Keyword-Driven Testing

Keyword Driven Testing (also Table - Driven Testing, Testing Action Word ) is a technology of automatic software testing.

Characteristics

Although you can use keyword - driven testing and manual testing, it is more suitable for automated testing. The high level of abstraction of such a keyword -driven testing improves the reusability and maintainability of automated tests.

Method

In the Keyword Driven Testing Test preparation usually takes place in two stages.

Planning

First, the test actions or operations in the application ( or in the requirements for use) are analyzed. Recurring actions and procedures are encapsulated in keywords ( ).

Examples of Keywords

• A simple keyword ( an action on an object), such as input from a user name in a text box.

• A more complex keyword (for other keywords together) eg Sign In.

Implementation

The implementation differs depending on which tool or framework is used. Often, test developers need to implement a framework to provide keywords like " Check " or " Enter ". A well-known open- source framework is the Framework for Integrated Test. A tester without programming skills can create test cases according to the plan based on these ready -coded keywords. The resulting test is performed by a robot. The robot reads the keywords and carry out the appropriate lines of code.

Other approaches do not separate the test design and the implementation keyword. Here there is only one step to implement - the test design is also the test automation. Keywords such as " Check " or " Enter " are created from ready- blocks in which the necessary code for the keywords already exists. Thus, the need for additional technical professionals for programming omitted in the testing process. This approach using tools like GUIdancer and Work Soft Certify or even the Robot Framework. The open source tool Selenium is finished keywords for the testing of Web applications that can be compiled into HTML tables to test cases. Then, inter alia, sets the free Firefox plug-in on Molybdenum, which enables the composition of individual "Commands" to configurable test modules.

Benefits

In the Keyword Driven Testing of effort at the beginning appear to be higher than recorded scripts. However, careful planning at the following test creation and maintenance pays off. So promotes Keyword Driven Testing a stable and clear test structure. The more abstract the keywords, the easier they are to reuse. This will simplify the maintenance is reduced. The modular structure of a keyword-driven testing also allows the easy creation of new tests based on already existing keywords.

Another advantage is that no technical knowledge is required. In the first approach must be able to only program the keyword developers. In the second approach even eliminates this need. Thus, tests can be automated without any programming knowledge.