Why End-to-End (E2E) Testing Matters? 

In today's fast-paced software development world, delivering seamless, high-quality user experiences is crucial. However, ensuring quality isn't just about checking individual components - it's about making sure everything works together smoothly. This is where End-to-End (E2E) testing plays a key role.

E2E testing validates the entire user journey by simulating real-world user interactions across the system, serving as the final checkpoint to ensure your application performs as expected.

What is E2E testing?

E2E testing is an essential part of a broader testing strategy to ensure all components of an application work together as intended. It fits within the automation pyramid, which helps teams prioritize testing efforts:

  • Unit Tests

Focus on individual components to ensure they function correctly.

  • Integration tests 

Verify that various parts of the application, such as services and databases, communicate properly.

  • End-to-End Tests

Simulate complete workflows, testing everything from the UI to backend services, including APIs and databases.

E2E testing helps catch issues not visible in unit or integration tests, such as problems with user flow or API interactions. A hybrid approach - using both UI interactions and direct API calls - can improve test efficiency and reduce resource consumption.

Benefits of E2E Testing

E2E testing brings several key advantages

  • Detects System-Wide Issues

Uncover hidden bugs in how components interact.

  • Ensures Real-World Usability

Replicates how users navigate the app as a whole.

  • Builds Confidence in Deployments

Verify critical workflows before release.

  • Saves Time and Money

Identify issues early, preventing costly fixes post-launch.
 

Challenges in E2E Testing

Despite its importance, E2E testing comes with challenges

  • Flaky Tests

Intermittent failures due to timing or unstable environments. Mitigate by designing independent, deterministic tests.

  • Execution Time

Large test suites can slow feedback loops. Prioritize testing critical workflows to reduce delays.

  • Complex Setup

Coordinating tests across browsers and devices can be time-consuming. Tools like Playwright help streamline cross-browser testing.

 

What tools are commonly used for E2E testing?

Several tools can make E2E testing more efficient: •	Playwright: Supports cross-browser testing and provides fast test execution. •	Cypress: Developer-friendly with fast feedback and good CI integration. •	Selenium: One of the oldest tools, supporting multiple browsers and languages but can be slower.

Several tools can make E2E testing more efficient:

  • Playwright

Supports cross-browser testing and provides fast test execution.

  • Cypress

Developer-friendly with fast feedback and good CI integration.

  • Selenium

One of the oldest tools, supporting multiple browsers and languages but can be slower.

Playwright stands out for its speed and modern features, especially for teams testing across multiple browsers.

 

 

Best Practises

Best Practices for E2E Testing

Get the most out of your E2E testing

  • Focus on Critical Workflows: Test key paths like sign-ups, logins, and purchases.
  • Automate Strategically: Automate repetitive tests but avoid over-testing.
  • Keep Tests Independent: Isolate tests to reduce flaky results and speed up execution.
  • Review Regularly: Regularly update test scenarios to reflect changes in the application.

 

Real-World Applications of E2E Testing

Imagine a major bank launching a new loan application feature in their app. Within hours of launch, customers reported being unable to complete applications. The root cause? The app failed to handle timeouts from a third-party credit score API, causing disruptions in the loan application workflow.

 

How E2E Testing Could Have Prevented the Issue

Detecting API Timeout Handling Issues
E2E tests could simulate API timeouts and verify that the application gracefully handles these failures, displaying appropriate error messages or fallback options.

Validating Seamless Integration
The loan application process involves interactions between the UI, the credit score API, and the backend systems. E2E tests would ensure all components work seamlessly together, even under adverse conditions like slow networks or API downtimes.

Ensuring Resilience in Real-World Scenarios
E2E testing can replicate conditions like slow networks, high server loads, or third-party service failures to ensure the app remains functional under stress, preventing critical failures in production.

 

Conclusion

E2E testing is not just an additional step in your testing process - it’s a critical part of delivering reliable, user-friendly applications. It helps catch issues before they affect your users, builds confidence in your deployments, and ensures that your system as a whole performs as expected.

Next Steps: Dive Into Automation Testing with Playwright

To prevent the kinds of issues discussed here and improve your testing workflows, consider automating your E2E tests with Playwright. In the next post, we’ll dive deeper into automation testing with Playwright, covering setup, writing tests, and leveraging its powerful features to streamline your testing process. Click here to read more.

Colleague spothlight

This blog is live thanks to

Profile Picture Iskra

       Iskra Antonova
        Lead QA Automation

 

 

 

Continue reading

Quality Assurance in Nearshoring Partnership

The most important thing about building a professional relationship is to know and understand where are the partner's pain points and work together on going through them. As an IT service provider with a solid experience, we decided to share with you some of the challenges that companies face when considering a partnership with a nearshore provider. At PLAN A, we believe in collaborating closely with our partners to navigate these challenges and deliver successful outcomes.

Mastering QA Series #1: Leadership in high-growth startups

It's been less than a year since Elena Zhekova joined Plan A's team for our Client Regate, and her impact has been profound. Elena, with over 11 years of experience gained in companies like Merkle and Proxiad, quickly established herself as a key person in her role as QA Manager. Her strategic approach to refining quality assurance processes has paved the way for significant improvements.

Mastering QA Series #2: 9 Steps to enhance your QA strategy

In today's competitive digital landscape, ensuring the quality of your software products is more critical than ever. A robust Quality Assurance (QA) strategy aims to enhance product reliability while also ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty. To achieve this, integrating QA seamlessly into your development process and continuously improving its effectiveness are of utmost importance.

In this comprehensive guide, we delve into nine essential steps to ensure you have the right QA strategy to support your business goals. Whether you're establishing a new QA process or refining an existing one, these steps will help your team achieve better product quality without compromising efficiency and innovation.

Newsletter

Stay up to date, subscribe to our newsletter !