Web Application Testing Guide: Step by Step

Everybody has experienced the complete disruption of their app experience due to a certain issue. However, why do incidents like that occur? The deficiency in web application testing is a straightforward explanation.

Although testing is a crucial stage in the creation of apps, some developers undervalue it. The issue is that the likelihood of a bug developing grows with each iteration of the code, and correcting bugs gets more expensive with time. It is an essential part of web development and ensures that an app works correctly before it is deployed. We've created a guide that walks you through the process of testing your application, step-by-step.

What is web app testing?

Web application created using HTML, CSS, and Javascript is an assembled network of different independent layers of connected modules. Also, every extra number of lines of code increases the probability of errors. In this case, web application testing can be beneficial. Web application testing ensures that the standard of the tool you developed meet your objectives quality. It evaluates how your web application works, is secure, user-friendly, usable in different scenarios, effective, and compatible with various OS devices and browsing systems.

As much as possible, website testing should precede product launch. However, it can even be applicable to identify defects, errors, and omissions committed during development stages, which would otherwise go unnoticed.

Testing constitutes one important part of software development. Even minor changes to the code might lead to undesirable errors.

Guidelines for testing web app step-by-step

1. Functionality testing

All aspects of a functional application such as the database connection, the website links, cookies, forms used to submit and obtain user data, among others, are tested. At the end of the cycle, it reduces risks and needs to be undertaken at the early part of app building for a fast cycle. It is simply composed of undertaking a number of activities that can either be performed by a human test engineer or via a software tool.

Functional testing usually consists of:

Identification of the tasks that the software should undertake including data entry and input, test cases running and processing actual results. Functional testing simulates real operating system use and compatibility. The goal is to establish test circumstances that are relevant to user needs and emulate real-world system usage as much as feasible.

Usability testing

Usability testing needs to be the second stage in any website testing process. This kind of testing blends the user experience as a whole with the functionality testing that was previously discussed. Since the objectives and the phases of app development in which these tests are conducted are completely different, it cannot be equated with User Acceptance testing. Either the developers themselves or outside testers who mimic your target user population can do usability testing. Moreover, outside testers who engage your target audience typically conduct usability testing.

It can, however, also be handled by internal developers. Enhancing the application's quality is made simple by examining every outcome.

Interface testing

Interface testing guarantees that there are no hiccups in the communication between the application server and web server interfaces. This entails verifying that error messages are shown appropriately and examining the communication procedures. Testing should also be done to ensure that server and user disruptions are handled appropriately. Verify that the database receives the test requests from the test web apps appropriately and that there are no errors in the client-side output. Aside from that, confirm that the database is getting the queries and that the testing web server is reacting to all application requests as expected.

Compatibility testing

In today’s mobile world with different screen size, it is important to run compatibility tests on web applications to ensure they function as expected. In addition, the developers have to subject the browser compatibility test by ensuring that the application shows up well on different browsers. An additional test is the mobile browser compatibility test that should be carried out to make sure the app works properly on mobile browsers as well. There are also different ways through which certain app parts appear on different operating systems. This means that you should perform as much compatible testing as possible on various common operating systems such as Windows, Mac or Linux and as many common browsers as possible, for example, Chrome, Internet Explorer or Safari as well as Firefox, among others.

Performance testing

Once you are convinced that the app functions properly and runs smoothly, you need to test how good it operates when there is heavy traffic. Performance testing includes testing of various Internet speeds as well as normal and high load conditions. This calls for performance testing so as to avoid similar scenarios. Additionally, it ensures that the website performs at its best even during extreme operational conditions, while helping to determine the app’s operating limit.

Security testing

The last phase in the procedure for web application testing is the security test. Security will help protect your guide from dangerous attacks and access via viruses and malware. These are security testing's fundamental steps:

• Recognizing the security objectives and organizing the test while taking each person's security requirements into account.

• Determining the security requirements of the app.

• Obtaining information on the hardware, software, operating system, and other components that went into developing the app.

• Recognizing and cataloging every possible danger and weakness.

• Assembling the threat profile using the risks and vulnerabilities provided.

• Making the test plan.

• Testing that is automated in addition to manual testing.

• Creating the case paper for the security testing.

• Executing security test cases, addressing found flaws, and retesting.

• preparing a thorough report on the security testing that details the dangers that remain as well as the ones that were resolved.

Benefits of Web App Testing

Every day, thousands of online apps are developed. There is now a web application for anything and everything. Nowadays, users have certain preferences when it comes to the kind of program they use and the features they want. Each of these testing procedures helps to improve the online application's user experience. As a result, companies concentrate on web application testing to provide users with a flawlessly functioning online application. In addition to its many advantages, web application testing is essential to a well-functioning online application.

• Boosts the rate of performance

Maintaining the proper user load is a crucial component contributing to the web application's fast operation. The threshold number of users is determined during performance testing, which aids in maintaining the fast speed of web applications at an estimated user load.

• No problems with security

Above all, data security should have utmost priority. Thus, security testing is important and important in order to attract customers. Security testing ensures that the online application cannot be compromised by such incidences as data breach, internet vulnerability, and so on. For any testing firm, security testing as a top priority should be paramount.

• Sustains User Volume

It should emphasize that it is essential to know the quantities of user’s load which could cause website down and how can we avoid this issue. Consequently, performance testing computes a threshold user load for tracking purposes aimed at determining the volume of users that does not impact upon the application speed.

Final Thoughts

Web application testing should be done frequently by developers and QA engineers in order to identify problems or issues which could have adverse impacts on user experience. It will also give you an overall idea of how well your site works including its strengths and weaknesses. Several methods can be utilized in order to ensure that web application is working well.

About Nouman Sabir Nouman Sabir is an insightful and creative content writer with over a year of experience. Upon completing his Bachelor's degree, he embarked on a content writing career. In parallel to his writing pursuits, Nouman currently holds the position of Solution Architect - CTO at DigitilizeWeb, providing services like mobile app development, web design and development services UK, WordPress development, e-commerce solutions, etc. His distinct combination of creativity and technical expertise enables him to generate useful and compelling material that not only delivers knowledge but also motivates readers.