Automated WordPress Testing: Tools and Strategies to Succeed

By checking for errors, bugs, and performance issues, automated WordPress and WooCommerce testing ensures that websites function smoothly. This enhances site reliability and performance and also significantly reduces the time and effort required for manual testing. As a result, developers can focus more on creating features and improving user experience and website owners can breathe easy, knowing their website’s core business functionality is sound.

Types of Automated Tests

Unit Testing

This type of testing focuses on individual components or units of code to ensure they function correctly in isolation. PHPUnit is a widely used tool for unit testing in WordPress development. It allows developers to write and run tests that check the behavior of specific functions and methods, helping to catch bugs early in the development process. Automated WordPress testing with PHPUnit ensures that each part of your site works as intended before integrating it with other components​. PHPUnit is the cornerstone of testing for WordPress developers, particularly when working with commercial WordPress plugins and themes where developers typically sell their WordPress software without managing or controlling the environments where it will actually be installed. 

End-to-End Testing (E2E)

End-to-end testing is the least common type of testing in the WordPress ecosystem. These tests simulate real user scenarios to assess the entire website flow from start to finish. One reason for this is that third-party plugin and theme developers cannot perform these tests on their customers’ sites, as they do not have control over those environments. Additionally, website owners and agencies typically lack the knowledge or resources to set up and maintain end-to-end tests. This has created a disconnect between the best practices of WordPress developers and the maintenance of WordPress websites. Many website owners, webmasters, and agency developers are often unaware of end-to-end testing or its benefits. Ironically, although end-to-end testing is the least common type of testing in WordPress, it is crucial for ensuring that all parts of the software function together in real-world scenarios.

Developer tools like Playwright, Selenium, and Cypress are the most common end-to-end testing. All of these tools require in-depth coding knowledge though. Selenium automates browser actions to replicate user interactions, making it a versatile but sometimes complex tool to set up and maintain. Cypress offers a more modern and developer-friendly approach, with a focus on ease of use and fast test execution, though it is primarily designed for testing JavaScript applications and may have limitations with cross-browser support. Playwright, our team’s tool of choice, stands out by providing robust cross-browser testing capabilities, supporting multiple browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari with a single API. In recent years, no-code and low-code testing tools, like our own, have been developed to meet the needs of non-technical teams who still need to maintain and ensure their websites are functioning properly. These tools empower users without extensive technical expertise to effectively manage website performance and reliability, particularly within the WordPress ecosystem.

Popular No Code Testing Platforms for WordPress and WooCommerce

Ensuring the reliability and performance of your WordPress and WooCommerce sites is crucial. No code testing platforms offer an accessible way to automate testing processes, helping to maintain site functionality without the need for extensive coding or development knowledge. 

Ghost Inspector

Ghost Inspector excels at recording and automating browser tests. With its user-friendly Chrome extension, you can easily create test scenarios that replicate user interactions. These tests help maintain the functionality of your WordPress site by regularly checking critical workflows and user paths. While Ghost Inspector is popular and easy to use, it is not specifically designed for WordPress. As a result, it requires more manual setup and configuration for WordPress websites.

CheckView

CheckView is the only end-to-end testing platform designed specifically for WordPress. Leveraging Playwright, it offers comprehensive testing capabilities to ensure your site functions across different environments. CheckView is tailored to WordPress, allowing it to automatically sync with your website forms and WooCommerce checkout, eliminating the need for writing custom test steps. Its built-in features include automatic waiting, network debugging, and capturing screenshots and videos during tests. Additionally, CheckView offers an easy-to-use dashboard that provides alerts when issues are identified and resolved, enhancing your site’s overall performance and reliability.

UseTrace

UseTrace automates tests based on recorded user interactions, providing an intuitive way to ensure your site’s features work as intended. By simulating real user behavior, UseTrace offers solid coverage for your automated WordPress testing, identifying potential issues before they affect actual users. However, like Ghost Inspector, UseTrace was not specifically built for WordPress, so it requires some configuration changes and has certain limitations within WordPress testing.

Developer Tools and Frameworks in E2E Testing

PHPUnit 

PHPUnit is a popular tool for unit testing in the PHP ecosystem, making it an essential part of automated testing WordPress. It allows developers to test individual units of code, ensuring that each function performs as expected. Incorporating PHPUnit into your automated WordPress testing strategy lets you catch bugs early in the development process, leading to more reliable and maintainable code​.

Selenium 

Selenium is a popular tool for automating browser actions, making it ideal for end-to-end testing. It enables automated testing for WordPress by simulating real user interactions across different browsers. Selenium ensures that your website works correctly from the user’s perspective, verifying that all elements on your site function as intended under various conditions. While it is a powerful tool, it is also complex and requires server and developer knowledge to set up and maintain.

Cypress 

Cypress is a modern testing tool focused on user experience. It provides an intuitive interface for writing and running end-to-end tests, making it a valuable asset for automated testing WordPress. Cypress offers real-time reloading, automatic waiting, and detailed error messages, helping developers create robust tests that mimic actual user behavior​​.

Playwright

Playwright is an advanced end-to-end testing tool that excels in cross-browser testing. It allows for automation of user interactions across multiple browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, with a single API. Playwright’s robust features, such as automatic waiting, network interception, and the ability to capture screenshots and videos during tests, make it a powerful choice for ensuring your WordPress site functions flawlessly. Its flexibility and reliability help verify that all elements on your site perform as expected, providing a smooth user experience under various conditions.

Codeception 

Codeception combines unit, integration, and acceptance testing, offering a comprehensive framework for automated WordPress testing. It supports a wide range of testing scenarios and simplifies the process of writing tests. With Codeception, developers can automate complex workflows and ensure that different parts of the application work together seamlessly​.

Behat 

Behat is a behavior-driven development (BDD) tool that facilitates end-to-end testing by writing tests in a human-readable format. This makes it easier for non-developers to understand and contribute to the testing process. Behat integrates seamlessly with WordPress, enabling automated WordPress testing that ensures your site behaves as expected from the user’s perspective​.

Best Practices for Automated Website Testing

Test-Driven Development (TDD)

Test-driven development (TDD) is a fundamental practice in automated testing WordPress. It involves writing tests before developing the actual code. This approach ensures that every new feature has a corresponding test, making the development process more structured and reliable. By adopting TDD, developers can ensure that their code meets predefined specifications, leading to fewer bugs and a more maintainable codebase​.

Mocking and Dependency Injection

Mocking and dependency injection are crucial techniques for isolating components during automated WordPress testing. Mocking involves creating simulated objects that mimic the behavior of real components. This allows developers to test specific units of code in isolation, ensuring accurate and reliable tests. Dependency injection further enhances this process by injecting dependencies into components rather than hard-coding them. Together, these practices improve test accuracy and make it easier to identify and fix issues​.

Regular Regression Testing

Regular regression testing is essential for ensuring that new changes don’t break existing features. In automated testing WordPress, regression tests are run after updates or new feature implementations to verify that the site still functions correctly. Automated regression testing tools can run these tests quickly and consistently, catching potential issues before they reach production. This practice is crucial for maintaining a stable and reliable WordPress site, especially as it evolves over time​​.

Testing Environments for Automated Testing

Local Development Environments

Establishing a reliable local development environment is often used for automated testing WordPress. Tools like Docker, MAMP, WAMP, Local WP and Vagrant create isolated environments that replicate your production setup. Docker, in particular, is highly recommended for its flexibility and scalability, allowing you to create containerized applications that mirror your live site exactly. Using these tools, developers can perform automated WordPress testing efficiently, catching issues early in the development process​​.

Integration with CI/CD

Integrating automated testing WordPress with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines is essential for maintaining a seamless development workflow. CI/CD tools like Jenkins, Travis CI, and CircleCI automate the testing and deployment processes, ensuring that every change is tested and deployed smoothly. These tools continuously monitor your codebase, run automated tests, and deploy updates, helping maintain site stability and performance. By leveraging CI/CD, developers can streamline automated WordPress testing, ensuring consistent and reliable site updates​​.

Reach Out To CheckView for Simple Automated Testing

Automated testing for WordPress is crucial for maintaining site reliability, enhancing performance, and reducing manual testing efforts. By integrating automated testing into your regular workflows, you ensure a robust, user-friendly WordPress website that performs well under real-world conditions. End-to-end testing doesn’t have to be difficult or resource-intensive with no-code testing solutions. Let CheckView assist you in implementing these practices with our easy-to-use dashboard, providing expert guidance and advanced tools tailored for your WordPress testing needs. Sign up for CheckView today to automate your WordPress and WooCommerce testing strategies without needing additional developer or QA expertise.