Is manual testing or tools based testing is good??
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Ifi Rehman's picture

Is manual testing or tools based testing is good??

Ifi Rehman asked on March 20, 2014 - 2:42am | Replies (11).

According to different sites, testing tools should be used for testing but manual testing have also its importance. I am little bit confuse about this statement. Please anyone tell me difference between these two points and tell how much time should spend on both of them??

KALPANA HONEY's picture

In short, manual testing is best suited to the following areas/scenarios:

1, Exploratory Testing: This type of testing requires the tester’s knowledge, experience, analytical/logical skills, creativity, and intuition. The test is characterised here by poorly written specification documentation, and/or a short time for execution. We need the human skills to execute the testing process in this scenario.

2, Usability Testing: This is an area in which you need to measure how user-friendly, efficient, or convenient the software or product is for the end users. Here, human observation is the most important factor, so a manual approach is preferable.

3, Ad-hoc Testing: In this scenario, there is no specific approach. It is a totally unplanned method of testing where the understanding and insight of the tester is the only important factor.

 

Automated testing is the preferred option in the following areas/scenarios:

 

1, Regression Testing: Here, automated testing is suitable because of frequent code changes and the ability to run the regressions in a timely manner.

2, Load Testing: Automated testing is also the best way to complete the testing efficiently when it comes to load testing. Learn more about load testing with our best practices guide here

3, Repeated Execution: Testing which requires the repeated execution of a task is best automated.

Performance Testing: Similarly, testing which requires the simulation of thousands of concurrent users requires automation.

If u want to get clear idea about automation testing visit http://www.karthikelearn.com/selenium-webdriver-online-training/

Ranjit Shankar's picture

In simple words, "automation cannot replace manual testing completely". Manual testing plays a crucial role in ensuring the applications are thoroughly tested before its release to the end customer.. Test automation helps in conducting test process in shorter time to achieve quick time-to-market when compared to manual testing. I suggest you to check this page - "Independent Software Testing Services, Quality Assurance Services" to understand the best practices of software testing.. Cheers!

Pratik Patel's picture

Tools based testing also known as Automated testing is the testing methodology, mainly in the field of software/application testing, in which the software testing life cycle(STLC) is carried out with automation so as to simplify the overall testing efforts with minimum scripting. Automation testing will help to automate some repetitive tasks, resulting in faster execution with better test coverage or outcomes. 

Today, Automated software testing is considered as one of the most trending term in the field of software testing, as it is considered as one of the most efficient as well as effective software methodology, making the overall software development/testing life cycle better and taking it to some different level. These days as software testing is moving towards automation, most of the software testers as well as QAs are switching themselves from Manual testing to Automated testing.

Some of the reasons, why automation testing is considered as one of the trending methodology and has a vital scope:

  • Automation testing saves time as well as money.
  • It is considered as cost effective method,
  • Increases Test Coverage,
  • Makes testing more accurate,
  • Better Execution control,
  • Provides better and concise results,
  • Optimized resource usage, etc.

All these reasons make automation testing more effective as well as more efficient, resulting in better test outputs.

Depending upon the functionalities, there are various good Automation testing tools for software testing. It totally depends upon the need and requirement of the tester, say for example, some needs Web test automation, some needs to automate Database testing or Cross-Browser testing, etc. Some of the best and widely used Test Automation tools preferred by the testers & QAs, which can offer a long term career are: 1. Selenium, 2. TestingWhiz, 3. Watir, 4. Ranorex, 5. Sahi Few tools among these like TestingWhiz (http://www.testing-whiz.com/), Selenium (http://www.seleniumhq.org/), etc. provides multi-functionalities, and hence are used by many testers/QAs.

Catherine John's picture

Tool based testing is better than manual testing. Testing is not an easy task, so manual testing is more complex and very difficult to follow. Also it has a time consuming nature. We have latest automation testing tools today. So with the help of these tools we can easily fix bugs with a less human effort.

Ritinder Kaur's picture

I agree with Chris that a  test suite is ideally a combination of both manual and automated tests. Although with the advent of Agile and quicker releases, automation has become the need of the hour, even now, majority of the tests are done manually. A good tester will know to automate only those tests which are time-consuming and repetitive; still, there is no alternative to human testing in some cases like user experience, such as aesthetics or appearance. There are some excellent test automation tools in the market; you need to find one suited to your pproject requirements.

Timothy Western's picture

What is Manual testing?  Do you break out flow charts, diagrams, and debug the code print outs by hand with pen, pencil and paper?  If you use a computer at all during testing, chances are you are already using tools.  So the question then is not whether or not to use tools, the question is which tools to use and when.   That is a question that unfortunately greatly depends on your project and team contexts.

Chris Zidich's picture

Automation tools and manual testing are best if used together. Automation tools can never replace a good tester, however if automation is used to do regression of stable areas or do repetitive tasks this will help to free up testers to focus on new or complicated functionality 

 

The time split can be hard. Manual testing usually takes preference; it’s more likely to find defects. Automation can be time consuming, you need to make sure that you select the correct tooling for what you are doing, and budget time for ramp up i.e. building the initial suite of automation scripts as well as time maintaining the scripts. From my experience maintaining Automation can take up a resource for up to 4 hours a day on a bad week     

Pratik Patel's picture

That's really a question of a high debate. I beleive in that if there's any technology why not use it and ease the work. I'm not against manual testing. Though in automated testing you can not depend on a particular tool, yet it is preferable when copmared to all cost and efforts from begining to the end of the testing cycle. I've share an article and got an infographic on why automated testing, hope you may find answer with these. Please find the liink below:

http://reqtest.com/testing-blog/why-is-automated-software-testing-is-a-better-choice/

James Antony's picture

Depending on your project.

Manual testing:

1. Suggested if it is done once and you dont expect to repeat the test.

2. If the application tested is not stable and requires multiple version of upgrades then maual testing is better.

 

Automated Testing:

1. Repeated test with different test conditions.

2. Support application where it has to be regress tested for each release/code deployment.

3. Multiple iteration of testing for same functionality.

4. Performance and load testing can only be measured using automated tools.

Pages

1 Comment

It has been ingoing challenge for years that manual testing % should decrease and amount we automate should increase....  What percentage (%) of testing is performed manually still.. Is it really still between 70 - 90% in a typical organisation.

Whats peoples thoughts ?  Why is moving to automation so hard ?

- Becky Wetherill June 3, 2014 - 1:05pm

Pages

11 Answers

Salai Kumara Guruparan Masilamani's picture

Manual testing is base for the functional/system testing, once it is tested Manually and looks good. This will be considered as regression and we automate the scenarios. In some scenarios like Performance, Load testeing the tools based testing is good and not manual since we cannot test manually.

Finally it also depends upon the requirements to test the scenarios.

James Antony's picture

Depending on your project.

Manual testing:

1. Suggested if it is done once and you dont expect to repeat the test.

2. If the application tested is not stable and requires multiple version of upgrades then maual testing is better.

 

Automated Testing:

1. Repeated test with different test conditions.

2. Support application where it has to be regress tested for each release/code deployment.

3. Multiple iteration of testing for same functionality.

4. Performance and load testing can only be measured using automated tools.

Pratik Patel's picture

That's really a question of a high debate. I beleive in that if there's any technology why not use it and ease the work. I'm not against manual testing. Though in automated testing you can not depend on a particular tool, yet it is preferable when copmared to all cost and efforts from begining to the end of the testing cycle. I've share an article and got an infographic on why automated testing, hope you may find answer with these. Please find the liink below:

http://reqtest.com/testing-blog/why-is-automated-software-testing-is-a-better-choice/

Chris Zidich's picture

Automation tools and manual testing are best if used together. Automation tools can never replace a good tester, however if automation is used to do regression of stable areas or do repetitive tasks this will help to free up testers to focus on new or complicated functionality 

 

The time split can be hard. Manual testing usually takes preference; it’s more likely to find defects. Automation can be time consuming, you need to make sure that you select the correct tooling for what you are doing, and budget time for ramp up i.e. building the initial suite of automation scripts as well as time maintaining the scripts. From my experience maintaining Automation can take up a resource for up to 4 hours a day on a bad week     

Timothy Western's picture

What is Manual testing?  Do you break out flow charts, diagrams, and debug the code print outs by hand with pen, pencil and paper?  If you use a computer at all during testing, chances are you are already using tools.  So the question then is not whether or not to use tools, the question is which tools to use and when.   That is a question that unfortunately greatly depends on your project and team contexts.

Ritinder Kaur's picture

I agree with Chris that a  test suite is ideally a combination of both manual and automated tests. Although with the advent of Agile and quicker releases, automation has become the need of the hour, even now, majority of the tests are done manually. A good tester will know to automate only those tests which are time-consuming and repetitive; still, there is no alternative to human testing in some cases like user experience, such as aesthetics or appearance. There are some excellent test automation tools in the market; you need to find one suited to your pproject requirements.

Catherine John's picture

Tool based testing is better than manual testing. Testing is not an easy task, so manual testing is more complex and very difficult to follow. Also it has a time consuming nature. We have latest automation testing tools today. So with the help of these tools we can easily fix bugs with a less human effort.

Pratik Patel's picture

Tools based testing also known as Automated testing is the testing methodology, mainly in the field of software/application testing, in which the software testing life cycle(STLC) is carried out with automation so as to simplify the overall testing efforts with minimum scripting. Automation testing will help to automate some repetitive tasks, resulting in faster execution with better test coverage or outcomes. 

Today, Automated software testing is considered as one of the most trending term in the field of software testing, as it is considered as one of the most efficient as well as effective software methodology, making the overall software development/testing life cycle better and taking it to some different level. These days as software testing is moving towards automation, most of the software testers as well as QAs are switching themselves from Manual testing to Automated testing.

Some of the reasons, why automation testing is considered as one of the trending methodology and has a vital scope:

  • Automation testing saves time as well as money.
  • It is considered as cost effective method,
  • Increases Test Coverage,
  • Makes testing more accurate,
  • Better Execution control,
  • Provides better and concise results,
  • Optimized resource usage, etc.

All these reasons make automation testing more effective as well as more efficient, resulting in better test outputs.

Depending upon the functionalities, there are various good Automation testing tools for software testing. It totally depends upon the need and requirement of the tester, say for example, some needs Web test automation, some needs to automate Database testing or Cross-Browser testing, etc. Some of the best and widely used Test Automation tools preferred by the testers & QAs, which can offer a long term career are: 1. Selenium, 2. TestingWhiz, 3. Watir, 4. Ranorex, 5. Sahi Few tools among these like TestingWhiz (http://www.testing-whiz.com/), Selenium (http://www.seleniumhq.org/), etc. provides multi-functionalities, and hence are used by many testers/QAs.

Ranjit Shankar's picture

In simple words, "automation cannot replace manual testing completely". Manual testing plays a crucial role in ensuring the applications are thoroughly tested before its release to the end customer.. Test automation helps in conducting test process in shorter time to achieve quick time-to-market when compared to manual testing. I suggest you to check this page - "Independent Software Testing Services, Quality Assurance Services" to understand the best practices of software testing.. Cheers!

KALPANA HONEY's picture

In short, manual testing is best suited to the following areas/scenarios:

1, Exploratory Testing: This type of testing requires the tester’s knowledge, experience, analytical/logical skills, creativity, and intuition. The test is characterised here by poorly written specification documentation, and/or a short time for execution. We need the human skills to execute the testing process in this scenario.

2, Usability Testing: This is an area in which you need to measure how user-friendly, efficient, or convenient the software or product is for the end users. Here, human observation is the most important factor, so a manual approach is preferable.

3, Ad-hoc Testing: In this scenario, there is no specific approach. It is a totally unplanned method of testing where the understanding and insight of the tester is the only important factor.

 

Automated testing is the preferred option in the following areas/scenarios:

 

1, Regression Testing: Here, automated testing is suitable because of frequent code changes and the ability to run the regressions in a timely manner.

2, Load Testing: Automated testing is also the best way to complete the testing efficiently when it comes to load testing. Learn more about load testing with our best practices guide here

3, Repeated Execution: Testing which requires the repeated execution of a task is best automated.

Performance Testing: Similarly, testing which requires the simulation of thousands of concurrent users requires automation.

If u want to get clear idea about automation testing visit http://www.karthikelearn.com/selenium-webdriver-online-training/
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