A Detailed Mobile App Testing Checklist for Businesses To Know

Mobile apps continue to become an inseparable part of human lives. Today, users prefer mobile apps to perform various on the go. Mobile apps are now being used by people all over the world on various types of devices varying in screen size, networks, configuration, etc.

Therefore, it has now become extremely essential to ensure their apps work seamlessly on every device and every platform under all conditions. This is where the need for mobile app testing comes into the picture.

During mobile app testing, there are various aspects related to the functionality, usability, accessibility, performance, security, etc. of an app that needs to be checked before releasing it to the market. Testers should follow a comprehensive checklist for mobile app testing to deliver high-quality mobile apps.

What is mobile app testing?

Mobile Testing is the process where testers check the application/software developed for handheld devices like mobile phones and tablets. The main aim of this testing method is to check the functional and non-functional aspects of the software.

All applications need to go through this test to ensure it delivers a great UX. Once the app passes all the tests performed during mobile testing, it is then further released in the market(App Store/Play Store).

Why is it essential for businesses across domains to leverage mobile app testing?

• Healthcare sector: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant rise in the usage of healthcare apps, telemedicine apps, health tracking, and fitness management apps. Since these apps deal with sensitive user data that directly affects their life and wellbeing, it becomes essential to test these mobile apps thoroughly.

• Telecom sector: Telecom sector plays a major role in keeping the world connected. It is essential for telecom apps, CRM apps, vendor apps, customer support apps, etc. to function seamlessly across all devices/platforms, under all networks, and critical situations to deliver agreat CX. This is why the telecom sector needs to leverage mobile app testing.

• Banking and Insurance sector: Today’s tech-savvy customers prefer online or mobile banking to avail services on the go. Effective mobile app testing is the need of an hour for all banks and financial institutions to ensure there’s no unexpected downtime, load issues, UI issues, transaction issues, integration issues, etc.

• Education sector: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the education of students globally. However, due to EdTech apps,students were able to continue their studies from home. To achieve high-quality EdTech apps and to deliver an unmatched learning experience to learners, robust mobile testing is necessary.

• Online Retail & eCommerce: Today, customers prefer eCommerce apps to purchase goods on the go. For businesses to ensure the proper functioning and high-quality eCommerce apps mobile app testing is essential.

Undoubtedly, mobile app testing is critical for every business to deliver a great UX. Testers should follow a detailed checklist for mobile app testing to ensure high-quality mobile apps.

Detailed mobile app testing checklist

Functional Criteria

• Check if an app correctly responds to the input and give the correct output

• Check the Compatibility of the app with browsers, OS, devices (varying screen sizes and resolutions)

• Check the integration of an app with Wi-Fi, GPS, payment gateways, etc.

• Check the User Interface of an app

• Check the proper working of redirection option of an app

• Check if an app is switched seamlessly between its desktop version and mobile version

Non-Functional Criteria

Performance criteria

• Check the responsiveness of under normal and critical situations

• Check the load handling capacity of an app when it is subjected to high user loads

• Check the performance of an app under varying network, bandwidth, user load

• Check the scalability of an app when by increasing the user load

• Check the app installation and launch time

Security criteria

• Check secure connection with payment gateway

• Check the compliance of an app with security and network protocol

• Check if an app contains security loopholes or vulnerability issues

• Check for bad or broken links that redirect to an unauthorized page

• Check app contains security authentication permission

Usability criteria

• Check proper navigation of an app

• Check app contains active button and links

• Check app is easy-to-use and provides a user-friendly experience

• Check app contains exit option to allow the user exit an app at any point

• Check the responsiveness of the app menu and tabs

Accessibility criteria

• Check the compliance of an app with accessibility guidelines like WCAG 2.0, 2.1, Section 508, Stanca Act and more

• Check app contains correct font size, font colour to allow user read the text easily

• Check in-app multimedia works fine

• Check the proper placement of multimedia like images, audio, video in an app

Various types of mobile app testing methods for businesses to leverage

1. Functional testing: This test verifies the functionality of the application to ensure that all the functionalities of the app are working fine and as expected. There are a variety of functional tests are conducted on application such as unit test, integration test, system test, acceptance test, alpha test, beta test

2. Usability testing: In this testing method, the users are given a specific task to perform on the application/software. The actions performed by the users are observed and recorded by the specialists such as QA teams, test engineers, etc. Feedback is collected from the end-users and actions are taken to improve the usability of the app

3. Compatibility testing: There are a variety of devices with varying screen sizes and users use apps on these devices under different networks. Thus, it is important to test the compatibility of the app on various devices, platforms, OS, browser networks, etc.

4. Performance testing: This test is performed to check the speed, responsiveness, and stability of the application under various workloads. The main aim of this test is to eliminate performance bottlenecks before the application goes live and to ensure that the application meets the performance objectives. The different types of performance tests are - load, spike, endurance, volume, etc.

5. Security testing: The main aim of this test is to ensure that the applications are free from all vulnerabilities and security loopholes. The different types of security tests that are conducted are vulnerability tests, penetration tests, security scanning, security auditing, etc.

6. Localization and globalization testing: This testing method verifies app compliance with the language and cultural aspects of a particular region. This test ensures that proper time zone i.e., date &time formats are included in the app, local currency, text and user interface are used, and L10N and I18N standards arefollowed.

7. Digital testing: It is a software testing type that covers the whole testing gamut for mobile and web apps. It ensures end-to-end testing of apps i.e.; functional, non-functional, compliance and regulation testing, etc.

Conclusion: Today, every business need high-quality mobile apps to deliver a great UX. For businesses to achieve high-quality mobile apps it is essential to ensure there are no issues in an app related to its functionality, security, usability, accessibility, etc.

To ensure the identification and removal of these unknown bugs, businesses should follow a detailed mobile app testing checklist. By following the mobile app testing checklist and by leveraging various mobile testing methods, businesses can achieve high-quality mobile apps.

Businesses should leverage mobile app testing from a next-gen QA, and independent software testing services provider for superior and next-gen ready mobile apps.

About the author: I am a technical content writer and I write articles on various IT related topics. In this article, I have tried to share my views on the mobile application testing checklist.