Web Services Testing: An Overview

Web Services deliver a standard mode of interoperability between software applications running across platforms and frameworks. These form base of connectivity for services that are connected together into a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA).

Further, these services communicate with each other using web services. Web services put force a standard way of integrating web-based applications using XML, Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Web Services Description Language (WSDL), and UDDI open standards over an internet protocol. A Web service is offered by an electronic device to another electronic device, communicating with each other via the World Wide Web.

It is also factual that a failed web service creates chaos not only to the managers but also to the administrators who are responsible for the server maintenance. A failure also discomforts the clients who are trying to call the particular web service.

The key elements of web services are a repository, messaging, and service. Since web services are distributed over networks and applications, the testing requirements should also include interfaces. Web services are integrally susceptible to added risks in the areas of integration and interoperability.

A web service can be implemented using any programming language on any platform, on condition that a standard XML interface description called WSDL is available. A standard messaging protocol called SOAP is also used at the simultaneously. Web services often run over HTTP but may also run over other application layer transport protocols. Automating web services testing facilitates reduction of its overall testing efforts.

Web Services Testing

Web services provide the continuous connection from one software application to another over private intranets and the Internet. Web services’ testing includes functionality and loads aspects to check how a Web service performs for single client and scales as the accessing load increases. Testing enables the detection of errors, evaluation, and approval of system qualities at an earlier stage. An automated test approach, in particular, helps to efficiently repeat tests whenever needed and by improvising the time to market. In particular, test automation will be essential to a sound and efficient Web services development process, for the assessment of the functionality, performance, security, scalability, and UI of Web services.

Web Services Testing Steps are

Step 1: Generate the client /skeleton code of the web service

Step 2: Define the required test inputs

Step 3: Invoke the web service using the client/skeleton code

Step 4: Client/skeleton code generation and response verification

Step 5: Actual response Vs expected response verification

Web Services Testing Tools

There are many web services testing tools available, such as

• ManageEngine
• QEngine
• SoapUI
• TestMaker
• WebInject toolsets

These tools are built on open source tools/libraries/frameworks and hence help reduce overall costs. They help to increase automation efficiency by minimizing initial coding effort. These tools can also help to create and execute the tests quickly.

Read our Blog on Top 10 Testing Tools

In this fast paced world, a faster test cycle at lower cost is crucial to stay competitive and thus reusable test automation frameworks coupled with open source tools and technologies is a key solution to shrink test cycle time and its costs.

There are Web Services test automation frameworks available that are designed and developed by many testing service providers and adopting them reflects more effectiveness. Some of their important features & benefits are detailed below.

We will discuss more about Web Services Testing in our upcoming blogs.

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