GUI Testing and Its Advantages and Disadvantages

To keep speed with the ever-increasing demand for higher software quality, the full end-to-end testing of software products has become standard practice. By exercising the application via the graphical user interface (GUI), testers consider the position of the user which yields a lot of perks. For example, GUI tests exercise a huge portion of the applications’ source code with comparatively little effort. GUI testing lets testers receive a lot of ‘leverage.’ 

What is GUI Testing?

GUI testing is defined as the testing of the application below the Test system graphical user interface. Graphical Testing consists of screen tests using controls such as icons, buttons, and menus with all sorts of the bar such as dialogues, menu bar, toolbar, windows, etc. Basically, we can assume that what we see is GUI. For a computer application, there are two sorts of interfaces. The command-line interface is the one that answers the command text and the computer. GUI is a graphical user interface in which you utilize pictures rather than text to communicate with the computer.

Let’s take an instance If you or your friend visiting a site which is TestUnity.com.  First of all, he will examine the home page, search button, course bar, and many more that is GUI (Graphical User Interface). No source code is viewed by a user. The user can see the interface. The focus is especially on the structure of the design, images that work perfectly or not. The connections are also available, and if you click, the button should work. Also, neither image nor content must reduce or overlap if the user redesigns the screen. So this is a little part of the introduction regarding the GUI (Graphical User Interface) Testing.

Features

By understanding its various characteristics, clarity about the GUI testing can be achieved further. Thus, some significant GUI tests and other associated elements are described below.

• This testing method is more difficult than the line interface test command.
• Most test tools used for GUI testing concentrate mainly on regression testing.
• It also verifies that the components like the font and the images comply with their design specifications.
• GUI can face more difficulties with automated testing, as the user interface often changes.
• It is carried out from the viewpoint of the user and not the developer or tester.
• Supports the team to accumulate the data needed so that they can determine whether an application can be deployed or not deployed.

Examples

• Test the height of the elements in size, location, width.
• Testing for the displayed error messages.
• Test the different parts of the screen.
• Test the font whether or not it is readable.
• We can also test the spelling
• Testing the screen in different sizes by zooming in and out such as 600×800, 640 x 480, etc.
• Texts and other elements such as buttons, icons, and so on are in the correct location to test the alignment or not.
• We can also test the front color.
• Testing error message colors and warning messages.
• We can also test the clarity of the image
• We can Also test the Alignment of the image.
• Hyperlink color testing.

GUI Testing in Different Ways

There are three important methods used by software experts worldwide to check the precision and quality of graphical user interface elements.

• Manual-based Testing.
• Record and replay.
• Model-Based Testing.

1) Manual Based Testing

Testers manually checked all graphics for the company document with the requirements. The multiplication (33X5), for instance, can be verified by manual testing.

2) Record and Replay

Record and Replay is an automated Graphical User Interface tool with that at the point of testing all the tests are records.

3) Model-Based Testing

Model-based Testing functions as a graphic description. These tests predict the performance of the system, and this technique efficiently creates test cases. Decision and chart tables are some of the modeling techniques.

Advantages

By applying the GUI testing method through the early phases of the SDLC, the team will be able to take benefit of various advantages, such as accelerated growth, performance enhancement, and risk reduction at the end of the cycle.

In addition, this testing offers other advantages such as:

• Tests the interface from the point of view of customers.
• The risk to the end of the development cycle is reduced efficiently.
• Offers to validate compliance with design specifications for the several icons and elements.
• Increases product reliability and increases product quality.

Disadvantages

While there are many benefits of GUI testing, the tests still need acknowledgment. There are some drawbacks. Here are hence the drawbacks/disadvantages.

• More memory resources are required, which can slow the system.
• The testing method takes time and may include additional GUI software.
• Given the frequent change in the interface of implementation, the team could require to refactor a test script in order to improve its precision.
• The method of testing is hard due to limited access or no access to the source code.

Conclusion

GUI testing is important to the successful release of the software as it verifies the user experience. GUI testing helps to produce high-quality and user-friendly software. In the end, you reach a higher level of user engagement and satisfaction.

Need some guidance in performing GUI testing? Choose to team up with a QA services provider like TestUnity. Our team of testing experts specializes in GUI testing and has years of experience implementing tests with GUI testing software and GUI mobile testing tools. Get in touch with a TestUnity expert today.

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