What is End To End (E2E) Testing: E2E Tools and Example

In this tutorial, we will learn what is End to End Testing, how it’s done, why it’s necessary, what are the matrices used, how to create an end to end specific test cases, as well as other important aspects. We will also learn about System testing and compare it with End to End tests.

End-to-end testing is a Software testing methodology to test an application flow from start to end. The purpose of end to end testing is to simulate the real user scenario and validate the system under test and its components for integration and data integrity.

Nobody wants to be known for their mistakes and their negligence, and the same is the case with the Testers. From the moment the Testers are assigned an application to test, they are responsible and the application also acts as a platform to show their practical and technical testing knowledge.

So, to ensure that testing is done completely, it is necessary to perform “End to End testing”.

End to End Testing

Real also => End to End Training on a Live Project – Free Online QA Training.

End-to-end testing is a Software testing methodology to test an application flow from start to end. The purpose of this testing is to simulate the real user scenario and validate the system under test and its components for integration and data integrity.

It is performed from start to finish under real-world scenarios like communication of the application with hardware, network, database, and other applications.

The main reason for carrying out this testing is to determine various dependencies of an application as well as ensure that accurate information is communicated between various system components. It is usually performed after the completion of functional and system testing of any application.

Let us take the example of Gmail

End to End Verification of a Gmail account will include the following steps:

1. Launch a Gmail login page through URL.
2. Log into the Gmail account using valid credentials.
3. Access Inbox. Open Read and Unread emails.
4. Composing a new email, reply or forward an email.
5. Open Sent items and check emails.
6. Check the emails in the Spam folder
7. Log out of the Gmail application by clicking on ‘logout’

End-To-End Testing Tools

Recommended Tools:

#1) testRigor

testRigor gives manual QA testers the ability to create complex end-to-end test automation with plain English language statements. You can easily build tests spanning multiple browsers, including mobile devices, API calls, emails, and SMS – all in one test with no coding.

Key points that put testRigor on the list are as follows:

• No technical knowledge of code, Xpath, or CSS selectors is required to create complex test automation.
• testRigor is the only company that’s solving the test maintenance problem.
• Manual QA is empowered to own part of the test automation process.

With testRigor, you will be able to:

• Build test cases 15x faster with plain English.
• Reduce 99.5% of your test maintenance.
• Test multiple browsers and operating system combinations in addition to Android and iOS device testing.
• Schedule and execute tests with one click of a button.
• Save time by executing test suites in minutes instead of days.

#2) Virtuoso

Virtuoso is an AI-augmented test automation solution that makes in-sprint, end-to-end test automation a reality and not just an aspiration. With a codeless, scripted approach, speed and absolute accessibility are possible without losing any of the power and flexibility of code. Maintenance is stripped down to near zero with tests that heal themselves – say farewell to flaky.

Out-of-the-box visual regression, snapshot, and localization test capabilities, together with an API client, can then leverage Virtuoso’s core functional UI testing to offer the most comprehensive and user-centric end-to-end testing.

• Any browser, any device
• Combined Functional UI and API testing
• Visual regression
• Snapshot testing
• Accessibility testing
• Localization testing
• A comprehensive tool for all your end-to-end testing needs

#3) Avo Assure

Avo Assure is a 100% scriptless test automation solution that helps you test end-to-end business processes with a few clicks of the buttons.

Being heterogeneous, it enables you to test applications across the web, windows, mobile platforms (Android and IOS), non-UI (web services, batch jobs), ERPs, Mainframe systems, and associated emulators through one solution.

With Avo Assure, you will be able to do the following:

• Achieve end-to-end test automation because the solution is no-code and enables testing across diverse applications.
• Get a bird’s eye view of your entire testing hierarchy, define test plans, and design test cases through the Mindmaps feature.
• With a click of a button, enable accessibility testing for your applications. It supports WCAG standards, Section 508, and ARIA.
• Leverage integration with various SDLC and continuous integration tools like Jira, Sauce Labs, ALM, TFS, Jenkins, QTest, and more.
• Schedule execution during non-business hours.
• Execute test cases in a single VM independently or in parallel with the Smart Scheduling and Execution feature.
• Analyze reports quickly as they are now available as screenshots and videos of the execution process.
• Reuse 1500+ pre-built keywords and 100+ SAP-specific keywords to expedite testing further.
• Avo Assure is certified for integration with SAP S4/HANA and SAP NetWeaver.

How the End-To-End Test Works

To understand a bit more, let us find out How it works?

Take an example of the Banking Industry. A few of us must have tried out Stocks. If a Demat account holder, purchases any share, a particular percentage of the amount is to be given to the broker. When a shareholder sells that share, whether he gets profit or loss, a particular percentage of that amount is then again given to the broker. All these transactions are reflected and managed in the account. The whole process involves Risk Management.

When we look at the above example, keeping the End-to-End test in mind, we will find that the whole process includes multiple numbers as well as different levels of transactions. The whole process involves many systems that can be difficult to test.

E2E Testing Methods

#1) Horizontal Test

This method is used very commonly. This occurs horizontally across the context of multiple applications. This method can easily occur in a single ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) application. Take an example of a web-based application of an online ordering system. The whole process will include accounts, inventory status of the products as well as shipping details.

#2) Vertical Test

In this method, all the transactions of any application are verified and evaluated right from start to finish. Each individual layer of the application is tested starting from top to bottom. Take an example of a web-based application that uses HTML codes for reaching web servers. In such cases, API is required to generate SQL codes against the database. All these complex computing scenarios will require proper validation and dedicated testing. Thus this method is much more difficult.

‘Both White Box testing’ as well as ‘Black Box Testing’ are associated with this testing. Or in other words, we can say, this is the combination of benefits of both white box testing and black-box testing. Depending on the type of software being developed, at different levels, both the testing techniques i.e. white box and black box testing will be used as and when required. Basically, End to End testing performs functional as well as architectural approaches for any software or programs to validate system functions.

Testers like End to End verification because writing test cases from the user’s perspective and in a real-world scenario can avoid the two common mistakes .i.e. missing bugs and writing test cases that do not verify real-world scenarios, this provides testers with an immense sense of accomplishment.

Given below are a few guidelines that should be kept in mind while designing the test cases to perform this type of testing:

• Test cases should be designed from the end user’s perspective.
• Should focus on testing some of the existing features of the system.
• Multiple scenarios should be considered for creating multiple test cases.
• Different sets of test cases should be created to focus on multiple scenarios of the system.

This testing is similar to the execution of test cases. If the test cases are ‘Pass’ or we have received the expected output, it can be said that the system has successfully passed the End to End test. Likewise, if the system does not produce the desired output, then a retest of a test case is required keeping in mind the areas of failure.

Why Do We Perform E2E Testing

In the present scenario, as shown in the above diagram, a modern software system comprises its interconnection with multiple sub-systems. This has made modern software systems a very complicated one.

These sub-systems we are talking about can be within the same organization or in many cases can be of different organizations also. Also, these sub-systems can be somewhat similar or different from the current system. As a result, if there is any failure or fault in any sub-system, it can adversely affect the whole software system leading to its collapse.

These major risks can be avoided and can be controlled by this type of testing:

• Keep a check and perform system flow verification.
• Increase the test coverage areas of all the subsystems involved with the software system.
• Detects issues, if any with the subsystems and thus increases the productivity of the whole software system.

Below mentioned are the few activities that are included in the end to end process:

• A thorough study of the requirements to perform this testing.
• Proper set up of test environments.
• A thorough study of Hardware and Software requirements.
• Descriptions of all subsystems as well as the main software system involved.
• Enlist the roles and responsibilities of all the systems and subsystems involved.
• Testing methods used under this testing as well as standards that are followed, its described.
• Designing of test cases as well as tracing requirement matrix.
• Record or save the input and output data for each system.

E2E Testing Design Framework

We will look into all 3 categories one by one

#1) User Functions: The following actions should be performed as part of building User Functions:

• Listing features of the software systems and their interconnected sub-systems.
• For any function, keep track of the actions performed as well as Input and Output data.
• Find relations, if any, between the different User functions.
• Find out the nature of different user functions i.e. if they are independent or reusable.

#2) Conditions: The following activities should be performed as part of building conditions based on user functions:

• For each and every user function, a set of conditions should be prepared.
• Timing, data conditions, and other factors that affect user functions can be considered as parameters.

#3) Test Cases: The following factors should be considered for building test cases:

• For every scenario, one or more test cases should be created to test each and every functionality of the user functions.
• Every single condition should be enlisted as a separate test case.

Metrics Involved

Let’s look at the important activities and metrics involved in this testing.

1. Status of Test case preparation: This can be tracked in the form of a graph to represent the progress of the planned test cases that are under preparation.
2. Weekly tracking of Test progress: This includes a week-wise representation of the test case execution progress. This can be reflected through percentage representation for pass, fail, execute, not executed, invalid, etc.
3. Status and detailed report for Defects: The Status report should be prepared on a daily basis to show the test case execution status as well as defects found and logged as per their severity. Weekly, the percentage of open and closed defects should be calculated. Also, based on defect severity and priority, the defect status should be tracked on a weekly basis.
4. Test environment: This keeps track of the test environment time duration allotted as well as the test environment time used while performing this testing.

Now, we have seen almost all aspects of this testing. Now let us differentiate “System Testing” and “End to End testing”. But before that, let me give you a basic idea of “System testing” so that we can easily differentiate between the two forms of software testing.

System testing is the form of testing which includes a series of different tests whose purpose is to perform the complete testing of the integrated system. System testing is basically a form of black-box testing where the focus is on the external working of the software systems from the user’s point of view keeping real-world conditions as consideration.

System testing will involve the following:

• Testing a fully integrated application including the main system.
• Determine the components that interact with one another and within the system.
• Verify the desired output according to the input provided.
• Analyze the user’s experience while using various aspects of the application.

Above we have seen the basic description of System testing to understand it. Now, we will look at the differences between “System Testing” and “End to End testing”.

Conclusion

Hope this article helped you learn the various aspects of End to End tests such as their processes and metrics, as well as the difference between System testing and End to End testing.

For any commercial release of the software, End to End verification plays an important role as it tests the entire application in an environment that exactly imitates real-world users like network communication, database interaction, etc.

Most of the time, the end to end test is performed manually as the cost of automating such test cases is too high to be afforded by every organization. This is not only beneficial for system validation but can also be considered useful for testing external integration.

Do let us know in the comments section below if you have any doubts or questions about the end-to-end testing process. We would love to hear from you.