Each software undergoes rigorous testing to meet the high-quality assurance standards before reaching the market. Integration testing is the second step in the quality assurance process, conducted after the unit tests. This blog will cover the basics of integration testing, its advantages, and best practices. We’ll also learn why using test automation is a must to improve its efficiency.
Integration testing is a key step in the test cycle. Once each component has been designed, and unit tested, two or more of them are put together for further testing.
This process also includes API testing to check whether there are any performance, functionality, and reliability issues.
This form of testing is also an efficient way of testing large chunks of the software to expedite the cycle if necessary.
This approach is more suitable for smaller systems because it relies on developing all the components and integrating them at once. Before integration, testers test each element individually, after which they are put together into one integration testing suite.
Instead of putting all the components together, this approach focuses on connecting two or more interdependent components in the integration test. As the test progresses, you can add additional components logically until all the functionalities are tested.
This is a preferred approach since it allows testers to recognize design flaws much earlier in the process. In top-down testing, the top-most components (high-level modules) are tested first before moving down to the lowest components (low-level modules).
This approach requires testing the bottom-lying components first instead of top-down testing. It is used when development and testing need to be conducted simultaneously in an agile environment.
In this approach, the system is divided into three layers. The middle one is the primary layer. The top layer is tested using top-down testing before moving on to the middle layer. Similarly, the bottom layer is tested next. The big bang approach is then used on the middle layer. This hybrid approach allows larger firms to run multiple development projects parallelly.
Even though each component might undergo rigorous testing, it can’t guarantee that the system will work as a whole. This is where integration testing comes in.
No testing cycle can be deemed complete without integration testing. But it comes with its own set of challenges. As the system grows with each update, every subsequent integration test becomes longer, with a higher chance of error. Moreover, integrating multiple platforms, systems, databases, and environments can become very complicated.
A robust test automation solution is required to overcome these hurdles. Over 90% of organizations already have some form of test automation in place. Avo Assure, a heterogeneous no-code automated testing solution, supports testing across multiple platforms. While its no-code solution enables you to run end-to-end test cases without writing a single line of code, its intuitive UI helps you keep track of the testing process to ensure maximum coverage. It also integrates well with third-party software. It offers comprehensive reports and visual test planning. Avo Assure even helped a Fortune 500 manufacturer achieve 100% automation and a lower defect rate of 2-3%.
If you’re looking for a way to automate your testing suites, then book a demo today.