Mastering Mobile Functional Testing: Tips and Tricks for Success
Tags: mobiletesting, softwaretesting, qualityassurance, mobiledevelopment
Published: 2023-03-26 22:16:16

> Are you looking to transition from web testing to mobile testing but find it challenging? You’re not alone.

Mobile functional testing can be daunting for some individuals due to uncertainties and unknowns associated with it. However, it is worth noting that mobile testing shares similar principles with web testing at its core. That’s why, in this post, I’ve compiled some easy-to-follow tips and tricks that can help simplify the transition process for you, so you can gain confidence in performing mobile functional testing.

_Before we dive into those tips, it’s essential to consider why we should even explore this aspect of the topic._

Mobile applications have become an integral part of our lives, from online shopping to banking, social networking, and entertainment. As mobile usage continues to grow, it has become essential to ensure that mobile applications are functioning correctly, meeting the user’s expectations, and delivering a satisfactory user experience. This is where mobile testing plays a vital role.

Mobile testing is the process of verifying the functionality, usability, and performance of mobile applications across different devices and platforms. With a plethora of mobile devices and operating systems available in the market, it’s important to ensure that the mobile application works seamlessly across all devices and platforms.

_Without any more delay, lets get started:_

**Understand the requirements:** Make sure you have a clear understanding of the requirements of the mobile application before starting the functional testing. This will help you to plan your testing approach and ensure that all the necessary features and functionalities are covered in your testing.

**Test on different devices and platforms:** Test the mobile application on different devices and platforms to ensure that it works seamlessly across all of them. This will help to identify any device or platform-specific issues that may arise.
I know you must be thinking, but Jag, I do not have 20 phones on me to look into different scenarios. I know, but have you considered stealing? I am kidding, please don’t do that. There are plenty of cloud services that offer a wide range of devices to test on. For instance, Browserstack is an excellent platform that provides access to multiple phones for testing purposes. You can find out more about Browserstack by visiting their website at https://www.browserstack.com.

**Test with different network conditions:** Test the mobile application in different network conditions, such as 3G, 4G, 5G and Wi-Fi, to ensure that it works well under different network conditions. This will help to identify any network-related issues that may impact the performance of the mobile application.

**Use scrubbed data:** It’s important to test the application with as close to real data as possible instead of just dummy or sample data. This is because scrubbed data provides a better representation of how the application will behave in real-world scenarios where users are inputting data and the app is storing and retrieving it. By testing with real data, testers can identify any issues that may arise in the application’s data input, storage, and retrieval functions, and ensure that the application can handle these scenarios without crashing or producing incorrect results.

For example, if an application is designed to store user’s personal information, it is important to test with real data such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails, to ensure that the application can handle a wide range of data formats and handle edge cases. Similarly, if an application has a feature that requires user to upload files or images, it’s important to test with real files of varying sizes and formats to ensure that the application can handle different file types and sizes without crashing or producing incorrect results. By using real data in mobile functional testing, testers can ensure that the application meets the expectations of the end-users and is able to handle real-world scenarios.

**Test for different user scenarios:** Test the mobile application for different user scenarios, such as logging in, registering, and using different features of the application. This will help to ensure that the mobile application is user-friendly and meets the needs of different users.

**Use automated testing tools:** Automated testing tools can accelerate the mobile app testing process and guarantee the comprehensive testing of all essential features and functionalities. For instance, mobile automation testing tools like Appium and Calabash can help detect any potential issues that could arise during the testing process.

**Continuously monitor the mobile application:** Continuously monitor the mobile application for any issues or defects that may arise after it has been released. This will help to ensure that the mobile application is always up-to-date and meets the needs of its users.

By following these tips, you can master mobile functional testing and ensure the success of your mobile application. So, what are you waiting for? Start testing!