A
Guide To Web Application Testing
TestMaker makes Web application testing easier, efficient, and rapid. Consider PushToTest's checklist of Web application testing:
1) Functional Testing (Regression, Integration, Smoke Testing)
2) Browser Compatibility Testing
1)
Functional Testing (Regression,
Integration, Smoke Testing)
Test Web pages for correct function, formatting, cookies, and data validation. Functional testing is ideal to accomplish smoke testing, regression testing, and integration testing.
Check links:
Test
links to a page from external pages
Test
all links on a page for correct operation
Test
links to anchors on the same page
Test
email mail-to linksIdentify
orphan pages - pages that are not linked from other pages
Test Web forms on the page:
Check
the field validation logic for each fieldCheck
default values for each field
Check
that password fields do not show the password contents
Negative
test invalid input values for each field
Validate
the response to a form submit
Session and Cookie Management Testing:
Check
application log-in sessions by enabling and disabling cookies
Negative
test cookies by using a mismatching domain
Check
that session cookies reset between browser sessions
Check
application security by selectively deleting cookies while a test
operates
Validate Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) tags:
Identify
CSS tags that return 404 or other CSS load errors
Identify
HTML id, class, and name attributes that do not match any CSS tags
Validate JavaScript tags:
Identify
Script tags that return 404 or other load errors
Identify
id, name, on... attributes that do not match any Script tag
Dynamic content testing (aka Database testing):
Check
data consistency in database-driven Web forms
Check
create, edit, delete, update (CRUD) tasks
Verify
data retrieval delivers the correct data
Identify
database connectivity and query errors
2) Browser Compatibility Testing:
Differences in Web browsers, operating environments, and hardware devices impact the correct operation of your Web application.
Browser compatibility:
Test
your Web application for correct function on several browsers,
including Firefox, IE, Chrome, Opera, and Safari. Ideally your Web
application handles browser differences elegantly.
Check
application function with a variety of browser security profile
settings
Verify
application function with browser features turned-off (JavaScript,
Cookies)
Check
browser rendering of your application's user interface
Check
the browser's security settings for cross domain access and hacks
Verify
consistent application function across multiple versions of a browser
Operating Environment Compatibility:
Check
application user interface rendering on OS windowing systems
Check
desktop integration functions, including drag-and-drop and file
selection
Test
your web application on different operating systems, including
Windows, Unix, MAC, Linux, and Solaris
Mobile Device Compatibility:
Check
application compatibility with device services, including location
and dialing services
Check
user interface rendering on mobile device screen sizes, including
screen rotation
Verify
correct application operation when device is in and out of range of
network services
3) Performance Testing:
Web Load Testing
Linear scalability - where an application's performance does not vary as the number of users increases - is the Holy Grail of Web application testing. Load testing identifies a Scalability Index for your Web application performance.
Check
server response to browser form submit requests
Identify
performance changes over a period of time
Test
for functions that stop working at higher levels of user load
Identify
the network latency problems on Web application function
Web Stress Testing
Determine
how the application responds under high levels of load
Identify
portions of the Web application that fail under high levels of load
Identify
application function after a system crash or component failure
Identify
forms and links that operate differently under high levels of load
4) Security Testing:
Protect Web application data and maintain functionality as designed.
Check
URLs for operation without loging
Test
basic authentication using false user name and password credentials
Check
X.509 security certificates on secure Web pages
Test
for correct application function upon invalid URL attribute values
Check
for application function with invalid input fields, including text
fields
Check
for Web server protection of inaccessible Web directories or files
Check
for Web application identification of security breaches, including
error messages and security breach attempts being logged
Test
CAPTCHA fields for Web forms and logins
Test
browser security settings for moving from secure to insecure pages
5) Production Monitoring
Operate the Web application tests periodically and save the test logs as proof of Servlice Level Agreement (SLA) compliance
Periodically
check the end user experience
Provide
auto-scaling and load balance systems with end user experience
metrics
Check
for correct application function from a variety of geographic
locations
6) Usability Testing
The design and presentation of an application has a large impact on the success your users will have in using the Web application. PushToTest is a fan of Seth Godin's approach to usability testing.
Test For Navigation:
Check
for the user to have apparent and easy controls to move from page to
page.
Test
the flow of a Web application by observing how the user accomplishes
their goals
Check
that the user can find instructions should they not intuitively know
how to operate a function
Test
that common navigation objects appear on every page consistently
Test
search functions for proper application functions
Content Checking:
Test
that content is logically arranged and easy for users to understand
Check
for spelling errors
Check
that pages adhear to color and pattern style guidelines, including
fonts, frames, and borders
Check
that images load correctly and with proper sizes