What is the best way to use test automation for responsive design accessibility?

1 Choose the right tools

When it comes to web development, there are many test automation tools available. However, not all of them are suitable for responsive design accessibility. To ensure your website is compliant with accessibility standards and guidelines, such as WCAG and ARIA, you need to choose tools that can simulate different devices, browsers, resolutions, and orientations. Some examples of tools that can help you with this are Selenium, a popular open-source tool that can automate web browser actions and interactions across multiple platforms and languages; Galen Framework, which tests the layout and appearance of a website on different devices and screen sizes using a simple syntax; and axe, a tool that can test the accessibility of a website using various rules and criteria based on WCAG and ARIA.

3 Write the test scripts

When writing test scripts to execute the test scenarios using the test automation tools, it is important to follow the best practices of test automation. This includes using descriptive and consistent names for the test cases, variables, functions, and assertions, as well as modular and reusable code that avoids duplication and hard-coding. Additionally, you should use data-driven and parameterized tests that can run with different inputs and outputs. Furthermore, it is important to use comments and documentation that explain the purpose and logic of the test scripts, as well as code formatting and style guides that improve the readability and maintainability of the test scripts.

4 Run and monitor the test results

Once you have the test scripts, you need to run and monitor the test results using the test automation tools. It's important to ensure that the test results are accurate, reliable, and actionable, while also optimizing the test execution time, frequency, and coverage. To do this, use test runners and frameworks that can execute the test scripts in parallel or in batches. Additionally, use test reporting and analysis tools that can generate and display the test results in a clear and comprehensive way with charts, graphs, tables, and screenshots. Debugging and troubleshooting tools can identify and fix any test failures or bugs. Lastly, use test feedback and review tools to share the test results with stakeholders via emails, notifications, or dashboards.

5 Keep the test scripts updated

Finally, you need to keep the test scripts updated as the website evolves and changes. This means regularly reviewing and revising the test scenarios, scripts, and results, as well as incorporating suggested changes and improvements from users, clients, developers, and testers. To do this, you can use version control and source code management tools like Git and GitHub. Additionally, continuous integration and continuous delivery tools like Jenkins and Travis CI can automate deployment and testing. Agile and iterative methodologies like Scrum and Kanban are also useful for adapting to changing requirements.

6 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?