In today’s world, mobile devices and the web are the primary communication and commerce platforms for businesses and consumers. With this increasing trend, there is a growing demand for software testing, particularly in mobile testing and web testing. It is crucial to understand the appropriate methods for testing mobile and web applications as they demand distinct testing strategies.

As a software tester experienced in both mobile app and web testing projects, I have identified key differences between the two testing processes. 

Web and Mobile Apps: Alike Yet Different

Have you ever thought about the similarities and differences between web and mobile apps? Although both types of applications serve similar purposes, such as allowing users to access information, make purchases, and use various services, there are significant differences between them in terms of development and testing. 

Web applications are programs that allow users to access data through any browser. One of the biggest advantages of web apps is that they are cross-platform and do not depend on the operating system. This means that developers don’t need to create separate applications for each OS. Additionally, users don’t need to download or install web apps to use them, and updates happen automatically without any action from the user.

A mobile application refers to software designed for mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, and created for specific platforms, including iOS and Android. Unlike web apps, mobile apps can operate offline without an internet connection, and users must download them from the store (App Store or Google Play) and install them on their smartphones.

Developers continuously enhance mobile apps, and users must regularly update them to ensure optimal performance. The benefit of downloading updates from app stores is that it eliminates the possibility of downloading viruses. However, mobile apps have their drawbacks as well. They require users to grant access to their device’s storage, photos, geodata, and other features.

Now that you’re aware of the key differences between mobile and web applications, let’s move on to the main topic of this blog.

Testing Differences: Web vs Mobile Apps

The testing methods for mobile apps and web apps differ significantly, despite having the same target audience. This disparity can be attributed to the medium through which information is presented to users.

Mobile apps require a standalone application, while web apps can be accessed through any web browser, allowing users to access the required information. Companies like Bitsol Technologies, which have specialized knowledge and experience in providing mobile and web app testing services can add value to your testing process.

Mobile Testing

During the mobile app testing process, two key metrics to evaluate are user experience and performance. The following are some essential tasks that must be carried out during the mobile app testing process:

• To ensure accurate performance evaluation of mobile apps, it is crucial to conduct testing on real devices as simulators or emulators may not provide accurate results. Testing on real devices can also help determine the app’s compatibility across various devices when downloaded.
• When assessing the user flow of a mobile app, emulators can be utilized for testing purposes. However, to evaluate the app’s speed and performance, real devices are the best option.
• Regardless of whether the mobile app is hybrid or native, it is critical to conduct a thorough security assessment to identify any potential vulnerabilities. Penetration tools in Android and iOS can assist in uncovering these vulnerabilities, making it essential to perform regular security audits to prevent potential cyber-attacks.
• Conducting usability testing on a mobile app is crucial to evaluate its user-friendliness. As user experience plays a significant role in retaining users and creating a positive brand image, it is important to ensure that the app is easy to use and provides a seamless experience to its users.
• Evaluating the mobile app’s performance under varying load conditions is crucial. The app’s performance should not degrade when a large number of users are connected simultaneously.
• To assess the mobile app’s performance in various workload scenarios, performance, and load testing must be conducted. JMeter and LoadRunner have commonly used tools for performance testing, and the best option should be chosen based on the specific requirements of the project.
• When testing a mobile app on a wide range of devices, manual testing is not a practical or scalable option. Instead, automation testing can be utilized to test the app simultaneously on various devices. This can help accelerate the time to market (TTM) and enhance the app’s overall quality.

Web Testing

To ensure that web apps work seamlessly across different mobile web browsers, it is crucial to perform cross-browser compatibility testing. This involves testing the app on various browsers, browser versions, and mobile devices. Cloud-based automation testing is recommended to test the web app’s mobile readiness and performance.

It is advisable to use cloud-based device farms to test mobile applications on various devices, such as phones and tablets, instead of building an in-house device farm. These cloud-based farms enable the testing of Android, iOS, and web applications on real devices, making it a more efficient and cost-effective option.

To ensure a seamless user experience, it is important to perform functionality testing on the web app. This type of testing covers various aspects related to the usability of the application, including business flow and database connectivity. Additionally, it is important to check for broken links to prevent users from encountering 404 errors, which can negatively impact their experience.

Conclusion

Regardless of the type of app, it’s essential to conduct comprehensive testing to identify any issues in the app. In today’s competitive business environment, many companies choose to outsource their app testing to reliable providers like Bitsol Technologies. This helps to accelerate the testing process, allowing for the timely release of a high-quality app.

Bitsol Technologies’ Testing Services

Bitsol Technologies offers a range of software testing services to ensure the high quality of mobile and web applications. Our mobile app testing services validate all aspects of mobile applications, while our web app testing services provide full-cycle testing activities. We also offer security testing to protect against cyber-attacks and accessibility testing to ensure usability for users with special abilities.

Contact us for more details!

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