Mobile App Testing: Strategies for Ensuring Quality on Various Devices

Today, mobile devices have become indispensable tools in our daily lives, serving as our go-to solution for a wide array of needs. As a result, numerous corporations worldwide are putting money into a multitude of different mobile applications aimed at improving customer experience while increasing their engagement. However, developing high caliber mobile apps that cater to end-users’ needs is no easy task.
Therefore, the application of efficient testing methods has come into play as an essential part of the software development life cycle, aiming at producing error-free quality software.

It is expected that by the end of 2023, there will be an amazing seven point three million three hundred thousand global mobile phone users who would mostly use the internet through their mobiles phones. ¾ of all Web traffic comes as a result of mobile devices; astonishingly 92.1 % of Internet users prefer to use their mobiles while browsing the Web. Additionally, it is predicted that by 2025, there will be more than one billion 5G connections worldwide which confirms the huge importance played by mobile devices in today’s societies.

Today we’ll explain what mobile app testing is, you’ll learn about app testing, the latest strategies, benefits, and why app testing is important.

Understanding Mobile App Testing

Mobile app testing is a vital stage in the development process of mobile applications. It involves a comprehensive evaluation of apps to guarantee they meet technical and business requirements. Given the staggering 255 billion mobile app downloads in 2022, it is imperative to ensure that these apps perform flawlessly to capture and retain users’ attention.

During mobile app testing, both functional and non-functional aspects are scrutinized. Skilled specialists evaluate its functioning, ease of use, performance, and safety. The purpose is to make certain that it works smoothly and harmoniously on different platforms and gadgets. The process includes various test methods with regard to screens, OS versions, networks. It also evaluates compatibility, security, user experience, and overall performance.

When developers address the underlying problems and carry out necessary changes before testing, they improve users’ satisfaction, limit adverse reviews, reduce the potential loss of revenues and reduce likelihoods of abandoning the apps. Therefore, it follows that mobile app testing marks a crucial stage which guarantees companies and developers to come up with quality applications in line with customers’ expectations.

The Importance of Mobile App Testing

Mobile app development aims to expand businesses and reach a global audience. However, if apps are flawed, users may uninstall them, leading to lost opportunities and competition. This is where mobile app testing is crucial. Robust testing ensures apps meet user expectations and function correctly.

Neglecting testing can result in bugs and poor user experiences, which may lead to app deletions. Thus, comprehensive testing is vital for reliability, security, and user-friendliness.

Developing an Effective Mobile App Testing Strategy

Behind every successful app lies a critical element: an exceptional user experience. The reason for this is that most winning apps have rigid tests in place where they focus on developing quality software through an already laid out plan. The user should continue enjoying this quality on any device, that is, if the user chooses it. Consequently, creating a top-tier strategy for testing mobile applications is imperative.

Let’s explore some essential considerations when crafting your app testing strategy:

Choosing Your Devices for Testing

Choosing the right devices for mobile app testing is essential. Trying to cover every device is impractical due to their sheer number. Instead, focus on identifying the specific Android versions necessary for your app’s proper function. This approach helps you create a reliable matrix of compatible devices. Follow these steps for device selection.

• Market Share: Consider the market share of different devices. This data will guide you in determining which devices should be included in your testing matrix. This principle is true with operating systems also. However, many end users stick with old versions because it is expensive to upgrade smartphone models and as a rule, manufacturers do not release too many significant updates. So, assuming that everyone is using the latest Android version might not be accurate.
• Google Analytics: Use Google Analytics data to determine what devices are more likely to download your application. It can be particularly handy if you own a site currently and now developing a mobile application. This option is particularly useful if you already have a website and are expanding to a mobile app. Additionally, you can explore your competitors’ analytics if such data is available.

Mastering the Use of Testing Tools

In mobile app testing, testing tools act as the crucial link between your test script and the mobile applications, making a solid grasp of these tools paramount for ensuring test quality. To determine which tools will best suit your project, consider the following strategy:

• Assess Your Requirements: While there are numerous tools with overlapping functions, it’s essential to acknowledge that each tool is unique. To narrow down options, you have to align tools according to the specific demands that the mobile application has, and this would be dependent on the kind of the mobile app.
• Evaluate Your Team’s Skills: Next, after establishing and classifying these factors, it is necessary to assess your team’s competencies regarding these measures. You will generally get the best outcomes if you use tools which you and your team are most accustomed to.
• Examine Existing Tools and Frameworks: You can finesse your strategies using current tools and frameworks. Since most teams have had prior experience with testing software projects, these insights could be useful when selecting tools for the current project. Work together with your colleagues and determine whether keeping using the same tool is the best decision for the project.

Emphasizing the Significance of Documentation

Documentation plays a pivotal role in enhancing your testing strategy, as well as various aspects of software development, including mobile app testing. While documentation may not be at the forefront of “testing” or “coding,” its importance is on par with the creation of a mobile app testing plan.

Here are some crucial document types for mobile application testing:

• Software Requirement Specifications: This document outlines the specific requirements and features expected from the mobile app.
• Test Design Documentation: These documents detail the design of the tests, specifying the methodologies and approaches to be employed.
• Test Case Specifications: Test case documents provide a comprehensive breakdown of the individual test cases, including the steps to be executed.
• Testing Technique Specifications: This document defines the testing techniques to be used during the testing process.
• Test Strategy Reports: These reports summarize the results of the testing, providing insights into the app’s performance.
• Test Log Documentation: The test log documents the activities and events that occur during the testing phase.
• Test Plan Documentation: This document outlines the overarching plan for mobile app testing, including objectives, scope, and schedules.
• Bug Reporting Documentation: In the event of issues or bugs, this document captures the details necessary for resolution.
• Test Data Documentation: These documents catalog the data used in testing, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
• Test Incident or Issue Reports: In case of any incidents or issues during testing, these reports provide a thorough analysis.
• Test Analysis: This report offers an analysis of the testing process and its outcomes.

Each of these documents contributes to a well-organized and effective mobile app testing strategy, ensuring that the process is thorough and well-documented.

Cross-Platform Testing: An Efficient Approach

Cross-platform mobile app testing tools and frameworks allow for the execution of the same tests on both Android and iOS applications, delivering a strategic advantage by saving valuable time.

By establishing single test scripts, you gain the ability to make edits in one centralized location, freeing up your resources to focus on creating new test scripts rather than duplicating efforts. These frameworks contribute to streamlining future work, making your testing endeavors more efficient.

Defining the Scope of Automation Testing

Incorporating automated testing into the Software Development Life Cycle is a pivotal strategy for time reduction and the minimization of repetitive tasks. However, to achieve these goals, it’s crucial to decide which aspects we delegate to the system and which we manage ourselves. In simpler terms, how do we effectively segment our automation tests to maximize productivity while testing a mobile app?

The approach to segmenting automation testing often depends on the specific project. Each project possesses its unique characteristics and requirements. Therefore, it’s essential to meticulously partition your tests into distinct segments, as these segments may continue to evolve as your mobile app undergoes subsequent updates.

While this provides a brief overview of the strategy, a more comprehensive understanding of each step can be found in our dedicated mobile app testing tutorial, offering in-depth insights into the intricacies of strategizing mobile app testing.

Current Strategies and Trends in Mobile App Testing

The dynamic landscape of technology is continually expanding the app market. Consequently, brands are increasingly focused on enhancing app quality to deliver a superior user experience. As a result, new trends and strategies in mobile app testing are emerging to elevate the quality of app testing. Let’s explore some of these:

Embracing Automation Testing

Brands prioritize app testing to ensure the smooth performance of core app functions. It involves both functional and non-functional testing. Manual testing of these test suites can be a time-consuming process, which is why many opt for automation testing to enhance efficiency. A variety of automation testing platforms such as Lambdatest and frameworks like Espresso, Calabash, and Appium can be leveraged. It’s crucial to conduct cross-browser testing to account for differences in browsers, screen sizes, and operating systems. Post-monetization performance testing also plays a critical role in ensuring app quality.

Integrating AI and ML in Testing

As technology advances, mobile app testing is also evolving, with the emergence of AI and ML-based testing tools. AI enhances DevOps in app testing, offering continuous feedback, which significantly benefits the testing process. DevOps accelerates automation testing and facilitates bug rectification. Monitoring tools utilize machine learning to analyze issues and provide valuable suggestions.

Implementing CI/CD in Testing

Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) allow developers to modify module code and seamlessly push it to the appropriate branch. This approach streamlines the testing process from the outset, making it more systematic and efficient. Various CI/CD tools, such as Travis CI, Jira, Bamboo, and Jenkins, can be employed.

Mobile App Testing in the Cloud

Choosing the cloud for mobile app testing has become increasingly popular for several reasons. Firstly, it eliminates the need for dedicated hardware to set up a mobile device lab. It enables testing across multiple devices concurrently, with the flexibility to add or remove devices as needed. The virtual nature of a cloud platform facilitates testing from anywhere at any time.

LambdaTest, as an AI-powered test orchestration and test execution platform, plays a pivotal role in this landscape. It offers a comprehensive testing environment that spans across various devices and browsers. With LambdaTest, testers can seamlessly ensure the compatibility and functionality of mobile apps on a wide range of platforms. This integration of LambdaTest exemplifies how innovative solutions are transforming mobile app testing, ensuring efficiency and thoroughness in the ever-evolving tech arena.

Conclusion

Developing an application with quality requires that every step taken during creation of the mobile app be tested. User experience should be seamless and pleasurable.

Therefore, it is important to make sure that the app operates perfectly on all available devices and systems. It will require a robust testing strategy and methodology.

Testing your mobile app is going even further in ensuring no issues come to your audience. This proactive approach improves users’ satisfaction, lessens negative criticism, in addition to minimizing risk to leave the app. Testing of mobile apps is becoming very important in this present time of high competition in application markets to ensure that the applications remain successful for the future.