Software Engineering-Testing Web based Applications

We noted that testing is the process of exercising software with the intent of finding (and ultimately correcting) errors. This fundamental philosophy does not change for WebApps. In fact, because Web-based systems and applications reside on a network and interoperate with many different operating systems, browsers, hardware platforms, and communications protocols, the search for errors represents a significant challenge for Web engineers.

The approach for WebApp testing adopts the basic principles for all software testing  and applies a strategy and tactics that have been recommended for object-oriented systems. The following steps summarize the approach:

1. The content model for the WebApp is reviewed to uncover errors. This “testing” activity is similar in many respects to copy editing a written document. In fact, a large Web-site might enlist the services of a professional copy editor to uncover typographical errors, grammatical mistakes, errors in content consistency, errors in graphical representations, and cross-referencing errors.

2. The design model for the WebApp is reviewed to uncover navigation errors. Use-cases, derived as part of the analysis activity, allow a Web engineer to exercise each usage scenario against the architectural and navigation design. In essence, these nonexecutable tests help uncover errors in navigation (e.g., a case where the user cannot reach a navigation node). In addition, the navigation links ) are reviewed to ensure that they correspond with those specified in each SNU for each user role.

3. Selected processing components and Web pages are unit tested. When WebApps are considered, the concept of the unit changes. Each Web page encapsulates content, navigation links, and processing elements (forms, scripts, applets). It is not always possible or practical to test each of these characteristics individually. In many cases, the smallest testable unit is the Web page. Unlike unit testing of conventional software, which tends to focus on the algorithmic detail of a module and the data that flow across the module interface, page-level testing for WebApps is driven by the content, processing, and links encapsulated by the Web page.

4. The architecture is constructed and integration tests are conducted. The strategy for integration testing depends on the architecture that has been chosen for the WebApp. If the WebApp has been designed with a linear, grid, or simple hierarchical structure, it is possible to integrate Web pages in much the same way as we integrate modules for conventional software. However, if a mixed hierarchy or network (Web) architecture is used, integration testing is similar to the approach used for OO systems. Thread-based testing  can be used to integrate the set of Web pages (a SNU may be used to define the appropriate set) required to respond to a user event. Each thread is integrated and tested individually. Regression testing is applied to ensure that no side effects occur. Cluster testing integrates a set of collaborating pages (determined by examining the the use-cases and SNU). Test cases are derived to uncover errors in the collaborations.

5. The assembled WebApp is tested for overall functionality and content delivery. Like conventional validation, the validation of Web-based systems and applications focuses on user-visible actions and user-recognizable output from the system. To assist in the derivation of validation tests, the tester should draw upon use-cases. The use-case provides a scenario that has a high likelihood of uncovering errors in user interaction requirements.

6. The WebApp is implemented in a variety of different environmental configurations and is tested for compatibility with each configuration. A cross-reference matrix that defines all probable operating systems, browsers, hardware platforms, and communications protocols is created. Tests are then conducted to uncover errors associated with each possible configuration.

7. The WebApp is tested by a controlled and monitored population of end-users. A population of users that encompasses every possible user role is chosen. The WebApp is exercised by these users and the results of their interaction with the system are evaluated for content and navigation errors, usability concerns, compatibility concerns, and WebApp reliability and performance.

Because many WebApps evolve continuously, the testing process is an ongoing activity, conducted by Web support staff who use regression tests derived from the tests developed when the WebApp was first engineered.