Software testing is an important part of any SDLC (software development lifecycle). Software companies invest a large part of their revenue in software testing to ensure defect-free software.

Two primary types of software testing in the software development lifecycle include Manual Testing and Automated Testing. But, which one should you choose?

That’s what we break down in this comparison of manual testing vs automation testing comparison. Here, we have shared the details into each testing type, their pros and cons, along with some of the best automation testing tools.

Automation vs Manual Testing: Key Differences

Let’s look at the key difference between manual testing and automated testing:

What is Manual Testing?

Manual testing is a type of software testing where the testers use a manual process to perform tests. It does not involve the use of any tools or programmed software to identify bugs and defects.

In manual testing, testers evaluate each feature of the software from the end user’s perspective. The testers write test cases to check the software features and identify bugs and potential defects.”

How Manual Testing Works?
In manual testing, testers perform hands-on evaluations of software functionalities. For example, when a developer creates a mobile application, a QA tester conducts functional tests by using the application as a real user would.

Consider testing the login functionality of a mobile app. The tester would follow these steps:

• Open the mobile application.
• Navigate to the login page
• Enter username and password
• Tap on the login page
• Report a bug if you’re unable to login This process allows testers to verify individual features and the user interface. However, testing each functionality manually can be time-consuming and prone to human error.

Why choose Manual testing over Automation testing?
One of the biggest reasons for choosing manual testing over automation testing is its ability to perform nuanced testing for each scenario. Despite its time-consuming nature, manual testing is preferred for performing specific tests.

Here are the other benefits of manual software testing:

• User Perspective: In manual testing, the tester uses the application just as a user would, providing valuable insights into the user’s point of view about the system’s behavior.
• No Coding Knowledge Required: Manual testing does not necessarily require an in-depth knowledge of coding, making it more accessible for testers.
• Flexibility: Because it’s performed by humans, manual testing allows for the flexibility to change the testing process on the fly based on insights gathered during the testing.
• Better for Exploratory Testing: Manual testing is beneficial during exploratory testing, where the tester needs to validate a specific piece of functionality without a defined test case.

When to use Manual Testing?
As mentioned earlier, manual testing is suitable for certain testing types where human intervention is required. Also, tests that are less repetitive and pose a high risk of inaccuracies usually must be performed manually as well.

Let’s look at the most common scenarios which need manual testing:

Usability and exploratory testing are usually performed unplanned.
Accessibility testing, which tests the app’s functionalities for specially-abled.
Localization testing, where users test for language accuracy in different locations.
Low-volume testing where the test needs to be performed only once or twice.

Limitations of Manual Testing:
While manual testing is an integral part of the software testing life cycle, it does come with its set of challenges:

• Time-Intensive: Manual testing is time-consuming and can potentially delay the software development lifecycle, especially when dealing with large applications.
• Increased Chance of Errors: With manual testing, the chances of error due to oversight or misjudgment increase.
• Difficulty in Tracking: Manual testing requires extensive documentation to track the testing process, which can be a daunting task.
• Lower Test Coverage: Given the time constraints, manual testing may not be able to cover all test scenarios, particularly for large software systems.
• Less Efficient for Repetitive Tasks: Repeatedly performing the same set of tasks may lead to tester fatigue, which can affect the effectiveness of the tests.

What is Automated Testing?

Automation Testing, also known as Automated Testing, involves testing software applications using automation tools, testing scripts, and frameworks.

Its primary purpose is to automate repetitive tasks, increase test coverage, and improve the speed and efficiency of testing. Automated testing tools can efficiently perform tests on real devices, various browsers, and various operating systems.

How Automated Testing works?
Automation testing is performed using the software automation testing tools. Here are the series of steps involved in automated testing:

• Select a testing tool: A lot depends on the automated testing tool you choose. Whether you want to write your scripts or pre-defined scripts, testing tools can ease the testing process. ‘
• Design & Develop: Next, develop your testing strategy and choose the type of tests you want to perform. It also includes choosing the browsers, devices and operating systems.
• Perform the tests: Use the pre-written scripts to automate your tests. You can use real devices and browsers to perform the tests or choose an emulator. Once the test is complete, analyze the results through a detailed report.

Why choose Automated testing over Manual testing?
Automated software testing stands out for its speed and scalability. While manual testing restricts you to run tests on only a single device or operating system at a time, automated testing allows you to perform tests on multiple devices and real browsers.

Have a look at the benefits of automated testing over manual testing:

Faster testing times: Automation testing allows multiple tests to run simultaneously, significantly reducing the testing time.
Higher Test Coverage: Automated testing can execute a large number of complex test cases during every test, providing broader test coverage.
Increased Accuracy: Automated tests eliminate the possibility of human error, thus providing a higher level of accuracy.
Reusability of Test Scripts: Test scripts can be reused for different versions of the software, thereby reducing the time to write new scripts from scratch.

When to use Automated Testing?
Automation testing is best suited for repetitive testing tasks. For instance, it is best suited for the regression testing that news to be executed periodically. In this case, Automated testing provides speed and efficiency without the need to disrupt the existing functionality of the software.

Automated testing is also suitable for testing that requires complex test scenarios and runs complex test cases simultaneously. For instance, load tests and performance tests require a concurrent number of users.

All in all, automated testing is ideal for any testing type where the number of testers is limited, and the testing is time-bounded. Automated testing also helps in early bug detection through detailed insights and reports, which include the logging of all incidents and issue reporting along with how developers can fix them within a time frame.

Limitations of Automated Testing
Automated testing is indeed important, it can’t suffice the testing requirements completely. Here are some of the limitations of automated software testing:

Complex to Setup: Setting up an automation process can be time-consuming and complex.
Requires Technical Expertise: Writing coded scripts for automation testing requires a solid understanding of programming.
Less Intuitive: Automated testing lacks the ability to identify visual user interface issues that can be caught during manual testing.
Inefficiency for One-Time Tasks: Automation might not be the best choice for tasks that need to be executed only once or twice.

Can Automation Testing Replace Manual Testing?

The short answer is No. While the automated testing tools will help you with all the technicalities and automation of testing, a manual tester would still be needed to achieve accurate testing results.

For complex cases, a manual intervention is highly coveted. On the other hand, automated testing is viable for repetitive tasks. Just like a car would need a driver to operate, an automated testing tool needs manual testers.

How to Integrate Manual Testing & Automated Testing Effectively?

Successful software testing is a blend of both manual and automated testing. While manual testing gives the human touch, automated testing boosts speed and efficiency for repeated and recurring tasks.

The use of AI in automated testing, paired with manual testing methods, fuels the testing process and reduces the chance of errors. Combining both methods maximizes test coverage, detects errors smoothly, and ensures high-quality software.

If you are already using manual testing methods, you might want to include the automated testing to speed up the testing and test vast amounts of data, reducing the dependency on testers.

Here are some best practices to use both the testing methods together:

• Identify the test case for automation: Depending on the testing type, you might need to identify the test cases and create a script. Let’s say load testing may have a different test script from regression testing. You can create a set of criteria to decide if this test can be automated or not. Most commonly, regression testing, performance testing and user testing can be automated.
• Choose devices and browsers: The next step is to select the devices and browsers on which you wish to test your application. While you can use manual testing to test it on a few devices, automated testing can test your web applications on various devices, browsers and operating systems simultaneously.
• Execute manual and automated tests in parallel: Manual testing allows for a more in-depth exploration of user interactions and potential issues that may arise, while automated testing streamlines the process by running repetitive test cases efficiently. Both these tests can help achieve comprehensive test coverage and identify defects widely. This parallel approach complements both testing methods, reducing the dependency on one of them.
• Share insights and address discrepancies: Collaboration is the key to fostering successful testing. Regular meetings and status updates can help keep all team members informed and on the same page. Use effective communication tools to bring transparency into the automation process.

How To Switch From Manual Testing To Automation Testing?

Switching from manual testing to automation testing requires a systematic approach to get the maximum value from both testing methods. Here’s how:

• Understand the Requirements: Set clear and feasible goals that you wish to tackle.
• Select Suitable Tools: Choose the appropriate testing tools that suit your project requirements. Know whether you need a licensed tool that offers a dedicated testing environment or an open-source tool with various contributors.
• Invest in Training: Ensure the testers have the required training to use automation tools efficiently. Resources should be capable of understanding the tool and utilize it to optimize the testing process.
• Prioritize Test Cases: Identify the test cases that need to be automated. These are typically repetitive cases, high-risk areas, and cases involving large data sets.
• Start Small: Automate a small set of test cases and gradually extend the scope as your team becomes more experienced.
• In hybrid testing, flexibility is indeed vital. While you are on the automation testing, use manual methods for accuracies and segmentation.

Manual vs Automation Testing: Which is the better choice?

By now, you might have understood the importance of the two testing methods. However, you can’t rely on one testing method wholly. While manual methods are simpler, they have limitations in terms of testing efficiency.

Automated testing methods help write and run test cases for recurring tasks readily. Further, the use of AI technology in automated tools reduce the guesswork and boost efficiency by simplifying the test case creation and assisting in tests.

You can brainstorm to decide if manual works well or if automated testing might be the right choice for you. In most cases, the hybrid testing is what works best for the testers.

Conclusion

In the software development lifecycle, both manual and automated testing play crucial roles, each with distinct advantages and limitations. Manual testing offers flexibility, user perspective, and is ideal for exploratory and usability testing, but it is time-consuming and prone to human error. On the other hand, automated testing provides speed, accuracy, and efficiency for repetitive tasks and large-scale test cases, though it requires significant setup and technical expertise.

The optimal approach often combines both methods — leveraging the strengths of each to enhance test coverage and ensure high-quality software. By integrating manual and automated testing, teams can achieve a balanced, comprehensive testing strategy that addresses diverse testing needs effectively.

Source: This article was originally published at testgrid.io