How can you use web testing automation to test multilingual web applications?

2 Design a scalable test framework

The next step is to design a test framework that can accommodate different languages and regions without duplicating or hard-coding the test cases. A test framework is a set of guidelines, standards, and best practices that help you organize and execute your test scripts. To make your scripts reusable and maintainable, you should use external sources, such as CSV files, Excel sheets, or databases, to store and retrieve your test data for different languages and regions. Additionally, reliable and consistent locators, such as IDs, names, or CSS selectors should be used to identify the web elements in your scripts. Avoiding text-based locators, such as link texts or partial link texts is also important as they may change depending on the language of the web application. Furthermore, appropriate assertions should be used to verify the expected outcomes of your test cases. Language-independent assertions such as checking the status codes, response times, or image sizes are preferred over checking the text content or layout of the web pages.

3 Implement language switching logic

The third step is to implement a logic that can switch the language of the web application according to the test data. There are different ways to do this, such as using a language selector, a URL parameter, or a browser setting. For example, you can use your automation tool to locate and click on the language selector and choose the desired language option. You can also modify the URL parameter and load the web page with the desired language. Additionally, you can change the browser setting and launch the web browser with the desired language.

4 Run and monitor your test scripts

The final step is to run and monitor your test scripts across different browsers, devices, and languages. You can use your automation tool to execute your test scripts in parallel or sequentially, depending on your test environment and resources. You should also use a test management tool, such as TestRail, Zephyr, or TestLink, to track and report your test results and defects. You should also review your test scripts regularly and update them as per the changes in the web application or the test requirements.

5 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?