Skip to main content

What Is Automated Testing, Unit Testing and Its Benefits?

As software developers, we strive to create robust, bug-free applications that meet user expectations. One powerful tool in our arsenal is automated testing. In this article, we’ll demystify automated testing, explore its benefits, and delve into different types of tests. 


What Is Automated Testing?

At its core, automated testing involves writing code to test our production code. Instead of manually running the application and clicking through various scenarios, we let our automated tests do the heavy lifting. Think of it as having a tireless robot that tirelessly checks if our software behaves as expected.


The Benefits of Automated Testing

  1. Quality Assurance: Automated tests help us release software with higher quality. 
  2. Refactoring Confidence: When we refactor (restructure) our code, we want to ensure that the behavior remains intact. Automated tests act as our safety net, catching any unintended changes.
  3. Focus on Method Quality: By automating repetitive tests, we free up mental space to focus on writing high-quality methods. It’s like having a sous chef handle the chopping while we perfect the recipe.

Types of Tests

        Unit Tests

  • These test individual code units (like functions or methods).
  • Cheap to write and easy to execute.
  • Ideal for testing logic, algorithms, and edge cases.
  • Imagine checking if your banana bread recipe works for different flour types.

    Integration Tests

  • These examine how different components work together.
  • Test a class or component with its external dependencies.
  • More reliable but takes longer to execute.

        End-to-End Tests

  • These validate the entire application flow.
  • Test the application through its UI.
  • Slow but provides a reliable health check for your app.

Ingredients of a Good Unit Test

        Clean and Readable

  • A good unit test reads like a well-written recipe.
  • Follow the single responsibility principle: Each test should focus on one thing.

        No Logic in Tests

  • Logic in the test can introduce errors or conflicts with the logic of the tested method. It is better to just call the method from the testing project and assert the expected results.

        Isolation

  • Each test should run independently.
  • No external factors or state should affect the results.
  • This ensures that the test results are consistent and reliable.

        Not Too Specific, Not Too General

  • If the test is too specific, it may fail for trivial reasons or miss some important cases. If the test is too general, it may not provide enough confidence or feedback about the functionality of the method.

Automated testing is the cornerstone of reliable software. With automated tests in place, developers can confidently enhance features, fix bugs, and refactor code, knowing that any discrepancies will be promptly caught. This safety net not only bolsters the integrity of the software but also accelerates the development cycle, allowing teams to deliver high-quality software and save cost and time from maintaining buggy applications.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ensuring Data Integrity: The Role of Database Transactions

 1. What is database translation Database transactions are activities transferring, changing data from one consistent state to another consistent state for example in everyday life we make different kind of business transactions from buying products, changing or cancelling orders, buying tickets, etc. And all these activities involve the movement/transaction of data in the database. For example, consider a simple transaction of moving an amount of 5000 from one bank account to another. This transaction includes several steps: decrease the account balance by 5000, and then increase the other account balance by 50003. Each of these steps is a part of the transaction, and if any step fails, the entire transaction fails 2. Why it is crucial in reliable software systems? When it comes to business, whether it is personal or financial data, it is crucial to ensure the reliability and stability of data management. In our daily lives, we may frequently encounter errors related to database t...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Developer’s Guide to Clean Code: Tips and Techniques

What is clean code? Clean code is a term used to describe code that is easy to read, understand, and maintain. It is written in a way that makes it simple, concise, and expressive. Clean code follows a set of conventions, standards, and practices that make it easy to read and follow. Here are some signs indicating that the code is not clean: 1. Poor names The name is not clear to understand, meaningless, or misleading . It doesn't reveal the intention of what it want to achieve. Consider the following examples: SqlDataReader drl; int od; void Button1_Click(); Class Pages1 In the examples above, it’s challenging to get the purpose of drl, od, or what Button1_Click() does. To enhance clarity, we can rename these identifiers as follows: SqlDataReader dataReader/reader; int overdueDays; void CheckAvailability_Click(); Class ViewCustomerPage {} Ambiguous names int? incidentNameId for instance. incidentNameId lacks clarity because if it represents the ID of an incident, then the inclu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Maximizing Efficiency: The Power of Database Indexing

What is database performance? There are two main aspects of database performance: response time and throughput . Response time is the total time it takes to process a single query and returns result to the user. It's critical metrics because it directly impacts the user's experience, especially in applications where fast access to data is essential. The response time includes CPU time (complex queries will require more computational power and increase processing time), disk access, lock waits in multiple-user environment (more about database transaction ), network traffic. Throughput refers to how many translations the system can handle per second (TPS). A transaction could include different activities to retrieve and manipulate data. A single command like SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE or a series of commands could be used to trigger these activities. If you’re running an e-commerce site, a single transaction might include checking the inventory, confirming the payment, and...
Post a Comment
Read more