Manual Testing Vs Automated Testing for Quality Analysis

Are you developing apps/software and more? No doubt you need a testing method to validate your creation. Now the major issue is which testing method you would choose. You can either test like a pro or go with the old-school test methods.

Yes, in this advanced era, we always talk about the difference between manual testing and automation testing and the way in which they affect the overall development of your hosting environment. The global economy relies heavily on effective software today. You can easily agree that delivering cost-effective software without compromising on quality has critical business importance. That’s where testing your product or service plays a vital role. 

An application is expected to meet specific requirements and perform well in the real-world environment; quality analysis (QA) is an important activity. Therefore, in addition to ensuring the reliability of the software, QA also improves overall system performance and user impact, boosting your web hosting experience and customer loyalty.

QA is mainly focused on testing, which is the process of analyzing software for bugs, performance, and usage issues before the end users start using the application. QA testing assists businesses concerned that the software developed meets user requirements and business goals. The two most commonly used techniques are manual testing and automated testing. Every method of testing, whether manual testing, automated testing or QA testing is distinct and serves a specific need of a project.

Automated testing makes use of tools and scripts to perform faster and more repetitive tests, while manual testing taps the insight and imagination of a tester to navigate through the application, clarifying the automation testing and manual testing differences. Each has its advantages and disadvantages; hence, the question remains: what is the best approach or why is automation testing better than manual? In this blog, we explore both sides to help you choose the best option for your quality analysis plan.

What is manual testing?

Human testers check how software applications work using or without certain test scripts. This is exactly what manual testing comprises. The human operator uses the application just like an end user does. In this process, the operator finds problems regarding, but not limited to, functionality, usability, and design.

Exploratory is one aspect of manual testing that sets it apart from other types. In this aspect, thinking outside the box is encouraged since the chances of new, uncovered issues are extensive. Manual testing is also highly user-centric and proficient in emulating actual user behavior to find real-world problems. Investigation of a product or service without an elaborate methodology is another big area where manual testing shines.

Common types of manual testing include:

1. Exploratory testing: Attempting to find problems without planning.
2. Usability testing: Checking if the application is easy to use.
3. Ad-hoc testing: Finding issues without following the formal processes.

Advantages of manual testing

In this case, the advantages of manual testing over automation offer an invaluable facet of quality control within the software development lifecycle. A few of the benefits are listed below:

1. Judgment and perspective:

Ever-changing technology gives rise to problems such as the ‘tester’s paradox.’ This is a complex issue that arises due to the lack of computing aid. Manual testers are empathetic to users, resolve usability issues, and make attempts at out-of-the-box thinking, which is beyond automation’s scope. 

2. Best at UI/UX and exploratory testing

Manual testing goes hand in hand with acceptable user interfaces (AUI) and user experience (UE) research and testing. Testing elements such as layout, design, and navigation are now achievable.

Disadvantages of manual testing

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to quality control, so it is worth noting that manual testing also has the flip side. Here are a few loopholes of manual testing over automation:

1. Time-consuming process

With the automation of computer AIs, more time is spent in the testing phase. Manual testing is slower because it is a stepwise process. For example, regression testing, where the same tests are done several times after a change in an application or after a bug fix. 

2. Human error-prone

The absence of sophisticated machinery directly indicates that manual tests are liable to error. It’s normal to overlook some bugs, misplace documents, or even have them delayed. As a result, some faulty applications get deployed while others remain unclaimed.

Manual testing scenarios

We can use manual testing profoundly in the below use cases:

1. Initial stages of development

During the initial stages of software development, manual testing is easier, as several complex bugs, issues, and design errors must be handled before the writing of automation scripts begins.

2. Exploratory testing for creative solutions

Manual verification allows testers to intuitively probe a particular application and discover bugs and scenarios that were excluded during the test case writing.

3. Consistency in UI/UX design

Manual testing is hugely beneficial in user interface and user experience design and testing. Testers can check the design components such as the layout, responsiveness of the elements, and ease of navigation.

What is automated testing?

Automated testing, in essence, is a test conducted through a specific type of tool and a script that enables faster analysis and minimal human involvement. The main purpose of automated testing is to repeat a certain task that is too monotonous, thereby saving time. This enables complex testing to be conducted faster and on a larger scale. 

Common types of automated testing include:

1. Script-based

Automated testing relies on a set of defined scripts and test cases enabling thorough execution. Test scripts created can be adapted to suit different requirements, thereby increasing the accuracy of the outcome.

2. Consistency and repeat standard

By removing the scope of human error, the same actions are guaranteed to be taken each time a test is run. This methodology is particularly effective for regression testing, performance testing, and load testing.

Advantages of manual testing

As it is expected, automated testing has its advantages, some of which helped shape today’s software quality analysis procedures:

1. Faster execution of repetitive tasks

Fast execution of repetitive tasks is one of the most important benefits of automated testing. Once the scripts are created, they can be reused across multiple test cycles, saving considerable time and effort, especially for regression testing. 

2. Ideal for regression and performance testing

Automated testing is particularly well suited for regression testing, where the same test cases need to be executed repeatedly after every update or code change. In addition, automated tools are very effective in performance and stress testing. 

Disadvantages of manual testing

Although automated testing appears to have numerous benefits, it has some disadvantages too:

1. High costs

Investing in tools, frameworks, and script development to set up automated testing is significant. It also requires skilled personnel to create and update specifications for the automation.

2. Predefined scenarios limits

Automated testing can only be performed with a set of scripts and a defined set of test cases. This restricts it from more creative or exploratory forms of testing. It also lacks the capability of human reasoning to detect more subtle flaws in the UI/UX or test for usability strategies.

Automated testing scenarios

Automated testing excels in the following scenarios:

1. Automated regression testing

Automated testing is particularly well suited for regression testing, where the same test cases are executed several times after the code is modified.

2. Large-scale stress or performance test

Automated tools can generate thousands of simultaneous users or requests to the system to evaluate the system’s performance under extreme conditions.

3. Projects with long-term testing needs:

In any project where testing is required over a long period or more than once, automated testing is preferred as it saves time and costs, making it a more efficient alternative.

Popular tools used for automated testing

1. Selenium: One of the most popular, widely used applications for web application testing. 
2. JUnit: One of the most powerful, widely used applications for testing Java applications. 
3. Appium: One of the most powerful, widely used applications for mobile application testing. 
4. TestNG: A Java-based testing framework that is powerful for data-driven and parallel testing.

Automated testing supplies accuracy and speed; this is why automation testing is better than manual. However, it is expensive and cannot deal with subjective tests like usability testing, which is another difference between manual testing and automation testing.

Manual testing vs. Automated testing

Combining manual and automated testing: The hybrid approach

The hybrid approach is the middle way in the manual testing vs. automated testing debate. It combines the strengths of manual testing and automated testing so that optimal outcomes in quality analysis are achieved. Thus, organizations can compare manual and automation testing, streamline their processes of testing, improve software quality, and provide better user experiences.

The difference between manual testing and automation testing is a hybrid transition of manual regression and performance tests to automated tests while usability and exploratory tests remain manual. For example, automated tools can simulate logging in repeatedly and check other UI elements to see if the design meets the standards set by the testers.

• Benefits of the hybrid approach
• Leverage human judgment for exploratory testing.

Exploratory manual tests involve improvisation, creativity in software bug fixing, assessing software’s user interface, and overall usability. Moreover, manual testing can cover unique edge cases that standard testing scripts may fail to accommodate.

• Utilize automation for repetitive and large-scale tasks

Automation of manual regression tests and other primary functions, such as performance tests, enhances operational efficiency. Testers will be productive as they channel their energies towards non-trivial tasks.

• Challenges for QA testing
  • Skill level needed to use automation tools: Testers with adequate technical skills are required for automation testing and this can pose a challenge in training and employing the right personnel.
  • Possible biases related to manual testing: Due to the involvement of human testers, some biases, such as ignoring use cases or focusing on customer workflows, are common.

Best practices to improve QA testing

• Update automated scripts periodically: The development of an application should be accompanied by the drafting of automated scripts to reflect changes in the features of the application. This way you can ensure relevant and accurate testing is carried out.
• Conduct regular reviews of test cases: Test cases should always meet the expectations of the end users so that the software functions as intended and provides a better experience. 
• Compare manual and automation testing & train staff in both: The training of QA team members in both automated and manual testing offers technological coverage and provides deep testing solutions between manual and automation testing.