WHAT IS MOBILE TESTING?

Mobile testing, as the name suggests, is the application test. The primary purpose is to check the usability, consistency, and functionality of the app. It depends on the mobile testers whether to choose manual ways or automate the testing procedure.  

HOW DO IT WORK?

I will not load you with information about mobile testing or mobile testers, just some small details to understand the background.

For starters, mobile testing has many categories. These are:

  1. Functional testing: it is a simple test to check if the application is working according to the set rules and specifications. 
  2. Memory Testing: each device has a different memory capacity, mostly lower than computers. The test is to check memory usage by the application. 
  3. Installation Testing: It checks if the installation and deleting of the app are smooth and error-less.  
  4. Performance Testing: it is to test server performance, network performance, and client application. 
  5. Interruption Testing: the test is for interruptions like low battery, missed calls, SMS during the application usage.
  6. Usability Testing: it is a simple test to check the efficiency and working capacity of the application. To make the users feel good about the application. 

Applications have users across the globe, and they range from hundreds to millions. It is crucial for mobile apps tester to test the application for smooth working, so the users don’t feel agitated. The purpose of the applications is to create shortcuts and ease for businesses. If the mobile apps tester is not vigilant about the bugs and faults, the application users will ultimately decrease.  In the end, it will be obsolete. 

WHAT ARE THE BEST TOOLS FOR MOBILE TESTING?

Mobile testers can test the app either manually or automatically. The most popular mobile testing tools are listed below: 

  • Test Complete: it comes with support for Android and iOs. It enables testers to create and run multiple UI tests on hybrid or native mobile applications. It also helps to replay test actions to automate the tests for the future. It provides an opportunity to select from different programming languages like Javascript, Jscript, Python, etc.  
  • 21: it provided an analytics platform for both iOs and Android. It can smoothly run multiple tests and does not require installation on devices. 
  • Apptim: it enables mobile testers to test the apps and check their performance to avoid significant issues. 
  • Test 10: it is a manual test continuously run by mobile testers. It is for web and mobile testing and leading SaaS platform for cloud testing.
  • Kobiton: it gives access to rea devices and takes manual or automated tests. It is a mobile-based cloud platform. Mobile testers can take tests on web, native and hybrid iOs and Android. 
  • Robotium: it is mostly for android UI testing and provides support for native and hybrid apps. 

So this was a rough overview of the best tools for mobile testing. I did not go into a lot of detail because it was all about different testing systems. The expert testers know these details and how to work with them. Your job is to educate your in-house team before hiring independent mobile testers. If HR knows the background, he can test the next person. 

We have learned enough background information to dive into the success factors, the main outline of this article. Or the frequent thought of every mobile tester. 

The goal of developers is to make the apps stand out like a vibrant red amid similar red. Same shade but not quite, same category but unique. They have to be easy to use in a small place, work efficiently on tight hardware. And the only way out of this never-ending labyrinth of perfection is quality assurance. 

There are certain things mobile testers should have up in their sleeves. It may sound overwhelming but trust me, and these are easy to adopt tricks that will make your product stand out ever so brightly. 

  • The trickiest thing to abstain from is testing on emulators. Usually, testers slip on this stage, and it is undoubtedly a slip. Because the users don’t bother about emulators, they are for the development phase. Not anywhere else. It needs massive emphasis as testers do not take it to mark it as a red flag as they should. 
  • The other thing is to test on more than one device. Ideally, each device model and generation is for testing, but that is practically impossible. So the second-best option is to test more than one screen resolution, more than one device, and more than one iOS version. It gives exposure and potential errors in the app and helps the testers to eliminate them the soonest. 
  • Quality assurance swallows up huge chunks of time so, manage your time wisely. Each testing version has varying dynamics, and testers are to cater to them systematically.
  • Here comes the functionality test. Don’t lose the battle by developing a non-functional app. Your app should be able to work according to its design. Imagine a poorly functioning app. You wouldn’t want to use it, right? That’s what the customers will also think. And we don’t want that.
  • Oh, how can we forget the usability testing? It is a phase that you are a developer, tester, and user. While testing, you become the user and do a little self-assessment because it makes invisible errors stand out. 
  • Is the app agitating or fun? Is the text well-align or hard to follow? Do you wish it to stay on your phone, or would you instead download something better? Are you content with it? 
  • Don’t get over-excited with debugging. Some bugs are like the quantity of sugar in tea. For some, it’s too much, it’s just right, and for some, it’s never enough. The way out is to create a detailed report of the bug and find out the cause. Then use it on another device and verify. Sometimes it’s just crashing on the first screen and nothing else. 

The list is never-ending, but the abovementioned are the most crucial as there is no one way to succeed. The mobile tester can always take advice, use a second opinion, and stay patient for the outcome. It’s a famous quote that hast is the way of the devil.