Since we have made our way into a digital era where every small task can be worked using mobile, the concept of mobile application development is very likely to grow. However, most mobile development companies tend to lose all the value on their mobile application by resisting the timely and defined testing strategy.
Besides, the organizations or teams that sidestep on the mobile app testing tend to struggle with their survival due to the highly competitive market. Such resistance is likely to develop because of the many challenges associated with developing a sound strategy. The extensive range of operating systems, devices, network configurations, hardware setups, etc., make it very difficult to lead a sound test strategy.
On the other hand, these days, users are tech enthusiasts who do not want to waste even a single moment switching to another app without hesitation uninstalling the solution or posting a review. So today, we will get across a quick list of mobile app testing best practices that testers must keep in mind when planning to create a successful solution.
Let’s begin.
Making A Right Choice Of Device
The primary step of testing a mobile application begins with selecting the perfect device for beginning the app testing initiatives. When making the decision related to devising selection, you should be mindful of the following factors:
- The device on which the application will be used
- The earliest OS that application is likely to support
- The most popular or commonly used devices by target users
- Picking the perfect OS versions and Screen sizes for integration.
On top of that, the testers even need to focus on the number of devices you need to work on the app test, which may vary for the platforms and screen sizes you are targeting. If you do not have any data on the required number of devices, you may consider simulating the test environment based on the available parameters.
Make Sure You Understand Your App
Before you begin app testing, testers need to collaborate with developers and other technical executives to understand the app structure and functionalities in detail. The process might need you to walk through all the required documentation, the business idea, and other important details related to the application. Also, the need to identify basic app defects would require you to consider the type of mobile app you are aiming to develop to create the most relevant test cases.
Usability & UI Testing
When you create an application to target a specific user base, it must be worked to identify usability and UI goals. As different users have exposure to different devices based on the age group they fall in, the app must be designed to offer an intuitive and user-friendly experience to all. In addition, since different platforms have their own guidelines related to app building, making an interactive application needs a thorough understanding of the UI benchmarks.
For instance, Apple has defined certain guidelines for the apps that enter the App Store, and any app that fails to meet those defined guidelines tends to get rejected. This is done on purpose to deliver a consistent feel to the users. Thus, a good testing strategy should contain usability and UI testing in the plan while working on certain checks like:
- The ease of understanding the document
- Is there any complicated logic on the application?
- Is the navigation easy to understand?
Functional Testing
Users need to test your app on different platforms to deliver a consistent feel and look. To meet the functional testing goals, you need to focus on functional testing and not just graphics. Besides, you need to test the application on different devices mostly used by the target audience.
On top of that, you should consider covering all the specifications related to the mandatory application to run compatibility checks on various platforms required to be served. Moreover, any serious functionality defects must be checked to avoid errors that might hamper the end objectives.
Check On Real-Environment
The most challenging thing about mobile app testing services is testing in a real environment. Therefore, the test process needs a plan highlighting all the specific test conditions. Some of the most common conditions include:
- Unstable network connections
- Low battery conditions, alarms, SMSs, or similar interruptions
- Time zone and GPS variation
- Any changes made to sound and notifications.
Whether you are working on manual or automation testing, all these conditions must be considered.
Performance-based Tests
Since performance is vital for any mobile application, the developers working to yield performance must focus on the following factors when testing a mobile app. These include:
- Battery Consumption
- Disk space
- Processing Capacity
Making A Choice Between Manual & Automation Testing
There are numerous automation testing tools available to enhance the mobile app tests when it comes to testing. However, manual testing is equally important when working on tasks requiring attention to detail. Also, when you need to test a large set of recurring data, you can implement automation to work on frequent test cases.
Operating System & The Upgrades
The next big task that testers need to follow on mobile app testing is testing the upgrades. Since most operating systems run through frequent upgrades, the inability to keep up with any upgrades could make an app obsolete.
Additional Tests
Last but not least, when you are working on a mobile application, make sure the test process you follow should focus on accessibility and credibility benchmarks. The process may involve testing the ease of installation or preventing the application that bugs the users. Rather, the testers must keep their entire focus on checking the user’s choices and requirements while aligning them with all the above-defined factors. It would not only help meet the business objectives but can also aid in creating a flawless enterprise application.
The Crux
Since the mobile industry is growing quickly and the world has access to over 200 billion applications, it has become essential that any app launching into the market must be tested to meet all the quality benchmarks.
And when you need to capture the app store with something extraordinary, sticking to all the above-defined steps could help you craft a perfect test strategy for your mobile application.
Author Bio: Kanika Vatsyayan is Vice-President Delivery and Operations at BugRaptors, who oversees all the quality control and assurance strategies for client engagements. She loves to share her knowledge with others through blogging. Being a voracious blogger, she published countless informative blogs to educate an audience about automation and manual testing. You can connect with her on Linkedin.
