In this article, we learn what is mobile application testing, the key challenges of mobile application testing, and the different types of mobile application testing.
What is Mobile Application Testing?
Mobile application testing is the process of testing the functionality, usability, and consistency of application software developed for mobile devices. Mobile application testing is an automated or manual type of testing. Mobile applications can be pre-installed or installed from a mobile software distribution platform.
Bluetooth, GPS, sensors, and Wi-Fi are some of the core technologies used in wearables. Therefore, mobile application testing focuses on field testing, user focus, and exploration of areas where hardware and software need to be tested simultaneously.
Key Challenges of Mobile Application Testing
Downloadable: The application must be available for a specific platform, typically from an app store.
Mobile Platform/OS Diversity: There are many different mobile operating systems on the market. The main ones are Android, iOS, and Windows Phone. Each operating system has its own limits.
Device Availability: With an ever-growing list of devices and operating system versions, accessing the right set of devices is a constant challenge in mobile application testing. Accessing devices can be even more difficult when testers are spread out across different locations.
Mobile Network Operators: There are over 400 mobile network operators in the world [5], including CDMA, GSM, and others using lesser-known network standards such as FOMA and TD-SCDMA.
Scripting: Due to the variety of devices, running test scripts (scripting) becomes a significant challenge. A single script may not work on all devices, as keystrokes, input methods, menu structures, and display properties vary from device to device.
Testing Methods: There are two main methods for testing mobile applications. One is testing on a real device and the other is testing on an emulator. [6] Emulators often miss issues that can only be detected by testing on a real device, but with a large number of different devices on the market, buying a real device is expensive, and testing It may take a long time to use for [7][8]
Compatibility: Compatibility should be tested. Ensure your application behaves consistently across different device properties, such as different screen sizes and resolutions.
Must be able to pick up calls: Must be able to pick up calls while the app application is running.
Different mobile devices: Mobile devices have different screen input methods (QWERTY, touch, regular) and have different hardware capabilities.
Different Types of Mobile Application Testing
- Functional Testing
- Compatibility Testing
- Memory Leakage Testing
- Interrupt Testing
- Usability testing
- Installation Testing
- Security testing
- Recover-ability Testing
1. Functional Testing
You have to do functional testing in order to make sure that your app is working as it is needed.
In the case of desktops, this is a type of black-box testing that aims at checking whether the system function is proper as intended and whether can users operate with ease. The same concepts we have to use here.
2. Memory Leakage Testing
It’s important to perform the memory leakage test to make sure your application is utilizing balanced memory on different mobile devices.
When compared to computer systems, the inbuilt memory of a mobile device is very low. Most OS environments shut down applications that are consuming too much memory.
So, testers must ensure that an app does not slow the mobile devices by performing mobile leakage testing.
3. Interrupt Testing
It’s natural that we face many interruptions while using an app.
Some common interruptions are receiving SMS or incoming calls, push notifications, inserting a power cable when the app is running, etc.
To make sure that your app is able to withstand all these interruptions; a tester is supposed to perform interrupt testing on mobile devices.
4. Usability testing
The success of an app depends on its flexibility to use. A good app should be able to give an amazing user experience to the customers.
To ensure that your app is user-friendly, usability testing services may help you. This mostly deals with how your application is user-friendly and FIT for use.
5. Installation Testing
It’s essential to check the consistency of your app during installing and uninstalling processes.
Frequently crashing apps during these processes do not survive in the market.
Installation testing checks whether the software is compatible with the mobile and it does not affect the navigation or the flow of other apps.
Apps should be installed properly and within the time limit and should not impact the phone.
6. Security testing
If an app is vulnerable to security threats, people hardly use that app. So, you have to ensure the credibility of your app by performing security testing services.
Security testing helps you in giving assurance to your customers that your app is free from security threats like data protection.
7. Recover-ability Testing
While recovery ability testing, crash recovery, and interruptions during transactions are tested.
Recovery ability testing mainly checks how an app works on transactions when there is an app failure.
This is the same as a web application.
8. Compatibility Testing
Compatibility Testing is performed on mobile phones to know whether the app works on different devices and on OS like android and ios.
As there is a number of devices with different screen size, resolution, hardware and software functionality, versions, etc.
Important Checklist
Installation testing (whether the application can be installed in a reasonable amount of time and with the required criterion)
Uninstallation testing (whether the application can be uninstalled in a reasonable amount of time and with the required criterion)
Network test cases (validation of whether the network is performing under the required load or not, whether the network is able to support all the necessary applications during the testing procedures)
Check unmapped keys
Check the application splash screen
Continued keypad entry during interrupts and other times like network issues
Methods that deal with exiting the application
Charger effect while an application is running in the background
Low battery and high-performance demand
Removal of battery while an application is being performed
Consumption of battery by application
Check Application side effects