A test automation framework provides a platform for automation test scripts. The execution environment allows you to develop, and report the test scripts efficiently. Thus, you can say that these frameworks include guideline, coding standard, concept, etc. The guidelines and standards are easily followed by the users and provide many benefits, including scalability, modularity, reusability, and more. So, in order to maximize the benefits, developers can use more than one framework. However, multiple approaches create confusion at times, which increases the chance of errors. So, choosing an ideal framework is important to get the benefits of using test automation framework, like Maximum coverage, Minimum manual intervention, and Easy reporting.

Types of Test Automation Frameworks

Based on the requirement, there are a number of test automation frameworks to choose from. You can evaluate each framework based on your organizational need.

Module Based Testing

Here, the application under test is divided into different modules. Each module has a separated test script, which can be taken together to create scripts at a large scale. The abstraction layer allows you to make changes, which doesn’t affect the entire module. This framework is highly scalable and allows easier and cheaper maintenance. However, when testing a set of data, test scripts must be changed as the test data is embedded in test scripts.

Library Architecture Testing 

The framework is built on top of module based testing. However, the framework divides the application into function rather than the test scripts. The most common functions of the application are included under a ‘common library’ that can be used by other parts of the application. In addition to the advantages provided by module based testing, this allows easy reusability as well.

Data Driven Testing

This allows you to separate test logic and data, which can be stored in a database like XML, Excel, CSV, and more. Here, data can be accessed using the key, as the data is stored in “Key-Value” pairs. This overall reduces the number of scripts required to cover the test scenarios. In spite of being complex, data driven testing is quite flexible and maintainable.

Keyword Driven Testing

This is derived from data driven testing, as it separates test data and scripts and also store code externally. The codes are self-guiding keywords. Here, the test data and keywords both are independent of the specific tool. Moreover, it doesn’t require you to have coding knowledge and provides the same benefit as data driven testing.

Behaviour Driven Development

This uses a table of condition, where testers provide input in the table and expects output. It does not require the user to understand the programming language.

Hybrid Testing

It is a combination of multiple frameworks, where benefits from all associated frameworks are taken.