What Is the Best Way to Describe Automation Testing: Tips for You!

Automation testing has emerged as the solution to the challenges faced by manual testing.

What is automation testing and why do we need it?

Automation testing is the process of transforming manual testing behavior driven by humans into machine-executed tests. Typically, after designing test cases and passing a review, testers follow the procedures described in the test cases step-by-step to execute tests and compare actual results with expected results. To save human resources, time, or hardware resources and improve testing efficiency, automation testing was introduced.

Automation testing means allowing the software being tested to run by itself and execute its functions, or allowing other tools to run and check the software's internal and external aspects. Here you can try the Automation by WeTest to help you perform automated testing in popular frameworks. It supports any native mobile test-automation framework and languages and enables developers to speed up test runs through parallel test execution on the WeTest cloud. WeTest also provides instant feedback, unbreakable security, and a powerful REST API for managing mobile automation tests.

Tips on describing automation testing in simple terms:

1. Use clear and concise language when describing automation. It is important for readers to understand what you are saying without having to look up specific definitions or jargon. Use short, simple words and phrases that everyone can understand.
2. Be honest about the limitations of automation. Automation can do many things, but it is not perfect, and it will not always work the way you want it to. Be frank about any limitations and explain how you plan to overcome them.
3. Explain how automation works in practice. Instead of talking about the "magic" of automation, try to explain how it works in everyday situations, such as scheduling tasks or managing project deadlines. This will make your readers more familiar with the technology and make it easier for them to understand how it can benefit their business. Apply it to your own work.

Limitations of automation testing:

1. Automation testing requires different skills from manual testing. Often, project managers are misled by those who sell testing tools, believing that automation testing is simply a matter of pressing a record button to generate test scripts.

In fact, the skills required for automation testing are different from those required for manual testing. It is essential to distinguish between the two. Most importantly, automation testers need to master software development skills. Manual testers who have not received any training or those without programming backgrounds will encounter many difficulties when implementing automation testing.

1. Testing automation is not just about recording and playback. Simply recording is not an effective automation script. Many project managers still equate testing automation with using recording and playback tools.

The recorded scripts are usually nonreusable and filled with hard-coded values that should be parameterized. Otherwise, the script only applies to one testing scenario. The script should also include conditional judgment, loop structures, and other structures to enhance the flexibility of the testing script.

1. Automation testing does not directly find bugs. Automation testing does not directly find bugs; it frees experienced testers from repetitive regression testing and enables them to engage in new testing methods and techniques. Through automation testing, testers' time and energy are freed up to indirectly find more and deeper new bugs, raising the product quality to a higher level.
2. Automation testing tools are not "all-powerful". When people hear about automation testing, many think that automation testing tools can do all the testing work, from test planning to test execution to test result analysis. However, automation testing tools are just a means to assist in testing. They are not omnipotent and cannot replace human testers' experience and insight.

In conclusion, automation testing has revolutionized the way software testing is done, and learning “what is the best way to describe automation testing” is quite vital. It has not only improved the accuracy and efficiency of the testing process but has also saved time and resources. While there are some limitations to automation testing, these can be overcome with proper planning, training, and implementation. By embracing automation testing, businesses can ensure the delivery of high-quality software products to their customers, ultimately leading to improved customer satisfaction and business growth.