What is Mobile App Testing? | Performance tools & Types of Mobile testing
Here’s a challenge for you. Let us know how many of you have experienced a situation like this:
- A Mobile App that you are using stopped responding to touch all of sudden.
- A Mobile App closes and restarts itself while using the app.
In this blog, we discuss some aspects of Mobile App Performance Testing.
Depending on the technology used, we have to develop the applications.
What are the different types of Mobile testing
(i) Native Mobile App testing
This type of apps constructs over a specific platform.
The app constructs with the help of software installed on the device.
Native applications are far much faster.
They are more responsive as they’re locally built on the device.
Just as the code on every device varies i.e for iPhone, Android and so forth, whilst Performance Testing we will have to look at testing on each and every system.
(ii) Web-based Mobile App Testing
This type of software accessible through a browser.
They do not need any applications to download or installed in the device.
They truly are light weighted.
Therefore, it assembles in exactly the same pile in every type of OS versions.
In addition, the responsive website design helps it to be even easier on screens with different resolutions.
All these types of software have disadvantages such as that they are not available to get with no online link.
So they do not have the features plus in addition, they often work slower compared on these users.
It is crucial to replicate the user load on the mobile browser and to test software whether the web page renders on the desired device.
(iii) Hybrid App testing
A Software would be a combination of both Native and the Browser application.
They compromise of a shell known as Native shell, which gives an experience of faster integration.
When the Performance Testing takes place using the load generation from the users at the end of the hybrid application of the server, the functionality of the device also needs gauge from a user’s point of view.
Considering all the types of Mobile Apps, we measure their performance in terms of Device Performance, Server Performance, and Network Performance.
Performance Strategy takes place after understanding the type of Mobile Application and the device it is being run.
How Mobile Application Testing Strategy works
To gauge the Mobile Application Performance Testing, we have considered the three measures and i.e- Device Performance, Server Performance, and Network Performance.
To conduct the Mobile Application Testing smoothly, we strategize the test plan to not miss out on any scenarios or area in the application.
1] Device Performance
To test the device’s performance, we verify the following aspects-
(i) App Start-up
The time taken for the app to start decides the performance of the app in the further stages.
The maximum time must be within 2 secs.
(ii) Battery usage while using the app
The second parameter to check is the battery used during the app is open.
Minimal battery usage preferred because excessive battery drain burdens the processor and may heat the device.
(iii) Memory Consumption
Specific functionalities in the app may push the device to use more memory to run the app.
It is observed that by implementing push notifications, memory consumed is close to 11% and deploying such apps in the market is not worth.
(iv) Real-time devices
Performance of an app differs in every device.
It is mandatory to test the app on devices with different processors, OS, and features.
In all the cases, the app must run smoothly.
(v) Compatibility with other devices
The app requires testing using other apps parallelly to check the compatibility of the app.
Using App 1 must not affect the functionality of App 2.
(vi) Background running app
The app must retrieve from the background after its usage.
If not, the data fed is lost and may have to enter the data from the start.
2] Server/API Performance
The aspects to check in Server Performance are as follows-
(i) Data communication
It is critical to test the data transferred to and from the server.
It checks the loading time and the right format.
(ii) Server Down Time
The server must be functioning at all times and any failure to synchronize with the replicated database is a crisis.
This parameter plays an important role in making the app success.
(ii) API calls from the App
An app must be able to handle functionalities by calling the server the least number of times.
App generated calls must below for a better performance of the app.
3] Network Performance
To verify the app performs well on every network and network property, we check the following aspects-
(i) Packet Loss
There are instances where the request sent can be lost in the network.
So a properly performing mobile app must either resend the data or display a suitable message for the user.
(ii) Network speed
Apps cannot be obstinate to work only on a network with specific features.
It must function the same in all types of networks.
Testers need to monitor the app’s behaviour on a variety of networks with variable bandwidth and speed.
(iii) Jitters
There are possibilities that data delays in receiving or scrambles to unknown locations.
When received the data isn’t in the intended form.
In this case, the network must inform the user of the dysfunctioning through notifications or resend the data in the right order and form.
Conclusion
This is a common scene in the recent days of booming Mobile applications.
The reason for faulty mobile applications or low functioning applications is due to the belief that Mobile Applications Testing don’t need Performance Testing in their test plan.
The importance of Performance Testing oppressed due to its other pre-eminent testing methods.