’ adherence to laws and regulations in place; this would prevent them from facing legal risks and fines which might be a result of not complying with what they ought to do. Moreover, it instills trust among users since it shows commitment towards high standards of quality and safety in their software products.

24. Test Automation Metrics:

Using measurement statistics as a result of analytical tools for evaluation of efficacy of automating tests leads to finding areas for optimization and improving strategies.

Cloud-based Testing is used to validate scalability, reliability and performance of an application hosted on cloud platforms in the sense of the specific load conditions that can occur from a cloud environment. Keeping up-to-date on these emerging trends, software testers.

25. Automated Test Case Generation:

The use of generative AI allows the production of brand-new test cases and user situations, which are modeled on actual situations. It can produce realistic test data— often the peculiar cases or user interactions which normal testing might not have caught as they exist in reality. This assists in revealing latent bugs plus problems that have a possibility to precipitate software failure at later stages where they could have been easily fixed.
Think about Generative AI generating tests that mimic a user drowning in an online shopping cart with hundreds of items or a mobile app death owing to abrupt fluctuation in the network. These situations may seem improbable, but in actuality they can unveil vulnerabilities within the software — hence giving rise to stronger applications.

What to Do & How to Go with the Software Testing Trends?

Do not fear! Adapting to these changes should be as easy as breathing. Follow these simple points:

• Determine what you lack: Take a close look at your existing testing methods and find the weak links. Tailor the trends to suit your testing aspirations.
• Take baby steps: Evaluate your current testing practices and pinpoint areas for improvement. Align the trends with your specific testing goals.
• Help your team grow: Rather than offering training or resources for your testers to easily comprehend and utilize the new tools and methodologies, feed them to fish.
• Welcome trial and error: Instead of being afraid to experiment with different approaches, just get started. Learn from what doesn’t work and tweak your approach accordingly.

With these actions, you’ll be able to keep abreast with emerging trends in software testing which will propel you to greater heights!

Software Testing Trends to Overcome Challenges

Software testing is tricky! 

New trends are here to help. Imagine catching bugs early (Shift-Left Testing) and using robots to test faster (RPA). We can write tests without tons of coding (Low-Code) and make sure software works on everything from phones to laptops (Mobile Testing). Security is super important, so there are new tests for that, too.  

By following the above-mentioned trends, we can release better software faster! Read here about Test Automation Trends

Let’s Catch Up!

The software testing domain is a dynamic and ever-changing field. However, the awareness of these new trends can help testers work better and faster. Techniques like catching bugs early, automation, and using new tools— all make it easier for teams to ensure that the software they deliver is high-quality and developed quickly. In light of these innovative testing practices surfacing with the advancement of technology, there will be more yet to come— pledging the future of software development to be secure, reliable, and user-centric.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Next Big thing in Software Testing?

Automation, no-code, and AI-assisted testing are the next big thing in software testing. Having mixed reactions to these trends, the impact of automation will significantly change and ease testing for everyone.

Is Selenium used in 2024?

Of course, Yes. Selenium serves as the foundation for many testing technologies and automation tools. The tool is built using Selenium, making it more stable.

Which Testing is Most Demanding?

While specific demands can vary by project, some of the most demanding testing areas in 2024 involve emerging technologies like AI/ML-powered applications, securing blockchain systems, and ensuring flawless functionality across a vast array of mobile devices and operating systems.

Predicting a single “most in-demand” testing tool in 2024 is difficult as the best choice depends on project specifics and team needs. However, being built on Selenium and using English language NLPs to automate test cases, Testsigma is one of the finest automation testing solutions for 2024.

With over 25M+ successful test runs and 1,000+ natural web browser settings to test on, Testisgma is your one-stop solution for all your end-to-end testing needs.