How to Make Automated Tests Resistant to Changes in Software User Interface?

Testers, who deal with automation during mobile application testing, desktop testing or web site testing, know that automated tests rely on the elaborated system.

The tests should be adjusted for all the changes in the tested software product. That is why proper and timely amendments should be done to the tests.

This is one of pitfalls of automated testing. Poor maintenance or incorrect construction may result in inefficiency or uselessness of the tests. That is why any software testing company always carefully researches the tested software product. Automated test engineers create the most suitable automated tests basing on the researches.

Automated testing is always much more effective if the tests are resistant to changes of the application user interface. In this case there will be no need to adjust the tests to slightest amendments in the user interface. This makes maintenance of the tests much easier, as user interface is often changed in course of the development process.

Resistance of Automated Tests to Alterations in User Interface Can be Provided By:

  • giving unique names to controls;
  • avoiding of search the needed controls based on their location coordinates.

Utilizing of best practices in automation also increases efficiency of the tests and simplifies their maintenance.

Source: QATestlab