A comprehensive guide to testing mobile apps with detailed tutorials:
Mobile technology and smart devices are the current trend and will revolutionize the world in the future. We can all testify, right? Listing the uses of these mobile devices would be redundant as we are all well aware of them – maybe even more so than we realize.
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Let’s jump right into what this tutorial will cover.
The Extensive List of 30+ Mobile Testing Tutorials:
Introduction to Mobile Testing:
Tutorial #1: Introduction to Mobile Testing
Tutorial #2: Testing iOS Apps
Tutorial #3: Testing Android Apps
Tutorial #4: Mobile Testing Challenges and Solutions
Tutorial #5: Why Mobile Testing is Challenging?
Mobile Device Testing:
Tutorial #6: Testing an Android Version When It Is No Longer Available in the Market
Tutorial #7: Testing Mobile Apps on Low-end Devices
Tutorial #8: Field Testing for Mobile Applications
Tutorial #9: Which Should Be Tested First: Phone Model Vs OS Version?
Mobile UI Testing:
Tutorial #10: UI Testing of Mobile Apps
Tutorial #11: Mobile Responsive Testing
Mobile Testing Services:
Tutorial #12: Cloud-Based Mobile Application Testing
Tutorial #13: Mobile Testing Services
Tutorial #14: Mobile App Beta Testing Services
Tutorial #15: Mobile App Development Companies
Tutorial #16: Cloud-Based Mobile App Testing Service Providers
Mobile App Performance and Security Testing:
Tutorial #17: Mobile Applications Performance Testing Using BlazeMeter
Tutorial #18: Mobile App Security Testing Guidelines
Mobile Testing Tools:
Tutorial #19: Android App Testing Tools
Tutorial #20: Best Mobile App Security Testing Tools
Tutorial #21: 58 Best Mobile Testing Tools
Mobile Automation Testing:
Tutorial #22: Appium Mobile Automation Tool tutorial
Tutorial #23: Appium Studio tutorial
Tutorial #24: Automating Android Applications Using TestComplete Tool
Tutorial #25: Robotium tutorial – Android App UI Testing Tool
Tutorial #26: Selendroid Tutorial: Mobile Automation Framework
Tutorial #27: pCloudy Tutorial: Mobile App Testing on Real Devices
Tutorial #28: Katalon Studio & Kobiton’s Cloud-Based Device Farm Tutorial
Mobile Testing Career:
Tutorial #29: How to Get a Mobile Testing Job Quickly
Tutorial #30: Mobile Testing Interview Questions and Resume
Tutorial #31: Mobile Testing Interview Questions Part 2
Let’s start with the first tutorial in the series.
What You Will Learn:
-
Tutorial #1: Introduction to Mobile Application Testing
- Types of Mobile Testing
- The Significance of Mobile Application Testing
- Basic Difference Between Mobile and Desktop Application Testing
- Types of Mobile App Testing
- Mobile Application Testing Strategy
- Recommended Mobile Testing Tool
- Test Cases for Testing a Mobile App
- Typical Activities and Proceedings in Testing Mobile Application
- How to Test Mobile Applications on Both Android and iOS Platforms
- Basic Difference between Android and iOS Testing
- Key Factors in Mobile Testing
- Conclusion
Tutorial #1: Introduction to Mobile Application Testing
Gone are the days when the telephone was a device that sat in a corner and had to ring to get our attention or when computers were used by just a few people. Now, mobile devices are an extension of our beings – a window to the world and virtual assistants that do as they are told.
Computers revolutionized how we thought, behaved, learned, and existed.
Nowadays, mobility solutions dominate the market. People prefer to use their handheld devices for everything rather than switching on their laptops or PCs. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly test the mobile solutions we deliver to our clients. This tutorial is intended for those already working in mobile testing or those who have recently switched to it. Since there are already many tutorials on the definitions of mobile testing-related terminologies, we will focus directly on the scope of this tutorial.
This tutorial serves as an introduction and guide to Mobile Testing. So, keep reading!
Types of Mobile Testing
There are two main types of testing that are performed on mobile devices:
#1. Hardware testing:
This involves testing the internal hardware components of the device, such as processors, screen sizes, memory, cameras, etc. It is sometimes referred to as “Mobile Testing”.
#2. Software or Application testing:
This involves testing the applications that run on the mobile devices. It is referred to as “Mobile Application Testing” to differentiate it from hardware testing. There are a few basic differences to understand:
- a) Native apps: These are applications designed specifically for use on a particular platform, such as mobile phones and tablets.
- b) Mobile web apps: These are server-side apps accessed through mobile browsers using different networks.
- c) Hybrid apps: These are a combination of native and web apps, written in web technologies like HTML5 and CSS.
The differences between these types of apps include platform affinity, development technologies, installation requirements, offline capabilities, and more.
The Significance of Mobile Application Testing
Testing mobile applications is more challenging than testing web apps on desktop devices due to several factors:
- There are different mobile devices with various screen sizes, hardware configurations, operating systems, and network providers.
- Mobile devices have limited memory and resources compared to desktop devices.
- Software upgrades are not available for all devices simultaneously, making it difficult to test on the latest and older versions of operating systems.
- Network connectivity issues can affect the performance and functionality of mobile apps.
- A well-tested app is crucial to avoid financial losses, legal issues, and damage to the brand’s reputation.
Basic Difference Between Mobile and Desktop Application Testing
There are some key differences between testing mobile and desktop applications:
- In desktop testing, the application is tested on a central processing unit, while in mobile testing, it is tested on specific mobile devices with different screen sizes and resolutions.
- Mobile devices have less memory and computing power compared to desktops.
- Mobile devices use different network connections like 2G, 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi, while desktops use broadband or dial-up connections.
- The automation tools used for desktop testing may not work for mobile applications.
Types of Mobile App Testing
In addition to functional testing, mobile app testing includes various other types of testing:
- Usability testing: This ensures that the app is easy to use and provides a satisfactory user experience.
- Compatibility testing: This tests the app on different devices, browsers, screen sizes, and operating system versions to ensure it works as intended.
- Interface testing: This focuses on testing menu options, buttons, bookmarks, settings, and navigation flow.
- Services testing: This tests the services provided by the app, both online and offline.
- Performance testing: This tests the app’s performance under various conditions such as different network speeds, battery consumption, etc.
- Operational testing: This tests the app’s functionality in real-world scenarios, including backup and recovery plans.
- Installation testing: This tests the installation and uninstallation of the app on different devices.
- Security testing: This tests the app’s security measures to protect user data.
Mobile Application Testing Strategy
A comprehensive testing strategy is crucial to ensure that the app meets quality and performance standards. Here are some steps to consider:
1) Selection of devices: Analyze the market and choose devices that are widely used and representative of the target audience.
2) Emulators: Use emulators in the initial stages of development to quickly and efficiently test the app. Emulators simulate the features and behaviors of real devices.
3) Beta testing: Release beta versions of the app to a select group of users for testing and feedback. This helps identify and fix any issues before the official release.
4) Performance testing: Test the app’s performance under different network conditions, loads, and scenarios to ensure it meets performance requirements.
5) Cross-platform testing: Test the app on different platforms and devices to ensure compatibility and consistent functionality.
6) Automation testing: Use automation tools to create and execute test scripts for repetitive and complex scenarios, improving efficiency and accuracy.
7) Network configuration: Test the app under different network conditions, such as 2G, 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi, to ensure it functions properly in different environments.
Recommended Mobile Testing Tool
#1) Kobiton: Kobiton is a flexible and affordable cloud-based mobile experience platform that accelerates the testing and delivery of native, web, and hybrid apps on both Android and iOS platforms. Its scriptless test automation feature allows non-programmers to easily generate open standard Appium scripts.
Test Cases for Testing a Mobile App
In addition to functional test cases, mobile app testing requires special test cases to cover specific scenarios:
- Test the app’s battery usage by keeping it running for a significant period of time.
- Test the app’s speed and response time under various conditions, such as different devices, network types, and memory parameters.
- Test the app’s data requirements, such as the ability to download and run on devices with limited data plans.
- Test the app’s memory requirements, including download, installation, and runtime memory usage.
- Test the app’s overall functionality, ensuring it doesn’t crash or malfunction due to network failures or other factors.
Typical Activities and Proceedings in Testing Mobile Application
The scope of testing depends on the project requirements and changes made to the app. For minor changes, a round of sanity testing may suffice. For major or complex changes, a full regression testing is recommended.
Here’s an example of the testing lifecycle for an application:
Step #1. Identify the types of testing: Determine the types of testing required for the specific application and its target audience.
Step #2. Manual and Automated testing: Use a combination of manual and automated testing based on the testing methodology and available resources.
Step #3. Beta Testing: Release beta versions of the app to a selected group of users for testing and feedback.
Step #4. Performance test: Test the app’s performance under different conditions, such as varying network speeds and loads.
Step #5. Cross-browser testing: Test the app on different browsers and platforms to ensure compatibility and functionality.
Step #6. Launch plan: Prepare the app for production by conducting a final round of end-to-end testing and resolving any issues.
How to Test Mobile Applications on Both Android and iOS Platforms
When testing mobile applications on both Android and iOS platforms, it is important to understand and consider the differences between the two. There are variations in look and feel, app views, encoding standards, performance, and more.
Basic Difference between Android and iOS Testing
(Below are some key differences that can help testers in their testing):
#1) Screen size and resolution: Android devices come in various sizes and resolutions compared to iOS devices, which have more standardized screen sizes.
#2) Image resolutions: Android requires multiple image resolutions (1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x), while iOS uses only 1x, 2x, and 3x.
#3) Performance: Android devices with lower specifications may exhibit slower performance compared to iOS devices.
#4) Software upgrades: Android devices receive software upgrades at different times based on device manufacturers, making it challenging to test on different operating system versions.
#5) App compatibility: Some features and functions may differ between Android and iOS devices, requiring modifications or additional testing for cross-platform compatibility.
#6) App permissions: Android and iOS handle app permissions differently, requiring separate testing for each platform.
It is important for mobile testers to be familiar with these differences to ensure thorough testing on both platforms.
Key Factors in Mobile Testing
(Below are key factors to consider for effective mobile testing):
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