A test automation framework is considered a mixture of set tools, protocols, rules, standards, and guidelines that could be incorporated followed to labor overtime the benefits provided by the framework. There are various sets of guidelines for building the right test automation framework. However, if followed, the guidelines will be bringing more benefits and less trouble for users. Frameworks have key distinguishing features that separate them from the normal libraries:
- Inversion of control: In a framework like in libraries overall flow of control will not be dictated by the caller but by the framework.
- Extensibility: The ability for a user to extend the framework by selective overriding as programmers could specialize user code for providing specific functionality.
- Non-modifiable framework code: The framework, in general, is supposed to be modified by accepting user-implemented extensions. In other words, users could extend the framework but should not modify its code.
Test Automation Framework
Test automation frameworks are created specifically for providing an execution environment for automated test scripts. Therefore, it will provide the users with different benefits that help them develop, execute, and report on automated test scripts efficiently. Here are some of the advantages of using a test automation framework: ease of test development, scalability, modularity, readability, reusability, and maintainability. In addition, there are various types of test automation frameworks that you can use for various types of testing and testing scenarios.
Types of Test Automation Frameworks
Here are some of the types of test automation framework:
1. Linear Automation Framework
Also known as the record and playback framework as testers use a linear automation framework for recording test scripts and then play the script automatically to conduct the test.
2. Modular-Based Testing Framework
It is built upon the idea of abstraction; a modular-based testing framework will be dividing the entire application under test into several logical and isolated models. In each module, you will be creating a separate and independent test script as the abstraction layer will hide isolated modules or components from the rest of the AUT. Hence the changes made in this module will not affect others. These test strips could be combined for making larger test scripts for achieving required scenarios.
3. Library Architecture Testing Framework
Library architecture testing framework also known as structured scripting or functional decomposition. The fundamentals behind this framework include:
- Determining the common steps.
- Grouping them into functions under a library.
- Calling those functions in the test scripts whenever required.
4. Data-Driven Framework
The data-driven framework focuses on separating the test script logic and the test data into two steps. First, data-driven automated testing is a procedure in which the test data set is created using an excel sheet then imported into automation testing tools for feeding the software under test. By using this framework, you can easily make the best strips work for different sets of data.
5. Keyword-Driven Framework
A category of Functional Test Automation Frameworks is the Keyword Driven Framework. Table-Driven testing or Action Word Based testing are other names for it. For example, a Test Case is divided into four sections by the Keyword Driven Framework: the Test Step, the Object of Test Step, the Action on Test Object, and the Data for Test Object. The core concept behind the Keyword Driven approach to Automation is to keep the coding and technical aspects apart from the test case and test step. Thus, it makes it easier for a non-technical citizen to grasp Automation.
The “action word based research strategy,” Action Based Testing, exemplifies this further. Keyword-Driven Testing has evolved into Action-Based Testing. Activity-Based Testing is a modular-design, action-driven research process that offers a comprehensive approach to improving automated testing performance. Via effective research organization, modular design solves the problems of test preparation and test case management. The majority of the programming work needed to automate and sustain tests over time is eliminated with action-driven test creation. It eliminates the need for technical research personnel.
6. Hybrid Testing Framework
The hybrid test automation frameworks could be understood as a combination of two or more frameworks mentioned above. It devils for leveraging the strengths and benefits of another framework for a particular test environment it is managing.
7. Behavior-Driven Development Framework
A behavior-driven development framework could be understood as a software development procedure that developed from the test-driven framework. Behavior-driven labor overtime development consolidates general techniques and principles of TDD with ideas from domain-driven design, object-oriented analysis, design for providing software development, management teams with their tools, and the shading process for collaborating on software development.
Benefits of Using Automated Testing Frameworks
The following are some of the benefits of getting test automation systems in place.
- Coding Reusability
Since these systems have the necessary coding data for an automation test to be successful, the user data is stored for future use and can be replicated at any time. There is no need to paste or rearrange passwords manually. The code can also be used to run experiments using other automation frameworks. The scripts that have been produced can also be held.
- Low Cost
Since the structures already have proven guidelines, test cases may be built at a low cost. Furthermore, since these codes can be replicated several times, creating test cases with new functionality is inexpensive and time-consuming.
- Manual Interference to a Minimum
The automation frameworks function following the rules that govern them. Individuals need either little to no effort to run the automation experiments because full coverage is already built-in and reached the initial level. If the procedure fails, the automation frameworks can be restarted with minor changes, but the data remains unchanged and requires little extra effort from a person or team.
- Increased Productivity
Because of the standardization, test automation systems improve efficiency. When the collection of codes in a system is implemented consistently from the start, it ensures optimal test coverage.
Final thoughts
There are several other structures in operation as well. We covered the fundamentals of a Test Automation Framework design in this report. We have spoken about the different kinds of applications on the market. The advantages of the Keyword-Driven Framework and the Hybrid Testing Framework seem to be greater (than others)
Also Read: Top 5 JavaScript Test Automation Frameworks