The Ultimate Guide to Mobile App Testing: Best Practices and Strategies

Mobile apps are an integral part of our daily lives. From ordering food to managing finances, there’s an app for almost everything. However, with the growing number of mobile apps, ensuring their function without hiccups across various devices, operating systems, and network conditions has become a challenge for developers. This is where mobile app testing comes into play. We will discuss how you can test them with legacy mobile device labs or modern cloud device labs.

Before getting into the nitty gritty of mobile testing, let us start with the basics of what it is.

What is Mobile App Testing?

Mobile app testing is a crucial process that ensures the functionality, usability, performance, and security of a mobile application across different devices and environments. It involves a series of systematic tests and evaluations to identify and fix issues before the app reaches the end-users.

Key Objectives of Mobile App Testing

The primary objectives of mobile app testing are to:

• Ensure the app works correctly on various devices and screen sizes.
• Confirm that the app functions seamlessly on different operating systems (iOS, Android).
• Verify that the app performs well under various network conditions.
• Identify and address security vulnerabilities.
• Assess the app’s accessibility and usability.
• Evaluate the app’s overall performance.

Types of Mobile Apps

There are three main types of mobile apps:

• Native Apps: Developed for a specific platform (e.g., iOS or Android) using platform-specific programming languages and tools.
• Web Apps: Accessed through a web browser and do not need to be installed on a device.
• Hybrid Apps: Combine elements of both native and web apps and can run on multiple platforms.

Mobile app testing at the primitive level is straightforward but going to the advanced level requires quite a bit of preparation to start with so that there are minimal hiccups during and at the time of delivery.

Establishing Clear Testing Goals and Requirements

Before starting mobile app testing, it’s essential to define clear testing goals and requirements. This includes understanding the app’s target audience, functionality, and expected user experience.

Selecting Target Devices and Platforms

To ensure comprehensive testing, you need to determine the specific devices, operating systems, and screen resolutions you’ll test your app on. This decision should align with your target audience.

Creating Test Plans and Strategies

Developing comprehensive test plans and strategies is crucial. These plans should outline test cases, objectives, schedules, and resources required for testing.

Broadly there are only two testing techniques Manual and Automated

Manual Testing

Manual testing involves human testers interacting with the app to identify issues. Two common manual testing techniques are:

1. Exploratory Testing: Testers explore the app without predefined test cases to uncover hidden defects.
2. Usability Testing: Focuses on evaluating the app’s user-friendliness and user interface.

Automated Testing

Automated testing uses software tools to execute pre-defined test cases and compare actual outcomes with expected results. This approach offers several benefits, including efficiency and repeatability. Popular automated testing tools include Appium, Espresso, and XCUITest.

Mobile app testing is not a one-size-fits-all process. To ensure the highest quality, consider these best practices:

Testing Across Various Screen Sizes and Resolutions

Test your app on different screen sizes and resolutions to ensure it looks and functions well on various devices.

Testing on Different Operating Systems (iOS, Android)

As iOS and Android have different design guidelines and behaviors, test your app thoroughly on both platforms.

Testing Across Different Network Conditions

Test your app’s performance under various network conditions, including 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi, to ensure it works seamlessly in all situations.

Security and Data Privacy Testing

Security is paramount. Regularly assess your app for vulnerabilities and potential data privacy issues. Thus keeping the security and test privacy can be difference bewteen the success or the lawsuits coming your way.

Accessibility Testing

Ensure your app is accessible to users with disabilities by testing for compatibility with assistive technologies. In 2023 accessibility is mandated and there are many standards like W3. Tools like NVDA can help with this.

Usability and User Experience Testing

Conduct usability testing to gather feedback from real users and enhance the overall user experience. Otherwise, users will simply click away from the best of the best tools and platforms.

Performance Testing

Evaluate your app’s performance under different loads and conditions to ensure it’s responsive and stable. Let’s be hopeful that we will cross the boundaries of performances and performance testing is the best way to be insured about pitfalls of success.

Native App Testing

Native app testing focuses on platform-specific features and behaviors. Testers should be familiar with the unique aspects of iOS and Android. Also the unique testing details and frameworks associated with these OS.

Web App Testing

Web app testing emphasizes cross-browser compatibility, ensuring that the app functions consistently on different browsers and devices. With advent of web 3 it is vital now.

Hybrid App Testing

Hybrid app testing combines aspects of both native and web app testing, making it essential to cover both areas adequately. A must adds to be 100 % sure in the testing endeavors.

Both are important but we have to learn when and where. For a rule of thumb if you can afford it get the real devices.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Real Devices

Testing on real devices provides a realistic environment but can be costly and time-consuming.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Emulators/Simulators

Emulators and simulators offer cost-effective testing but may not fully replicate real-world conditions.

Several tools and frameworks can aid in mobile app testing, each with its strengths and weaknesses.

How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Project

Consider factors such as your app’s complexity, budget, and team expertise when selecting a testing tool or framework.

Mobile App Testing Challenges

Mobile app testing is no way away from its challenges and hiccups. Better to be prepared about it and have a mitigation plan in advance.

Device Fragmentation

The diversity of devices and operating systems can pose challenges in ensuring consistent app performance. Inconsistent apps are the eye-sore for users.

Continuous Integration and Continuous Testing (CI/CT)

Integrating testing into the development process can be complex but is crucial for efficient app delivery. But once set up properly, it will give multifold benefits in terms of smoothness and speed of testing.

Keeping up with OS and Device Updates

Regular updates to mobile operating systems and devices require continuous testing and maintenance. It is a double-edged sword; if you can be on top of the game, you will have the best in-class app experience in the market.

User-Generated Content and Real-World Scenarios

Testing for real-world scenarios, including user-generated content, can be challenging. Users will always have novel ways of finding the use cases, and real world usages can vary a lot from the simulated environments.

Automation Challenges

Automation testing can be complex, and maintaining test scripts as the app evolves is essential. Never try to automate too much. But it must offload you from the major chunk of testing. Otherwise, speed will be the issue.

Mobile App Testing Process

These four key practices play a pivotal role in ensuring the success and quality of your app:

Test Case Design and Execution:

Effective test case design involves meticulously planning and documenting the tests that will validate your app’s functionality. Each test case should cover a specific aspect of your app, including its features, interactions, and potential use cases. When executing these test cases, systematically follow the defined steps, recording the actual outcomes. This process is essential for identifying issues and ensuring that your app behaves as expected across various scenarios.

Bug Reporting and Tracking:

Establishing a clear and efficient bug reporting and tracking process is crucial for streamlined communication between testers, developers, and stakeholders. A well-organized bug-tracking system helps in recording and managing issues effectively. When reporting a bug, provide detailed information, including steps to reproduce, expected behavior, and device details. Prioritize bugs based on their severity to address critical issues promptly.

Regression Testing:

Regression testing is an ongoing process that verifies that new updates or code changes do not inadvertently introduce new issues or disrupt existing functionality. A well-maintained regression test suite, consisting of critical test cases, should be executed after each update. Automation can help streamline this process, ensuring that previously validated features continue to work correctly.

User Acceptance Testing (UAT):

UAT involves engaging real users to evaluate your app’s usability, functionality, and overall user experience. Recruit a diverse group of testers who represent your target audience and provide them with a controlled testing environment. Collect their feedback, paying close attention to usability issues and user suggestions. UAT insights are invaluable for refining your app and aligning it with user expectations.

Monitoring and Analytics

Monitoring is crucial as this is the only way we’ll be able to improve.

Implementing App Monitoring Tools

App monitoring tools are essential for gaining real-time insights into your mobile app’s performance and user behavior. These tools provide valuable data on app crashes, load times, user interactions, and more. By continuously monitoring your app, you can proactively identify and address issues, ensuring a seamless user experience. Monitoring tools also allow you to track the app’s availability and responsiveness across different devices and network conditions, helping you maintain high levels of reliability.

Analyzing User Data for Quality Improvement

User data is a goldmine of information that can drive quality improvements and feature enhancements. You can pinpoint areas where your app can be refined by analyzing user behavior, preferences, and feedback. User data can reveal pain points, feature usage patterns, and opportunities for optimization. It empowers you to make data-driven decisions, prioritize development efforts, and tailor your app to meet user expectations better, ultimately leading to higher user satisfaction and retention.

Performance Monitoring

Regular performance monitoring is vital for identifying and addressing performance bottlenecks in your app. It allows you to track key metrics such as app load times, response times, and resource utilization. By proactively monitoring and analyzing performance data, you can optimize your app’s speed and efficiency, ensuring that it runs smoothly even as usage scales. Performance monitoring is an ongoing process that helps maintain a high-quality user experience and prevents performance-related issues from impacting user satisfaction.

Continuous Improvement

Gathering Feedback

Continuously seek input from users and stakeholders to refine your app. User feedback helps identify issues and user preferences, while stakeholder insights align development with business goals.

Iterative Testing and Development

Embrace an iterative approach to adapt your app based on feedback and testing results. Regularly refine features, address issues, and meet evolving user needs, ensuring your app evolves over time.

Staying Updated with Industry Trends

Remain current with mobile app testing trends and technologies. Embrace new methodologies and tools to maintain competitiveness and benefit from advancements in mobile app testing, gaining a market edge.

LambdaTest is a versatile AI-powered cloud-based testing platform that offers a range of solutions for mobile app testing. With LambdaTest, you can:

• Cross-browser Testing: Ensure your app functions consistently across various browsers and versions with various real mobile devices.
• App Testing: Test your mobile app on real devices to replicate real-world conditions.
• Parallel Testing: Speed up testing processes by running multiple tests in parallel.
• Automation Testing: Automate your testing workflows for efficiency and repeatability.
• Integrations: Seamlessly integrate LambdaTest with popular testing frameworks and tools. There are 120+ tolls in LambdaTest’s integration kitty.

LambdaTest simplifies the complexities of mobile app testing by providing access to a wide range of real devices and browsers, enabling you to identify and resolve issues quickly.

Remember that while LambdaTest is a valuable tool, it’s essential to choose the right testing solution based on your project’s specific needs and constraints.

In conclusion, mobile app testing is a critical aspect of the app development process. By following best practices and employing effective strategies, developers can ensure their apps meet user expectations and function seamlessly. Embrace a culture of continuous improvement, and your mobile app will thrive in the competitive app marketplace.