The 12 Steps of the Mobile App Testing Process

The transformation brought about by digital advancements in mobile app testing and mobile applications, is remarkable. As per a report by Statista, the globe currently boasts over 6 billion smartphone subscriptions, a figure set to rise to nearly 7.7 billion by 2027.

This spike in mobile devices and smartphone usage has sparked an insatiable demand for mobile applications, drastically changing how businesses and customers interact. It’s fascinating to see how these web apps have simplified the complex web of human connectivity.

However, to truly grasp their impact, it’s essential to delve into an often-underplayed process that is the cornerstone of any successful mobile application – mobile app testing. When discovering how to test mobile app components, there are some guiding principles to keep in mind.

How is the Mobile App Testing Process Done?

There’s a lot to cover when it comes to mobile application testing; fortunately, Kobiton professionals are able to help you make sense of cutting-edge tools, and support improved experiences for users as well.

First, it’s important to acknowledge that a thorough testing strategy ensures a robust, user-friendly application. Development channels consider data obtained from any number of testing procedures, which in turn impact the end product.

The best mobile app testing tools – and the process itself – identify issues related to the mobile experience that might hinder the user experience: things like bugs, the likelihood of a crash, or issues related to performance. When we iron out these issues effectively by employing well-designed app testing strategies and the right mobile testing step, then our objective has been accomplished.

The Imperative Nature of Mobile Application Testing

Think, for just a moment, about why we’re driven to create web apps in the first place. It’s because we want to broaden business horizons to reach more users worldwide.

However, an app riddled with bugs or providing a poor user experience will likely fall out of its audience’s favor. First impressions can make or break an app’s reputation; a sudden crash or a glitch in functionality can cause users to abandon the app. When they do, it translates to lost customers and dwindling revenue.

Another way to think about it is from the perspective of negative impressions. Let’s say that you know which percentage of users might not find a feature to be convenient, but you release anyway. How many users have you failed to consider?

The Process of Mobile Application Testing and Its Tools

Like any other important process, we know that making the most of mobile app testing tools is a step-by-step process.

• It begins with planning and control, analysis and design, implementation and execution for both emulators and real devices. To streamline this process, we can rely on an array of mobile app testing techniques and tools, including Appium, TestComplete, Robot Framework, Espresso, and Xamarin.UITest, and XCUITest.
• Another best practice is to map out objectives, methods, and functional testing scope. We here identify test conditions and design test cases to ensure all app features are meticulously covered. Following this, we execute these test cases in the implementation phase. We then compare the actual and expected outcomes to spot discrepancies.
• Finally, evaluating exit criteria helps us to determine whether the pre-set exit criteria have been fulfilled. If they have, we can conclude the testing — great work! The final stage, test closure, includes wrapping up the testing, archiving data, and extracting valuable lessons for future projects.

Mobile application testing is an absolute necessity in today’s digital world. By enabling the delivery of high-quality mobile apps, businesses can offer optimized user experiences, a game-changer in the highly competitive realm of mobile apps. Ultimately, adequate mobile app testing is the bottom line for meeting user demands and offering stellar user experiences.

Most Effective Mobile App Testing Strategies

In the constantly evolving landscape of open source mobile apps, establishing efficient and robust app testing strategies is fundamental to ensuring the success of an app. These strategies aim to ensure flawless performance across various platforms, enhance user experience, and secure sensitive user data, among other vital aspects.

Strategies that elevate the way we learn how to test mobile app components will always raise the bar for QA. There are some guiding principles to keep in mind, and this section provides a deep dive into the most effective strategies for mobile app testing.

• Cross-Platform Testing ensures the app’s seamless performance across platforms is crucial. Testers can use simulators alongside physical device testing to make this process more cost-effective and yield excellent results.
• Rigorous Security Testing is necessary since users often share important sensitive data through their different devices. A robust security testing strategy involves understanding the platforms on which the application will run and identifying potential attack vectors. Network
• Connectivity Testing reminds us that a considerable number of users still encounter inconsistent network reception and low-speed internet.
• Testing across Multiple Screen Dimensions can reveal bugs that negatively affect the app’s layout and, ultimately, the user’s digital experience.
• Battery Life Testing allows testers to identify the parts of the app that consume the most battery and modify those accordingly.
• Application Size and Storage Testing allows testers to optimize the size of the app without compromising its usability and offerings. Furthermore, they should ensure that the app size does not exceed a specific limit with each update or new release.
• Privacy-Focused Application Permission Testing enables testers to ensure that the app doesn’t seek any permission that isn’t necessary for its functionality. Moreover, the permission screen for any eliminated feature of the app should be removed.
• Testing Application Upgrade Scenarios ensures that the app runs smoothly during an upgrade due to a mismatched version number. It also verifies the retention of user preferences and saved data across different platforms and devices.
• Performance Testing checks the application’s response time and latency across numerous scenarios and use cases, particularly under heavy user load.

12 Steps of the Mobile Testing Process

Creating a high-quality mobile application requires a thorough, step-by-step testing process that ensures all aspects of the app’s functionality, usability, and security are up to standard. By examining and integrating ideas from both the BrowserStack and Testrig Technologies articles, we can define this comprehensive process in more detail:

1. Preparation and Strategy Formulation

The process begins by outlining the testing strategy, including determining prerequisites, identifying the targeted devices, figuring out the app type, and creating a test plan for the cases that need to be executed. Deciding on the manual or automated testing type is essential at this stage. Automation is beneficial for frequent use cases, tests with predictable outcomes, tests needed for various devices, and unit testing.

2. Identification of Essential Testing Types

Manual, automated, and cloud simulators test to make sure that the mobile application performs optimally across all Android and iOS devices. This approach helps uncover potential defects and ensures the app meets its objectives.

3. Design of Test Script and Test Case

Test cases, which consist of a series of steps to execute a specific app test, are crucial to the process. While test cases are used during manual testing, test scripts find applications in automation testing. These are designed according to the mobile app’s scenarios.

4. Setup of Testing Environment

The testing environment comprises the codes and devices used for mobile app testing, and its configuration depends on the app in question. Ensuring the proper test environment setup is vital for the success of the functional testing process.

5. Manual and Automated Testing

The core functionalities of the app are evaluated through manual and automated testing. This stage is critical for identifying and rectifying flaws for the enhanced performance of the application.

6. Usability and User Interface Testing

The app undergoes usability testing to confirm it’s easy to use, effective, and satisfactory for end-users. UI testing ensures the app features a simple, intuitive interface that users can effortlessly navigate and operate.

7. Compatibility Testing

This stage tests the application across various browsers, devices, networks, and operating systems to confirm compatibility. It verifies that the app works well across all platforms and configurations.

8. Performance Testing

The app’s stability, interoperability, and other vital aspects are checked under load conditions and usage scenarios. This testing process validates the app’s working capacity, response time, and overall performance.

9. Security Testing

The overall security of the app is verified during this stage. This includes analyzing potential risks and preventing unauthorized access to ensure the app’s safety and the security of sensitive user data.

10. Usability and Beta Testing

Usability testing checks if an app’s features function as intended and are convenient for users. Beta testing allows users to test the application, helping developers understand which features users need and the app’s direction.

11. Feedback Integration and Iterative Testing

Mobile devices and real devices alike benefit from feedback integration and iterative software testing. Like other choices, these can impact your automated and manual testing strategy teams by introducing new perspectives — not only about what others find, feel, or discover about your product, but by also enabling that feedback to be part of your overall strategy.

Ready to learn more about open source mobile test automation tools? Kobiton professionals are well-versed in both strategy and execution, making it easier than ever for clients like you to reap the rewards of our experience.

12. End-to-End Testing Before Final Release

After all testing stages are complete, an end-to-end testing sprint is run to ensure the application functions as expected on the server level and backend. If there are any issues found, they are fixed, and you can repeat the end-to-end sprint.

The digital revolution, powered by a surge in smartphone usage and the accompanying mobile apps, has transformed our world in ways we are just beginning to understand. However, to ensure these mobile apps truly harness their potential, a critical and often overlooked process requires rigorous mobile app testing.

Learn More About Mobile App Testing 

The goal of mobile app testing is simple: building robust, user-friendly applications that exceed user expectations and deliver a delightful experience. But achieving this goal demands meticulous attention to detail – employing sophisticated strategies, emulators, and real devices – and tools to iron out potential glitches and enhance the app’s reliability and appeal.

Studies show that 80% of mobile device users will likely abandon an app that doesn’t meet their expectations, so the stakes in mobile app testing have never been higher. Sophisticated testing strategies are essential.

From cross-platform testing to performance testing, security to network connectivity, open source vs. paid, every aspect is vital to creating a seamless app experience. Factors such as battery life, app size, privacy-focused permission settings, and application upgrade scenarios must be considered.

Mobile app testing is a process and a fundamental driver of app quality, business growth, and customer satisfaction. It’s the secret ingredient that separates a good app from a great one, a satisfactory user experience from an exceptional one.

Kobiton provides a number of solutions for organizations seeking to expedite their app release cycles while maintaining the quality of user experience, from manual testing to emulators. As a mobile-first testing platform purpose-built for enterprises, Kobiton provides exceptional service, platform capabilities, and product stability.

Reach out to us today to learn how we can enhance your mobile app testing process and elevate your user experience to new heights.