Jun 20, 2023
by Aisha
We've all had times when an app glitch completely derailed our workflow. The question is why such incidents occur. The explanation is straightforward: poor web app testing. Some developers ignore the significance of the testing phase of app development. The difficulty is that the expense of addressing bugs and the likelihood of their arising both rise as the code ages.
 
However, this is not necessary with thorough website testing. Therefore, the app is ready for release if testing goes well. That's all there is to it. An appropriate "mix" of the testing and development phases is essential for successful use of agile development principles.
 

Basic steps for web app testing

There are six fundamental steps in the testing phase that must be taken if you want to get the app right. Check out each and every one of them right here!
 

Step 1: Functionality testing

Verifying the web app's functionality is the initial step in the testing process. The functionality of a website is examined by checking its database connection, links, cookies, and any user input forms. It's best to get this done early on in the process so that it speeds up the complete app development cycle and reduces risks at the end of the cycle. Simply put, it entails completing a series of steps that can be executed either automatically by a software program or manually by a tester.
 
Once you have the outcomes of these activities, you can easily check them against the predicted results. Repeated attempts with varied input data are required. If reproducing the same result always yields the same result, then the app is functioning correctly. While it's reasonable to assume that certain bugs will never be completely eliminated, increasing the frequency with which we test websites improves our odds of creating fully functional software.
 
Step 2: Usability testing
 
Usability testing is an essential second step to take when considering how to test a website. Functionality testing and user experience testing are combined in this approach. The goals of these tests are different from those of user acceptance testing, and they occur at distinct points in the app creation process.
 
Both external testers who can act as stand-ins for your target audience and your own team of developers can perform usability testing. Apps like Apple's TestFlight can be useful if you need to conduct external testing but are unsure of how to find acceptable testers.
 
It is further divided into four stages:
 
1. Planned testing of the app's features, including its interface and content, is being developed.
2. Finding people to take the test, either inside or outside the company.
3. Putting together a crack crew to do the test.
4. Applying your learning to further develop your app.
 
Step 3: Interface testing
 
This web page test ensures that the app server and web server communicate without any hitches. It is important to test both the actual communication and the presentation of error messages. This test is also used to check how well server and user interruptions are handled.
 
Step 4: Compatibility testing
 
To ensure your web app looks well across all devices and screen sizes in this age of portability and variety, compatibility testing is essential. Developers must check the app's appearance in various browsers by running the browser compatibility test. The mobile browser compatibility test verifies that the application works as expected on a variety of mobile browsers.
 
Some program features may look different on other operating systems. That's why it's crucial to evaluate your site's compatibility with a wide range of browsers and OS versions, including the most popular ones like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer.
 
Step 5: Performance testing
 
After making sure your app works as intended, you should test how it handles high volumes of users. Normal and peak loads, as well as varying internet speeds, are all part of performance testing. 
 
Even in a broader context, it may be prudent to evaluate your web server's overall performance with an automated website speed test, as page speed has a significant impact on the user experience and the SEO of your public website. Concentrate on optimizing your website for mobile devices, as mobile SEO is crucial for generating quality traffic from search engine results. 
 
Step 6: Security testing
 
After the web application has been developed, it must undergo security testing. This type of testing employs a variety of techniques to identify the application's flaws and improve them as much as possible. Typically, a series of fabricated malicious assaults are used to evaluate the app's response and performance under these conditions. If security deficiencies are identified, it is essential to discover the most effective means of addressing them.
 

Here are the fundamental stages of testing for security:

  • Comprehending the security objectives and designing the test by taking their respective security requirements into account.
  • Determining the specific requirements for the app's security.
  • The process of gathering information about the components utilized in the development of the program, such as the operating system, hardware, and technology, among other things.
  • The process of identifying and compiling a list of all potential dangers and weak spots.
  • Putting together a risk assessment based on identified weak spots and potential dangers.
  • Developing a test strategy.
  • Adding automated testing to manual testing.
  • Developing the security assessment case report.
  • Executing security test cases, repairing identified defects, and retesting.
  • Making a comprehensive report on the security testing that includes both fixed problems and unaddressed threats.
 

A suitable web app testing environment

A web developer requires an environment to perform application testing. They chose a type of cloud service to do so. The cloud service that web developers choose is PaaS.
 
Platform as a Service (PaaS) is commonly understood to be a comprehensive cloud-based development and deployment environment consisting of resources that aid users in delivering anything from lightweight cloud-based applications to robust, cloud-enabled enterprise systems.
 

Importance of web app testing

Web application testing is the process of evaluating a web-based application's functionality and user satisfaction. It's important because people frequently use internet apps, and problems with them can have serious consequences like lost data or compromised security.
 

Final thoughts

In this article, we covered the fundamentals of web application testing. Similarly, it's crucial to test your online app. Reduce the likelihood of bugs destroying the user experience and gain a more holistic understanding of your app's strengths and weaknesses with regular testing of your web application. All of these tools for testing web applications are up-to-date with what's currently standard in the industry.