Manual vs Automated Testing: Which is right for you?

Introduction

It’s the age-old debate in Software Testing, which is better Manual or Automated testing? While you might see Automation everywhere, Manual testing still has a strong role to play in Software Testing. Manual testing is when an end user tests the application by manually running through a pre-defined script (Test Cases) or performs ad-hoc testing in an exploratory fashion. Automated testing is when a program is run with specific inputs to determine if the system is producing the appropriate outcomes. Manual testing generally tends to be more creative and requires a tester to think out-of-the box to attempt to do things in an unconventional way. While automated testing is more repetitive and produces a more consistent result. I will show you why both types of testing are essential in delivering a high level of Quality.

Chapter 1: Manual Testing

Manual testing is a software testing technique where testers manually execute test cases without using any automation tools. It involves carefully reviewing the software’s functionality, features, and user interface to identify defects or issues. The process of manual testing is usually as follows.

1. The Test Cases that are be executed are reviewed and updated if needed.
2. The Test cases are executed in order by manually interacting with the UI in order to produce the desired outcome.
3. The results are recorded and if no issues are found, the testing is marked as complete.

With manual testing, the onus is on the tester to determine how to test the application, what types of input to use and what is an acceptable outcome. When an actual person is leading the testing, they have the ability to determine if and where to spend more time testing and they can deviate from the script to perform a more thorough test. Manual testing is better than automated testing in determining if the UI / UX is appropriate and a manual tester is better at finding unique problems by NOT following to script and attempting to use the application in ways that were not previous thought of.

Chapter 2: Automated Testing

Automated testing is a software testing technique where tests are executed automatically using scripts or tools, instead of being manually performed by testers. It involves the use of automation tools to execute pre-defined test scripts that validate the functionality, performance, and other aspects of the software. The process of automated testing is usually as follows.

1. For the given testing tool, test scripts are created and / or modified to ensure proper test coverage.
2. The scripts are executed, and the results are reviewed.
3. Any failed test is examined to determine if the test needs to be modified or if there is a defect in the application.
4. Once all tests have passed, the testing is marked as complete.

With automated testing it is important to identify and use the appropriate tool. There are many tools available to choose from, but understanding the needs of the application and the skills of the team will help guide the right tool to use. Once you have a suite of tests created, they can be run over and over again as many times as needed and a clear report will easily identify problem areas. Automated testing is superior to manual testing when dealing with applications that do not have a User Interface (i.e. API testing). Also automated testing takes less time to execute than manual testing, especially on large scale applications or if there is a large number of tests to be run.

Chapter 3: Comparing both styles of testing

Both manual and automated testing have their advantages and disadvantages. It is important to understand the situation and utilize the appropriate approach.

The advantages of manual testing include.

1. Human Judgment: Testers can apply their expertise and judgment to identify issues that may not be easily detectable by automated tools.
2. Exploratory Testing: Testers can explore the software in an unscripted manner to identify unexpected defects or usability issues.
3. Cost-Effectiveness: Manual testing can be more cost-effective for small-scale projects or projects with frequently changing requirements.
4. User Experience Testing: Testers can evaluate the software from a user’s perspective, focusing on usability and user satisfaction.
5. Flexibility: Manual testing can be easily adapted to changing requirements and scenarios, allowing testers to quickly respond to new issues or features.

The advantages of automated testing include.

1. Efficiency: Automated testing can significantly reduce the time and effort required for testing, especially for repetitive test cases.
2. Accuracy: Automation tools can execute tests with precision, reducing the risk of human error.
3. Reusability: Test scripts can be reused across different test cycles, saving time and effort in test development.
4. Consistency: Automated tests produce consistent results, ensuring that tests are executed in the same manner every time.
5. Scalability: Automated testing can easily scale to accommodate large or complex software systems.
6. Cost-Effectiveness: While initial setup costs may be higher, automated testing can lead to long-term cost savings due to increased efficiency and reduced manual effort.

Chapter 4: Combining Manual and Automated testing

The best way to implement a total quality solution is to use a combination of both manual and automated testing as they work best in conjunction with one another. The most effective time for manual testing is when testing a UI / UX. In this scenario a tester is better suited to determine if the UI looks the right way and if the User Experience is suitable and appropriate. In the end, it will be an actual person using the application, so having a positive user experience is important. Manual testing is also effective when performing exploratory testing. A tester who understands the application will be able to perform ad-hoc testing and find problems with the application that an automated test simply could not find.

Automated testing is most appropriate for regression testing. Anytime a new feature or enhancement is developed, it is important to ensure that the existing functionality is still working as expected. Automated testing is best used for large scale, repetitive testing. Automated testing is less time consuming and can be run overnight. Since the testing is consistent and repetitive, the results are reliable. Automated testing is also good at identifying performance issues. By establishing a baseline, performance tests can be automated to ensure the application is always operating within the baseline and is performant.

The best practice is to use both automated and manual testing. Using automated tests is best for regression testing and ensuring the happy path test cases are functioning correctly. Automation is also good for testing API (where no user interface exists). In addition, manual testing should be used to ensure the UI / UX is appropriate as well as exploratory testing. With exploratory testing, the tester should use creativity to perform actions that are out-of-the-box to try and find vulnerabilities through non-standard actions.

Conclusion

Both automated and manual testing play an important role in Software Quality Assurance and both types of testing should be implemented as part of the QA process. Automation should be used to help reduce total testing time and for repetitive testing. Manual testing should be added to the process in the form of exploratory testing to make the overall testing more complete. Having both types of testing as part of the process produces a high level of quality and instills confidence that the application performs exceptionally.

Call to Action

If you want to learn more about both manual and automated testing, including different ways to implement them, feel free to message me and we can have a more in-depth conversation. Follow this blog for more information and remember, Testing is Fun!