Selenium Mobile Automation: Testing on Android & iOS Devices

With the growing advancement of apps, ensuring great functionality across diverse platforms and gadgets has become crucial. Selenium mobile testing plays a pivotal role in automating app tests on both iOS and Android devices. By combining Selenium with standard test automation tools like Appium, QA engineers can efficiently conduct cross-platform tests, ensuring a smooth and mobile-friendly test experience.

Automated mobile tests with Selenium allow QA engineers and software developers to check app compatibility, performance, and responsiveness across multiple OS versions, screen sizes, and web browsers. This reduces human effort while improving test accuracy and execution speed. In this guide, we will explore how selenium mobile testing can be leveraged for mobile automation, best practices to follow, and how cloud platforms like LambdaTest can further enhance your testing workflow.

What is the Selenium Mobile Test?

It is the procedure of using the Se (selenium) framework (often blended with tools like Appium) to automate web app tests on mobile browsers across iOS & Android devices. It guarantees that web apps function appropriately and offer a mobile-friendly experience across diverse screen resolutions, sizes, & platforms.

Crucial Aspects of Selenium Mobile Tests

• Responsive Design Tests – Checks that sites adjust accurately across diverse screen sizes and alignments.
• Cross-Browser Tests – Guarantees web applications function flawlessly on web browsers such as Safari, Google Chrome, & Mozilla Firefox on mobile gadgets.
• Automation at Scale – Allows tests across several mobile gadgets and OS versions simultaneously.
• Incorporation with CI/CD – Supports continuous tests & deployment in DevOps pipelines.
• Cloud-Centric Implementation – Functions with platforms such as LambdaTest for testing on actual mobile gadgets without the requirement for physical infrastructure.

Why Use Selenium for Mobile Automation?

This automated test tool while primarily acknowledged for web automation, however, can be used for mobile automation, chiefly for testing web apps within mobile browsers. It offers a robust testing framework & cross-platform compatibility.  Let’s check out why Selenium is the ideal choice for mobile-friendly tests on iOS & Android gadgets:

1. Web App Tests in Mobile Browsers:

• It is perfect for testing web apps that are accessed via mobile browsers (for instance., Safari, Firefox, and Google Chrome, on iOS and Android). 
• You can automate relations with web components, replicate user activities, and check the app’s functionality within the mobile browser setting. 

2. Cross-Platform Compatibility

• It supports several OSs and web browsers, making it a useful tool for testing across multiple mobile platforms & gadgets.
• You can conduct testing on diverse mobile browsers (for instance., Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox) & devices (iOS, Android) through similar Selenium scripts. 

3. Dynamic Tests Framework

• It provides an all-inclusive tests framework with traits such as:
  • Selenium Grid: Allows parallel implementation of tests, significantly reducing test implementation time.
  • WebDriver: Enables you to control the web browser & interact with web components.
  • JUnit/ TestNG: Standard test frameworks that incorporate perfectly with Selenium for generating and managing testing.
  • POM (Page Object Model): A design pattern that assists code maintainability and reusability in Selenium projects. 

4. Incorporation with Other Tools

• It incorporates perfectly with other frameworks and tools, like:
  • Reporting tools: JUnit, Allure reports.
  • CI/CD tools: GitLab CI, Jenkins, CircleCI.
  • Mobile test frameworks: Appium (for hybrid & native applications). 

Setting Up Selenium for Mobile Tests

To conduct Selenium mobile tests on iOS & Android gadgets, you have to set up a test environment that incorporates Selenium with Appium. You just need to follow these steps to get started:

1. Prerequisites for Mobile Automated Tests

Before configuring Selenium for mobile tests, make sure you have the following:

• Java or Python– Depending on your favorite programming language.
• JDK (Java Development Kit) – Needed for executing Selenium and Appium.
• Selenium WebDriver – The crucial element for mobile & web automation.
• Npm & Node.js – Mandatory for installing Appium server.
• Appium – A mobile automated test framework that extends Selenium competencies.
• Android Studio (For Android) – Comprises the Android emulator and SDK.
• Xcode (For iOS) – Required to perform testing on iOS gadgets.

2. Installing Appium & Selenium 

Step 1: Install Java & Set Up Environment Variables

• Download & install JDK (Java Development Kit).
• Configure the JAVA_HOME & PATH environ variables.

Step 2: Install Appium & Node.js 

• Download & install Node.js (derived from npm).
• Install Appium using the following command.

npm install -g appium

• Check the installation by running:

appium -v

Step 3: Install Appium Inspector and Appium Desktop

• Download Appium Inspector to scrutinize mobile User Interface (UI) components.
• Install Appium Desktop to handle the Appium server.

Step 4: Install Selenium WebDriver

• Download and install Selenium WebDriver for your chosen programming language:

For Java:
Add the Selenium dependency in Maven:

<dependency>

    <groupId>org.seleniumhq.selenium</groupId>

    <artifactId>selenium-java</artifactId>

    <version>4.x.x</version>

</dependency>

For Python:

pip install selenium

3. Setting Up Mobile Tests on Android

Step 1: Download Android Studio & Set Up Emulator

• Download Android Studio & launch AVD Manager to produce an emulator.
• Install Android SDK & set up setting variables such as ANDROID_HOME.

Step 2: Start Appium Server

• Browse Appium & start the server.
• Utilize Appium Inspector to scrutinize components of the mobile application.

Step 3: Generate a Test Script for Android

Make use of Selenium with Appium to automate an Android test’s

4. Configure Mobile Testing on iOS

Step 1: Install Xcode & Set-up WebDriverAgent

• Install Xcode & set up WebDriverAgent for iOS automation.
• Allow Developer Mode on the device (macOS device).

Step 2: Generate a Script for iOS

Make use of Selenium with Appium to automate iOS testing:

5. Conduct Mobile Testing on Cloud-based Platforms (LambdaTest)

If you do not have physical gadgets, you can conduct testing on cloud-powered test platforms such as LambdaTest.

LambdaTest Instance for Mobile Tests:

desired_caps = {

    “platformName”: “Android”,

    “browserName”: “Chrome”,

    “deviceName”: “Samsung Galaxy S21”,

    “realMobile”: “true”

}

driver = webdriver.Remote(“https://hub.lambdatest.com/wd/hub”, desired_caps)

driver.get(“https://yourwebsite.com”)

driver.quit()

Configuring Selenium for mobile-friendly testing encompasses setting up Appium, configuring the accurate environ, and using actual or cloud-assisted devices. By embracing tools such as Appium & Selenium, QAs can certify better test coverage, cross-platform compatibility, & rapid release cycles for mobile apps.

Best Practices for Selenium Mobile Testing

Let’s find out some crucial guidelines to improve your Selenium mobile testing system.

1. Pick the Correct Test Environ

• Make use of actual devices for accurate outcomes. Simulators and Emulators are beneficial for basic testing but might not mimic actual performance problems.
• Consider cloud-assisted mobile test platforms such as LambdaTest to test across diverse OS versions & devices.

2. Utilize the Perfect Locator Strategy

• Prefer exceptional locators such as Accessibility ID or ID over XPath, as XPath can be slow on mobile apps.
• Utilize UIAutomatorViewer or Appium Inspector to find the perfect locators for components.

Sample (Using Accessibility ID)

element = driver.find_element_by_accessibility_id(“login_button”)

Avoid Using Complex XPath Expressions

element = driver.find_element_by_xpath(“//android.widget.Button[@text=’Login’]”)

3. Run Parallel Test Implementation

• Conduct testing in parallel through tools such as Pytest, JUnit, or TestNG, to expedite implementation.
• Use Grid-based tests or cloud platforms for executing various tests concurrently.

Sample using TestNG for parallel implementation:

<suite name=”Parallel Test Execution” parallel=”tests” thread-count=”2″>

    <test name=”Android Test”>

        <classes>

            <class name=”tests.AndroidTest”/>

        </classes>

    </test>

    <test name=”iOS Test”>

        <classes>

            <class name=”tests.iOSTest”/>

        </classes>

    </test>

</suite>

4. Implement a POM 

• Extracting test logic from UI interactions enhances readability and manageability.
• Produce separate classes for distinct screens & define reusable functions.

Example POM (Page Object Model) for a Login Page

class LoginPage:

    def __init__(self, driver):

        self.driver = driver

        self.username_field = “username_id”

        self.password_field = “password_id”

        self.login_button = “login_button_id”

    def enter_username(self, username):

        self.driver.find_element_by_id(self.username_field).send_keys(username)

    def enter_password(self, password):

        self.driver.find_element_by_id(self.password_field).send_keys(password)

    def tap_login(self):

        self.driver.find_element_by_id(self.login_button).click()

5. Manage Mobile Gestures Proficiently

Utilize Appium’s Touch Actions for implementing scrolls, swipes, and tap functionalities.

Instance: Swipe Gesture

from appium.webdriver.common.touch_action import TouchAction

action = TouchAction(driver)

action.press(x=500, y=1000).move_to(x=500, y=500).release().perform()

Example: Scroll to an Element

driver.execute_script(“mobile: scroll”, {“direction”: “down”})

6. Optimize Test Implementation Time

• Minimise wait times through explicit waits instead of time.sleep().
• Make use of headless tests when conducting UI(User Interface) testing in a CI/CD pipeline to save implementation time.

7. Incorporate with CI/CD Pipelines

• Automate mobile testing through GitLab CI/CD, GitHub Actions, or Jenkins.
• Utilize cloud-based platforms for smooth incorporation into CI/CD systems.

Sample of conducting Selenium Testing in a Jenkins Pipeline

pipeline {

    agent any

    stages {

        stage(‘Build’) {

            steps {

                sh ‘mvn clean install’

            }

        }

        stage(‘Test’) {

            steps {

                sh ‘mvn test’

            }

        }

    }

}

8. Data-Driven Tests for Scalability

• Collect test data in external files (for example., JSON, CSV, or Excel) to enhance test flexibility.
• Utilize frameworks like Pytest (Python), TestNG (Java), or JUnit for parameterized tests.

Sample of Data-Driven Tests with TestNG

@DataProvider(name = “loginData”)

public Object[][] loginData() {

    return new Object[][] {

        {“user1”, “password1”},

        {“user2”, “password2”}

    };

}

@Test(dataProvider = “loginData”)

public void testLogin(String username, String password) {

    loginPage.enterUsername(username);

    loginPage.enterPassword(password);

    loginPage.tapLogin();

}

9. Run Cross-Device and Cross-Browser Tests

• Confirm mobile apps function across distinct web browsers (Safari, Google Chrome) & gadgets.
• Use cloud-centric test tools for compatibility tests across multiple screen sizes.

10. Capture Logs and Screenshots for Debugging

• Utilize logs and screenshots to identify test failures efficiently.

Save a Screenshot on Test Failure

driver.save_screenshot(“screenshot.png”)

• Retrieve Device Logs

logs = driver.get_log(“logcat”)

for log in logs:

    print(log)

Following these best practices guarantee rapid implementation, better manageability, & enhanced test accuracy.

LambdaTest for Selenium Mobile Tests

This incredible platform offers a cloud-centric infrastructure for mobile app tests on actual devices & web browsers. By incorporating Appium & Selenium, you can automate mobile tests on iOS & Android without demanding a physical device lab.

Why Use LambdaTest for Mobile Tests?

1. Cross-Browser Compatibility: Run testing across diverse web browser versions such as Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, Google Chrome, & Safari on mobile.
2. Real-time Device Cloud: Perform cloud mobile testing on real iOS and Android devices without requiring physical access.
3. Geolocation Tests: Check mobile app behavior in diverse networks & geographic regions.
4. Parallel Tests: Conduct various tests concurrently to cut implementation time.
5. Incorporation with CI/CD Pipelines: Compatible with Azure DevOps, GitLab, Jenkins, and GitHub Actions, for automated deployment & tests.
6. AI-Centric Error Tracking: Auto-detect User Interface (UI) errors & capture video recordings, screenshots, and logs for debugging.
7. Application Automation with Appium: Assists Appium incorporation for hybrid and native application automation.

Setting Up Selenium Mobile Tests with LambdaTest

Step 1: Generate a LambdaTest Account

Log in at LambdaTest and create an API Key from the dashboard.

Step 2: Install Essential Dependencies

Make certain you have Appium, Selenium WebDriver, and Java (or Python) installed.

pip install selenium appium-python-client

Step 3: Define Desired Capabilities

Set up Desired Capabilities to specify the web browser, OS, device, and app under testing.

Step 4: Perform Testing on LambdaTest Actual Device Cloud

Once the test script is configured, implement it via your preferred command line or IDE.

Step 5: Scrutinize Test Outcomes

After implementation, log into LambdaTest Dashboard for:

• Checking test reports, logs, and screenshots.
• Scrutinizing console logs and network for debugging.
• Downloading videos of test implementation to assess performance glitches.

Step 6: Incorporate with CI/CD Pipelines

The platform also supports GitLab CI/CD, Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and Jenkins to automate mobile tests

Using LambdaTest for Selenium Mobile Tests enables QAs to test across diverse gadgets, OS versions, and web browsers, without maintaining a physical device lab.

Conclusion

Selenium mobile testing is critical for certifying that iOS and Android apps run smoothly across various web browsers and devices. By embracing Selenium with tools such as Appium & cloud-powered platforms like LambdaTest, QA Engineers can perform mobile-friendly tests without the necessity for a broad physical device lab. Automated mobile tests improve performance validation, UI/UX consistency, and cross-device compatibility, guaranteeing a flawless user experience.

By incorporating Selenium mobile testing into your software development workflow, you can streamline test implementation, fast-track release cycles, and deliver superior-quality mobile apps effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Can Selenium be used for mobile app testing?

This tool alone can’t test mobile applications, but when combined with Appium, it allows automation of web, hybrid, and native applications on mobile devices.

• Can Selenium automate both iOS & Android tests?

Yes, through Appium, Selenium can automate tests for both iOS & Android applications using a single script.