End-to-end testing is a technique that tests the entire software product from beginning to end to ensure the application flow behaves as expected. It defines the product’s system dependencies and ensures all integrated pieces work together as expected.
The main purpose of End-to-end (E2E) testing is to test from the end user’s experience by simulating the real user scenario and validating the system under test and its components for integration and data integrity.
Software systems nowadays are complex and interconnected with numerous subsystems. If any of the subsystems fails, the whole software system could crash. This is a major risk and can be avoided by end-to-end testing.
When to Apply End-to-End Testing
There are many scenarios to apply end-to-end testing. Here’s an example:
Before testing, designers and developers create a list of which UI, functions or features that need to be performed. Data flow should be tracked between systems to find dependencies, flaws, and inaccuracies. Teams also have to prepare the conditions – factors that may change any interface options – before testing.
E2E testing is regularly conducted on finished products and systems, making each review a test of the completed system. A second test will take place if the system does not output what is expected or if a problem is found. In this case, the team will have to record and analyze the data to determine the issue’s origin; then fix and re-test them.
All coments