- Simply put, a test automation framework is a set of guidelines that helps run tests and gives detailed reports about the results.
- To build a successful test automation framework, you need several important parts: tools, equipment, scripts, procedures, and, most importantly, skilled test automation engineers.
Nowadays, a good test automation framework is a must-have for any development team. It should provide a stable and reliable platform for highly productive software testing. In order to ensure efficiency and reliability, there are several requirements for test automation frameworks. These requirements include portability, documentation, scalability, usability, compatibility with various platforms, devices, OSes, etc.
The concept of test automation framework
A test automation framework is like a wizard or rule set for automating software application testing. Database wizards can learn how to write automatic database code, how to process database data, how to store database results, or how to use a database from outside the database. Although a database is not strictly a database, a database can make database automation more organised and efficient.
Advantages of using an automated testing framework
Increased efficiency: Automated testing can quickly execute a large number of test cases, which greatly improves test efficiency compared to manual testing.
Consistency and repeatability: Automated testing eliminates human inconsistencies and ensures repeatability and reliable results for each test.
Faster feedback cycles: Automated testing provides rapid feedback, helping development teams find and fix problems early.
Support for continuous integration: Automated testing is a key component of implementing continuous integration (CI) to automatically verify code changes and ensure the health of your code base.
Improved coverage: Automated testing can easily cover a large number of test scenarios, including edge cases and exception flows.
Data-driven testing: Many automated testing frameworks support data-driven testing, allowing different data sets to be used to test the same functionality.
Easy integration: Automated test frameworks are easy to integrate with existing development and deployment processes, increasing efficiency throughout the software development lifecycle.
Also read: What is hardware virtualisation in cloud computing?
Types of Test Automation Frameworks
Linear Automation Framework (Record & Playback): It records the user actions and plays them back as automated tests. These are straightforward to use, but they are less suitable for complex testing.
Modular Automation Framework: This framework breaks down the test suite into smaller, manageable modules. Each module focuses on a specific feature or functionality, making it easier to maintain and reuse code.
Data-Driven Framework: It separates test data from test scripts, allowing tests to run with different data sets and making it efficient for testing various scenarios.
Keyword-Driven Framework: This framework uses a combination of keywords to represent actions and objects in test scripts. Test scripts are written using these keywords, making it easier for non-technical team members to understand and write tests.
Hybrid Automation Framework: It combines elements of different frameworks that can include aspects of data-driven, keyword-driven, and modular frameworks, providing flexibility and scalability.
Behavior Driven Development (BDD) Framework: BDD frameworks like Cucumber use natural language and a Given-When-Then structure to define test scenarios, making them more accessible to non-technical stakeholders.
Also read: What is an automated control system?
