Software quality is very important for our team. One of our main objectives is to deliver to our clients and partners more business value faster, but without compromising software quality. To ensure that we deliver exceptional software quality, we use various strategies and techniques, including end-to-end testing.
End-to-end testing uses automated tests to verify all functionalities and components of an application or system. The tests executed as part of this process can simulate the behavior of a real user to validate the functionalities of an application. Automated tests allow our team to detect errors that manual testers might have missed. Thanks to end-to-end testing, our developers don’t have to fear breaking an existing module or a functionality when they integrate new code. They can deploy the new version of an application or software product and feel confident that it will meet users’ expectations in terms of software quality.
4 advantages of end-to-end testing
End-to-end testing validates all components and modules of an application or system, allowing QA specialists to test an application from beginning to end and to identify errors and bugs quickly and easily.
End-to-end testing allows the development team to:
1) Validate an application or system as a whole, instead of module by module
To test an application, some teams will choose to create automated tests that will verify a specific module or functionality. While it is possible to create automated tests to validate all modules one by one, this strategy doesn’t allow a QA specialist to verify that all modules of an application are working correctly when they’re interdependent. Essentially, an end-to-end testing strategy allows the development team to test an application or a system to ensure that all the different modules and components are working as expected when they’re used independently as well as when they have to share data.
2) To validate components that operate in the background, like a database
Users rarely interact directly with a database, but it often plays an important role in ensuring that an application is functioning correctly. End-to-end testing can verify that the database (or other components that may be invisible to the end user) is available and returning the proper values to ensure that the application is functioning as expected.
3) To test an application from beginning to end in a dynamic environment
End-to-end testing can also allow the team to test an application in a dynamic environment, such as one that employs a multi-cloud strategy or that uses containers. In such an environment, an end-to-end testing strategy can allow QA specialists to identify issues even when the modules are created and deployed in real time.
4) To repeat the tests as often as necessary
Since the application is tested from end-to-end using automated tests, the testing process can be repeated as many times as needed. Contrary to tests performed manually, automated tests leave no room for human errors. On the other hand, testing an application from beginning to end can take a few hours depending on the size of the application. Many teams choose to perform end-to-end testing overnight so that fresh test results will be waiting for the developers when they return the following morning.
End-to-end testing in an Agile world
End-to-end testing possesses many advantages. When implemented correctly, it can help the development team identify an error and fix it long before it can affect end users. End-to-end testing become a safety net for the development team, allowing developers to integrate new code while knowing that end-to-end testing will be there to re-validate all functionalities of an application.
Alithya GoTest, our test automation platform, is a complete end-to-end testing solution. If you’d like to give Alithya GoTest a try, you can request a free trial version here today.