Checklist for Windows Application Testing

Software testing came to the scene in the application development industry very recently. But organizations have already realized the worth of testing and picked it up as one of the major steps amidst the entire process.

Testing is a job that requires highly talented professionals. Apps should be tested in a variety of devices that are being used at present and are still emerging in the market.

Windows App Testing focuses primarily on testing six major areas: functionality, performance, security, compatibility, regression and usability.

1. User interface/GUI testing: This testing ensures user –friendliness of your application.

• Colors- Check whether the colors used for background, warning messages etc. are appropriate.
• Graphics- Ensure the images are displayed properly. Check for alignment and size issues.
• Text- The content should be error free. Check for grammar, spelling and font errors.
• Instruction- On instructions, specific actions should be carried out. If you click help, the app should direct you to the help menu.
• Usability- System navigation should be correct. Loading time, display sequence, broken pages etc. should be tested.

Read Also: 5 Types of Testing to Make Your Mobile Apps User Friendly

2. Functionality testing: Here, the app is tested whether or not it fulfills the functionality specifications.

• Forms- Check the field types (numeric only, date field, e-mail specific, pop-downs etc.). Check if all mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk and errors are shown in red. There should be maximum character limits set.
• Confirmation messages- Check if confirmation messages are displayed for actions such as delete, update and close.
• Other Functions- Test time-out, sorting, e-mail and other available functions. Test for redirection to an error page, if any.

3. Performance testing: This testing ensures if the product complies with the required performance. Performance testing is not done manually but with the help of performance testing tools.

4. Security testing: It is performed to find out if there is any security vulnerability in your app.

• Authentication- Prevent data breaches by allowing access permission only to registered users. Ask for strong username and password. Repeated failed login should trigger the alert mechanisms. Old password should not be allowed to process login.
• Access permissions- There should be access permissions set to edit the software specific data stored. This will prevent unintentional security threats or data loss. The “view source code” option should be disabled.
• Session management- Ensure randomly generated session IDs only are used for all authentications and there is proper session expiration.
• Data transmission security- Verify whether sensitive data such as passwords, account numbers etc. are transferred under proper security protocols that promises maximum security. Ensure that the personal data as well as password of the customer is collected in the encrypted format by default.
• Malicious command injection- Check for malicious SQL and XSS injection vulnerabilities and rectify them.

Recommended Read: Why Is Independent Testing Necessary?

5. Compatibility Testing: It is used to determine whether your windows application is compatible with the hardware, software and other elements that it should function with.

• Hardware/software compatibility- You should manually test your application in various windows devices to ensure that it doesn’t showcase any compatibility problem. Ensure that all graphics, designs and functions work well.

6. Regression Testing: This test confirms that a recent change or modification in an existing program or code has not adversely affected any of its features. For regression testing, automation is better, since manual testing can be expensive and time-consuming.

Windows App Testing or for that matter any other mobile app testing is a daunting task as there are billions of mobile devices worldwide, featuring distinct screen sizes, network operators etc. Methodical and careful evaluation is the key to successful Windows App Testing.