Appium Tutorial for Beginners: A Step-By-Step Guide To Mobile Automation

Testing mobile apps that are being released and downloaded daily becomes critical for guaranteeing flawless functionality across multiple platforms, and ensuring their success in this digital world. Appium, an open-source mobile automation testing tool allows writing automation test scripts in various test automation languages including Java, Python, C#, and Kotlin, for both mobile apps and mobile browsers, making testing simple as testers don’t have to modify the codes for testing on different operating systems and devices.

Setting up Appium is more complex than installing a single tool. It requires downloading and installing multiple tools and setting up system variables. The main aim of this Appium tutorial is to provide beginners with a comprehensive understanding of Appium, making it easy for them to get started and effectively test their mobile applications using Appium.

In this article, we will first discuss what Appium is, its architecture, advantages, working, and lastly its support for different kinds of apps that can be run on different environments, that is iOS and Android. So let’s start with this Appium tutorial.

What is Appium?

In today’s development area, people are converting their websites into mobile apps as they are high in demand. Appium is a trending mobile automation testing framework used to streamline UI automation across various app platforms. Testers can use it to automate native hybrid and web applications. Appium is cross-platform, which means it allows writing UI tests using the same API and running the same test on multiple platforms; multiple devices can also be easily tested by Appium in parallel.

Previously testers could use Appium tests for automating IOS and Android applications. However, after a few updates, Appium declared that it will support desktop application testing for Windows as well.

Types of mobile applications Appium can deal with

As we discussed above, Appium can be used to test all sorts of applications, i.e., native, hybrid, and web. Let’s understand them briefly.

Native Applications

Native applications are installed on the specific device and are developed by keeping a certain platform in mind. These apps can work offline and can also use the device notification system. Examples of native applications examples are – Pinterest, Skype, and Snapchat.

Web Applications

Web applications are accessed in mobile web browsers like Chrome and Safari. They are built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, hence developers do not require a Software Development Kit (SDK) to work with. They are not developed for a particular platform. Web applications run on web browsers, hence, they don’t require any installation. Examples of web applications are – Flipkart, Ali Express, Twitter, etc.

Hybrid Applications

Hybrid applications combine the capabilities of both native and web applications. They are built with a wrapper around a “webview,” that allows interaction with the content of the web. Some examples of hybrid applications are – OLA, Instagram, Basecamp, etc.

Why use Appium for mobile automation

Appium has earned immense popularity among developers and testers worldwide for its out-of-the-box features and benefits. Test automation with Appium comes loaded with various advantages, including-

Cross-Platform Compatibility- Appium comes with cross-platform compatibility. It supports both Android and iOS platforms. This means developers and testers can write test scripts once and execute them seamlessly across various platforms, such as iOS, and Android, web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, and desktops including macOS, and Windows, saving time and effort.

Multi-Language Support- Appium support for various programming languages including Java, Python, Ruby, C#, and more, empowering testers and developers to choose their preferred language to write test scripts.

Open-source- Appium is an open-source framework that enables organizations of all sizes and budgets to use it. It also facilitates users to access and modify the source code as needed, fostering innovation and ensuring transparency.

Compatibility with other testing frameworks- Appium can be seamlessly integrated with popular testing frameworks like TestNG, JUnit, Pytest, Cucumber, and more for behavior-driven development, as well as Selenium Grid, and Jenkins for web testing, for continuous integration. This provides testers with a familiar testing environment.

Community Support- Appium has extensive documentation and an active community of developers and testers who keep contributing to its development and maintenance.

Robust and Extensible Ecosystem- Appium’s architecture allows easy extensibility and customization. Its various plugins empower developers to extend and modify their functionality, promoting innovation and adaptability.

Native and Web Application Support- Appium excels in providing a comprehensive set of features for automating both native and web applications. This versatility makes it a valuable tool for testing different types of applications.

Appium Architecture

Appium follows client-server architecture, with the server built on the Node.js platform, featuring a REST API that separates the test execution from the application under test. The test script acts as the client that sends commands to the main Appium server. The Appium server accepts those commands from the test script via the REST-API that acts as an intermediary to convert those proxied commands into platform-specific actions using WebDriaver.

The Appium Architecture consists of the following components.

Appium Server: The Appium server uses Node.js, and commands, upon receiving JSON-formatted commands from the test scripts, it interprets them and communicates with the appropriate device driver to execute those commands on the mobile app.

Appium Client: The Appium client contains language-specific libraries or SDKs that empower developers to create test automation scripts for mobile applications in popular programming languages like Java, Python, Ruby, Perl, etc. With these client libraries testers get methods for locating elements, interacting with UI components, executing gestures, and validating expected behaviors.

End Device:  End device refers to an emulator, simulator, or real device that is connected to the Appium server where automated tests are executed. They play an essential role in carrying out the testing process and validating the functionality and performance of mobile applications.

Test Script: Test scripts are code written in the developer’s preferred programming language. It consists of the test cases and scenarios that need to be executed on the mobile app. The test scripts send commands to the Appium server with the help of the WebDriver protocol.

Working with Appium on Android

On Android, Appium executes the commands using automation frameworks like Selendroid or a UIAutomator, a native UI automation framework for Android that allows running Junit test cases directly into the device using the command line.

Although it uses Java programming language, the Appium test can be run using any WebDriver-supported language. Subsequently, the results of the tests are then returned to the Appium server, relaying an HTTP response containing relevant status codes to the Appium client.

Appium’s functionality on Android and iOS platforms is achieved by utilizing the W3C Protocol that facilitates the transformation of test commands into REST API requests using Appium client libraries. The Appium server forwards these requests to the connected Android device or emulator.

Working with Appium iOS Platforms

As Android uses UIAutomator, Appium leverages UIAutomation API for iOS devices to interact with the Application UI. Appium Client Libraries convert test commands into REST API requests. The Appium server then forwards the requests to an iOS device or simulator. Within iOS devices, the WebDriverAgent.app file interprets the received test commands, and using XCUITest it effectively executes requests on iOS devices, enabling seamless automation and testing of iOS applications.

Apple provides an “instrument” that enables performing various activities including building, profiling, and controlling iOS apps. It also has an automation component where developers can write commands in JavaScript. 

Limitations with Appium

Appium has some limitations as well, which are as follows-

• Lack of detailed reporting.
• It can be a bit slow since the tests depend on the remote web driver.
• In iOS, only one iOS Script can be run on one Mac OS device, which means only one test can be executed at a time per Mac. If testers want to run tests on multiple iOS devices at the same time, they need to arrange the same number of Mac machines which would be quite expensive to arrange various Mac machines.

Errors and common problems while using Appium

Some common problems that Appium testing may encounter are listed below.

• SessionNotCreatedException– When the Appium server cannot create a new session with the mobile device or emulator/simulator, this error occurs. This could be due to incorrect desired capabilities, missing dependencies, or connectivity issues.
• NoSuchElementException– This exception occurs when Appium fails to locate an element on the application screen. The major reasons behind it might be incorrect locator strategy, timing issues, or application changes.
• StaleElementReferenceException– This error occurs when testers try to interact with an element that is no longer attached to the application’s DOM (Document Object Model). Changes in the application, refresh, or timing issues can be the potential cause for this error.

Tips for debugging Appium

Debugging and troubleshooting common errors in the Appium are crucial for ensuring smooth test execution. Here are some debugging techniques.

• Utilize the Appium Desktop app or command-line interface to view logs and identify issues. Appium’s logging information can help analyze the root cause of the issues.
• Testers can enable verbose logging in their test framework to bring more detailed information about the test execution.
• Make use of the Appium Inspector or any other similar tool to inspect the element hierarchy and verify element locators and application state. This will help testers easily identify issues and understand the application’s structure.
• Verify compatibility between the Appium server and client libraries to match the server version if needed.

Best practices for mobile automation using Appium

Some of the best practices for using Appium are listed below-

Create maintainable and readable tests- To enhance the code readability and make it easier to understand for maintenance testers must adopt a consistent and clear naming convention for their tests. Modularity promotes code reusability and easier maintenance. Ensure proper commenting on code. This will make it easier for others to understand the code and modify it when required.

Handle flaky tests- Flaky tests display intermittent and inconsistent behavior. To mitigate the test’s flakiness, testers can try implementing explicit wait mechanisms using tools like WebDriverWait or custom wait functions to ensure elements are present, visible, or interactable before performing actions. This will help in addressing dynamic loading and reducing the chances of timing-related issues.

Parallel Test Execution- Executing tests in parallel can significantly reduce the overall execution time. To avoid race conditions when running tests in parallel, ensure that the test cases are independent and do not interfere with each other.

Use Real Device Cloud- Though emulators and simulators can help in the initial phases of testing, testing on real devices is always recommended to eliminate any platform-specific issues or behavior that may not be precisely evident in an emulated environment.

Using an AI-powered cloud testing platform like LambdaTest for testing mobile apps is the best way to leverage Appium automation and get the desired results seamlessly. It eliminates the complex installation and setup process associated with Appium, its related drivers, plugins, and emulators.

LambdaTest offers a wide range of real devices on its cloud. Testers can run their Appium script in the mobile cloud by selecting from a diverse array of real devices with various configurations.

LambdaTest is an AI-powered test orchestration and execution platform that lets testers run manual and automated testing of web and mobile applications at scale. The platform offers a cloud of over 3000 environments, real mobile devices, and browsers online, helping testers to ensure maximum test coverage and develop a more robust mobile app.

Additionally, LambdaTest provides comprehensive reporting and logging mechanisms that provide valuable insights into the execution, helping in easily identifying issues with relevant logs, screenshots, and other artifacts. LambdaTest testers can also integrate Appium tests with CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Travis CI, or GitHub to get early feedback on potential issues as soon as the code changes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be said that Appium is considered one of the most robust solutions for mobile test automation in today’s rapidly growing mobile industry.

By following some best practices and troubleshooting tips testers can efficiently resolve common errors and ensure a successful Appium automation process.

Implementing these approaches enhances the overall quality, maintainability, reliability, and efficiency of their Appium tests. This ultimately leads to a smoother mobile testing experience, ensuring that the applications are thoroughly tested and ready for a successful release.