How can you succeed as a mobile app tester?

2 Master the tools

Mobile app testing requires using various tools to perform different tasks, such as test automation, bug reporting, device management, network simulation, and security testing. You should master the tools that are relevant to your project and platform, and keep yourself updated with the latest trends and best practices. Some of the popular tools for mobile app testing are Appium, Firebase Test Lab, Charles Proxy, and OWASP ZAP.

3 Test on real devices

While emulators and simulators can help you test some aspects of mobile apps, such as layout, functionality, and compatibility, they cannot replicate the real-world conditions and user behavior that affect mobile app quality. Therefore, you should always test your mobile apps on real devices, preferably on a variety of models, operating systems, screen sizes, and network settings. You can use device farms, such as AWS Device Farm, BrowserStack, or Sauce Labs, to access and test on real devices remotely.

4 Think like a user

One of the most important skills for a mobile app tester is to think like a user and anticipate their needs, expectations, and pain points. You should not only test the technical aspects of the mobile app, but also the user experience, the design, the usability, and the accessibility. You should also consider the different scenarios and contexts in which users might use the mobile app, such as offline mode, low battery, interruptions, gestures, and orientation.

5 Explore and experiment

Mobile app testing is not only about following test cases and scripts, but also about exploring and experimenting with the mobile app and finding hidden bugs and issues. You should use exploratory testing techniques, such as heuristic testing, boundary value analysis, error guessing, and pairwise testing, to test the mobile app from different angles and perspectives. You should also try to break the mobile app by using invalid inputs, extreme values, and unexpected actions.

6 Communicate and collaborate

Mobile app testing is not a solo activity, but a collaborative one that involves working with developers, designers, product owners, and other testers. You should communicate and collaborate effectively with your team members and stakeholders, and provide clear, concise, and constructive feedback. You should also use tools and platforms that facilitate communication and collaboration, such as Jira, Slack, Trello, and GitHub.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?