A Test Automation Framework is a set of assumptions, concepts and tools that provide support for automated software testing. It works like a wrapper between the application and the tool. It will reduce the programming effort and maintenance effort. The Test automation framework must be evolving continuously to handle new complexities in applications.
Need of automation framework
Implementation of appropriate automated testing framework helps the enterprise to significantly increase the speed and accuracy of the testing process, provides a higher return on investment from software project and systematically minimizes risk. The framework should be such that maintainability of scripts is easy and the scripts created are robust.
When scripts are maintained without a planned procedure, maintenance becomes difficult when AUT (application under test) is updated with new changes.
Benefits of robust automation framework
§ Faster test scripts generation
§ Data driven test
§ Coded scripts are enhanced with the design
§ Increases code re-usage
§ Higher portability
§ Ease of maintenance
Types of Framework
There are several test automation frameworks available, among these the selection is made based on the factors such as re-usability of scripts and test assets. Different test automation frameworks available are:
v Keyword-Driven or Table-Driven Testing
v Test Script Modularity
v Test Library Architecture
v Data-Driven Testing
v Hybrid Test Automation
