What are different aspects of web testing?

The term “web testing” defines itself well. So, web testing can be defined as a kind of software testing aimed at testing the web applications. Its entire focus is up on web applications. A complete testing of web applications is required before they go live because this helps in addressing the issues of the application well.

The following issues are generally addressed in a typical web testing:
- Security of web applications.
- Basic functionality of the site under testing.
- Accessibility to the users who are handicapped as well as those who are fully able.
- Readiness for handling the expected traffic.
- Readiness for handling the expected number of users.
- Ability to survive a massive spike in user traffic.

A web testing tool called “web application performance tool” or WAPT (as it is abbreviated) is used to test the web related interfaces and applications. These web applications testing tools are used extensively for load testing, stress testing and performance testing of web applications, web servers, web sites and other web related interfaces.

The web application performance tool in a way simulates virtual users which will repeat either specified URLs or recorded URLs. It allows users to specify or mention the number of times the virtual users will have to repeat either specified URLs or repeated URLs. This measure makes it easy for the web application performance tools to check for the performance leakage in the web application or the web site being tested.

Though the web application performance tools face various challenges during testing, they should be able to check for the following aspects:

- Compatibility of operating system with the web application or the web site.
- Compatibility of the browser with the web application or the web site and web server.
- Compatibility with windows application wherever required during the back-end testing.

Web application performance tools allow the users to specify how the virtual users are equally involved in the whole testing process as well as in testing environment.
There are following 3 types of user loads:
- Increasing user load:
In this type of user load the number of virtual users is increased from 0 to 100 step by step. It is called RAMP.
- Constant user load:
In this type of user load the number of users is kept constant or maintained i.e., a specific number of users only can use the application.
- Periodic user load:
In this type of user load the number of users is increased and decreased from time to time.

Web security testing is another aspect of web testing which determines whether the web based application requirements are met or not when the web applications or web sites are subjected to malicious data input. The user interface of web applications can be tested by using frame works that provide a tool box for testing web applications. Nowadays some open source web testing tools are also available. Few of them are:
- HTTP test tool: This tool is scriptable protocol test tool and is used to test HTTP protocol based products.
- Apache J meter: It’s a tool programmed in java for performance measurement and load testing.

There are some windows based web testing tools available these days. The tester should first develop a web testing check list before carrying out the web testing. The check list should include the following:

- Usability testing: Tests how the users use the page, and other controls.
- Functionality testing: Tests links in web pages, database connections, and forms used in web pages.
- Interface testing: tests web server and application server interface.
- Compatibility testing: tests compatibility of browser, OS, mobile and printer.
- Security testing: tests the security of the web server and applications.
- Performance testing: includes web load testing and web stress testing.