Visual testing compares an application’s visible output to the designer’s predicted results and assists in the discovery of visual problems in the design of a website or screen, rather than just functional flaws. Visual testing guarantees that all users view the software’s user interface (UI) correctly, whether it’s to confirm that each component on a web page has the correct form, size, and position, or that any of these items appear and operate appropriately across a variety of devices and browsers.
Because most developers perform visual tests on independent units during development and on a completely operational programme during end-to-end testing, the phrase “visual testing” can refer to any product with a graphical user interface at any stage.
The scope of the project is confined to a certain collection of concerns and topics. What appears nice to software may not appear so to the human eye. However, after the trial and error period is done, automated visual testing may save your QA team a lot of time and work.
Let’s have a look at some of the automated visual testing tools and open source technologies available in 2022:
Best Automated Visual Testing Tools in 2022
- Selenium
Selenium is a free test automation tool that works with a variety of programming languages, such as Java, C#, Python, Javascript, Ruby, and others. The written tests may be run here, and it takes care of the browser interaction. The app creates screenshots of diverse web sites and provides excellent assistance for all visual examinations. You may record activities using Selenium IDE and use them as references in the future. It’s mostly used to examine the functional features of software, and it’s not intended to assess the aesthetic aspects of software. There is a prevalent misconception in the industry about how easy it is to automate visual testing. It is possible to automate visual testing in an easy approach. Automation is provided for both new and existing Selenium tests.
- Gemini
Gemini is a free open-source tool that works with Selenium or PhantomJS servers. It is possible to test different pieces, as well as aesthetic adjustments in element sizes and positions. You can use test suites without having to worry about coding too much. A snapshot of a page’s components is compared to baseline pictures of the same parts by Gemini. If the photographs don’t match, the discrepancies are shown in a report. The tests, which are written in JavaScript and run in real browsers, are executed using the Selenium WebDriver protocol. Gemini is available as a command-line tool or as a graphical user interface.
Another benefit is that the interface is not excessively complex, making it easy to use.
- Percy
Percy is a multi-featured automated visual testing tool. The tests’ findings may be combined, run, and audited. After the integration via CI/CD services or frameworks is complete, you may start running your UI components. Visual testing and Percy can be combined in a variety of ways. After your applications and components have been integrated, you’re ready to start performing visual tests on them. Percy works with businesses to automate visual testing. It compares screenshots to the baseline and highlights visual deviations. Teams may reliably deploy code changes with each contribution since they have more visible coverage.
- Screener.io
Screener allows teams to test their user interface (UI) across a wide range of browsers, operating systems, and devices. It automatically finds visual regressions and inconsistencies across your UI. It compares screenshots and DOM snapshots to indicate changes.
You don’t require any code to automate your test flows. Both visual and functional testing may be completed in a single test run, resulting in increased test coverage. It is possible to combine the aesthetic and performance testing components. This is quite useful during the development process.
Advantages of Automated Visual Testing
- The mobility of visual testing is a benefit. If the sort of software is the same, a tester can send video to another tester. As a result, in the event of a system failure, the data is not lost.
- The most straightforward non-destructive testing approach to master. Visual testing certification training are low-cost and quick since they just demand a few technical and interpretative abilities.
- Visual testing saves time since we don’t have to test software again after the testing procedure is completed and preserved in visual form. The developer can spot the flaw by watching the video.
- Visual testing needs the least amount of specialised knowledge.
- Because just the cause of system failure must be found, visual testing necessitates little part preparation.
Conclusion
We spoke about how crucial visual validation testing is in today’s world, when software applications must perform properly across a variety of screen sizes, resolutions and mobile devices, websites and operating systems
Visual validation testing is just as vital as functional testing if you want a pleasant user experience. When visual and functional testing are coupled, a wide range of tests may be covered.