We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Software

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Automated Software Testing?

By Archana Khambekar
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 6,948
Share

Software is tested to confirm that all valid inputs are correctly interpreted and executed, while incorrect inputs are thrown out. Tests also verify that results are generated efficiently, and that a large volume of data can be handled without hiccups. Testing can be carried out manually or electronically. Automated software testing involves the use of specialized software to test the code that is under development. Such testing benefits the software development process, when applied judiciously.

Manual tests depend on the meticulousness of the people doing the testing. Manual software testing is time-consuming, and needs a significant ratio of testers to developers for most applications. This raises the cost of development. In addition, manual testing has the limitation that large amounts of data, or large numbers of simultaneous users or inputs, cannot be tested easily.

Automated software testing programmatically controls test execution, and the evaluation of output. The testing software provides inputs, which correspond to different conditions, to the software that is being evaluated. For each set of conditions, the testing software compares the actual results to desired results, and maintains statistics on the aggregate behavior of the target software. Following a “run”, the testing software typically provides summary results so that people can rapidly determine what to remedy.

In automated software testing, the tedious tasks involved in testing such as logging in, or entering data like postal addresses are mechanized. Vast combinations of conditions can be tested in each run. Since automated testing involves the use of computers and software, it also enables the simulation of large loads of input data or extremely rapid inputs. Each run of a number of test conditions can be completed in a matter of hours. Hence, automated testing is very useful for regression testing, which ensures that a new feature or bug fix did not inadvertently break previously working code.

Some recent development methodologies such as Extreme Programming emphasize that tests be available before coding. The development methodologies emphasize that regression testing be carried out multiple times each day to ensure the correctness of software as it develops. If the software team has to adhere to this methodology for any significant software, it becomes mandatory that automated software testing is used.

The automation testing software has to be fed the desired inputs and outputs. One way to do this is to store manual test conditions into the software. Another way is to write code to generate various conditions, within the acceptable limits of the software to be tested. Thus, the basis of automated software testing is definitely human effort. The automated testing software cannot go beyond this on its own.

Automated software testing has a significant cost in terms of the software to be acquired as well in its use. So, whether to automate, and what part of the testing to automate, are key decisions. Automated testing is not appropriate for features and environments that are expected to change significantly. In most applications, a mix of manual and automated testing is suitable.

Share
EasyTechJunkie is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-automated-software-testing.htm
Copy this link
EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.