Web Application Testing

In its simplest terms, web application testing refers to the process of examining and thoroughly looking through a web application in search of potential glitches, bugs, or other issues before it is published. It is best to perform web application testing before the code is moved to its final production stages, as this could cause potentially increased problems as more time goes on.

There are several major parts of web application testing that must be performed in order to thoroughly complete the web application process. These parts typically include functionality testing, usability testing, interface testing, database testing, compatibility testing, performance testing, security testing, and crowd testing. Each of these test sequences can be broken down further to understand what all goes into web application testing.

All the Details

Functionality testing is the primary and most major component of web application testing, although they are all quite necessary. With functionality testing, an experienced tester will check the following things:

• All links on webpages and applications
• Test forms, including scripting checks, value checks, and readable forms
• Cookies
• HTML and CSS
• Business workflow

Usability testing checks to see how usable the webpage is for the user. Is the website easy to navigate? Is the content clear and legible? Does the user have easy access to everything that is available to them?

Interface testing involves thoroughly checking the application, web, and database server to make sure that expected results are given with no errors. Errors should never be apparent to an end user.

Database testing requires thoroughness and major analysis. It is important to ensure that data integrity is maintained, and that data can be properly created and stored without error.

Compatibility testing and performance testing deal with the display and capacity capabilities of your web application. This means that the web application must be compatible with all web browsers and operating systems. It should also be able to work under all types of loads and response times.

Security testing ensures that the web application is not at risk of being hacked or infiltrated. Make sure that unauthorized access is not permitted, and that SSL pages are encrypted.

Crowd testing is optional, but can often help companies to gain live results. Crowdsourcing can be used as a form of quality assurance to make sure that no major bugs or defects are pushed through when the application becomes published.

Things to Consider

A designated web application tester is under a lot of pressure to perform the test thoroughly and accurately. There are many aspects of the job to keep in mind:

• Deadlines – A tester needs to be thorough, but have the testing done as soon as possible.
• Expectation that there will be bugs – There will almost always be bugs in the system, and these bugs will need to be fixed as soon as possible. A web application tester must know that the code will have to change.
• Work charts are key – The magic formula for completing all tasks thoroughly and on time is with the use of a work chart for the best planning potential.

A web application test is extremely comprehensive, but it is necessary to make sure that the final product is seamless, functional, and without error.