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Manual Testing vs Automation Testing : Choose the right balance for your product

Updated: Jan 17

Software testing plays a crucial role in ensuring the success of a software project. Think of it as making sure that the software we create works as it should. Testing comes in various forms, like checking for bugs, making sure different parts of the software work together, and more.


Now, when it comes to testing, there are two main ways to do it: manual and automated. Manual testing is like having people carefully check the software step by step, while automated testing involves using specialized tools or programs to do the testing automatically.


So, there's a big debate about whether automated testing is better than manual testing. In this post, we'll look at the advantages of both approaches and help you decide which one to use in different situations. Let's begin by understanding the differences between manual and automated testing.


 

What is the difference?


In manual testing, a human, a testing engineer, is in charge of running the tests. They do this by carrying out various scenarios and unusual situations to ensure the software works correctly. Manual testing doesn't rely on any special tools or scripts. Instead, the testing engineer sets up the test environment, prepares the data, and follows a set of instructions to check if everything works as expected.


In automated testing, as the name suggests, it's all done automatically. Here, scripts and tools take care of tasks like setting up the test environment, getting the data ready, and performing the necessary steps to test a scenario without human intervention.

Both manual and automated testing have their pros and cons. Understanding the difference between them and when to use each one is crucial for getting the best results.


When to choose Manual Testing?

Manual testing is suited for usability testing, ad-hoc testing, and exploratory testing.


  1. Usability Testing: Usability testing is all about making sure that a software application is user-friendly and intuitive. It involves real people, often representing end-users, interacting with the software to evaluate its overall user experience. Testers assess factors such as the software's layout, design, navigation, and how easy it is for users to accomplish tasks. They provide feedback on any confusing or frustrating aspects of the user interface. For example, during usability testing for a mobile app, testers might assess how easily users can find and use essential features, and whether the app's design aligns with user expectations.

  2. Ad-hoc Testing: Ad-hoc testing is a bit like testing with a detective's mindset. Here, the testing engineer doesn't follow a predefined test plan or set of test cases. Instead, they explore the software freely, attempting to uncover defects and vulnerabilities by using their creativity and intuition. Testers intentionally try to break the software by thinking outside the box. They simulate unexpected user behaviors or scenarios that might not have been considered during formal testing. For instance, in ad-hoc testing of a web application, testers might try unconventional inputs, interact with elements out of sequence, or perform actions rapidly to see if the application can handle unexpected user interactions.

  3. Exploratory Testing: Exploratory testing is a dynamic and adaptive approach that relies heavily on the tester's skills and experience. Testers explore the software without rigidly predefined test scripts. They leverage their knowledge of the application, analytical skills, creativity, and intuition to design and execute test scenarios on the fly. This approach is particularly valuable when there's limited or poorly documented specification information. Exploratory testing is like an investigator thoroughly examining a complex case, drawing on their expertise to uncover issues that scripted tests might miss. It's effective in situations where time is limited, and the tester needs to quickly identify defects and assess the software's behavior.


When to choose Automation Testing?

Automation testing is suited for regression testing, performance testing, load testing, highly repeatable testcases, and in integration with devops cycle.


  1. Regression Testing: Regression testing is the process of ensuring that new code changes or feature additions do not introduce new defects or negatively impact existing functionality. It involves re-running a predefined set of test cases to verify that everything still works as expected. Automated testing is particularly valuable for regression testing because it can quickly and accurately execute a large number of test cases, ensuring that no regressions occur.

  2. Performance Testing: Performance testing assesses how a software application performs under specific conditions, such as heavy user loads or high data volumes. It measures response times, resource utilization, and overall system stability. Automated testing tools simulate a large number of virtual users or transactions, applying load to the system to evaluate its performance.

  3. Load Testing: Load testing is a subset of performance testing that focuses on evaluating a system's performance under expected loads, such as the number of concurrent users or transactions. Automated tools generate a significant load on the software to assess how it responds under heavy usage scenarios.

  4. Highly Repeatable Functional Test Cases: Certain functional test cases, which involve checking specific functions or features of the software, can be highly repetitive and involve multiple iterations with different inputs or scenarios. Automated testing is ideal for such cases because it can efficiently execute the same test steps repeatedly, ensuring consistent and thorough testing.

  5. Integration with DevOps: Automated testing should be an integral part of the DevOps cycle, where software development and IT operations work collaboratively to deliver high-quality software faster. Automated tests are integrated into the continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline. They are executed automatically whenever code changes are made, ensuring that new code doesn't introduce defects.


 

The Bottom Line

Testing is a crucial part of making software, and when you're deciding how to do it, whether manually or using automation, there are a lot of things to think about.

Companies that make automation testing tools really want you to use automation, and experts in manual testing really like manual methods. But when you're the one making the decision, you have to be smart and choose what's best for your situation because both approaches cost money.


The best way often involves using both manual and automation testing together. Manual testers are great at understanding your software, planning tests, and checking things from a user's perspective. Automation testers, on the other hand, are good at automating tests that need to be done a lot and making sure those tests still work even if the software changes.


So, don't fall into the trap of thinking it has to be one way or the other. Instead, pick the approach that works best for what you need. In the world of software, being flexible and adaptable with your testing strategy is the way to go.

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