Unveiling the Power of Testing: E2E vs. Integration Testing

End-to-End and Integration Testing are the software testing which helps in performing automated tests smoothly. These testings are mostly performed by the developers for testing the software on different parameters.

Hence, End-to-End and Integration Testing includes various interlinking procedures, mechanisms, and protocols. This helps in an easy execution of the software testing.

As, mainly, there are three popular kinds of testing, which are- Unit, Integration, and End-to-End. But, today the most utilized testing procedures are End-to-End and Integration. 

Although, these two testings aim at verifying the software processes but these both have different objectives and functions to play. Moreover, these testings are an internal part of the automation test strategy, which helps in upgrading various processes for software development.   

In this blog, we will highlight the primary differences between End-to-End and Integration Testing and shall talk specifically about their objectives.

Know About End-to-End Testing

This kind of testing helps in performing overall evaluation of the software, i.e., from the beginning end of its utilization to the last end. It helps in verifying that the software could function without any errors from starting to the the end of the consumer flow.

It prepares a platform for imitating the demanded consumer behavior and various usage scenarios to affirm that the software is functioning properly in different situations. It involves testing the software from the consumer’s perspective, which provides a base to analyze that the elements are functioning collaboratively adhering to the requirements.

Usually, this testing is performed after the integration testing and is the last step prior to finalizing the software in the market.

The main aim of End-to-End Testing is to examine and regulate the application’s effectiveness, workability, dependability, and security. This testing provides an instant support in highlighting the errors which may arise meanwhile the consumer’s interaction with the system.

In addition, end-to-end testing helps in tracing the  problems associated with integration which may occur between various networks and elements.

Merits and Demerits of End-to-End Testing

As above we talked about what is End-to-End Testing and its structural composition.

Now, in this section, we will talk about the merits and demerits of End-to-End Testing in detail:-

Merits

• Provides a huge support in affirming that the application adheres to the consumer’s demands and requirements.
• Regulates the application’s performance and dependability
• Assists in identifying the errors prior to the consumers
• End-to-End tests being located above the Integration tests helps in upgrading the application’s complete scope of the test.

Demerits

• It is a time taking testing procedure and is costly to perform. 
• It demands a comprehensive analysis of the application and its elements.
• It is complicated to highlight the major cause of the problems which emerges at the time of testing.

Various Methodologies to Perform End-to-End Testing

Primarily, there are two methodologies to perform End-to-End Testing:-

• Horizontal End-to-End Testing:- It is imitating usual app use cases and verifying them from the beginning to end, for example, the enrollment procedure for a new consumer at an application.
• Vertical End-to-End Testing:- It is a technical procedure which aims to examine the system elements by adhering to the information resources through the user interface, application programming interface, and database coverings. For example, the verification procedure on sale applications.

Know About Integration Testing

This kind of testing includes the verification of various software elements together to assure they operate properly and in accordance with the standards after combining. The primary objective of this kind of testing is to highlight and settle problems arising from the interaction between various arrangements, confirming the system functions exceptionally in a complete form.

This is specifically important for bigger software systems, where particular arrangements can operate without any dependency but is unsuccessful in performing efficiently in case it is integrated with others.

Merits and Demerits of Integration Testing

Following are the major advantages and disadvantages of Integration Testing:-

Merits

• Prepares a strong support for affirming that the arrangements operate together in a structured form and fulfill the essential standards.
• Assists in upgrading the application’s complete test coverage, as the integration tests are administered on a large platform than unit tests.
• Helps in preparing a baseline structure for efficient scale tests, also involving end-to-end testing.
• It minimizes the danger of integration failures.
• Acts as a supporting system to upbuild trust in the overall functionality of the system.

Demerits

• It is a time-taking testing and a lot of endeavor is needed to establish the procedure.
• It is quite difficult to imitate complicated environments.
• Not enough to catch the feasible edge cases or communications between elements, specifically in case not clearly tested.

Various Methodologies of Integration Testing

The best methodology for Integration Testing relies on constituents, like size of the project, budget, network, and resources.

The top methlodologies involve:-

Bottom-Up Method:- In this kind of testing, testers mainly emphasize on integrating smaller arrangements, usually first construct into bigger units. Higher-scale arrangements are imitated and known as drivers.

Less complicated arrangements are integrated into the larger ones until the application is completed. The primary benefit is the capacity to highlight problems with specific arrangements prior to integrating them with others.

Top-Down Method:- This methodology centralizes bigger and much complicated arrangements, whereas the lower class arrangements are imitated. These imitated arrangements are known as stubs.

Big Bang Method:- In this methodology, all the arrangements are tested parallely after they are ready. It may be appropriate for smaller applications, as it is a time-taking procedure and much complicated to trace erros in comparison to other methodologies.

End-to-End vs. Integration Testing

In the agile-testing structure, both End-to-End and Integration testing are higher-scale tests but they have different unique features and objectives.

Certain significant point of differences between End-to-End and Integration Testing includes:-

Concentration:- Integration Testing affirms that the elements of the application operates well specifically and collaboratively, whereas end-to-end testing verifies the product completely from the consumer’s perspective.

TimeFrame:- Integration Testing starts meanwhile the early levels of development, tracking the errors early in the process, whereas end-to-end testing is also performed in case the product is almost ready for regulation.

Speed:- Integration tests are much faster in comparison to end-to-end tests.

Objective:- Integration tests are mainly utilized for testing a single procedure from third-party softwarewhich shall be utilized in adjunction with the primary software.

On the other hand, end-to-end tests may be utilized may be utilized for a single procedure performed from beginning to end or for various procedures including different applications.

Extent:- Integration Testing provides various elements but not across the whole stack, whereas the end-to-end testing has a comprehensive extent, encompassing the whole application technology stack.

Price:- Integration Testing is usually less costly than end-to-end testing, which is expensive in the capacity of both hardware and software.

Task Insertion:- Integration Testing is much easy to integrate with the with daily builds and very easy to test in development circumstances, whereas end-to-end testing cannot be executed until software development is about to finish.

Conclusion

It is clear that End-to-End and Integration Testing equally plays an effective role in the software development. So, it is required for you to perform a deep research in relation to both the testing procedures. This will help you in analyzing the appropriate methodology as per your business needs and progress.

Moreover, both the testing methods are performed to achieve a common target but they are unique in their own spheres. Hence, we can say that these two testing platforms prepares a strong platform for examining software at various stages of development.