You have just launched an e-commerce mobile app, and this new development in the mobile arena promises more customers and, therefore, higher sales. But complaints bug you: users say the apps have bugs, crashes, and glitches across various devices. Negative reviews stream in, sales dwindle to an all-time low, and your brand’s reputation suffers immensely.
It is not an isolated problem. Every year, businesses lose millions-$204 million, to be exact-because users uninstall apps that don’t work as expected. Can you afford to let poor app quality jeopardize your hard work and investment?
This is where Android testing becomes critical. It’s not just a part of the software development process; this is the key for your app to work seamlessly on all devices and operating systems. In case you don’t perform it, there’s a great chance you will deliver an unreliable application to your users-and just lose them once and for all.
So, how can you ensure your app is robust, efficient, and user-friendly before releasing it to the world? The answer lies in comprehensive Android testing. By integrating testing into every stage of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), you can catch issues early, improve app quality, and ensure a smooth user experience from the start.
This tutorial will explain how. You’ll first see various testing strategies, such as performance testing, and then take a closer look at the ways the Android platform supports the process of testing throughout the SDLC. Most importantly, you’ll be shown how to build a strong strategy for mobile app testing that is protective of your app’s success.
Never fall behind the pace of competition and lose your customers to finer applications. Follow this guide in order to ensure your app is robust, friendly to use, and ready to make a mark in the market.
Key Takeaways
After reading this guide, you will understand the basics of Android testing. Here are the main points:
- You will learn the different types of Android testing and why they matter in app development.
- You will get to know Android testing tools like Espresso and Appium to improve testing efficiency.
- You will understand how to integrate testing into the SDLC to build better software.
- You will learn how performance testing helps find and fix issues that slow down your app.
- You will discover how to create a strong mobile app testing strategy for success.
Understanding Android Testing
Android testing is an important step in app development. It makes sure your app works well on different devices and Android versions. Testing helps catch bugs early.
This saves both time and money. When testing is part of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), the app becomes more reliable and high-quality.
Think of the process of testing, much like taking a new car for a test drive before buying it. You want to make sure it drives smoothly not only in rain and highway conditions but also on dirt roads. That’s what Android testing does for apps: it checks the performance of an app on a wide variety of devices so every user can have the best experience. Much as car manufacturers test cars for safety and quality, developers test apps to make sure they behave as expected.
But here’s the catch: Android has lots and lots of versions, and devices. This is what’s typically referred to as fragmentation, and can make testing a little bit tricky. For example, one phone might run Android 10, while another phone runs Android 12. Your app should work great on both.
To handle this, we use two major classes of testing devices: emulators and actual devices. Emulators are programs that behave just like Android devices. They work great for basic tests, while real devices provide the closest thing to a natural environment. The two means of testing are crucial but using them both can also yield far better results in some scenarios.
Now, let’s dive into the types of testing, the tools you can use, and how you can best test an Android app.
What Types of Android Testing are Available?
In mobile app development, it is very important to develop an app that will be at its best and give good results for the end user. Android testing, in turn, plays an important role in ensuring the readiness of the application. There are different types of Android testing, each having a focus on some other area. Let’s break them down into simple parts:
Unit Testing
Unit testing checks small parts of your app, like single functions or components, to see if they work as expected.
- It’s usually done with automated tools.
- It helps find errors early before they cause bigger problems.
Imagine you’re building a shopping app. You want to make sure the “Add to Cart” button works every time. Unit testing ensures this feature works perfectly.
Integration Testing
After testing single components, the next step is to see how different parts of your app work together. This is integration testing.
- It ensures that all the connected parts of your app interact smoothly.
- You can spot issues that happen when combining different modules.
Suppose your app lets users pay bills online. You’ll check if the payment system links correctly to the app’s billing section. Integration testing confirms everything works as one system.
End-to-End Testing
End-to-end testing checks the whole app from start to finish. It’s like walking through the app as a user would, making sure everything works at every step.
- It covers the entire user journey.
- This testing shows how all features and systems work together.
For a food delivery app, end-to-end testing would check if a user can place an order, pay, and track their delivery without any issues.
Performance Testing
Performance testing ensures your app works well under different conditions, like heavy usage or poor internet.
- It finds bottlenecks that slow down your app.
- This test makes sure the app runs smoothly for users.
If your app streams videos, you’d test how it handles thousands of users streaming at once. Tools like Android Profiler can help you spot performance issues.
API Testing
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) let your app connect to other systems or services. API testing ensures these connections work smoothly.
- It checks for functionality, speed, and security.
- Tools like Postman and Rest Assured are often used for this.
In case of integration with a third-party payment gateway, API testing ensures a non-buggy execution of this process.
By using these types of testing, you can build apps that are reliable and easy to use. Testing ensures your app doesn’t just work—it works well. Make testing a key part of your development process, and you’ll deliver high-quality apps that users love.
How to Build a Proper Android Testing Strategy?
It’s not just about finding bugs: It’s about making sure that an app is fast and easy to use, period. And the best part: By testing throughout your development process, you’ll deliver an app that people will love. When you develop an Android app, it should behave well and delight users. In order for that to happen, a good testing strategy is required. This plan will provide you with a step-by-step solution for checking your app. Here’s how you can manage:
Clearly Define Objectives
First, set clear goals about what you want to achieve with your testing. Ask yourself, what am I trying to achieve? Perhaps it’s to avoid crashes or to increase performance. Set your goals to help focus on what is most important.
Think about these questions:
- What features are most important in my app?
- What actions do users do the most?
- What problems could they face while using it?
By answering these, you’ll know what to aim for during testing.
Choose the Right Tools
Next, pick the tools you’ll need for testing. There are many options, like Espresso, JUnit, and Appium. Each tool works best for specific tasks. For example:
- Espresso is great for testing how users interact with your app.
- JUnit is better for testing small units of code.
To choose the right tool, ask yourself:
- What kind of tests do I need to do?
- What does my app need for these tests?
- Are there limits to what a tool can do?
By picking the right tools, you’ll save time and make testing smoother.
Prioritize Tests
You don’t have unlimited time or resources, so focus on testing the most important features first. This makes sure the key parts of your app are solid.
Ask yourself these questions:
- What are the must-have features?
- What actions do users take the most?
- What problems might frustrate them the most?
Prioritizing tests will help you spend time where it matters most.
Automate Where Possible
Automating your tests can save time and effort. Instead of doing the same test over and over, let tools do it for you. Automation also reduces mistakes that humans can make.
Here’s why automation helps:
- It saves time.
- It’s more accurate.
- It avoids errors caused by people.
When you automate repetitive tasks, you can focus on bigger challenges.
Continuous Testing
Testing isn’t something you do just once. It should happen often during development. This is called continuous testing. By testing early and regularly, you can spot problems before they become big issues.
Here’s why continuous testing is important:
- It catches problems early.
- It prevents expensive fixes later.
- It improves overall quality.
Adding regular testing to your process makes your app stronger and more reliable.
By following these steps, you can create a strong Android testing plan. This will help your app succeed. A good testing strategy is key to building apps that work well and meet user needs.
What Are Some of the Android Testing Tools?
Testing is a key step when building Android apps. Without proper testing, your app might not perform well or deliver a smooth experience. Android provides many tools to help test apps. These tools cover areas like UI testing, API testing, and performance checks. By using them, you can improve your app throughout its development and meet user expectations. Here are some of the most popular Android testing tools:
Espresso
Espresso is a powerful tool for testing user interfaces. Google created it to help developers test how their app behaves when users interact with it. You can use it to check if buttons, menus, or other features work as they should.
Want to make sure clicking a button takes you to the right screen? Espresso can simulate the click and confirm the result. Its simple design makes it easy to write and run tests.
Why choose Espresso?
- It works well with Android Studio.
- You can run tests on real devices or emulators.
- It lets you check how the app changes after user actions.
Appium
Appium is an open-source tool for testing mobile apps on both Android and iOS. It’s a great option if your app works on multiple platforms. With Appium, you can test both versions using the same code.
A shopping app with Android and iOS versions can use Appium to test its login process. This ensures the feature works the same on both platforms.
Key features:
- No need to change your app’s code.
- Supports native, hybrid, and web-based apps.
- You can write tests in Java, Python, or JavaScript.
Selendroid
Selendroid is great for testing native and hybrid Android apps. It uses the Selenium 2 API, making it easy for developers who already know Selenium.
Testing a search bar in an online store? Selendroid can simulate typing in the bar and check if the results match.
Benefits of Selendroid:
- Works on both emulators and real devices.
- Can run multiple tests at the same time.
- Can test many devices at once.
JUnit
JUnit is a tool for unit testing. It’s written in Java and is perfect for testing small parts of your app. It ensures each part works well before combining them into the full app.
If your app has a payment system, JUnit can test if the payment process is working correctly.
Advantages:
- Gives detailed reports of test results.
- Lets you organize tests with easy-to-use annotations.
- Works with build tools like Gradle.
Robolectric
Robolectric speeds up Android testing by running tests on your computer instead of a device or emulator. This saves time and makes testing faster.
Testing tools in Android are to help you do better. By using these tools, the performance and reliability of your app, and the general user experience, will be greatly improved.
How to Integrate Testing into the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
Integrating testing in the software development life cycle is intelligence for ensuring top-notch quality. The entire SDLC process follows a series of steps from planning, developing, and testing through to deployment. By weaving testing in early in these stages, it will be easier to expose problems at an earlier stage in the life cycle, saving the company or client time and money. Here’s how you can make testing one of the mainstays in the SDLC:
Testing in Sync with SDLC Phases
It also said that testing should not be done at the end, but rather in each phase of the SDLC. For example, during the planning phase, identify what needs to be tested and set goals. During development, unit tests should be written while coding. This helps catch mistakes early on when it’s cheaper and easier to fix.
Imagine you’re creating an Android app. By testing small parts of the app during development, you make sure each piece works well before moving on. This saves trouble later.
Develop a Clear Test Plan
You would have to have a very effective test plan. This can be where you identify what kind of tests you require, whether it is performance, API, or mobile testing. In that plan, you will also indicate what tools to use, when and who does the testing.
For example, if you are developing an Android application, your test plan may include tools like Espresso for UI testing and JUnit for unit tests. A good test plan will ensure that each component of your app is tested.
Agile Development Testing
Agile development is continuous iterated cycles known as sprints. Testing is part of every sprint; thus, testing assists in finding out problems much quicker and fix them on time.
In Agile, developers, testers, and stakeholders come together to ensure the software meets the users’ needs. For example, after every sprint, you may test the performance of an app to see if it will handle many users. The constant testing keeps the software reliable and user-friendly.
Use the Right Tools
The right tools can make testing easier and faster. Tools like Appium and Selendroid are great for testing mobile apps. They work across platforms, so you can test Android and iOS apps with the same setup.
For instance, Appium lets you automate UI testing for Android apps. Automation saves time by handling repetitive tests and ensures the app works well on all devices.
Track and Fix Defects
Tracking and fixing problems is a key part of testing. A good defect tracking system helps you log issues, assign them to developers, and track progress.
For example, tools like JIRA can be used to track bugs found during API tests. Once logged, you can assign these bugs to the right developer for a fix. This ensures problems are resolved quickly, keeping the software on track.
Testing isn’t something you should leave for the end of development. By including it in every step of the SDLC, you can catch problems early, save time, and create better software. This approach improves the quality of your product and makes the whole development process more efficient.
What are some of the Best Practices for Android Testing?
In all great Android applications, testing is of great importance. Testing ensures that your app works in top condition and keeps users on the app. As Android continues to develop, best testing practices will be the reason your apps stand out. In this article, we will go deep into the best tips in relation to Android testing. These practices range from early testing, utilization of automation, running diverse types of tests, on real devices, and employing the concept of continuous integration.
Test Early, Test Often
The sooner you start testing, the better. It’s always much easier-and cheaper-to fix problems sooner rather than later. According to a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, fixing bugs after release can cost as much as 30 times more than fixing them early on.
Frequent testing during development allows the early discovery of problems before they get bigger. Research also shows that early testing can reduce bugs after release by up to 40%. This means fewer problems for users and a better app overall. Simply put, testing early saves time, money, and effort.
Use Automation
Automation testing saves you much time, effort, and even reduces the occurrence of human error. Manual repeating of the same tests takes more time and is cumbersome; you can test more parts of your app faster with automation.
For example, automation tests reduce testing time for companies by 30% and increase test coverage by 40%. Automation also helps with regression testing, which ensures that your app will still work after every update.
Automation can check performance, stress, and API. Running such tests on a regular basis will ensure that your application works seamlessly for users every time.
Variety of Testing
Different types of tests catch different kinds of problems. To effectively test your app, you need to run several types of tests:
Unit Testing:
This may be defined as testing small-scale parts of your code to guarantee that they are working right.
Integration Testing:
It allows seeing how different parts of your app work together.
UI Testing:
It is a process with which users interact with the application, checking buttons, screens, and workflows.
Performance Testing:
Checks out how fast and how strong an app is.
All these tests combined can show you problems in literally every area of the application. This way, you’ll create a smooth experience for your users, without bugging them.
Testing on Real Devices
Emulators are good enough for development, but testing is best done on a physical device. Why? Well, real-world conditions matter. If your app works only partially on actual devices, that frustrates users.
Studies have also proved that 70% of users leave apps that work poorly or crash. Testing across various devices lets you find bugs you wouldn’t discover on emulators. That also includes the testing of an application on various screen sizes and Android versions.
Here’s another fact: 89% of users uninstall apps that don’t live up to their expectations. With real device testing, this can be avoided: it makes your app a lot more reliable and can keep users happy.
Use Continuous Integration
Continuous Integration (CI) makes testing easier and faster. CI tools automatically build and test your app whenever you update the code. This way, you can catch errors early and fix them quickly.
Companies that use CI report fewer build errors and faster release times. For example, research shows CI can reduce build errors by 30% and speed up releases by 50%. Faster feedback loops also mean fewer delays. You can test, fix, and improve your app in real time.
CI also supports regular testing of APIs, performance, and app quality. By adding testing to your CI process, you ensure your app stays reliable and bug-free.
Conclusion
By following these best practices, you can make Android testing easier and more effective. When you understand and use these methods, your app’s quality will improve. This means happier users and greater success for your app.
This guide has given you a solid starting point for Android testing. By mastering and applying the right testing techniques, you can greatly improve your app. Ignoring these practices can cause your app to crash, show bugs, or lead to bad reviews. All of these can harm your reputation and hurt your profits.
Poor testing can result in slow performance, frustrated users, and even total app failure. You don’t want to lose to competitors who deliver smoother, error-free apps. While they move ahead with a strong product, you might fall behind due to glitches and technical issues.
At Linkitsoft, we focus on Android app testing solutions that help you avoid these risks. We ensure your app runs smoothly and performs as expected. Whether it’s unit testing, UI testing, or performance testing, our team uses the latest tools and proven methods to deliver excellent results. By working with us, you get access to experts who will go the extra mile to ensure your app exceeds user expectations.
The stakes are high. Don’t wait until problems appear. Start using these testing strategies now. Partner with Linkitsoft to build an app that shines in the competitive Android market. Contact us today to see how we can help you create a top-quality app that keeps users happy and drives your success.
