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I am new to the field of software testing. I would like to clarify the following basic things:

  • As there were different types of testing process, we used to do manually enter testcases and write for an specific web applications...etc

As I currently understand it a tester would do the following types of manual testing

Unit Testing

Integration Testing

System Testing

Automating the process of web applications which we can't done manually (Eg regression testing) we use automation testing

I would like to know, what is the need for automation testing? Can anyone explain to me why automation testing should be used, and what is the need for an automation testing process?

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Do you have any ideas why ? – Phil Kirkham Sep 28 '12 at 12:13
@PhilKirkham i am beginner in this field so asked about to know what's the automation testing and why we need it – vignesh4303 Sep 28 '12 at 12:23
I understand, I just wanted to see if you had any opinions or thoughts – Phil Kirkham Sep 28 '12 at 12:47
Manual testing is expensive. Ask yourself, do we have the time or money to check all functionality each release manually? Running automated tests is much cheaper and repeatable (if done right). – Steve Miskiewicz Sep 28 '12 at 14:09
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I'm sorry, but I am going to vote -1 for the question. There are way too many answers available just by typing "automated testing" or "test automation" on google e.g. support.smartbear.com/articles/testcomplete/manager-overview. If there is any other specific information you are looking for that you couldn't find while searching, please specify that. – Suchit Parikh Sep 28 '12 at 16:17

3 Answers

up vote 9 down vote accepted

Automation is using software to test software. Testers use automation for the same kinds of reasons that other professions use automation: to do things in a more reliable, repeatable way than we could do with people.

There are other reasons why you might use automation. For example, it may save time and/or save money, although if it is done in the wrong way or in the wrong circumstances, it may require even more time and more money than using people.

The categories of unit testing, integration testing, and system testing are orthogonal to whether you use automation. Depending on the circumstances, you could do all, some, or none of that automatically.

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up vote 5 down vote

Test automation is a tool that can be used to remove the need for humans to have to execute the same checks over and over again as the software is changed as it is being developed.

I use the word "check" as automation doesn't do what a manual tester can do, it doesn't question, or think and make and disprove hypothesis on what bugs exist in software. It simply performs a set of pre-determined actions and verifies that expected behaviours occur.

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up vote 1 down vote

Check out this post about manual and automated tests. It has some very interesting ideas on the subject.

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Hello Hadar and welcome to SQA.SE. Consider expanding your answer by adding a brief summary of the referenced article. See How to Answer, section "Provide context for links". The article seems to contain a good content, but a brief summary would make your answer more valuable for those who read it in the future. – bytebuster Oct 14 '12 at 4:43

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