Web Services Test Automation: Framework, challenges & benefits

1. Web Services Test Automation: Framework, Challenges & Benefits

2. Introduction: Web services provide a standard means of interoperating between software applications running on a variety of platforms and frameworks. These services form the basis of a connection technology such that services are connected together into a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). Further, services communicate with each other using web services, the most–used connection technology of SOA. Web services effectuate a standardized way of integrating web-based applications using XML, Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Web Services Description Language (WSDL), and UDDI open standards over an internet protocol.  A web service is offered by an electronic device to another electronic device, communicating with each other via the World Wide Web. It is also true that a failed web service wreaks havoc not only for the managers but also for the administrators who are responsible for the server’s well–being. A failure also causes problems for the clients trying to call a particular web service.

3. The most important primary elements of web services are repository, messaging, and service. Since web services are distributed over networks and applications, the testing requirements need to be inclusive of the interfaces.   • Web services are inherently vulnerable to additional risks in the areas of integration and interoperability. They can be implemented using any programming language on any platform, provided that a standardized XML interface description called WSDL is available. A standardized messaging protocol called SOAP is also used at the same time. Web services often run over HTTP but may run over other application layer transport protocols as well. Automating web services testing facilitates the reduction of overall testing efforts.  • What are the challenges faced by web services? • Lack of assurance of trustworthiness  • Improper provision of client’s input parameters  • Malicious users can manipulate the different parameters at times to draw unauthorized information  • Unavailability of source code hinders white-box testing 

4. Web Services Testing Web services provide seamless connections from one software application to another over private intranets and the Internet. Web services testing considers functionality and load aspects to check how a web service performs for single clients and scales as the number of clients accessing it increases. Testing of web services is useful to prevent late detection of errors, which requires complex and costly repairs. It enables the detection of errors, evaluation, and approval of system qualities at an earlier stage. An automated test approach, in particular, helps to efficiently repeat tests whenever needed. In particular, test automation will be essential to a sound and efficient web services development process, for the assessment of the functionality, performance, and scalability of web services.  Read Full Blog at: https://www.cigniti.com/blog/web-services-test-automation-framework-challenges-and-benefits/