A Test Automation Framework in simple terms is a set of rules/guidelines/standards/protocols used for creating and designing test automation scripts. On applying these rules/guidelines/standards/protocols while creating and designing test automation scripts, we get benefited and can efficiently perform the below tasks:

• Test Development
• Test Execution
• Test Reporting

 

Benefits on Applying a Framework to a Test Automation Project:

 

Re-usability of Automation code and other things

If the same code is required by multiple test cases, it’s not a good idea to write the same code for multiple test cases. Instead it is a good idea to write the code once at a particular location and all the other test cases can access it.

Let’s say the automation code for logging into the application is generally required by almost all the test cases and it is not required to write the automation code for login in each and every required test case. Hence to reuse the login code, we need to create the automation code for login in a reusable method and all the test cases which need to login needs to access the code from the same reusable method. Using Test Automation Framework, we can implement the concept of reusable methods.

Lower Maintenance of Automation code and other things

Usage of Frameworks in Test Automation leads to the lower maintenance of Automation code and lower maintenance of other things. If there is any change to any particular test case, Test Automation framework allows us to update the automation code related to that particular test case without disturbing the other code in the Test Automation Framework. i.e. The user can update the code related to that particular test cases without disturbing the code related to the driver scripts , start-up scripts and other test cases etc. in the Test Automation Framework.

Using automation framework, even the locators for identifying the elements can be maintained at a centralized location and all the test cases which needs to use these locators will access the centralized repository. Hence if there are any changes to a locator which is used by multiple test cases, we can simply update the locator only once at the centralized repository, instead of updating all the test cases which are using the changed locator.

Duplication of test cases chosen for automation can be avoided

Using Test Automation frameworks, we can properly organize the test cases that are chosen for automation. As a result of organizing the test cases chosen for automating with the help of a Test Automation Framework, the duplication of test cases will be avoided. Hence Test Automation Frameworks helps us in organizing the automation code, as a result the User won’t get confused and avoids the duplication of test cases.

Reporting of Test Automation results gets easier

Test Results Reports can be generated for each and every test case individually. But Test Automation Framework, helps us to generate a single Test Result Report for all the test cases i.e. The test results of the executed test cases will be presented in a single report. Configuring a third-party API in Automation Project is a part of Framework building. Hence Test Automation Framework capable enough to report the test results for all the executed test cases makes the reporting easier. Based on the configured third-party API for report generation, we can also generate logs and screenshots for the failure steps in the same test results reports.

 

Apart from the above advantages, Test Automation Frameworks also provides the below self-explanatory advantages:

• Test Automation scrips development gets easier
• Standardization of Test Automation scripts development
• Test Automation scripts execution gets easier
• Test Data can be separated from Test Cases
• Role based access can be provided for accessing the Automation code
• Low level commands can be abstracted and won’t be visible directly while automating the scripts
• Many tools which are helpful for Test Automation can be dragged into a single umbrella
• Errors and Exceptions can be handled to continue the execution of Automation Scripts without halting
• Running the Automated tests in parallel is possible
• Running the Automated tests on different multiple machines at the same time is possible
• Global Properties like URL of the Application, Username and Password to login etc. can be set and Automated tests can read them.
• Latest versions of the tools required by automation can be automatically downloaded
• Can choose to run a specific set of tests like Functional Tests, Regression Tests, Smoke Tests etc.
• Can set the Automated tests to run Continuously when the Application build is ready or based on the regular time interviews

 

Different Types of Test Automation Frameworks

Linear Framework

Structured Framework

Modular Based Framework

Library Architecture Framework

Data Driven Framework

Keyword Driven Framework

Hybrid Framework

Behaviour Driven Development Framework