Word of the Day: automated testing

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms | July 25, 2019 automated testing Automated testing is a process to validate that software functions appropriately and meets requirements before it is released into production. This form of software testing uses scripted sequences that are executed by testing tools. An organization can apply automated checks to a broad range of test cases, such as unit, regression and API testing. Automated software testing's main benefit is that it simplifies as much of the manual effort as possible into a set of scripts. If unit testing consumes a large percentage of a quality assurance (QA) team's resources, for example, then this process should be evaluated as a candidate for automation. Automated testing tools execute tests, report outcomes and compare results with earlier test runs. Automated tests can run repeatedly at any time of day. This approach fits in with continuous testing as well as continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) software development practices, which aim to shuttle code changes to production without gates that require manual intervention. Benefits of automated testing Automated testing can boost a QA team's efficiency. Some benefits include higher accuracy as well as better reporting capabilities, coverage, resource efficiency, bug detection and reusability. When a software tester manually checks a system, he can make a mistake, especially when an application contains hundreds or more of lines of code. Automation helps the QA team avoid these application testing mistakes and executes checks in a faster timeframe than a person. Some test automation tools have reporting capabilities that log each test script to show users the status of each test. A tester can then compare the results with other reports to assess how the software operates compared to expectations and requirements. Automated testing enables staff to avoid manual tests and focus on other project priorities. A QA team can reuse automated test scripts to ensure each check executes the same way every time. Additionally, automated testing helps a team quickly find bugs in the early stages of development, which can reduce overall working hours. Quote of the Day "Whether you're talking about a specific test to automate or an overall strategy to reduce testers' manual work, the goal is increased test coverage and reduced test execution duration via automation." - Gerie Owen Trending Terms unit testing continuous integration quality assurance continuous delivery automated test equipment agile test automation pyramid Learning Center How to plan and create a test automation framework Before you create a test automation framework, put thought into who should code and maintain tests. Many automated testing framework implementations fail because organizations don't think ahead, but you can thrive with planning and intuition. How do I know what's test automation vs. automated testing? As software testing becomes less of a manual process, some might struggle to differentiate test automation vs. automated testing -- and let's not forget continuous testing. Sort out those three terms with this advice, and adapt your strategy accordingly. How to meet QA responsibilities during a software tester shortage Don't abandon QA responsibilities when in the middle of a software tester shortage. Here's when it makes sense to seek out a testing-as-a-service provider or shift QA tasks to developers. IT wrangles with test automation benefits and challenges When weighing test automation benefits and challenges, organizations should look beyond shiny tools and vendors' promises. Application architecture, tester skills and the pace of adoption have a big impact on team success. How autonomous software testing could change QA While many testers are still wrapping their heads around test automation, AI is facilitating the rise of autonomous software testing. Read about the vendors racing to capitalize on the space, and how these tools' capabilities free up testers to address broader QA initiatives. Quiz Yourself The purpose of regression testing is to ______ that the software continues to function as expected under specific conditions. a. ensure b. assure Answer Stay in Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed! FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget, Whatis, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2018 TechTarget. All rights reserved.