Here are the Difference Between Manual Testing and Automated Testing:
| Parameters | Manual Testing | Automation Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | In manual testing, the test cases are executed by the human tester. | In automated testing, the test cases are executed by the software tools. |
| Processing Time | Manual testing is time-consuming. | Automation testing is faster than manual testing. |
| Resources requirement | Manual testing takes up human resources. | Automation testing takes up automation tools and trained employees. |
| Exploratory testing | Exploratory testing is possible in manual testing. | Exploratory testing is not possible in automation testing. |
| Framework requirement | Manual testing doesn't use frameworks. | Automation testing uses frameworks like Data Driven, Keyword, etc. |
| Reliability | Manual testing is not reliable due to the possibility of manual errors. | Automated testing is more reliable due to the use of automated tools and scripts. |
| Investment | In manual testing, investment is required for human resources. | In automated testing, investment is required for tools and automated engineers. |
| Test results availability | In manual testing, the test results are recorded in an excel sheet so they are not readily available. | In automated testing, the test results are readily available to all the stakeholders in the dashboard of the automated tool. |
| Human Intervention | Manual testing allows human observation, thus it is useful in developing user-friendly systems. | Automated testing is conducted by automated tools and scripts so it does not involve assurance of user-friendliness. |
| Performance testing | Impractical for systematic performance testing (e.g., load, stress, spike testing). | Supports performance testing (e.g., load, stress, spike testing with tools like JMeter). |
| Batch Testing | In manual testing, batch testing is not possible. | You can batch multiple tests for fast execution. |
| Programming knowledge | There is no need for programming knowledge in manual testing. | Programming knowledge is a must in case of automation testing as using tools requires trained staff. |
| Documentation | In manual testing, there is no documentation. | In automation testing, the documentation acts as a training resource for new developer. He/ She can look into unit test cases and understand the code base quickly. |
| When to Use? | Manual testing is usable for Exploratory testing, Usability testing, and Adhoc testing. | Automated testing is suitable for Regression testing, Load testing, and Performance testing. |
When to Perform Manual Testing?
Manual testing is done when automation can't be used or isn't enough. Here are key reasons and scenarios:
- Exploratory Testing: Discovering issues in new or unclear features by exploring them.
- Usability Testing: Checking if the UI is easy to use and looks good.
- Ad-Hoc Testing: Doing quick, informal tests after updates or bug fixes.
- Visual/GUI Testing: Checking the layout, colors, or how the site looks across different browsers.
Manual testing should be conducted when:
- Flexibility is required: With manual tests, QA can quickly test and provide fast feedback.
- Short-term projects: It is not advisable to invest more money and effort to set up short-term projects that focus on minor features because such setup will require huge effort and money that would be too high for such small projects.
- When testing end-user usability: Humans can use their sensibilities to understand the application behavior if the application offers a satisfactory user journey. No machine can perform this task as humans can.
When to Perform Automation Testing?
- When need to run repetitive tasks: Automated tests are the best option in scenarios where there is a requirement to run repetitive tests. For example, in the case of regression tests must be executed periodically to make sure that the newly added code does not disrupt the existing functionality of the software.
- When human resources are scarce: Automated tests are viable and the best option to get tests executed within deadlines when there are only a limited number of dedicated testers.
Benefits of Automation Testing
Here are Benefits of Automation Testing:
- Finds more bugs: Automation testing helps to find more bugs and defects in the software.
- Reduce time for regression tests: Automated tests are suitable for regression tests as the tests can be executed in a repetitive manner periodically.
- The process can be recorded: This is one of the benefits of using automation tests as these tests can be recorded and thus allows to reuse of the tests.
- No fatigue: As automation, tests are executed using software tools so there is no fatigue or tiring factor as in manual testing.
- Increased test coverage: Automation tests help to increase the test coverage as using the tool for testing helps to make sure that not even the smallest unit is left for testing.