How to Write Test Cases With Automation Tools

In the fast-changing realm of software development, guaranteeing application reliability and quality is crucial. With increasing application complexity and scale, manual testing alone falls short of industry demands.

This is where test automation comes to the rescue, empowering software testers to enhance efficiency, increase test coverage, and confidently deliver high-quality products.

In this article, we will dive into the world of test case automation, exploring the fundamental principles and how to automate test cases effectively. From selecting the appropriate automation tools to designing test cases that withstand the test of time, we will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate the challenges and pitfalls of test automation.

First, let’s try to understand what test cases are.

Definition and Purpose of Test Cases

Test cases are precise guidelines that specify the steps, data inputs, and anticipated outcomes for a specific test scenario. Their primary purpose is to verify the correctness and effectiveness of the software being tested.

Well-crafted test cases serve as a reliable reference for testers, developers, and stakeholders, aiding in assessing the application’s readiness for deployment.

What is Test Automation?

Software testing automation uses specialized software tools, scripts, and frameworks to automate test case creation and execute them without manual intervention.

It involves creating and implementing scripts that simulate user interactions and test various functionalities of a software application. Test automation strives to boost software testing efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness by minimizing manual efforts and automating repetitive tasks.

Test automation plays a vital role in the software development testing process. It complements manual testing efforts and allows software testers to perform repetitive, regression, and performance tests more rapidly and consistently.

By automating repetitive test scenarios, testers can focus on more complex and exploratory aspects of testing, thus optimizing the overall testing effort.

Test automation finds applications across various types of test cases, including performance testing, load testing, functional testing, and regression testing, among others. Test automation is widely utilized for testing web applications, mobile applications, desktop software, APIs, and other types of software systems.

Software testing automation typically involves selecting suitable tools and scripting test cases. creating test data, executing automated tests, and analyzing their results. Successful test automation requires careful planning, proper maintenance of test scripts, and continuous monitoring to ensure its effectiveness and relevance throughout the software development lifecycle.

Why We Need to Automate Our Tests?

As applications are complex and frequently updated to meet user demands, manual testing alone is time-consuming, error-prone, and inefficient. Test automation addresses these challenges by introducing a range of benefits that significantly improve the software testing process.

Increased Test Efficiency and Coverage

Test automation enables software testers to execute many test cases quickly and repeatedly without risking human error.

Automated tests can run 24/7, significantly reducing the time required for testing repetitive scenarios. Consequently, the testing process gains efficiency, enabling testers to concentrate on exploratory testing and intricate scenarios that demand human intuition and expertise.

Automation makes it possible to encompass a wide range of test cases, such as regression tests, smoke tests, and performance tests, which would be impractical to conduct manually.

Accelerated Time-to-Market

Test automation accelerates the software development lifecycle by enabling faster testing cycles.

Automated tests can be executed anytime, providing prompt feedback on the application’s functionality and detecting defects early in development.

Swift identification and resolution of issues expedite bug fixing, leading to shorter release cycles and faster time-to-market for the software product.

Improved Test Accuracy and Consistency

Unlike manual testing, test automation eradicates the risk of human errors, guaranteeing consistent and reliable test results throughout test executions. Automated tests follow predefined steps precisely, reducing the possibility of discrepancies in test outcomes caused by human oversight or fatigue.

The consistent testing approach fosters greater confidence in the software’s quality and diminishes the likelihood of defects occurring in the production environment.

Cost-Effectiveness

While the initial test automation setup may require investment in automation tools and infrastructure, the long-term benefits significantly outweigh the costs.

Once established, automated test cases can be reused across various releases and projects, saving time and effort on repetitive testing tasks.

Additionally, automation reduces the need for a large testing team, as a smaller group of testers can manage the test suites efficiently, resulting in cost savings for the organization.

Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)

Automated tests can seamlessly integrate into the CI/CD pipeline, triggering test executions with each code commit or deployment.

This integration ensures immediate feedback on the application’s health and facilitates the rapid delivery of high-quality software to end users.

Scalability and Parallel Testing

As applications grow and evolve, so does the need for testing. Test automation offers scalability by allowing testers to easily expand the test suite to accommodate new functionalities and test scenarios.

Furthermore, automation tools enable parallel testing, wherein multiple test cases can be executed concurrently, maximizing test coverage and reducing overall testing time.

Next let’s see how to automate test cases step by step.

Step-by-Step Guide

Writing test cases with automation tools involves a structured and systematic approach to ensure that the test cases are effective, maintainable, and easily automated.

Below are the steps for writing test cases using automation tools.

Step 1: Understand the Application Under Test method

Before starting to create test cases with automation tools, you must comprehensively understand the software application which will be tested.
Collect essential information regarding the application’s features, functionalities, and user requirements.
Get familiar with the different modules and components within the application to plan your testing effectively.

Step 2: Define Test Objectives and Scope

Clearly outline the objectives.
Determine whether functional testing, regression testing, performance testing, or any other specific type of testing will be conducted.
Understanding your testing objectives will guide you in creating relevant and meaningful test cases.
Additionally, define the scope of your testing effort by specifying the areas and features that need to be covered by the test cases.

Step 3: Select the Right Automation Tool

Choosing the appropriate automation tool is crucial for successful test automation.
Evaluate various automation tools based on your project requirements, technology stack, and budget constraints.
Tools like qodo (formerly Codium), Selenium, Apache JMeter, EggPlant, SoapUI, LambdaTest, CyPress, etc. available for test cases automation with various unique features.
Consider the application type (web, mobile, desktop), supported programming languages, ease of use, community support, and integration capabilities.
Select a tool that aligns best with your project’s needs and supports the technology used in your application.

Step 4: Plan Test Data and Environment

Identify the test data required for your test cases.
Test data includes various inputs and scenarios that need to be tested, both positive and negative.
Ensure you have the necessary test data prepared and organized to execute the test cases efficiently.
Additionally, set up the test environment with the required configurations, databases, and dependencies to simulate real-world scenarios.

Step 5: Design Test Cases

Create a clear and consistent test case template that includes fields for test case ID, description, test steps, input data, expected outcomes, and pass/fail criteria.
Write individual test cases, keeping them atomic and independent. Avoid writing long and complex test cases that can be difficult to maintain.
Use clear and descriptive test case names to make them easily understandable. Include any preconditions required for the test execution.

Step 6: Utilize Test Design Techniques

Apply test design techniques to create comprehensive and effective test cases.
Techniques like equivalence partitioning, boundary value analysis, decision tables, state transition diagrams, and use case-based testing help you identify test scenarios and validate the application’s behavior under various conditions.
These techniques improve test coverage and ensure a systematic test case creation approach.

Step 7: Prioritize Test Cases

Rank test cases by their criticality and impact on the application to prioritize them effectively.
Achieve comprehensive testing of crucial functionalities by prioritizing high-priority test cases.
Prioritization allows you to allocate your testing efforts effectively, especially when time constraints concern you.

Step 8: Implement Test Automation Framework

Set up the test automation framework using the selected automation tool.
The automation framework offers a structured approach for automated test scripts development and management.
It may include predefined functions, libraries, and utilities to facilitate efficient test script development.
Building a robust automation framework is essential for scaling and maintaining test automation efforts.

Step 9: Write Automated Test Scripts

Translate your manual test cases into automated test scripts using the automation tool’s scripting language or interface.
Automation tools typically offer methods or functions to interact with the application’s user interface and verify expected outcomes.
Write test scripts that mimic user interactions and validate the application’s behavior against the test cases.

Step 10: Run and Debug Test Scripts

Execute your automated test scripts on the test environment.
Supervise test execution and troubleshoot any issues that occur when conducting the tests.
Debugging is essential to test automation to ensure that your test scripts run smoothly and produce accurate results.

Step 11: Generate Test Reports

Collect and analyze the test results generated by the automation tool.
Automated test reports offer insights into test coverage, pass/fail status, and detected defects.
These reports help stakeholders and the testing team understand the health of the application and the quality of the software being tested.

Step 12: Maintain and Update Test Cases

Consistently review and update test cases for ongoing relevance and effectiveness.
As the application evolves or new features are added, update your test cases to reflect these changes.
Regular maintenance ensures that your test cases remain reliable and accurate over time.

Step 13: Integrate Automation in CI/CD Pipeline

Integrate the automated test scripts into your Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) pipeline for seamless execution with each code commit or deployment.
Integration of automation in the CI/CD pipeline enables early issue identification in the development process and facilitates continuous testing and delivery.

Step 14: Continuously Improve Test Automation

Gather feedback to identify areas for improvements.
Regularly assess the effectiveness of your automated test cases and automation scripts.
Continuously enhance test automation for increased effectiveness and efficiency.
Embrace a culture of learning and optimization to ensure that your test automation stays relevant and valuable throughout the software development lifecycle.

Following this detailed step-by-step guide, you can write comprehensive and efficient test cases with automation tools, leading to improved software quality and streamlined testing processes.

Example: Testing Login Functionality of a Web App

We’ll write test cases for the login feature using the Selenium WebDriver automation tool in Python. Before running the code, we should have installed Selenium WebDriver and our browser’s appropriate web drivers (e.g., ChromeDriver).

Step 1: Setup the WebDriver by importing the required libraries.

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By
from selenium.webdriver.common.keys import Keys
import time


driver = webdriver.Chrome()
driver.maximize_window()

Step 2: Define test case scenarios and test data.

valid_username = "testuser123"
valid_password = "Test@123"
invalid_username = "invaliduser"
invalid_password = "invalidpassword"


test_scenarios = [
    {"username": valid_username, "password": valid_password, "expected_result": "success"},
    {"username": invalid_username, "password": valid_password, "expected_result": "failure"},
    {"username": valid_username, "password": invalid_password, "expected_result": "failure"},
    {"username": invalid_username, "password": invalid_password, "expected_result": "failure"},
]

Step 3: Write the test case function to execute the login test cases.

def test_login(username, password, expected_result):
    driver.get("https://example.com/login")
    username_input = driver.find_element(By.NAME, "username")
    password_input = driver.find_element(By.NAME, "password")
    login_button = driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//button[contains(text(), 'Login')]")


    username_input.clear()
    username_input.send_keys(username)


    password_input.clear()
    password_input.send_keys(password)


    login_button.click()


    time.sleep(2)


    if expected_result == "success":
        welcome_message = driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//h1[contains(text(), 'Welcome')]")
        assert welcome_message.is_displayed(), "Login failed. Welcome message not displayed."
    elif expected_result == "failure":
        error_message = driver.find_element(By.XPATH, "//div[@class='error-message']")
        assert error_message.is_displayed(), "Expected error message not displayed."


    time.sleep(2)

Step 4: Execute the test cases.

for scenario in test_scenarios:
    username = scenario["username"]
    password = scenario["password"]
    expected_result = scenario["expected_result"]
    print(f"Testing login with username: {username}, password: {password}")
    test_login(username, password, expected_result)


driver.quit()

In this example, four test scenarios are defined, each involving different combinations of valid and invalid usernames and passwords. The test_login function inputs the username, password, and expected result and performs the login operation using Selenium WebDriver. It then checks whether the login was successful based on the desired result.

Test Automation with qodo (formerly Codium)

qodo (formerly Codium) is an AI-powered test automation tool that helps developers write better and more comprehensive unit tests. It analyzes your code and generates test cases likely to expose bugs. qodo (formerly Codium) can also generate tests for edge cases and suspicious behaviors.

One of the things that makes qodo (formerly Codium) unique is its ability to understand the testing domain. This means that it can generate tests that are more meaningful and effective than tests generated by general-purpose code completion or generation tools. It also provides features such as code analysis, code suggestions, code behavior coverage, enhance a single test, etc. Moreover, qodo (formerly Codium) parallelizes and chains multiple prompts to create a unique variety of meaningful tests.

In addition to generating tests, qodo (formerly Codium) can also help you to understand how your code works. It provides you with insights into the code’s structure, control flow, and data dependencies. This information can help identify potential bugs and in writing more effective tests.

So, qodo (formerly Codium) is a valuable tool that can automate the process of writing test cases. With its features, developers can improve the quality of their codes and provide bug-free software products to their users.

Conclusion

Test case automation is a powerful ally in pursuing software quality and reliability. By selecting the right automation tools, designing effective test cases, and incorporating best practices, software testers can harness the full potential of automation to achieve faster release cycles, higher test coverage, and improved product quality.

Embracing test automation while acknowledging its limitations allows for a balanced approach to software testing, striking the perfect harmony between manual and automated testing techniques.