Interest in the IoT (Internet of Things) development services continues to grow, and today the Internet of things surrounds us everywhere. Their main goal is to improve life, solve many issues, and improve our life and professional activities. However, for this to perform its functions, it is necessary to conduct comprehensive testing. It will allow you to identify the slightest errors and determine whether your IoT meets the goals and objectives for which it was created.
Features of IoT testing
IoT testing https://testfort.com/iot-testing is very different from classical testing. It is because IoT is a combination of software and hardware that must be tested simultaneously. Specialists must test the entire IoT ecosystem, which requires deep and specific knowledge.
Experts create a unique laboratory with all the necessary tools for classical testing. In the case of IoT, more than one laboratory is needed. There is a case where it is required to check the operation of the device in extreme conditions (high or low humidity, temperature, high noise level, and much more). Quite often, there is a need to conduct tests in the field. It largely depends on the characteristics of the device itself.
In addition, the testing process itself must be changed. In the case of IoT, we receive data not in the form of user input but from various user devices such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, light sensors, altimeters, GPS locators, and many other types of sensors.
In addition to functionality, you also need to take care of the quality of the user interface. It is crucial that it is easy for the client to use and that navigation is as simple as possible.
How should I approach IoT testing?
Before you start testing, you should carefully study the project you plan to work on. So, you need to check all the documentation, what requirements exist for the project, and what result you need to get at the end. In the first stage, you must carefully consider the test plan and select the tools and methodologies you need to use. The better you think of a testing strategy, the easier it will be for you to achieve good results.
Application layer
You need to get as much data as possible and analyze it at this level. So, you need to conduct tests to help you better understand the data. Among the most important are the following:
- Localization testing;
- API testing;
- Functionality testing;
- Compatibility testing;
- Usability testing.
These tests will determine if the software can work correctly and fulfill the purposes and purposes for which it was created.
Service layer
Another aspect to consider is the ability to interoperate between protocols and devices. Your software must be able to interact with different devices. To do this, you must conduct API testing and check the functionality.
Gateway and network layer
To check the exchange of network packets, you need to check the network connection and compatibility. It will allow you to understand how stable the connection will be.
Touch layer
These IoT layers are part of the physical architecture of the Internet and serve as a link between the digital and physical worlds. To check the correctness of their work, it is necessary to conduct security and functionality testing.
What tests need to be done?
To ensure that the software works correctly, you must approach testing comprehensively. So, you need to consider the typical stages of testing life cycle and adapt this to the specifics of your IoT. Depending on the specifics of your project, you need to think about the following types of testing:
- It must be done at several levels – network and gateway, system, and application.
- Research shows that about 90% of all IoTs have security issues, which is especially dangerous for healthcare devices. Current trends show that testers are striving to solve this problem so that the data can avoid falling into the wrong hands.
- You must ensure that your software will be compatible with different devices (smartphones or PCs on various operating systems).
- End-to-end testing. It ensures that your software is easy to use and has no user experience issues. It should have easy navigation and a very user-friendly and straightforward interface.
You need to provide maximum code coverage, which will allow you to identify as many errors as possible, which can negatively affect the work of IoT.
In the end
IoT has a more complex architecture than conventional software, so there are many aspects to consider in the testing process. Sometimes more is needed to run tests in a classic lab; you need to run a few functional tests in the field to understand how it works in extreme conditions.