Automated testing and unit testing are concepts that usually go side-by-side. However, they have two separate meanings and cannot be used interchangeably despite their undeniable connection.
If you are wondering what these terms have in common and what sets them apart, this article will provide you with a comprehensive comparison.
What Is Automated Testing?
Automated testing or test automation are terms that refer to the automated execution of test scripts. Automation is achieved through specialized testing solutions, as opposed to manual testing, which is performed manually by testers. Thus, the main goal of automated testing is to perform test execution without human supervision. This, in turn, allows organizations to increase test coverage and perform multiple test executions simultaneously.
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Test Automation Software
The range of tools used for test automation is wide and includes open-source frameworks and libraries such as Selenium, which can be adapted to various software products, as well as solutions for specific software, such as Executive Automats for the Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP and CRM software suite.
As mentioned earlier, test automation requires automating test execution, but some solutions are also suitable for automating other tasks related to testing. Executive Automats, for example, is also used to automate report generation.
In addition, test automation tools can reduce manual workload through no-code user interfaces. Executive Automats, is also one of these solutions. It helps competent developers reduce the amount of effort required to create test scripts and makes testing more accessible to users without a technical background.
It is also worth noting that the installation of test automation software varies widely. Open-source frameworks and libraries usually require the development of a complete test environment, while ready-to-use proprietary solutions are often featured with a short installation process and can be used without any special preparations.
What Tests Can Be Automated?
As stated above, there is a connection between unit tests and automated tests. In fact, unit tests are one of the many types of tests that can be successfully automated.
Many tests that are characterized by high repetition and large scope can be automated. Some of these tests are:
Performance tests;
Regression tests;
Integration tests;
Functional tests;
User interface tests;
Database tests;
Configuration tests.
When Do You Need Automated Testing?
Automated testing is highly recommended for the above tests, especially when evaluating large and complex software products such as the Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP and CRM system, which is also subject to frequent updates.
Despite the investments required to implement test automation products, automated testing may be the only viable solution in the case of testing large applications with advanced functionality, as even the most experienced manual testers are not able to bring testing to the level that meets the testing needs of such software.
What Is Unit Testing?
Unit testing is a fundamental practice used in software development that evaluates individual code components in isolation. These components, commonly referred to as units, can be seen as the smallest part of a software product that can be tested. Classes, methods, and functions are some of the examples of units related to unit testing.
The goal of unit testing is to ensure that each unit produces the expected output and functions as intended. This objective can be achieved through both manual unit testing and automated unit testing, however, the second one is becoming increasingly popular among companies.
Key Features of Unit Testing
Unit tests isolate code components, which requires the use of mocking or stubbing techniques to ensure that dependencies such as external services or connections to databases do not interfere with the tests.
Unit tests are also characterized by high precision. Because they divide code into the smallest testable units, testers can more easily pinpoint bugs and their root causes, which in turn increases their productivity through quick feedback loops and faster understanding of issues, which, in turn, improves software quality.
In addition, unit tests can be a valuable part of regression testing. Since they focus on individual code elements, the impact of code changes can be more easily captured.
Unit tests are typically performed in the early stages of development to detect and fix bugs before they affect other parts of the software.
As mentioned earlier, unit tests can be successfully automated, which brings additional profits to organizations.
When Do You Need Unit Testing?
Unit tests are essential for any business engaged in software development or relying on frequently updated third-party applications with core business features including Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP and CRM systems.
As mentioned earlier, they are essential during the development process and very helpful for regression testing, especially for frequent code releases. In addition, code refactoring for structural changes can be done more accurately if developers perform unit tests.
Bottom Line
Test automation aims to automate test tasks that require repetition and are prone to human error. While there are many types of tests that can be automated, unit tests are one of them. At the same time, unit testing, which focuses on evaluating small individual pieces of code separated from their dependencies, can also be performed manually.
Automated unit tests, meanwhile, can be especially helpful in evaluating large software suites with complex functionality. In some cases, such as regression testing, performing unit tests manually may not be cost-effective.
Both automated testing and unit testing can be of great help not only to companies that specialize in software development but also to organizations that have already adopted solutions created by other developers.
