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A Test Case Runner is a software tool that allows mobile applications to be tested. In ESSENCE, runners act as an environment that represents both the device and the end-users. A near-exact SIMULATION of the user environment is GENERATED and the application's functionalities are tested just as if a human were using the device. It helps DETERMINE whether the application is ready for launch. Commonly CALLED an instrumentation test runner, it runs test cases on an application smoothly. 

When we don't have ENOUGH time for testing and regression is needed, we perform sanity testing. In, sanity testing, the QA engineer confirms that all available menus, functions, and COMMANDS are working properly in a product application and project before release. The following criteria should be considered when performing sanity tests on the mobile application:  

• Remember to take into account the INSTALLATION and uninstallation processes of the application when conducting this test. Verify that the installation and uninstallation GO smoothly.
• Identify the device's capabilities in different networks, such as 2G, 3G, 4G, WiFi.
• Ensure the application's functions are thoroughly tested.
• Support interrupt testing - Accept calls as the application runs.
• Testing compatibility features, such as attaching photos from the gallery to messages.
• Assessing how applications perform on another handset/device.
• Test the application by entering invalid CREDENTIALS and observing the behavior.

Here are some iPhone and IPAD testing tools:  

• iPhone tester
• Appium
• iPad Peek
• Test STUDIO,
• CALABASH,
• Bugfender, ETC.

Aside from affordability, it is essential to consider the following FACTORS when choosing a test automation tool:  

• Platform compatibility: Make sure the tool is compatible with your current and future target platforms
• Usability of scripts: Object-based tools provide an enhanced level of script usability.
• Jailbreak Requirement: Rooted DEVICES may be incompatible with MDM policies and may not SUPPORT the latest operating systems so avoid using them.
• Changing SOURCE code: Sometimes sharing code is not possible.
• Lead/Update time for New iOS/Android version: How soon can the tool support new iOS/Android VERSIONS?

Testing an Android application on a device or emulator is not always easy. It usually takes a LOT of effort and time to build test cases. To ADDRESS this challenge, a robotic testing framework is considered. Using the Robolectric framework, Android tests can be run directly on desktop JVMs (Java Virtual MACHINES), without the need for a device or emulator. Thus, you don't need to set up anything extra to run Android tests within your development environment. It makes Android application testing FASTER and more reliable. 

Rather than using classes in Android, Robotetrics used shadow objects. If Robolectric implements a method, this method call is forwarded to the shadow object and it behaves similarly to the Android implementation. In cases where a shadow object does not implement a method, it returns a default value such as null or 0.

The following are some of the best common practices for Android testing: 

• When writing the code simultaneously, the DEVELOPERS must also prepare the test cases.
• Detailed documentation and storage of the test cases are ESSENTIAL to reusability.
• Implement continuous INTEGRATION and run tests as soon as there is a change to the code.
• Avoid rooting your SMARTPHONE (which gives you privileged control over the operating system and enables you to change system files, software code, ETC.) and using emulators to obtain the most accurate results.

The Android testing framework is an open-source framework and one of the most WIDELY used frameworks for testing Android applications. Developers use the Android testing framework to record user interface TESTS for unit devices and Android devices.  UI (User Interface) testing ensures that your application RESPONDS to a user's actions on the device with the correct UI output. There are three SEGMENTS in the Android testing framework: 

• Application Package: This package contains the target application to be tested.
• Instrumentation Test Runner: As a Test Case Runner, it enables test cases to run/execute on the target application. Essentially, it consists of two parts: an SDK tool for creating tests, and MonkeyRunner, an API tool that ALLOWS you to write programs to control Android devices outside of Android code.
• Test Package: This package consists of two parts: test case classes (includes test methods to be performed on target application) and mock objects (include mock data used as sample input for test cases).

Most popular Android test frameworks 

• Poppy
• Detox
• Express
• Calabash
• UI Automator

In mobile applications, A/B testing, also known as split testing or bucket testing, is the practice of testing different user experiences. With A/B testing for mobile applications, AUDIENCES are split into TWO (or more) groups and a variable is tested to see how it affects user behavior. By using this, we can IDENTIFY and deliver the best possible user experience. In iOS app, it is possible to conduct A/B testing in three STEPS:   

• Step 1: CONFIGURING a test that prepares two versions of your iOS application (namely A and B) with required test metrics
• Step 2: Testing two of the above iOS versions simultaneously
• Step 3: Analyzing test results and selecting the best version to release

In the above diagram, audience/visitors are split into two groups to check two versions of the application (Variation A and Variation B). Conversion rate (% of visitors to your application who reach their desired goal out of total visitors) of variation A and B is 23% and 11% respectively. Now, you can identify which version is best and deliver the best possible user experience.

An AUTOMATED mobile application testing PLAN should include the FOLLOWING:  

• Testing scope and objectives
• Selected automation tool
• REQUIRED Features to be tested:
  • Performance
  • Security
  • Network
  • Size
  • Battery
  • Memory
• Test cases
• Test strategy
• Person in charge
• Time frame
• Resources required

While doing mobile testing on cloud computing, the tester faces the FOLLOWING challenges: 

• In spite of Cloud services being advertised as cost-saving solutions, they can ACTUALLY cost more.
• Internet connectivity issues
• Since mobile device automation testing is image-based, performing test CASES via Cloud computing may be time-consuming and challenging.
• Cloud testing services may not be able to test every new application feature you RELEASE, which will result in inadequate coverage.
• Moreover, automation cannot be used outside of the framework.

As the name SUGGESTS, cloud-based mobile testing involves the use of an online cloud platform rather than an on-premises environment to test mobile applications. This tool makes all devices available on one platform so that testers connected to a cloud can access them. In this WAY, developers and QA teams can communicate effectively from all over the world. During the testing process, testers have access to a range of devices, operating systems, screen sizes, network carriers, etc. 

Advantages:  

• Availability without hassle.
• Support for multiple systems and networks.
• In ADDITION to testing applications, the cloud can update and MANAGE them.
• Cost-effective.
• Highly scalable.
• Test scripts can be RUN simultaneously on multiple devices.

Having secure mobile applications is very important for the business, which in turn, requires testing for the security of all mobile applications. Security testing is therefore considered important testing by testers. Authentication, authorization, data security, hacking vulnerabilities, session management, etc., are all included in mobile application security testing. This test can ensure there aren't any loopholes allowing data to be lost. Testing is meant to IDENTIFY any potential threats or vulnerabilities that could allow EXTERNAL parties to access private information on the mobile device.

 Testing mobile applications for security include the following: 

• Check if the application supports multiple USERS without interfering with their data.
• Verifies sensitive data is communicated using a decryption or ENCRYPTION method.
• Verifies that anyone with unauthorized access to files stored in the app is not accessing them.
• Identify sensitive areas of the application to ensure it does not receive any malicious content.
• Validates an application's RESISTANCE to malicious attacks or cyber-attacks and ensures that developers adhere to security practices when programming.

A popular open-source testing tool for mobile applications is Appium, which automates tests for platforms like Android, iOS, and Windows. It is used to automate the testing of native, hybrid, and web applications. This tool is quite popular due to its availability, free nature, low memory consumption and integration with other external applications such as Selenium WebDriver and Selenium GRID. The tool is cross-platform, MEANING the same test can be run on multiple platforms. Appium can test multiple devices simultaneously. 

Appium also offers the following additional advantages to testers and developers: 

• Executes multiple test SCRIPTS simultaneously.
• Includes a tool for recording test cases and a playback tool for replaying those recordings.
• Allows testing various elements simultaneously (e.g., emulators, real devices, and simulators).
• Cloud-based testing is supported using Testdriod.
• Supported by an active community (GOOGLE group) that enables TROUBLESHOOTING to be done more quickly and easily.

The mobile usability testing process INVOLVES evaluating mobile products according to how they are used by end-users, so the goal is to make them as user-friendly as possible. It can assist you in evaluating the functionality of your mobile app and also ensure that your users have an easy time navigating your app. Mobile usability testing ENTAILS doing research and finding problems early on. In order to determine the EFFICIENCY of the target audience, it evaluates the APPLICATION based on the following criteria:  

• Effectiveness
• Satisfaction

It is very important to get usability testing in place from the initial stage of application design, and this should not be done only when the application is completed. Usability testing requires EXCESSIVE involvement of users, and output can affect application design, which is very difficult to change in later stages of the project.