How do you test smartphone applications?

1 Choose your testing devices

One of the first decisions you need to make is which devices you will use to test your app. Ideally, you want to cover as many device types, screen sizes, operating systems, and versions as possible. However, this may not be feasible or cost-effective, so you need to prioritize the most relevant and popular devices for your target market and app features. You can use online resources such as DeviceAtlas or StatCounter to find out the device usage and market share in different regions and segments. You can also use emulators or simulators to test your app on virtual devices, but they cannot replicate the real-world conditions and interactions of physical devices.

2 Perform functional testing

Functional testing is the process of verifying that your app works as intended and meets the requirements and specifications. You need to test your app's core features, user interface, navigation, input, output, data processing, and integration with other apps or services. You can use manual testing, where you or a tester performs the tasks and checks the results, or automated testing, where you use tools or scripts to run the tests and generate reports. Some examples of functional testing tools are Appium, Espresso, XCTest, and Selenium.

3 Conduct usability testing

Usability testing is the process of evaluating how easy and satisfying it is for users to interact with your app. You need to test your app's design, layout, content, feedback, and accessibility. You can use heuristic evaluation, where you or an expert reviews your app against a set of usability principles or guidelines, or user testing, where you observe and collect feedback from real or potential users who perform tasks or scenarios with your app. Some examples of usability testing tools are UserTesting, Lookback, TestFlight, and Firebase Test Lab.

4 Apply performance testing

Performance testing is the process of measuring how well your app performs under various conditions and loads. You need to test your app's speed, responsiveness, stability, reliability, and resource consumption. You can use load testing, where you simulate a high number of users or requests to your app, or stress testing, where you push your app beyond its normal limits to see how it handles errors or failures. Some examples of performance testing tools are JMeter, LoadRunner, Gatling, and BlazeMeter.

5 Implement security testing

Security testing is the process of identifying and resolving any vulnerabilities or risks that may compromise your app's data, functionality, or reputation. You need to test your app's encryption, authentication, authorization, data protection, and compliance with relevant standards or regulations. You can use penetration testing, where you try to exploit your app's weaknesses or loopholes, or vulnerability scanning, where you use tools or software to detect and report any security issues. Some examples of security testing tools are Nmap, Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, and Metasploit.

6 Adopt a testing strategy

To test your app effectively and efficiently, you need to adopt a testing strategy that suits your app's goals, scope, and budget. You need to plan your testing objectives, methods, tools, resources, and schedule. You need to define your testing criteria, metrics, and standards. You need to document your testing results, findings, and recommendations. You need to communicate your testing progress, challenges, and solutions. You need to review and improve your testing process and outcomes. A testing strategy can help you ensure your app's quality, functionality, and usability, and deliver a positive user experience.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?