Testing Hybrid Applications: Particularities and Challenges

A mobile hybrid application combines the elements of a native and a web app. Written using web technologies (HTML5 and CSS), it works on both iOS and Android. Unlike native apps designed for each operating system separately, hybrid apps are an all-in-one solution.

Hybrid applications have some strengths and weaknesses. On the one hand, it is less resource-consuming to develop such an app. On the other hand, being universal makes them more prone to defects. In this article, you will learn about the particularities of hybrid mobile app testing and the challenges that might await you.

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Hybrid Mobile Apps in a Nutshell

Hybrid applications display content in a mobile format using cross-platform frameworks, such as React, Sencha, Ionic, and Xamarin. Some of the widely-used hybrid apps are Twitter, Instagram, Skype, Uber, and Evernote.

Benefits of Hybrid Applications

Why do some big companies opt for developing hybrid apps? One of the main reasons is resource efficiency. To design a native app, you need to have an Android developer and an iOS developer in the team. When it comes to hybrid applications, one specialist can design a multi-platform app.

There are other reasons why companies choose to release hybrid apps:

• Utility – you can publish one app on both Google Play and AppStore.
• Faster time-to-market – it takes less time to develop a hybrid app.
• Maintenance – one web fix can mend an issue on both platforms.

Downsides of Hybrid Applications

Still, some companies prefer working with native applications because of the potential drawbacks of hybrid apps. The downsides can include:

• Performance – hybrid apps are supposedly slower compared to the native ones.
• Interface – it’s not possible to exploit the full potential of an operating system, so the design often doesn’t have a native feel.
• Vulnerability – the mentioned cross-platform frameworks can come with defects.

What to Test in Mobile Hybrid Applications

The pros and cons of hybrid apps influence the overall testing strategy. In particular, they drop hints at what aspects require special attention. Let’s go through all the core elements you need to check during hybrid app testing.

Features

One of the main tasks on every project is checking the functionality. Hybrid apps are not different. You need to ensure that features work as expected. Start with studying specifications and creating test documentation covering the features under test.

Then, check the key functionality: whether you can download and install/uninstall an app, sign in/out, etc. Look into how an application utilizes device functions: camera, microphone, location, etc. if it has the corresponding accesses. Try to interact with an app as an end-user from the moment of installation to performing the target action (making a purchase, scheduling an appointment, placing an order, etc.).

Interface

At this stage, you need to verify that all the interface elements perform their functions, in particular:

• buttons respond to clicks and let users complete target actions;
• links lead to intended pages;
• texts are readable;
• overall design aligns with the corporate style,
• and so on.

Check different page orientations. Make sure the elements do not overlap. Pay attention to pop-up elements – how often they appear, whether they allow performing a target action, and if you can easily close them.

Cross-Device Support

It is important to check interface and core functionality on different devices and software configurations. During compatibility testing, you should use at least several popular Android and iOS smartphones – preferably running on different OS versions and utilizing different browsers.

Network

Connectivity issues can negatively affect data sync and notifications. It is necessary to ensure that these features work well under different network conditions (4G, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi) and when switching between networks. Even if the functionality is unavailable offline, data should not be lost.

Performance

Hybrid applications are traditionally slower compared to native apps. Remember about this as you move to performance testing. Check how an app responds to requests, behaves under different load conditions, and whether it can work stably.

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Third-Party Interruptions

Interruptions are another significant aspect to check. Look at how an app behaves when a user receives an incoming call, an alarm goes on, a message or notification pops up. A system should not crash when a device goes into sleeping mode, connects to a charger or earphones, etc. If an application runs in the background, it should work as usual when you return to it.

Main Challenges in Hybrid App Testing

As you can see, the testing process goes as usual. Some accents might have shifted due to the nature of hybrid apps, but the difference isn’t striking. So what about challenges? Here are some:

• Compatibility. Adjusting a single app to a wider variety of screen resolutions, OS versions, and software configurations is not an easy task. The more refined the design is, the more fixed you can expect. That can come with several rounds of retesting.
• Native and web objects. Firstly, it is important to distinguish these two groups of objects. Secondly, remember that the interactions between native and web objects can be unpredictable – from breaking layout to creating security breaches.
• Integrations. As we are already dealing with an integration between native and web objects, connecting this mix to a third-party solution through APIs can have a snowball effect. Keep in mind that things tend to break at the seams and pay sufficient attention to interoperability testing.
• Performance. This is a controversial one. Traditionally, hybrid apps were slower. Some names from the list of hybrid app examples make you believe that all the rest of the solutions from this category are equally glitchy. And nevertheless, technology is moving forward. Companies have managed to find a solution for better performance – even if it is a combination of native and web elements that makes an app. Just in case, you can double-check the performance if something seems troubling.
• Intuitiveness. It is a UX concept, so usually, software testers aren’t responsible for this aspect of the app design. Nevertheless, if some navigation objects, icons, or other interface elements are confusing, you can mention this in the report or during communication with developers or stakeholders.

Testing Native and Hybrid Mobile Apps — What’s the Difference?

To Wrap Up

Testing hybrid apps can be challenging, but it doesn’t always have to be. The more you are learning, the longer you are practicing the newly-acquired QA skills, the easier it becomes to work with new products, no matter how challenging they seem at first sight.