Skip to content

Latest commit

 

History

History
25 lines (13 loc) · 3.24 KB

Fundamentals.md

File metadata and controls

25 lines (13 loc) · 3.24 KB

Fundamentals of E2E testing

End-to-end (E2E) testing is a software testing methodology that validates the complete functionality of an application, from the user interface to the underlying systems and data storage, ensuring that all components work together as expected. E2E testing simulates real-world user interactions, aiming to identify issues that may occur when the application is used in production.

Key Concepts

  1. User flows: E2E testing focuses on verifying user flows, which are sequences of interactions that users perform to accomplish specific tasks within an application. User flows represent how the application is used in real-world scenarios, and E2E tests validate that these flows work correctly.

  2. Test environment: E2E tests typically run in an environment that closely resembles the production environment. This includes the application's frontend, backend, databases, APIs, and any third-party services or integrations. The test environment should be isolated from the production environment to avoid interference with live data and operations.

  3. Test automation: E2E tests can be time-consuming and complex, so automating them is essential for efficient testing. Test automation tools, such as Selenium, Cypress, or Playwright, allow developers to create scripts that execute user interactions, check the results, and report any issues.

  4. Test data: E2E tests require test data that is representative of the data used in production. Test data should be carefully managed to ensure that tests are consistent and reproducible. Techniques like data seeding, mocking, or stubbing can help manage test data effectively.

Common use cases and real-world scenarios

  1. E-commerce application: In an e-commerce application, an E2E test might simulate a user browsing products, adding items to their shopping cart, entering shipping and payment information, and completing the purchase. The test would validate that the application processes the order correctly, updates the inventory, sends notifications to the user and administrators, and interacts with third-party services like payment gateways.

  2. Social media platform: For a social media platform, an E2E test might involve a user creating a new account, updating their profile, connecting with friends, posting content, and interacting with other users' posts. The test would ensure that the application correctly stores and displays user data, enforces privacy settings, and integrates with external systems like email providers or content delivery networks.

  3. Banking application: In a banking application, E2E tests might cover scenarios like transferring funds between accounts, paying bills, or managing investments. The tests would verify that the application processes transactions correctly, updates account balances, enforces security measures, and interacts with external systems like payment processors or stock exchanges.

E2E testing plays a crucial role in ensuring that an application functions correctly in real-world scenarios, detecting issues that might not be caught by unit or integration tests. However, E2E tests can be time-consuming and challenging to maintain, so they should be used judiciously and in conjunction with other testing methodologies to ensure comprehensive test coverage.