Comparing Scriptless Automation Testing vs. Record and Playback

Conventionally testing specialists manually checked the developed software before its launch. The necessity to test mundane tasks and redundant scenarios demanded the need for automated testing tools. This helped in saving time, reducing error, and also performing the same activities automatically.

A bonus of automated testing is that it takes less time to test legacy test cases, but the disadvantage is that it requires scripts. For automation testing, testers need to either learn the supported languages or employ new personnel who could code.

Scriptless Automation Testing

Scriptless Automated Testing is a technique for building automated test scripts without the need for coding or programming knowledge. Compared to test cases that need programming knowledge, automated test cases are easy to generate and set up.

In comparison to ‘Record and Playback Tools,’ Scriptless test automation is more structured and offers more customization choices.

The ease with which test cases may be developed and understood ensures that even members of the team who aren’t familiar with programming languages can examine and build test cases if the necessity arises.

Scriptless Automated Testing makes it easy to generate the test cases in a way that even the members of the team who do not have any prior coding experience and education can create them. 

Benefits of Scriptless Automation Testing

• Simple to make

Because these technologies have a minimal learning curve, anyone familiar with the project may build test scripts utilizing scriptless automated testing tools.

• Simple to Maintain

Whenever there is a difference in the program or functionality, the scripts are simple to maintain

• Reuse the Scripts as many times as you want

When necessary, you can reuse any collection of test steps. This helps you in conducting tests repeatedly without any challenge.

• Better Customization options

If you need to improve or the application flow under test the changes can be readily incorporated.

Disadvantages of Scriptless Automation Testing

• There are some tools that might be difficult to setup, but TestGrid is relatively simpler

Record Playback Testing

When users interact with the website using Record and Playback testing tools, the steps translate into scripts. They are then executed in the same way they were recorded. For tweaking the ‘Record and Playback’ testing coding expertise is a mandate.

Benefits of Record Playback Testing

• Automated quickly

First, the test case is conducted manually, which is then quickly recorded. Thus the time required to automate is much shorter than using other testing tools.

• Setup and execution are simple

Because no heavy setup is necessary for playback, the recorded test cases are simple to set up and run.

• These tools make it simple to detect application locators

While recording test cases, the record and playback tools document the various locators of an object in an application; these locators can be reused for extensive automation.

• Easy for Beginners

People who are learning automation will benefit from these tools. They can record and store the test case in the required language. Afterward, the tester works on improving the recorded scripts.

Scriptless Test Automation – The Complete Beginner’s Guide

Disadvantages of Record and Playback Tools

• The codes become useless if you have to make any changes to them
• Customizing the tool is limited and challenging
• They are highly dependent on screen size and resolution
• There is no option of re-recording
• Requires lot of manual effort to run the same test again and again
• Editing the test is a technical job and time consuming

What are the different methods used by Scriptless Automation Testing and Record and Playback?

1. NLP

For the construction of test cases, specific tools are used. Because the automated tests are written in plain natural language, these technologies can be used by a non-techie as well.

Depending on the situation, the user only needs to understand the proper grammar for test creation and use it to automate complicated or straightforward test scenarios.

The tests are dependable in the event of UI locator changes, and they save time on manual maintenance. They’re great for regression testing, with suggestions for other tests that might be affected and dynamic test summary reports.

2. Image-based Scriptless Automation

These allow you to use Remote Desktop or VNC to access the UI of any application. Also, English is a simple scripting language that may be used to automate activities on the UI of a remote application.

3. Drag and Drop Based Object Mapping

Some tools allow scriptless test automation by enabling users to drag and drop objects directly from a website. The objects can then be reused to create test scripts wherever they are needed.

4. Keyword-driven testing

Keywords are used as actions on test items in these tools. This makes writing test scripts script-free and straightforward.

5. Object Driven Testing

These are capable of recognizing an object and performing actions on it. There is no need to write a script.

6. Testing Using Models

We are a well-known model-based testing tool. TestGrid can recognize all of the website’s objects automatically. The test script logic, test data, and test objects are saved separately and then integrated during the test case execution. If any change is detected in any piece of the program, then the core model that contains the objects updates itself.

7. Screenshots Recording

Some tools take screenshots and use AI to update the test cases anytime the UI of the application is under test changes.

Every time the user performs an action, they record a test case in the form of screenshots. If the test case does not match the screenshots captured, the test case fails. The program tries to keep test cases up to date by employing artificial intelligence to detect changes in website elements’ position, name, or appearance.

8. Coding Scripts

Selenium and other tools require coding of the test cases. First, a tester writes the script for the work. Thereafter, he conducts the test. This process is boring, mundane, time-consuming, and requires high technical expertise.

9. Bots for Testing Automation

Bots deploy Artificial Intelligence to automate the test results. The bots can perform the entire test based on the input fed. It is relatively simple and doesn’t involve any coding language.

Read Also: Why Scriptless Automated Testing is the Need of the Hour

By the way, did you notice the difference?

Thus, “Scriptless automated testing” and “Record and Playback testing” are two distinct testing approaches that try to solve different types of problems.

Do not take them as interchangeable. Thus, the time has come to explore beyond record and playback tools. Test out other solutions that strive to make automation as simple as possible while still providing additional benefits!