A Simple Overview of Mobile Application Testing

A lot of work goes into the development of a mobile application, and the last thing you want is to hear negative comments about it, especially just after its release.

Mobile application testing is a quality assurance testing process where application software developed for handheld mobile devices is tested to ensure its functionality, usability, and stability. Mobile application testing can either be automated or manual.

A Simple Overview of Mobile Application Testing

Here are some of the most popular QA testing services:

1. Functional Testing

Functional testing is a category of tests that make sure that the mobile application works as per the required standards.

2. Laboratory Testing

Laboratory testing is usually performed by network carriers by replicating the entire wireless network. It is performed to detect flaws when a mobile application uses voice or data connection to carry out certain functions.

3. Performance Testing

Performance testing evaluates the mobile applications under conditions such as low battery, bad network coverage, low available memory, server load, and more. Since the performance of an application is influenced by both its server side and client side, performance testing is conducted to examine both.

4. Memory Leakage Testing

Memory leakage happens when the mobile application is not able to efficiently manage its allowed memory, leading to poor performance of the application and the overall slowdown of the system. Mobile devices have limitations regarding available memory and, therefore, it is necessary to perform memory leakage testing to ensure that the application is efficient.

5. Interrupt Testing

While an application is running on a mobile device, it may face various interruptions like incoming and outgoing calls, SMS and MMS, notifications, battery removal, network outage, etc. Interrupt testing is done to ensure that the application can withstand all these issues by going into a suspended state and resuming afterward.

6. Usability Testing

Usability testing determines the intuitive use of the application UI. Usability testing can also ensure that the user experience is the same across all mobile devices and platforms. It also checks for bugs in the functionality of elements, and their placement or sizing.

7. Installation Testing

Installation testing ensures that the installation, updating and uninstalling processes go smoothly without the user having to face any difficulty.

8. Certification Testing

Certification testing is done by testing each mobile device against the guidelines set by different mobile platforms, industries or governing bodies.

9. Security Testing

Security testing is done to look for security vulnerabilities in a mobile application. Authentication and authorization policies, hacking, data security, session management and other vulnerabilities are assessed.

10. Location Testing

Location testing is done to ensure the usability and functionality of a mobile app with regards to changes in network and geographical location.

11. Regression Testing

Software performance is checked on outdated operating systems and devices.

12. Load Testing

Customers expect your mobile application to work even if they are downloading, playing games and running other applications in their mobile devices simultaneously. Load testing ensures that the application does not crash during times of extreme load.

13. Black Box Testing

Black box testing is done to check the functionality of an application without getting into its internal structure.

Here are few points to remember for a successful mobile application testing:

Create a testing plan.

Build a mobile application testing strategy BEFORE it is released in the market.

Use metrics.

Make sure elements such as performance and response perform within industry recommendations.

Focus on non-functional testing.

Testers should pay attention to the non-functional features of a mobile application such as app performance, layout, performance time, loading, expected output generation, and not just the testing of its features.

Mobile application testing is not easy and produces various challenges. Allow planning to include at least the following:

Method of download and installation
The variety of mobile platforms or operating system (OS)
Diversity in network infrastructure, depending on the mobile network operators
Execution of automation test scripts
Correct time and use of manual testing
Testing the mobile application’s compatibility depending on the various mobile devices, resolutions, OS, etc.
Security needs of your customers
Server load
Regression needs