Appium is a popular open-source test project for automation testing. It can run test scripts and check native, mobile web, and hybrid applications. It drives iOS, Android, and Windows apps, and uses Selenium WebDriver for interacting with these apps. Appium allows you to use your preferred test practices, frameworks, and tools. Appium automation testing gives you the flexibility to use any language and test framework so that you can execute tests without any hassle.
The Appium framework can translate Selenium Webdriver commands into UIAutomation (iOS) or UIAutomator (Android) commands based on the type of device you use, irrespective of the operating system version. Appium is an HTTP server written in Node.js, and the server receives test requests in a JSON format. Hence, it supports better compatibility with all programming languages that have Selenium client libraries such as Java, Objective-C, JavaScript with node.js, PHP, Ruby, Python, C#, and more. You need to pre-install node.js on the system to initialize the Appium server.
There are several benefits of Appium automation tool. It has a steep learning curve, hence better accessibility allowing the QA to easily run the tests. Moreover, they can write tests with development tools, environment, and programming language of their choice. When you download and install Appium, it receives connection and command requests from the client. It then executes the received commands on the mobile devices and responds with HTTP responses. Appium can automate and optimize the tests to develop apps that drive high-quality performance.
Hence, you need to set up the environment for the particular platforms that you want to run tests for performing tests with Appium. Here are some benefits of using Appium to test your app.
Use Of Standard Automation APIs
API testing is a critical component of the test plan for app release. Appium makes use of a standard API across platforms. Hence, you don’t have to recompile your app or recode the test scripts when the platform changes between iOS and Android. Since UI is platform-dependent, you just need to change it to run tests with Appium. Hence, it can help to accelerate the testing and increase efficiency. When you install Appium, a server is set up on a machine that exposes a REST API. REST API (Representational State Transfer) is a powerful way to run tests. You can API and user interface (UI) automated testing to create better test coverage and quality.
Flexibility With the Choice of Programming Languages
Appium supports a wide range of scripting languages that are WebDriver compatible, such as Javascript, Java, C#, Ruby, Python, Perl, and more. Hence, the QA can write tests with their favorite dev tools using the Selenium WebDriver API and language-specific client libraries. Appium allows you to automate Hybrid, Web, and Native mobile applications.
Ease Of Use
You can easily write Appium tests and execute them without facing any major complexities. You can use a client library to write your Appium tests, which sends it to the Appium server over HTTP. Initializing an Appium session is easy, as you can use certain parameters known as “desired capabilities” such as PlatformName, PlatformVersion, and more to specify the automation kind you desire from the Appium server. Appium is compatible with Selenium WebDriver and encompasses all the selenium features. Hence, if you are already familiar with Selenium, you can easily operate Appium tools and functions. Also, the multi-language support contributes to its ease of use.
Compatibility With Popular Testing Frameworks
With Appium, you can use any testing framework of your choice. It offers compatibility across popular testing frameworks, be it modular-based, keyword-driven, hybrid testing, linear automation, or data-driven framework. Appium supports all known testing frameworks used across platforms.
Cross-Platform Support
The JSON wire protocol manages the WebDriver sessions in Appium. The cross-platform support features of Appium allow you to run the same test cases across different platforms. It uses API for writing test scripts, which works for both Android and iOS platforms using the WebDriver protocol. Hence, it provides better code reusability across platforms. Within the same script, it enables seamless switching between native app automation and webview automation, with the WebDriver model. On iOS, Appium uses the Instruments application or XCUITest framework for automating the apps. On Android devices, Appium uses the UI Automator to support Junit test cases for app automation.
Cost-Effective
Appium is an open-source automation testing tool, hence you can use it free of cost. It comes with wide support from the open-source community. The tool is frequently updated, and it does not demand any additional installation requirements. Appium works perfectly on a native, web, or hybrid system, be it, on the simulator, emulator, or real device. You can also integrate it with your CI/CD pipeline, hence supporting the continuous development of your app. Appium has an ‘Inspector’ to Record and Playback for effective app testing. You can continually update, maintain, and improve your automated test scripts easily.
To Conclude:
These are some of the popular advantages of using Appium for mobile app testing. It makes it one of the most popular tools for mobile test automation.
