The Best Test Automation Frameworks in 2022: All You Need To Know

According to a survey by Open Source Testing, nearly 37% have started incorporating a test automation framework into their Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery(CI/CD) procedure. All because it efficiently helps the developers determine whether the latest code alteration broke any application element after its deployment. In addition, the survey also revealed that 75% of organizational projects could use a test automation framework at least twice a week when combined with multiple testers performing test automation with each sprint.

In 2022, this number is increasing with the rising technological advancements and automation deployment. Naturally, this incites the curiosity to learn about the best test automation frameworks available today. So, without any further ado, let’s see what exactly is a test automation framework followed by its types and the top automation testing frameworks of 2022.

What is Test Automation Framework?

Test automation frameworks are a comprehensive collection of information, tools, and techniques that enable testers to automate their testing procedure. It simplifies the test development and execution phase of the process. A suitable test automation framework offers the environment for generating successful testing plans and retrieving repeatable results. There are ample special tools that help you build a definitive test framework.

These tools provided by an automation test framework such as a test runner, action recording tool, or web testing tool eliminate your grind of building a test script from scratch and offer you more time to run quality checks. This is why using a test automation framework is a verified and cost-effective strategy to improve software development. Thus, selecting the best test automation framework can aid your test results and provide satisfactory QA timeframes.

Types of Automation Framework For Testing-

A significant evolution has been witnessed in the types of automation testing frameworks in recent years. Given below are the most important type of automation frameworks-

1. Linear Scripting Framework

Based on the idea of record and playback mode, as the name suggests, the linear scripting testing framework is harnessed in a linear manner. With this scripting-oriented framework, the script is created and executed individually and can serve as an effective testing method for an organization.

2. Modular Testing Framework

This type of testing framework is based on the concept of abstraction. Autonomous scripts are created to test software through this module-based framework. An abstraction layer is specifically developed to remove the elements from the application under test.

3. Hybrid Testing Framework

Another type of testing automation framework is hybrid testing. It is an integration of modular, data-driven, and keyword automation test frameworks. As a hybrid framework, it has been established to combine many kinds of end-to-end testing approaches.

4. Test-Driven Development framework (TDD)

Test-driven development is a testing automation framework that uses automated unit tests to steer software design and disconnects it from any dependences. Traditional testing could find one or more errors only; however, employing TDD can increase the testing speed and improve the chances of the system meeting the requirements, working more efficiently compared to traditional testing.

Read Also – Best Front End Frameworks for Web Development in 2022

Best Test Automation Frameworks of 2022

The rapidly increasing demand for automation testing frameworks has made the market evolve them efficiently. So, here we present some of the best test automation frameworks available in 2022 that can help you boost your testing game.

1. Selenium

After 16 years of being established in the market, Selenium has gained an impressive reputation in the testing community. It quickly expanded into four components because of its increasing demand by companies and people. This browser automation testing framework has five essential components-

• Selenium IDE (for Selenium test development)
• Selenium Client API (to build tests in various other languages)
• Selenium Remote Control (RC)
• Selenium WebDriver
• Selenium Grid

Key characteristics of Selenium

• Selenium is portable, making it one of the best test automation frameworks for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, Firefox, and Solaris.
• It contains a record and replay feature that supports automation test creation without requiring programming language knowledge.
• Selenium has efficient programming language support and covers almost all the major programming languages.
• This testing framework also supports the WebDriver API that allows for web applications’ cross-browser testing.

2. WebdriverIO

Based on Node.js and being open-source, WebdriverIO helps testers run Selenium automation testing with it on the local system or incorporate them with cloud-based solutions such as LambdaTest. Although the WebdriverIO is a recent addition to the open-source community, it has accumulated a large gathering of GitHub users and an impressive GitHub star and fork rating.

Key characteristics of WebdriverIO

• WebdriverIO extends support to WebDriver protocol, Puppeteer, and Chrome Devtools for Chromium projects.
• This browser automation testing framework supports almost all the mobile or web applications produced using modern web technologies along with libraries like Vue and React.
• The smart selector is embedded into this testing that seamlessly selects a specific selector belonging to a particular library or development framework.
• WebdriverIO can be easily combined with Google lighthouse with the use of service plugins like t@wdio/devtools. This integration can also evaluate frontend performance metrics and PWA applications.

3. Cypress

Cypress is an open-source platform that provides a wholesome end-to-end testing experience with multiple features for performing automation testing. This testing automation framework is fast and highly efficient with the front-end technology part and operates on Javascript (one of the most prevalent web languages).

Key characteristics of Cypress

• The cypress framework offers a local test runner to conduct automation tests on the system.
• It enables the tester to run parallel tests.
• You can easily incorporate this browser testing framework with popular CI tools such as CircleCI and AWS code build.
• Cypress allows for record automation tests and CI code runs.
• Testers can use it to write end-to-end tests, integration tests, or unit tests.
• The automation testing framework eliminates the condition of writing sleep and waiting for commands. Instead, it has automatic waiting without async.

4. EarlGrey

This automation testing framework is an iOS native application that operates on the application’s user interface with its automation testing abilities. EarlGrey functions with the XCUITest framework and requires tests written in Objective-C or Swift. It is in its 2.2.1 version, and the recent version operates with XCUITest and unlocks exciting synchronization features for testers who work on iOS applications.

Key characteristics of EarlGrey

• EarlGrey functions by automatically tracking the UI and network request modifications.
• It is a white box in nature, allowing the tester to find faults in the application through the test.
• EarlGrey can be directly accessed from within the XCode.
• Before running tests on the target user interface components, EarlGrey ensures they are steady, making the test highly stable.
• The browser testing framework can use screenshot differential comparison to determine the appropriate visibility of the UI components.

Also Read – 8 Best Hybrid App Development Frameworks 

5. Appium

Appium is a trendy framework for testing native, hybrid, and mobile web applications. This open-source software is easy to integrate with your favorite tools and frameworks. Appium is particularly useful for native mobile application development as iOS simulators and Android emulators allow cross-platform compatibility, saving your time and money.

Key characteristics of Appium

• With full access to the back-end APIs, Appium aims to test any mobile application in any programming language.
• Being a cross-platform automation framework, Appium can use the same API to run tests on numerous platforms/operating systems. Thus, it improves code reusability.
• Eliminates recompilation: A tester must not recompile the mobile application every time they run the automation tests.

6. Serenity 

Being an open-source library, Serenity or Serenity BDD is used for writing regression and acceptance tests. The main highlight of Serenity is its detailed and comprehensive reports. They even notify what requirements have been satisfied with the written automation tests along with telling about the passing or failing of the tests. Serenity is a Java-based testing automation framework but also contains a JS version called SerenityJS for front-end developers, making it top the list of best test automation frameworks.

Key characteristics of Serenity

• Serenity is known and popularised because of its in-depth reports.
• It leverages the existing frameworks’ capabilities to make testing more effortless. In addition, the framework comes with built-in support for web testing.
• It has RestAssured support features for REST API testing along with screenplay pattern supports for writing manageable tests.
• The framework also contains support for parallel testing.
• Serenity comes with several in-built integrations.

7. Cucumber

Cucumber also hangs with the best test automation frameworks that employ the BDD language to complete automation tests. BDD tests correspond to the English language, where testers have to write English sentences rather than calling out the syntax or command. However, this is transformed into pure code in the background. Initially conceived for the Ruby programming language, Cucumber now supports various languages for Selenium automation testing. Moreover, testers can further leverage some of the Cucumber best practices to gain the best out of the framework.

Key characteristics of Cucumber

• The tool supports several languages such as Ruby, Java, and . NET.
• You do not have to learn complex programming languages to operate with Cucumber.
• It promotes code reusability by writing generic codes for numerous platforms.

The Takeaway

We have discussed some of the best test automation frameworks in this comprehensive article. However, remember that all of them have differential testing capabilities. Some provide excellent API testing, while some preserve layout anomalies. Hence, it is recommendable to go through the testing framework carefully to fully understand about it benefits of automation testing structure & process and its progress in the same.