Let’s understand what are automation testing tools, before getting into the tools used for automation testing.

Automation Testing Tools are software, applications that minimize the need for human input and can be used in a variety of ways in almost any industry. At the most basic, automation software is designed to turn repeatable, routine tasks into automated actions.

Some Examples of Automated Testing Include-  

• Unit testing
• Integration testing
• Functional testing
• Regression testing
• Acceptance testing

What are the Benefits of Automation Testing Tools

• Faster Feedback Cycle
• Testing on Multiple Platforms in Parallel
• Reusability of Test Script
• Easy Data-driven Testing
• Test Insights
• Maximum Test Coverage
• 24X7 Test Execution
• Scalability
• Low Business Costs and Better Utilization of Human Resources
• Enhance the Quality of Manual Testing
• Effective Smoke Testing
• Better Regression Testing
• Reduce the Time to Release
• Execute Lengthy Test Scenarios
• Achieve Excellent Return on Investment (ROI)

The Limitations of Automation Testing Tools

• Tests Only Check What’s Been Programmed
• Early-Stage Time
• It Is Expensive
• Loss of the Human Element
• Continuous Maintenance of Code
• Inability to Test UX

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Best in Demand and Trending Tools Used for Automation Testing

As we have discussed what automation testing tools are? Now let’s come to the trendy automation testing tools-

– Selenium

Selenium is an open-source tool that automates web browsers. It provides a single interface that lets you write test scripts in programming languages like Ruby, Java, NodeJS, PHP, Perl, Python, and C#, among others.

– Katalon Studio

Katalon Studio is an all-in-one platform for low-code web, API, mobile, and desktop (Windows) automated testing. With the prerequisites of coding lowered, Katalon Studio is ultimately designed to help teams speed up the SLDC and do quality assurance more productively.

– Appium

Appium is the most popular open-source framework for mobile app automation testing. It allows QA to automate tests for popular mobile platforms like Android, iOS, and Windows. Appium uses the mobile JSON wire protocol (an extension of Selenium JSON wire protocol) to drive native, mobile web, and hybrid applications.

– TestComplete

TestComplete is an automated testing tool which is easy to create automated tests. It provides special features for creating tests, automating test actions, running tests, etc. A single tool that handles all your test automation needs, with a variety of languages, regardless of skill level. One only needs to Create test scripts, no coding, with record-and-replay. Speed up your testing cycles and tone down your quality concerns.

– Micro Focus Unified Functional Testing-

QTP was renamed as UFT (Unified Functional Testing) by Micro-focus. The tool is primarily used for functional, regression, and service testing. Using UFT, testers can automate user actions on a web or client-based computer application and test and identify bugs that may appear when those actions are being performed.

– Cucumber

Cucumber is an open-source software testing tool written in Ruby. Basically, Cucumber testing is a type of behavior-driven development (BDD) testing that uses the Cucumber tool to define, automate, and execute test cases in a human-readable format.

– Watir

Watir is an open-source web application testing framework that is designed to make writing Selenium tests simple and efficient. Built on Selenium’s Ruby language bindings, Watir is able to drive the browser in the same way humans do.

– Cypress 

Cypress is a JavaScript-based testing automation solution used for modern web automation. It enables teams to create web test automation scripts and enables frontend developers and test automation engineers to write web tests in the de-facto web language that is JavaScript for web test automation.

– TOSCA

Tosca is an automation tool for functional and regression testing of various software products. It also includes GUI, CLI (command line interface), integrated test management, and API. The tool was developed by TRICENTIS Technology & Consulting GmbH, an Austrian company. The tool is created in VB6, C#, and Java.

Silk Test identifies all windows and controls of the application under test as objects and defines all of the properties and attributes of each window. Thus, it supports an object-based implementation. Silk Test supports both recording and descriptive programming methods to identify and verify the elements in the AUT.

What are the Latest Testing Technologies?

Software testing technologies are methods, used to design and execute tests to evaluate software applications. Some of the testing technologies commonly used- 

• Software Performance testing helps to identify how well an application can handle a growing number of users, transactions, and data volumes. Doing so enables businesses to plan and implement scalability measures early, avoiding unexpected failures and ensuring that the application can handle growing demand.

• Regression testing refers to a type of software testing that is used to verify any modification or update in software without affecting the overall working functionality of the said software. Regression testing is performed when there is a code change in a software application.

• Integration testing is the phase in software testing in which individual software modules are combined and tested as a group. Integration testing is conducted to evaluate the compliance of a system or component with specified functional requirements. It occurs after unit testing and before system testing.

• Usability testing is a technique used in user-centered interaction design to evaluate a product by testing it on users. This can be seen as an irreplaceable usability practice since it gives direct input on how real users use the system.

• Machine learning tests, on the other hand, go beyond evaluating the models’ performance on subsets of data. It ensures that the composite parts of the ML system are working effectively to achieve the desired level of quality results.

Let’s discuss the future of software testing

The future of software testing is bright, with the emergence of new technologies and trends that will help businesses remain competitive and secure. We can expect to see greater testing process automation, AI-enabled testing tools, more efficient and effective testing methods, and more comprehensive test suites with the help of below mention techniques-

• Machine Learning– Machine Learning is used to create trends that help machines comprehend data and make judgments driven by data. This technology is likely to spread in the coming years, especially in 2023 and 2024. Sources suggest that 35% of companies report they’ve been using AI in their businesses.

• IoT Testing– The Internet of Things is the umbrella term for anything that connects to the Internet. By 2025, it is estimated that there will be more than 21 billion IoT devices. Cybersecurity will continue to be a big concern as more devices will connect directly to the 5G network.

• User Experience Test– Without UX testing, it’s impossible to know if your products are really meeting the user’s needs and providing a positive experience. The UX design trends we’re seeing in 2023 look toward creating more engaging and imaginative experiences through the use of new technologies, and moving away from minimalist visuals and toward uniquely bright and bold UI.

• Test Automation– Software automation testing in the future is likely to move away from using scripts and code. Instead, more focus will be on ensuring the user experience is excellent and using new technologies like AI, ML, and blockchain.

• Agile and DevOps– The adoption of DevOps helps organizations to improve software quality, reduce development cycle time, and increase delivery speed. Through the use of automation and continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) practices, DevOps streamlines the development process, enhances transparency, and promotes agile practices. 

• Performance Engineering– Performance Engineering has a much broader scope. It’s about injecting performance into your corporate DNA, implementing a performance mindset into your culture, and integrating performance at every opportunity throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

Trends in Software Testing in 2023

• Agile and DevOps
• Test Automation
• API and Services Test Automation 
• Artificial Intelligence for Testing
• Mobile Test Automation
• Test Environments and Data
• Integration of Tools and Activities

In conclusion, the Future of software testing is bright because it can be an excellent career choice for those interested in the tech industry, who enjoy problem-solving, and attention to detail. With job growth, competitive salaries, continuous learning, job satisfaction, flexibility, and job security, software testing offers many benefits.