Definition
Test Automation
Using software tools to execute tests automatically without manual intervention.
Full Definition
Test automation is the practice of using specialized tools and scripts to execute tests automatically, compare actual results to expected results, and report outcomes.
Benefits of test automation:
- •Speed: Execute thousands of tests quickly
- •Consistency: Same execution every time
- •Reusability: Run tests repeatedly without extra effort
- •CI/CD Integration: Tests run on every code change
- •Coverage: Test more scenarios than manual testing allows
Common automation targets:
- •Unit tests (code level)
- •API tests (service level)
- •UI tests (user interface)
- •Performance tests (load and stress)
Automation challenges:
- •Initial investment in framework and scripts
- •Maintenance as application changes
- •Flaky tests causing false failures
- •Not suitable for all test types
Test automation doesn't replace manual testing—it complements it by handling repetitive tests efficiently.
Examples
- 1.Selenium WebDriver scripts for UI regression
- 2.JUnit tests running in Jenkins pipeline
- 3.Postman collections for API testing
- 4.Cypress end-to-end tests
In BesTest
BesTest manages manual test cases with automation integration planned. Tag automated tests to track automation coverage alongside manual testing.
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