If you want to check the functionality and quality of a mobile app, then you have to go through a process known as Mobile App Testing. This ensures that the mobile app qualifies for all the demands placed by end-users and also fulfills all the technical requirements prior to its release in the market.

Mobile app testing also ensures that the application will be stable for a long time and will not hinder the communication process, as we know everybody is dependent on mobile phones these days.

So, the app development team takes a keen interest and dedication in creating applications that would help to achieve business requirements and also fulfill multiple tasks in our daily life.

Based on recent statistics, it has been shown that the mobile app market is expected to reach $613 billion by 2025.

If you want to know more about mobile app testing, then here we have a comprehensive guide in the form of a mobile app testing tutorial.

What are the types of mobile apps?

A mobile app is a software that is programmed to run on any mobile devices, tablets or variable devices. These applications are of three types, which are available on App Store or Google Store:

• Web App 
• Native App
• Hybrid App

What are the benefits of mobile app testing?

During the development of a mobile app, the testers should go through a maintained process of testing the applications’ usability, functionality and quality. The benefits of mobile app testing are that:

• It ensures that the user has a stable experience, and the app is also user-friendly. This also helps the developers to evaluate the usage ability of the mobile application.
• If the mobile application has a 5-star rated performance, then it can earn high-end user loyalty leading to great revenues and a good reputation in the industry.
• Testing also eliminates errors as users look for applications that can run on multiple devices without any disruption. The testing also helps to understand the supported infrastructure and ensure the seamless function
• Data leakage has been the talk of the town, and with mobile app testing, these security vulnerabilities can be kept in check. So, if there are any potential data breach issues, app testing can prevent such security-related issues.
• While developing and testing an application, if one can easily identify the bugs and errors, then during the development process, the glitches can be reduced, and the issues can also be fixed at an early stage.

What are the types of mobile app testing?

Mobile testing does not have a one-dimensional approach, but rather it ensures that each aspect, feature and component of the mobile is tested. So, if you are looking for a mobile app testing tutorial, you must know the different mobile app testing types:

Functional testing 

In this type of mobile app testing, it is determined whether the applications are functioning seamlessly. It checks whether the application is responsive and targeted towards the intended use, fulfills all the requirements and also has a proper flow. If we break down functional testing, then it has different types, such as:

• Regression testing 
• Sanity testing 
• Integration testing
• Unit testing
• Smoke testing

Non-functional testing 

In this process, all the non-functional aspects of the mobile application are tested, such as performance and utility, and it compromises all the parts that are not included in functional testing. It also includes compatibility testing, where the hardware operating system and the devices are tested so that the application can work seamlessly.

Non-functional testing can be divided into several parts, which are also subdivided to make a clear tutorial about mobile app development.

1. Compatibility testing

Compatibility Testing is done to verify whether the app is compatible to run on a particular OS, and also has the ability to run on the latest as well as older version. This testing also includes two types, such as:

• Forward compatibility testing
• Backward compatibility testing

2. Usability testing 

Usability testing is done to determine whether the application is user-friendly, easy to navigate, or has any issues that need to be sorted. Here, the main elements check the logic of navigation, responsiveness, layout, look and size of the buttons, appearance of the icons and clarity

3. Performance and load testing 

Performance and load testing ensures whether the device is going to reach its full potential based on power, time and memory. It is divided into several parts, such as:

• Stress testing 
• Spike testing 
• Scalability testing
• Volume testing
• Load testing
• Endurance testing

4. Security testing 

Security testing is a major part of the mobile app testing process. If a mobile application is not secured, then the user won’t download it. So, mobile apps have to go through risk assessment, friendly, ethical hacking, vulnerability scanning, security scanning, security auditing, and penetration testing. All these ensure that the application is protected from any attack and also verify the presence of cookies, login and password, and encryption system.

5. Installation testing 

Installation testing is done to determine whether the app can be easily installed and uninstalled by the user without any drawback.

6. Localizing testing 

This mobile app testing process ensures that the application would be readily available for use in the local market so that the local people can easily manage it. This also ensures that, if required, the app can go through cultural changes and currency exchange seamlessly. This process ensures that the application is targeted to a diverse demography.

7. Exploratory testing 

The exploratory testing process helps to understand the functionality and useability of the mobile app. It also detects unexpected errors and puts up plans to fix them.

8. Storage testing

Every app requires a proper storage system so that the user can easily retrieve data, delete data or exchange data. The storage testing done for mobile apps includes how the application is going to behave in case of low or no storage available on the device. 

9. Interrupt testing

The application is going to get push notifications every day that includes alarm notification, battery low, incoming call, etc. So, these notifications should not interrupt the performance of the application, which is analyzed through interrupt testing. The entire aspect is to ensure that the user gets an optimized and undisturbed experience.

10. Beta testing 

This test is done to gain real-life feedback about the app and how it is going to perform in a real-world environment, this includes user experience, functionality and performance. 

How to create a mobile app testing strategy?

The key ingredient for any application to be successful is its user experience. So, it is your responsibility to create a strategy that would solve every user problem and keep the app running without any glitches. There are certain factors that should keep in mind while building an app testing strategy.

Your testing strategy should have the following flowchart:

1. Decide the device for which you are going to launch the application and start the testing process accordingly. 
2. Keep in mind the market share and whether the application is required in today’s market.
3. Go through Google Analytics to understand who are the prior users of the application so that you can improve its features in the near future.
4. Check whether the app has a good grasp of the tools that include test script, managing requirements and ability in team skill and taking into account framework and optimizing it.
5. Documentation is also very important as part of software development, which includes testing or coding. So, you have to be very specific about the test log, test plan, bug report incident or issue reporting and analysis of the test.
6. Mobile app testing tools and framework should be put into use as it saves time and also helps you to analyze how the app will perform in Android and iOS environments.
7. Determine the scope of automation testing to reduce the repetitive work and time. Divide the test into different portions so that you can complete it within a fixed time

Winding Up

Mobile has become an important component of our day-to-day life, so if any company wants to expand its business, it is important to have a mobile application where the customers can directly interact with the brand. Thus, application testing is quite crucial in this highly competitive environment. As you have learnt A to Z about mobile testing, now we hope you can perform them easily. There are also multiple tools available in the market that can help you with mobile app testing.