Everything you Need to Know about GUI Testing in Software

What is GUI?

A computer usually has two types of interfaces- the CLI and the GUI. CLI stands for Command Line Interface, where the computer responds through the commands you put in. GUI stands for Graphical User Interface, which uses pictures to interact and communicate with the user instead of just simple text commands. GUI Software Testing ensures the application is attractive and error-free.

What is GUI Testing?

GUI Testing Tools

GUI Software Testing thoroughly checks the application for a graphical interface. The primary purpose behind conducting a GUI test is to check the proper functioning of software screens and controls as per the given specifications. GUI is the page that users see and interact through with the computer. Unlike the Command Line Interface, which shows the complete source code, the GUI displays understandable texts, pictures, and other graphics instead of revealing the page’s skeleton, which is the source code. The GUI testing method checks these designs, structures, and much more of the graphical part.

The following are some of the most popular GUI testing tools available in the market

● Ranorex

● Selenium

● QTP

● Cucumber

● SilkTest

● TestComplete

● Squish GUI Tester

Testing Guidelines

There are specific guidelines that GUI testers have to follow before conducting a GUI test such as:

● To check the various validations of a particular application screen.

● Verify all the possible navigation options in an application.

● Check the condition of usability of the software.

● Verify all integrated sources of data for proper validation.

● Verify the objects and their subsequent states present in the application.

● Check and verify the date field and numeric field formats that the application uses.

Automation Tools

The open-source GUI automation tools along with their licensed vendors are listed below:

● AutoHotkey (GPL)

● Selenium (Apache)

● Sikuli (MIT)

● Robot Framework (Apache)

● Watir (BSD)

● Dojo Toolkit (BSD)
The commercial GUI automation tools along with their licensed vendors are listed below:
● AutoIT (AutoIT)

● EggPlant (TestPlant)

● QTP (HP)

● Rational Functional Tester (IBM)

● Infragistics (Infragistics)

● iMacros (iOpus)

● CodedUI (Microsoft)

● Sikuli (Micro Focus International)

GUI Testing Approaches:

Here are the prominent GUI Testing Approaches:

Manual Testing: This is the approach to manually check the screen to validate the functionality through the creation and execution of the test cases. In case the UI feature is ready, then this approach is useful to use.

Record and Replay Testing: The tools used for GUI record and replay are used to test the application for the great user interface. With the help of such tools, testers help in running the application and recording the user interface through the app.

Model-Based Testing: This is the type of GUI testing, where a model is created to understand and then evaluate the system’s behavior. This approach helps in the creation of accurate and reliable test cases.

Why Do you Need This Testing?

The main aim of modern applications and software is to be highly interactive for the users and make it customizable according to the users’ needs. Hence manufacturers pay special attention to graphic designing and improving the overall interface to make it more interactive. This is where GUI testing comes to play. It closely checks and verifies each bit of detail and intricately carves out the dynamics of an application.

Here are the various components of a user interface to check through GUI software testing:

● Visual design

● Safety and security

● Compliance to standards

● Functionality

● Optimization criteria

● Performance of the overall application

Benefits

GUI testing comes with a lot of benefits such as:

● Your application will be completely error-free.

● Increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the application.

● The application looks new and fresh. This testing enhances the overall quality.

What do we Check-in GUI Testing?

You can check the primary and extensive check for the general user interface in GUI testing. Here are other components to check the following:

● Testing the dimensions like size, width, height, and position of a particular visual or graphical element.

● Verifying and checking whether the appropriate error messages are displayed or not while error actions are taken.

● Testing every inch of the display screen containing texts, images, graphics, and other elements.

● Verifying the functionality and overall usability of the carousel arrows on the screen.

● Checking and testing all the navigation options available at the top of every screen for quick toggling between different pages.

● Checking the various displayed messages on the screen, frequency of the screen, and the content available on the screen.

● Testing the overall functionality of the filters present for display and checking the efficiency of the results.

● Check whether the radio buttons, drop-down menu buttons align with the screen scale.

● It is verifying the title mentioned on top of each page and its relative correctness with the content.

● Double-check all the colors present on the screen and their subsequent synchronization with the maintained theme of the screen and display units.

GUI testing is done before the launch of a particular application. Hence, it is crucial for every software to check all the elements present in the user interface. This ensures that the user has a seamless experience with the graphics. This method of testing mainly releases completely user-friendly software.

Conclusion

In conclusion, GUI testing is a vital process that ensures the graphical interface of an application is functional, user-friendly, and free from errors. By verifying design elements, navigation, and overall usability, GUI testing improves the software’s efficiency, aesthetics, and user experience. Utilizing both manual and automated approaches, testers ensure that every aspect of the interface meets the specified requirements, resulting in a seamless, high-quality application ready for users.

Source*: This blog was originally published at* https://testgrid.io/blog/a-to-z-about-gui-testing-in-software/