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AWS (Amazon Web Service) Device Farm is a mobile application testing service that HELPS in testing mobile applications across a range of desktop browsers and devices to ensure the quality of applications. To speed up your test suite execution, you can run your tests simultaneously on multiple desktop browsers or real devices. This tool helps you quickly identify ISSUES with your app by generating videos and logs. 

ACCORDING to the diagram above, AWS tests the application (whether native, hybrid or web) across multiple devices (phones, tablets) to ensure high quality, and SHOWS RESULTS in minutes if there are bugs or performance issues.

The increasing use of MOBILE applications in every field makes them more and more appealing to malicious attackers. Because of this, applications should also have strong security, the same as websites, and this is why mobile app penetration testing is CONDUCTED. It detects any security flaws in iOS and ANDROID applications. The main objective of this initiative is to INCREASE the security of mobile applications, and APIs, web platforms, and web services they use. It tests all of the elements that CONTRIBUTE to the functioning of the app, such as: 

• Application itself
• APIs (or web services) that exchange and provide data
• Server hosting the API
• Application network interfaces
• User data.

Following is a list of DEFECT tracking tools USED in mobile application TESTING: 

• Cumin
• Qc
• Rancid
• Rally
• Jira
• Bugzilla
• Trello
• Mantis, ETC.

Google Play and App STORE offer a VARIETY of TOOLS for developers to measure CPU usages, such as CPU Monitor, CPU Stats, Usemon, and CPU-Z. You can use these to keep track of processes that run on your device.

According to mobile testers, the four most common types of bugs are:  

• Critical bugs: These are the bugs that can cause the system to completely shut down. For example, an operating system crashes when a particular application feature is tested.
• Block bugs: They make it impossible to fix other bugs. For example, unresponsive performance even when the device STATUS is on.
• Major bugs: These are the bugs that could collapse large PARTS of your application. For example, when a specific FUNCTION of the application is not working.
• Minor bugs: The bugs in this category cause an application to behave in an unexpected or undesired way, but not ENOUGH to cause a system failure. For example, GUI (Graphical User Interface) bugs.

Other kinds of bugs are also found during the testing of mobile applications, for instance:  

• Poor performance of the application.
• Heavy BATTERY usage by the application.
• Non-responsive behavior by the application.

TESTING TOOLS for ANDROID mobile DEVICES:   

• Robotium
• UI Automator
• Selendroid (Selenium for Android), etc.

Testing tools for IOS mobile devices:

• iOS Driver
• KeepItFunctional, etc.

Testing tools that can be used for both Android and iOS mobile devices:

• Katalon
• Apptim
• 21
• Kobiton
• Appium
• MonkeyTalk
• Ranorex Studio
• EggPlant, etc.

Here are the most common problems ENCOUNTERED when performing mobile testing: 

• Conducting tests on multiple operating systems like Android, iOS, Blackberry, Windows, etc., or different versions of an operating SYSTEM like iOS 4.X, iOS 5.X, BB 4.X, 5.X, and 6.X.
• Test applications' functionality across a wide range of mobile devices, including handsets, SMARTPHONES, TABLETS, and more.
• Screen size fragmentation is also one of the most difficult aspects of mobile testing.
• Testing applications across various mobile networks such as 3G, 4G, and 5G.
• Application types (native, hybrid, and WEB) require different testing approaches.
• Selecting the appropriate mobile testing tool.

Simulators and emulators are both virtual devices that look and OPERATE like real phones, but they are not real phones. Emulators mimic the hardware/software and OS of mobile applications to test. In a simulator, the BASIC behavior of a device is SIMULATED instead of the hardware/OS. In a virtual phone, software mimics the functionality of the real device (apart from a few other functions like the CAMERA). 

Mobile applications can be divided into three general CATEGORIES as follows: 

• Native Application: A native application is designed specifically for the operating systems (OS) of mobile PHONES, such as iOS or Android. They are available on the app stores (Google Play for Android and App STORE for iOS) and are easily installed. Mixing and matching - like using an iOS app on a Blackberry phone or a Blackberry app on an Android phone - is not possible. Examples of native applications include Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.

• Web Application: In terms of behavior, web applications are similar to native applications but can be accessed through your mobile browsers such as Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. They are purely web-based applications. Examples of web applications include m.facebook.com, m.gmail.com, etc.

• Hybrid Application: Hybrid applications are COMPOSED of both native and web applications. These are web applications that appear and behave just like native applications. Although this type of application can be installed on a device as a native application, it is built as a web application using web technologies (such as HTML, CSS, or JAVASCRIPT) and runs on WebView (to display the application on Android) or WkWebView (to display the application on iOS). Examples of hybrid applications include Instagram, Wikipedia, etc.

Different types of mobile application testing include:  

• Functional Testing: The test determines whether an application is functioning correctly. It aims to ensure that the app's functionality works as expected not like the user interactions as well as transactions that users might perform. It is a type of black-box testing.
• Usability Testing: This type of testing EVALUATES how intuitive and easy an application is to use, and identifies any bugs to improve the user experience.
• Compatibility Testing: The test determines whether an application whether the application is compatible with different OS (Operating Systems), different network environments, as well as with specific hardware specifications.
• Performance Testing: During this testing, an application is EVALUATED on how well it performs and behaves under various loads.  In this test, the application is continuously and steadily LOADED until it reaches a threshold point (a point beyond which the application cannot withstand the load).
• Installation Testing: Applications undergo this test to ensure that they are properly downloaded, installed, and uninstalled, as well as new updates are handled smoothly.
• Security Testing: Application behaviour under various device PERMISSION requests is examined during the test, while the user's data PRIVACY is prioritized.
• Storage Testing: Applications are tested on how well they handle storage-related functions and how they behave when there is no or little memory on the device.

There are TWO types of automation tools available for TESTING mobile applications as given below: 

• Object-based mobile testing tools: This approach does not depend on the size of the screen and is MAINLY used for Android devices. A few examples of Object-based mobile testing tools are Jama solution, Ranorex, etc.
• Image-based mobile testing tools: It generates automation scripts based on screen coordinates. A few examples of Image-based mobile testing tools are RoutinBot, EGG Plant, SIKULI, etc.

Over the past decades, automation testing has GREATLY improved the testing process speed and quality. The first step to improving the efficiency of your team is understanding when to make such a SWITCH from manual to automated testing. When deciding WHETHER to use manual or automated testing, you should consider the following factors: 

• Manual Testing:   
  • New functionality has been added to the application.
  • Testing is only needed once or twice, and frequent repetition is not required.
• Automated Testing:
  • A SIGNIFICANT amount of regression testing is necessary before every release.
  • Testing by HAND is insufficient in labor-intensive situations, such as performance testing, functional testing. However, automated testing does not require much labor because it runs with the aid of tools, scripts, and software that perform predefined actions specified in test cases.

In terms of how mobile applications are tested, there are two main approaches: manual testing and automated testing.  

• Manual Testing: Manual testing, as its name IMPLIES, is a human endeavour, which is primarily concerned with the user experience. It is a time-consuming process as bugs tend to take a LONG time to appear.
• Automated Testing: In order to avoid time-consuming, COSTLY, and difficult tasks, automated testing is a good OPTION for many repetitive testing tasks, such as regression and performance testing. By using this TOOL, testers will be able to find errors, defects, or vulnerabilities quickly in newly updated or recently modified applications.

• Mobile DEVICE Testing: Mobile device testing is typically conducted to ensure the quality of the mobile device itself. The process involves testing hardware and software. These tests are generally being conducted to verify the mobile device itself and to test features such as Call, SMS, Memory, Camera, Media Player, inbuilt browsers, etc.   
• Mobile Application Testing: Applications must undergo this whole testing process to survive in today's MARKET. Performance, security, and user interface, and other aspects of the application are also scrutinized (tested) in order to ensure the best possible quality for end-users. This type of testing includes functional, performance, usability, security, load, and other types. Then, you can FIND out if the targeted application is of high quality, if it is COMPATIBLE with the device, if it has the right hardware, software, and network connections, etc. 

Mobile applications have become a necessity for every business these days because people WANT everything at their fingertips. When striving for perfection, it's important for developers to evaluate the application regularly to ensure that it meets industry standards. Application testing is one important factor in this process.  

• Before the PRODUCT or app is released, mobile testing identifies what parts of it work and what needs to be improved, as well as how well an application performs.
• Fixing the issue sooner helps you avoid a bad USER experience and a negative rating for your application.
• This ensures that QA (Quality Assurance) matches customer expectations, business GOALS, and industry best practices.
• By testing the mobile application rigorously, the product team can increase the application's ratings and customer satisfaction, which can lead to additional downloads and VALUABLE referrals.