How is Graphical User Interface (GUI) testing done?

The term GUI testing is a self justifying term and states that it is a testing that tests the graphical user interface of the software system or application against its specifications and requirements mentioned in the specifications documents.

This article is all about the testing of some of the aspects of a graphical user interface. All the aspects of a graphical user interface are tested using a whole lot of testing techniques.

The test cases are generated by a test designer who has all the knowledge about the application and the tests are designed as such that they cover all the functionality of the system.

1. Steps for Testing of the Text Box
- Firstly, the requirements of the text box are identified and the default values of the text box and the button are tested without any text in the text box.

- The second step is the checking of the NULL condition in which it is checked that whether or not a text of NULL value can be saved.

- Thirdly, the space condition is checked which ensures that a text box can save a space character.

- Fourth, the boundary value condition is checked in which the minimum and maximum text holding value of the text box is tested.

2. Steps for Testing of the Radio Buttons

- Radio buttons are the buttons that are used in making a selection in the lists that contains options that mutually exclusive and only one option has to be selected.

- In the radio button testing it is tested that whether or not clicking on one of the options deselects the other one.

3. Steps for Testing of the Command Buttons

- The working of the command button i.e., whether or not it is following the command which has been evoked. The execution of the command is also tested.

4. steps for Testing of the Aesthetic Conditions

Aesthetic conditions regarding the colour of the background, resizing of the screen, color of the field prompts, font of the text, spelling of the prompts etc are tested using appropriate testing methodologies.

5. Testing of the validation conditions
This testing tests the validation process of the GUI using various white box testing techniques.

6. Steps for Testing of the Usability Conditions

- Usability conditions of the GUI of the applications are tested by the users since a direct input is obtained from the users and is focussed up on the capacity of the product to match with the standards specified by the user.

- Usability refers to the ease of use of any software artefact and it gives a measure of the ease with which the interaction between the user and the application takes place.

- Testing the usability conditions often helps the developers to understand the needs of the customers and helps in focussing the whole development process towards the needs of the customers.

- The rate of the sales and the task completion increases and the number of enquiries in the call center is also reduced.

- Usability is also an effective technique to increase the experience of the end user making it easier to understand and more intuitive.

- The usability testing can also be carried out by the expert evaluators instead of making users do that. The below mentioned aspects are tested:
(a) Performance
(b) User friendliness
(c) Efficiency
(d) Visual design
(e) Consistency

7. Steps for Testing of Data Integrity Conditions

- This era is marked by the increasing demands for the accountability and mobility and thus data integrity conditions need to be tested.

- This is done by using different white box testing techniques for different conditions.

8. Steps for Testing of the Data field checks and Alpha field checks

It is tested whether or not the data fields accept the data of their specified type.

Aesthetic or Graphic Design - Layout Issues and Graphic Design Issues

Aesthetic or Graphic design makes the web application appealing, though it is functional in nature. It is an artistic angle that compliments the technical aspects of web engineering. To perform aesthetic design, web application users decide how they want the application to look like.

General Layout Guidelines To Consider When Screen Layout Is Designed

- Do not over crowd the web page with too much information as it makes it difficult for the suer to identify the needed information and it creates too much visual chaos.
- Scrolling on web page should be reduced as the users prefer not to scroll much. The best idea is to reduce the content or just put necessary content.
- The design should specify all layout items as a percentage of available space.
- There has to be a pattern that should be followed during group navigation, content and function geographically within the page.
- Web application should be designed in a way in which there is more emphasis on content. A typical web page should contain eighty percent of content with the remaining part dedicated to navigation and other features.
- Users have a tendency to scan the web page in a way they scan the page of a book i.e. from top-left to bottom right. High priority elements should be placed in upper-left portion of the page.

GRAPHIC DESIGN ISSUES

Graphic design begins with layout and then it covers the color schemes, sizes, styles, use of media, typefaces and all other aesthetic elements of an application.
Different web sites provide design tips and guidelines.

The WebApp Design - Attributes, Goals and Web Design Pyramid

Design is an engineering activity that leads to a high quality product. The major attributes of quality for web applications are:
- Security : The main emphasis of security is the ability of the web application and its environment to avoid unauthorized access or attack.
- Availability : Web application will not meet users needs if its unavailable. Availability is the measure of the percentage of time that a web application is available for use.
- Scalability : Is the variation in volume handled significantly by the web applications and the system. It is important to build a web application that can accommodate the burden of success.
- Time to market : It is a measure of quality from business point of view.

What should be considered when assessing content quality?
- Scope and depth of content be easily determined so that it meets user's needs?
- Background and authority of content's author be easily identified?
- Possibility of determining the currency of content, last update?
- Stability of content and location?
- Credibility of content?
- Uniqueness of content?
- Is content well organized?
- Is content valuable?

Design Goals

The design goals for every web application are:
- Simplicity
- Consistency
- Identity
- Robustness
- Navigability
- Visual appeal
- Compatibility

Web Design Pyramid

Each level of the pyramid represents the design activities:
- Interface Design : It describes structure and organization of the user interface. It includes screen layout, interaction modes, navigation mechanisms.
- Aesthetic Design : It describes the look and feel of the application.
- Content Design : It defines layout, structure and outline of all content.
- Navigation Design : It describes the navigational flow for web application.
- Architectural Design : It represents the overall hypermedia structure.
- Component Design : It develops detailed processing logic.