Automated Testing

Automated testing is the process of using software to automate the execution of tests on a software application. The goal of automated testing is to quickly validate new code changes, detect bugs and ensure the software continues working as expected.

Automated tests are code scripts that simulate user interactions and test scenarios. There are different types of automated tests such as unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests. Unit tests validate small pieces of code like functions. Integration tests verify the interactions between components. End-to-end tests replicate user workflows through the full software stack. Test automation frameworks like Selenium and JUnit are used to author and execute automated test scripts.

The main benefits of test automation include improving software quality, reducing manual testing effort, and enabling continuous integration/delivery pipelines. Teams can run automated test suites on every code change to catch issues early. Tests can run unattended overnight offering fast feedback. Automated testing provides confidence for frequent code deployments and is a core devops practice.