Every time you download and use an app, it’s worth taking a minute to think of how many tests and refinements this application is likely to have received. As our world becomes even more tethered to digital technologies and the convenience they provide, app developers must either keep up with trends and innovations or simply be left behind for something a little sleeker. This is precisely why mobile app testing is so important, both when developing and even updating an app.
If you haven’t stopped to consider what goes into mobile app testing, here are just a few examples of the most common forms of app testing you can expect all the apps in your phone to have been through.
Usability and UI testing
The ultimate test for a mobile app is whether its user function stands up to scrutiny. The app development costs will all be for nothing if you arrive at a finished product that does not reflect what you set out to achieve. Usability and UI (or ‘user interface’) testing will help app developers determine whether it is better to have text windows smaller or larger, buttons more prominent, bolder or softer colours, and any other interface design features that may enhance their app’s user experience.
One element that virtually all app developers seek to cultivate is ‘convenience’. If a mobile app is not convenient to use then it has failed the usability and UI testing and will likely be revised. Keep in mind that usability and UI testing is by no means a linear process, and it is quite common to see these tests occurring repeatedly throughout the design and building stages of app development.
Functional testing
Now that we have discussed the look and feel of the mobile app and how these aspects are tested, let’s discuss functional tests that are run using scripts. Functional testing involves assessing the functions within your app that align with your app’s purpose. In essence, if your app is designed to make sales, then functional tests will be conducted to determine just how well your app as it exists currently, can convert user engagement into sales.
If you were to imagine a flow chart and all the directions and pages your mobile app leads to, this is effectively what is going to be tested by users. Functional app testers generally use two different types of users when running functional test scripts: those who are aware, and those who are not aware of the purpose behind the mobile app.
Functional testing is often referred to as one of the most basic tests, as it determines whether a designed mobile app can immediately cater to your defined user intent. Generally speaking, if an app has responded well to functional tests, then it’s ready to be launched and released on app stores. If it hasn’t performed as anticipated, then it’ll be back to the studio for more development.
Security mobile app testing
You do not want your mobile app to go down in infamy as a security risk to users, especially if the app requires users to enter personal data. Thankfully, there are lots of QA agencies and professionals who can test the security of mobile apps, as well as conduct these security tests within app design teams.
The MAST market (or Mobile Application Security Testing) is growing at an exponential rate, with lots of products and services out there to analyse any areas that might present a threat to users, and then taking measures to address those vulnerabilities by developing and implementing security strategies.
It’s also worth noting that there are different types of app security testing that all fall under the umbrella of MAST, with some examples being static and dynamic security testing, which assesses the isolated source code and the testing of the app via real-time execution respectively. MAST specialists work with development teams to ascertain which tests are best suited for apps over the course of their development.
Cross-platform compatibility testing
These days it is very common for mobile apps to maintain cross-platform compatibility, connecting up with other applications in gaming consoles, computers, and a range of other personal devices. For this reason, app developers are urged to ensure that their app’s cross-platform compatibility is on point.
Whilst testing cross-platform compatibility is more or less easily done, what developers have to be wary of is when those third-party apps or the apps on other platforms are updated and changed themselves. Changes to one app can affect that app’s ability to connect with other applications that it may have once been compatible with.
The process of cross-platform compatibility testing phase can be ongoing because of the impact of app updates. That being said, if a mobile app in question is very frequently used in tandem with another app, it is possible that app updates will be in sync with the other.
Consistency of product with iOS, Android, Microsoft, & Mac
Developers also need to be sure that their mobile app’s ability and security are tested on all operating systems, like iOS, Android and Windows 10 Mobile. Developers are likely going to lose favour with their app’s intended audience if the released app was clearly designed to work on one platform over another.
If agencies are particularly skewed to one operating system over another, this is where design bias can occur. With this in mind, it is ideal to have software that’s compatible with both platforms, as well as a QA team who is experienced with all mobiles and mobile app forms.
Allow time and budget for testing
Testing might not be the most exciting element of app development, but it is a critical one and could determine the success of any mobile app venture. Developers are encouraged to establish app launch dates with ample time for app testing to occur. Estimated time required for an app to be thoroughly tested is generally contingent on the size and complexity of that app’s design. Even so, thorough app testing is always required prior to an app’s launch as it’s only through weeks if not months of testing, that app developers can actually correct any issues and explore any insights gathered during testing that may help to further develop and enhance their end product.
On this same note, there are many development teams who believe in the lean methodology of launching an MVP (Minimal Viable Product) and refining thereafter, but this can come with its own share of development issues, and potentially even a budget blowout. If mobile app testing is not going to be carried out by an app’s immediate design and product teams, then developers must ensure that external testing is built into their build and post-build budget. The last thing you want is to spend your budget on the build and then have to launch it without the confidence that all issues have been identified and corrected.
Testing is far from a bore, and it’s a designer’s strongest line of defence against creating a mobile app that no one wants. At the end of the day, these tests are meant to assess the emotions of potential users and highlight threats and opportunities that allow them to continue interacting with the app over the foreseeable future.
