Automated testing

Definition

Automated testing is a software testing process that uses specialized tools and scripts to automatically execute test cases, compare actual outcomes with expected results, and report any discrepancies. This method enhances efficiency and accuracy in validating web applications against accessibility standards, ensuring they meet guidelines for all users, including those with disabilities.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Automated testing can significantly reduce the time needed for repetitive testing tasks, allowing teams to focus on more complex test scenarios.
2. By integrating automated testing into the development process, teams can continuously monitor accessibility compliance, catching issues early in the lifecycle.
3. Automation can provide more consistent results compared to manual testing, reducing the likelihood of human error in identifying accessibility issues.
4. Automated testing tools often come equipped with built-in libraries that check for adherence to specific standards like WCAG 2.1.
5. While automated testing is powerful, it should complement manual testing rather than replace it, as some aspects of accessibility require human judgment.

Review Questions

• How does automated testing enhance the efficiency of validating web applications for accessibility?
  • Automated testing enhances efficiency by allowing teams to quickly run a series of predefined test cases against web applications without manual intervention. This speed enables developers to identify and fix accessibility issues early in the development cycle. Furthermore, automated tests can be executed frequently throughout the development process, ensuring continuous compliance with accessibility standards like WCAG.
• What role do automated testing tools play in ensuring compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)?
  • Automated testing tools play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with WCAG by providing systematic checks against the guidelines. These tools can identify common accessibility barriers such as missing alt text for images or improper heading structures. By automating these checks, teams can maintain ongoing oversight of their web content's accessibility and make necessary adjustments more swiftly.
• Evaluate the limitations of automated testing in assessing web accessibility and how these can be addressed.
  • While automated testing is an effective tool for identifying certain types of accessibility issues, it has limitations in detecting problems that require human judgment, such as context-sensitive interpretations or complex user interactions. To address these limitations, it's essential to complement automated tests with manual reviews where human testers can assess nuanced aspects of usability and experience for individuals with disabilities. This combined approach ensures a more comprehensive evaluation of accessibility.

Related terms

Accessibility Checker: A tool used to evaluate web content against accessibility standards to identify issues and suggest improvements.

Test Suite: A collection of test cases that are intended to be executed together to validate the functionality and performance of a software application.

Regression Testing: A type of testing conducted after changes are made to ensure that existing functionalities still work as intended.