Things to Know About Manual vs. Automation Testing

Software testers are people devoted to guaranteeing the overall quality of a piece of software. In addition to functionality, this quality is evaluated in terms of scalability, dependability, usability, portability, and reusability. This software testing technique can now be carried out manually or automatically. As a result, the issue of manual testing versus automation training course has become a significant topic of discussion, with professionals debating the suitability of each approach for carrying out various types of tests.

In this blog, we will examine the debate between manual and automated testing by weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, comparing the two, and delving into the usefulness of each approach for various test types.

Manual testing: What is it?

Benefits and Drawbacks of Manual Testing

What is testing via automation?

The benefits and drawbacks of automation testing

Comparison of manual vs. automated testing

When to Automate Testing vs. Manual Testing

When to use manual testing instead of automation testing

scenarios allowing for both manual and automated testing

Conclusion

Manual testing: What is it?

Before being made available on the market, software products are subjected to manual testing. It requires involving human resources in the form of testers or QA analysts who are in charge of manually running test cases and, in the course of doing so, discovering problems and flaws in the software that is being built. Without the aid of test automation tools, this form of testing is conducted.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Manual Testing

 Advantages:

• Handling complex test scenarios is possible with manual execution of test cases.

• Products with short life cycles frequently use this approach.

• Manual testing is less expensive than automation testing, at least in terms of early expenditure.

• It can be applied to a variety of situations.

• Knowledge of automation tools is not required for testers.

• Reduces the likelihood of false negatives, which dramatically lessens the workload for the DevOps team because they no longer have to constantly determine if the reported fault is true or not.

 

 Disadvantages:

• Time-consuming, and can become a substantial bottleneck when pressure to provide software products more quickly grows.

• In comparison to automation testing, it offers significantly less test coverage. Only a limited number of OS variants and devices are covered by manual testing.

• When comparing manual testing to automation testing, the former is less dependable than the latter because there is always a risk for mistakes and errors when testing is done manually by humans.

What is testing via automation?

With the aid of the proper automation testing tools, the tester creates test scripts or programmes that automate the test execution process and assist validate the software. These pre-written tests created by the tester are designed to run automatically and compare the actual results with those anticipated. The results' similarity or divergence aids in assessing the product's quality.

Without human interaction, repetitive processes can be carried out automatically thanks to automation testing. It aims to improve software testing's efficiency, efficacy, and coverage.

The benefits and drawbacks of automation testing

 Advantages:

• It enables more testing to be done in less time.

• Considering the potential ROI, automation testing is more cost-effective in the long run than manual testing.

• Automation testing improves dependability by reducing human participation.

• It is adaptable and enables reuse because test cases may be recorded.

• It offers increased test coverage.

 Disadvantages:

• Conducting automation testing has a significant starting cost.

• It calls for testers to be familiar with test automation tools.

• Appropriate for easier, more routine activities

• Without understanding of programming languages, it is impossible.

• Random testing is not offered by automated testing.

Comparison of manual vs. automated testing

Manual Basis Testing Automation Basis Testing

Definition

A QA Analyst conducts manual testing to evaluate the product's functionality in relation to client needs.

With the use of automation testing tools, test cases are automatically executed after being manually created as test scripts.

Execution Time Long processing time makes it time-consuming

faster, more tests in less time, and faster

Test effectiveness

less effective with a higher likelihood of blunders and errors. hence less trustworthy greater effectiveness and dependability as a result of tests being executed using tools and scripts

Investment

Less money is invested initially. However, compared to automation testing, ROI is lower over time. Initial outlay is higher. However, compared to manual testing, ROI is larger over the long term.

Coverage of Tests

inadequate test coverage. Testing the programme across several OS platforms and browsers is challenging. improved test coverage allows for testing across many OS platforms and browsers

Possible Exploratory Testing

does not permit testing at random

Parallel Evaluation

It is possible to do manual testing in parallel, but doing so would necessitate hiring more people to administer the test.

Tests can be seamlessly run in parallel across various OS platforms and browsers.

programming language expertise

Not essential But necessary

Change in UI

Small adjustments to the ID, Class, and other components do not interfere with manual testing.

The test scripts would need to be adjusted to reflect even the tiniest change in the UI of the application being tested.

Framework

·         does not employ frameworks, but instead relies on processes, checklists, and guidelines to build test cases.

·         utilises Hybrid, Keyword, and Data Drive frameworks

·         Create Reports

·         Testers must create reports by jotting down their findings.

·         Tools can be used to create test reports automatically.

When to Automate Testing vs. Manual Testing

The importance of automation testing is growing, yet manual testing is still important. When debating the merits of manual vs. automated testing, it's crucial to keep in mind that each approach depends on a variety of variables, particularly the type of test that needs to be run.

Automation Testing is more effective when:

• Circumstances that necessitate repeated testing or the performance of menial activities

• Test scenarios that entail testing a lot of data

• Circumstances that call for parallel testing or tests that can't be carried out manually

• any situation that could lead to human mistake

• It is preferred for non-functional testing as well as when tests must be run in various contexts and browsers.

• Automation testing can be used to test an application's stable components.

The types of tests that are preferred to be run under each approach are one of the key topics of discussion in the debate between manual and automated testing. Let's have a look at some of the tests that are preferable to be performed solely in an automated manner based on the conditions mentioned above.

Regression Analysis

Due to the repeated nature of the tests and the frequent code updates, automation testing is ideal for these types of tests.

Performance Evaluation

This kind of testing is used to assess the application's stability, scalability, and/or speed properties.

The Load Test

To ascertain whether an application can manage a specific volume of transactions, this kind of testing is employed (load). As a result, it examines how the product behaves both in typical and peak circumstances.

When to use manual testing instead of automation testing

In this section, we'll examine scenarios and tests that should be performed manually.

Manual testing is most effective when:

• The parts of the applications that change frequently must be tested.

• It is appropriate for projects that are in the planning stages.

• When ad hoc or exploratory testing is required or when an automatable test case cannot be used, manual testing is suggested.

• Writing test scripts for quick projects can take a lot of time. In these situations, manual testing is recommended.

Let's have a look at some of the tests that are preferable to be performed manually only, based on the conditions mentioned above.

·         Testing Ad-hoc

These are impromptu tests, which are classified as informal testing. In most cases, testers who are well knowledgeable about the programme being tested can test it at random without according to any set rules or procedures.

·         Investigative Testing

The test requirements fall into this category if they are not sufficiently explained. As a result, testers only rely on their expertise in examining and evaluating the application's features.

·         Utilization Testing

The purpose of this testing is to find out how the product will be received and perceived by the end user. Only a tester who can comprehend the mindset of a consumer can help determine this user-friendliness.

scenarios allowing for both manual and automated testing

Any of the two testing techniques can be used in a variety of test scenarios. Let's examine a few of them.

·         Validation Testing

It is sometimes referred to as pre-production testing and is carried out by testers and end users who assess the viability of a product in terms of its necessity.

·         System Evaluation

It is a method of figuring out whether the programme is operating in accordance with the requirements stated.

·         Testing for Integration

It links various modules to test how they interact with one another and tests the interface between two software units.

·         Testing Units

It is carried out to test a single module or individual unit in terms of its functionality. This process is also known as component testing or module testing.

Conclusion

By no means does the growing importance of automation testing training indicate that manual testing is no longer necessary. There are several circumstances in which automation testing is not feasible. Furthermore, since only people create test scripts and automation technologies, human intervention cannot be fully eliminated. Therefore, the requirements of the current project as well as the available money would play a significant role in the selection of a specific testing method.