Mastering the Keyword Driven Testing Framework: A Comprehensive Guide

In the ever-changing landscape of software development, efficient and effective testing methods have never been more crucial. One approach that’s really gained traction lately is Keyword Driven Testing. In this piece, we’ll dive deep into Keyword Driven Testing, check out its perks, and learn how to put it into practice the right way.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• What is Keyword Driven Testing?
• Benefits of Keyword Driven Testing
• Implementing Keyword Driven Testing
• Choosing a Framework
• Setting Up the Framework
• Writing Test Cases
• Running the Tests
• Example of Keyword Driven Testing
• Conclusion
• References

Introduction

Picture this: a world where running software tests is as easy as jotting down a simple plan. Sounds cool, right? That’s where Keyword Driven Testing comes in. This innovative method not only makes testing simpler but also brings it within reach for folks without a strong technical background. So, let’s jump into the world of Keyword Driven Testing, explore its key benefits, and see how you can use it to boost your software projects.

What is Keyword Driven Testing?

Keyword Driven Testing is a method where testers use a set of predefined keywords to describe test cases. These keywords cue specific actions like “login,” “click,” or “input,” effectively separating test development from test design. By using executable keywords that simulate user actions, it offers a user-friendly and effective way to run tests on applications.

Benefits of Keyword Driven Testing

Here’s why adopting a Keyword Driven Testing framework is a game-changer:

• Easier Test Maintenance: Isolating test data from test code makes maintenance a breeze. Just tweak the keywords to update all related test cases automatically.
• Improved Test Coverage: You get better test coverage since you can reuse keywords across different test scenarios.
• Non-Technical Friendly: Even non-tech team members can get in on the action. This method decouples the testing process from coding, so folks without coding skills can create and understand test scripts.
• Reusable Testing Framework: This framework encourages creating reusable test scripts, cutting down the time and effort needed for writing and maintaining tests.

Implementing Keyword Driven Testing

Choosing a Framework

First off, you need to pick a suitable framework for Keyword Driven Testing. The framework you choose should be able to execute predefined keywords and perform the intended actions on the application under test (AUT). Selenium is a popular pick, as it boosts the reusability and readability of test scripts, making maintenance less hassle.

Setting Up the Framework

After selecting your framework, here’s how to set it up:

1. Define Operations: Lay out operations and instructions in an Excel file, which serves as a repository for input data for your test cases.
2. Configure Execution: The test script reads data from the Excel file, carries out the corresponding actions in the AUT, and logs the results back in the Excel file.

Writing Test Cases

Creating test cases involves using framework-provided keywords. This step includes selecting the right keywords for each test and setting up a series of actions that emulate user interactions. Here’s a simplified example of a keyword-driven test case:

Running the Tests

To run the test cases, follow the sequence of defined operations. Compare the outcomes with the expected results to decide if each test passes or fails. Here’s a sample Selenium script for automating a login test case:

“`python
from selenium import webdriver

# Configure WebDriver
driver = webdriver.Chrome()

def keyword_executor(keyword, data):
if keyword == “openBrowser”:
driver.get(data)
elif keyword == “input”:
field, value = data.split(“,”)
driver.find_element_by_name(field).send_keys(value)
elif keyword == “click”:
driver.find_element_by_name(data).click()

# Example test case data
test_steps = [
(“openBrowser”, “http://example.com”),
(“input”, “username,admin”),
(“input”, “password,admin123”),
(“click”, “LoginButton”),
]

for step in test_steps:
keyword, data = step
keyword_executor(keyword, data)

driver.quit()
“`

Example of Keyword Driven Testing

To give you a hands-on example, let’s look at a simple login form scenario:

In this case, the keyword “login” would be used to automate the login process, making things really straightforward.

Conclusion

Keyword Driven Testing is a powerful, efficient approach that simplifies testing and boosts coverage. Its benefits—easier maintenance, improved coverage, and accessibility for non-technical team members—make it a must-have in any testing toolkit. By following the steps we’ve outlined and picking the right framework, you can successfully implement Keyword Driven Testing in your development cycle. This method not only ramps up productivity but also ensures your application is robust and user-friendly.

References

• LambdaTest. (n.d.). What is Keyword Driven Testing: A Detailed Tutorial With Examples.
• Evil Tester. (2013). How to write a keyword driven test framework.