Detailed Checklist & Guidelines for Mobile App Testing
Today, not many businesses can think of functioning effectively without having a mobile app. The Transparency Market Research (TMR) reports that the growth in demand for mobile apps will drive the test automation market, which is dominated by mobile app testing services.
According to TMR, the growing use of mobile apps in different sectors including communications, travel, productivity, and utilities is the primary reason for the growth of the test automation market. Every mobile product is developed to provide a new, better, and innovative user experience. This is where app testing services come into the picture, ensuring that these goals are met or exceeded.
Mobile app testing has become so important to application development that it is now considered a strategic step in the process. When it comes to app testing, it is crucial to follow a comprehensive and detailed approach. This guide introduces a detailed checklist and guidelines for the process.
Why Should You Test Mobile Apps?
Most importantly, mobile app testing services help you to build apps that are accessible across different platforms and are scalable. This is part of the development process and tests the application at different levels, such as:
- Usability
- Functionality
- Consistency
- Security
Both manual and automation techniques are used as part of the process. As mobile apps become more sophisticated but technically complex, there is a growing need for end-to-end testing. All aspects of an app, from the ease of download to seamless functioning to navigation to everything else need to be tested to meet user expectations.
Comprehensive Checklist for Testing Mobile Apps
Here is a complete checklist of tests that an app should go through. These tests have been classified under relevant categories. Most mobile app testing services will evaluate their apps based on this checklist before deeming them to be market-ready.
Functional Test
Functional tests are run to check whether the application meets its goals or not. The mobile app testing services will test the following aspects of the app:
- Performance for both designated and non-designated tasks
- Integration with other services such as Wi-Fi, GPS or location, and social media
- Compatibility with all the commonly used devices, operating systems, screen sizes, web browsers, and resolutions
- Consistency with the desktop version of the app
- How the redirect options work
- Misinterpretation issues with the design/UI
- Ample measures for preventing undesired actions
Usability Tests for User Comfort
The following tests are conducted to test the user comfort in using the app:
- Responsiveness of the App’s name and logo when a user clicks on the Application Manager
- Ensuring visual feedback against user actions within 3 seconds at the most
- Avoiding unmapped keys in the app
- Functionality of the exit option at all different points when the app is running
- Ease of navigation across various screens
- Enable responsive mobile menu for both mobile phones and tablets
UI Testing
The mobile app testing services will have to test the user interface (UI) to enhance both the looks and feel of the app. This will require testing the following areas:
- Changes in UI with changes in orientation of the screen
- Responsiveness of the drop-down lists
- Clarity and ease of readability of application buttons
- Ease of differentiating between active and inactive buttons
- Prompt display of alerts and error messages
- Legibility of display
- Zoom-in/out and font options
- Minimization of sure actions by allowing direct pick up of the choice from the screen
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Background Performance
The tests for the app’s background performance will include the following steps:
- Make and receive voice calls when the app is running
- Ability to reject calls when using the application
- Sending and receiving push notifications or responding
- Resumption of app functions from the same point after switching over to another app
- Sending and receiving messages/alerts when the app is running
Performance Testing
This is an important part of the testing process for mobile app testing services, as it has a huge impact on the app’s success:
- Time to launch the app
- Performance of app during charging and low battery conditions
- Performance of app under regular keypad entry and peak load conditions
- Integration with both the device and other apps without effect on performance
- Splash performance check and keeping it on the screen for at least 4 seconds
- Display of exits or error messages flawlessly during low memory issues
- Deployment of live monitoring services to keep track of the app’s computing power
- Performance of app under network issues or error alerts
- Performance of app when network resumes
- App installation/uninstallation successfully within the expected timeframe
Security & Privacy Tests
This part of the testing process helps ensure that the app is ready for authenticated usage. The security tests by mobile app testing services cover the following areas:
- Security of customer payment data
- Breach in app security and error reporting
- Automatic app lock out when invalid authentication is made continuously
- Security of network protocol for running the app
- Authentication of app certifications and permissions
Types of Mobile App Tests
While this is the complete checklist of tests, mobile app testing services use specific types of tests to complete these tests. The components of these different tests are as follows:
i. Cross-Platform App Testing
When an app has to interact with other apps, it requires additional fixes. The right cross-platform testing strategy is based on the following key points:
- Gathering and comprehending project requirements
- Addressing business goals
- Understanding different language platforms
- Understanding user needs
ii. Feature Functionality Testing
Apps will have to interact with various features. This includes features that are built into the app and the devices. Feature functionality testing by mobile app testing services will involve monitoring and thoroughly testing these interactions.
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It may not be required to run functional testing on all the devices. All it may require is running tests on a single device and then checking with every platform during compatibility testing.
iii. Front-End App Testing
Front-end testing involves checking the Graphical User Interface or GUI. GUI is anything that is visible on the client-side. This testing requires an in-depth understanding of the business goals. Key aspects of front-end testing include:
- Performance checks
- Regression tests
- Changes to app files that may adversely affect front-end functionality
iv. Back-End Testing
This type of testing is also known as database testing. The mobile app testing services will check the server-side of the app. All front-end inputs are tested in the back-end. Performance and security are also checked as part of this test process.
v. Compatibility Testing with Networks
The growth in the popularity of smartphones and IoT devices has created so many brands and operating systems in the market. Mobile compatibility testing is a must even when it is not possible to run tests on all the devices that exist today.
Compatibility tests cover the following areas:
- Installation and uninstallation
- Functionality
- Data exchange
- Traversal
- User interface (UI)
Tests are conducted not just on different operating systems and hardware platforms but also on their different versions.
vi. Storage Testing
Modern mobile devices seem to be lacking in storage space for all the different apps and data including games, images, videos, music streaming services. The mobile app testing services will also test your app on how much storage space it will require and how it can affect users’ monthly data plans.
vii. Data Tests
App load time is an important factor affecting user experience. Studies show that almost half of users will stop using an app, making it inactive, or uninstall it altogether if it has slow load times.
These tests will cover the following factors when testing the app for load times:
- Network conditions
- Geographic location
- Specific devices
viii. App Flow Testing
An app that is well designed will have elegant visual elements and good functionality, features, and content. Visual flow plays an important role in guiding users through the app. This aspect of mobile app testing services will involve testing the flow of the app’s architecture. Elements are identified that can affect users from completing the desired tasks.
Key Factors
The following key factors are considered by mobile app testing services when testing apps:
- Mobile Device Selection: The device testing approach requires the selection of devices that are most suited for testing. This selection is based on the usage patterns and preferences of the targeted user group.
- Real Devices vs. Simulators: Devices are used for conducting hard-tests on apps. Simulators are used to create a real environment for testing.
- Performance: Automated testing is used to check the app’s performance. This can also include the application of load/stress for testing app behavior.
- Cloud Testing: An increasing number of mobile app testing services use cloud testing. This helps in not just bringing down the cost of testing, but also facilitates faster reach to the market.
- Network: Apps are tested under changing network conditions. This helps in making apps functional across the most difficult network scenarios.
App testing services can use both manual and automated testing to check apps for all failure bugs or routes.
The ideal mobile app testing services will provide both functional and non-functional testing services and cover all the points mentioned above. Everything from UI to memory to compatibility to performance to network type will be tested to ensure that an app performs at its optimal levels even in challenging scenarios.