Performance testing is a key element in the mobile application testing. QA team is able to track and predict performance changes for any network connection issues, increased traffic loads, device support and performance and so on.
When it comes to mobile apps, there’s also a need to test the software product on actual devices to see if the performance is affected by the change in devices and screen dimensions.
The purpose of implementing performance testing is to gather information on the application regarding speed, stability, reliability, and scalability under regulated and unregulated loads. In this post, we’ll find out more on ideal performance strategies to follow while launching a mobile app for products.
Objectives for conducting performance testing on mobile apps:
Validate for large workloads:
Performance testing helps product teams evaluate device output as the number of users or user requests increases. The tester needs to know how fast the app can respond; how much resources of the device are being used; at what point the app starts to crash. This is to replicate scenarios wherein the app can see unexpected surge in user activity.
Validate the hardware:
Validating the app compatibility with hardware helps app developers ensure that the app runs in compliance with device and OS specifications through performance testing.
Check the output during critical conditions:
The developer can set limits on the app’s performance by performance testing. It helps avoid machine crashes or application crashes and predict them in advance.
Strategy for Performance Testing Mobile Apps:
Getting a performance testing strategy can be challenging. Here are some points product teams and QA teams can consider to create a sound performance testing plan:
1. Align test objectives and business requirements:
Testing will only be as good as its objectives. Set fixed objectives for each use case, and align them with corresponding to business case. At this stage, the testing team gets to know the big picture of architecture of the product.
2. Identify test KPIs:
By setting benchmarks for testing, one can measure if execution was a success or a failure. For mobile app testing, the some KPIs worth considering:
- Maximum response time;
- Average response time;
- Peak number of requests;
- Average throughput and the peak number of concurrent active users per device and OS.
3. Prioritize scenarios:
Prioritize the test cases as per sprints. Also consider scenarios that are crucial for the overall app’s reliable performance. Always ensure that crucial features are working properly and then test less significant scenarios.
4. Simulate a real-life user environment:
Move beyond emulators to validate performance in actual useage. Here user features that require camera permission, GPS, and other device-specific functions can be tested with real devices / hardware. Also depending on the mobile device, the page layouts and system fonts may vary for users.
5. Align the testing approach with the overall development methodology:
For Agile projects, the testing team would need to implement the principles of continuous integration. Adopting the same methodology for testing as for development allows both parties involved to be on the same page regarding the project, improve communication, and speed up the decision-making process.
6. Testing with network connectivity:
As users move around the network and bandwidth on mobile devices can vary. Keeping the carrier network differences in mind allows a QA specialist to optimize the app’s performance and improve user experience for 3G/4G/5G connectivity.
Conclusion
An inclusive approach to performance testing will help testing teams ensure that app performs upto mark for end users. Testers can follow these testing mechanisms for mobile app performance testing with the right strategy and tools .