In today‘s highly connected world, mobile applications have become indispensable for businesses and users alike. However, building a high-quality mobile app that delights users requires rigorous testing across the entire development lifecycle. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the key aspects of testing mobile apps.
Why Mobile App Testing Matters
With over 5 million apps across iOS and Android app stores, building an app is no longer enough. You need to build a high-performing and secure app that meets your users‘ expectations. Comprehensive testing enables you to:
- Identify and fix defects early, saving time and money
- Deliver a smooth, responsive user experience
- Gain user trust by protecting privacy and securing data
- Stand out in a crowded app market with a high-quality product
By making testing a priority throughout development, you can feel confident at launch knowing your app is ready for real-world use.
Types of Mobile Apps
The type of app you are building determines the testing methodologies required:
Native Apps: Developed specifically for a device‘s operating system (iOS, Android, Windows). Allow better use of device capabilities but need to be tested across OS versions.
Web Apps: Accessed via a mobile browser so can work across devices, but limited in terms of device API access.
Hybrid Apps: Combine native and web elements. Distribution is easier but need to test components separately.
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs): Deliver app-like experience on web using modern APIs, need testing across browsers.
Mobile App Testing Methodologies
Comprehensive mobile testing requires a combination of manual and automated testing.
Manual Testing
Involves human testers interacting with the app UI to identify issues. Essential for:
- Exploratory Testing: Finding defects in an ad hoc manner
- Usability Testing: Assessing if users can complete key tasks
- User Acceptance Testing: Validating functionality per business requirements
Key Consideration: Testing needs to happen on both emulators and real devices to account for real-world hardware and OS variations.
Automated Testing
Automating repeatable test cases using frameworks like Appium, Espresso, Calabash, Selendroid. Helps test:
- Functional flows across devices
- Localization
- Data validation
- Crash diagnostics
Automation also enables running tests as part of CI/CD pipeline across browsers and devices. This allows detecting issues early.
Types of Testing
Functional Testing involves testing all application flows from a user perspective:
- Unit Testing: Validates code units like classes, functions
- Integration Testing: Checking combined components
- System & Acceptance Testing: Tests full system against requirements
Non-Functional Testing focuses on non-functional aspects:
- Performance Testing: Stress, load, volume and scalability
- Security Testing: Penetration, malware, encryption
- Usability Testing: User workflows, ease of use, accessibility
Best Practices
Follow these tips for effective mobile testing:
- Begin testing early with each code change rather than waiting for QA phase
- Simulate real-world conditions like low bandwidth, interrupted connectivity
- Automate repetitive test cases so testing keeps pace with development
- Continuously analyze crashes to diagnose issues proactively
- Perform security testing to identify vulnerabilities
- Conduct field testing with a limited set of real users to get feedback
Key Takeaways
- Testing mobile apps requires emulator, real device and automation testing
- Functional testing validates features; non-functional checks aspects like performance
- Combining manual and test automation allows thorough testing
- Testing throughout the dev cycle is vital for building robust, secure apps
By making mobile app testing a priority across your team, you can deliver fantastic app experiences.
