Testing Lightning Components from a QA Perspective

Testing Lightning components is a crucial step in ensuring the quality and reliability of Salesforce applications. As a QA professional, it is essential to understand the unique challenges and best practices involved in testing these components. In this blog, we will explore the various approaches and tools available for testing Lightning components, highlighting the importance of both manual and automated testing methods.

Why Test Lightning Components?

Lightning components are highly customizable and can be reused across various parts of the application. This flexibility, however, introduces the risk of bugs and inconsistencies being introduced in other components. Moreover, the UI changes and code-level modifications using CSS, HTML, Apex, and JavaScript require thorough testing to ensure a uniform user experience across different browsers, operating systems, and devices.

Manual Testing Approach

Manual testing is a straightforward approach that involves testing the component by interacting with it manually. This method is suitable for small-scale testing and can be performed by any team member familiar with Salesforce CRM. Manual testing involves checking the design attributes, ensuring the component is displayed correctly on the page, and verifying its functionality.

Automated Testing Approach

Automated testing is a more scalable and reliable approach that involves using tools and frameworks to write and execute tests. This method is ideal for large-scale testing and can be integrated with Salesforce DX. Popular JavaScript-based automation testing frameworks like Cypress, Mocha, and Jasmine can be used for testing Lightning apps. Additionally, Salesforce offers Lightning Testing Services (LTS) that can be used to write tests for customized Lightning applications.

Tools and Frameworks for Testing

1. Lightning Testing Services (LTS): LTS is a suite of tools and services integrated with Salesforce DX that makes automated testing easy. It is ideal for testing customized highly-customized Lightning applications.
2. Cypress: Cypress is a popular JavaScript-based automation testing framework that can be used for testing Lightning apps.
3. Mocha: Mocha is another popular JavaScript-based automation testing framework that can be used for testing Lightning apps.
4. Jasmine: Jasmine is a popular JavaScript-based automation testing framework that can be used for testing Lightning apps.

Best Practices for Testing

1. Prioritize Browser and OS Combinations: Since it is virtually impossible to test on all possible browser and OS combinations, prioritize the most widely used combinations.
2. Use Cloud-Based Testing Infrastructure: Cloud-based testing providers offer the infrastructure needed to test Salesforce Lightning components at scale without investing in in-house infrastructure.
3. Run Visual UI Regression Tests: Run Visual UI regression tests to ensure that Lightning components are rendered correctly on operating systems and devices.
4. Use Provar: Provar is a testing solution that offers an upgrade path for testers to run the same tests in Classic and Lightning without needing a second test suite.

Key Aspects of Lightning Component Testing

1. Unit Testing:
Focuses on individual components.
Ensures that each component’s functionality is working as intended.
Uses JavaScript testing frameworks like Jasmine and Mocha.

2. Integration Testing:
Tests interactions between multiple components.
Ensures components work together correctly.
Uses tools like Protractor for end-to-end testing.

3. Performance Testing:
Evaluates the responsiveness and speed of components.
Identifies bottlenecks and areas for optimization.
Uses tools like Salesforce’s Lightning Performance Profiler.

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4. Security Testing:
Ensures components are secure against vulnerabilities.
Tests for common security issues like XSS and CSRF.
Uses Salesforce’s security scanning tools and manual testing.

5. User Acceptance Testing (UAT):
Validates the component against user requirements.
Ensures the component provides the expected user experience.
Involves end-users in the testing process.

Best Practices for Manual Testing of Lightning Components

Manual testing is a crucial step in ensuring the quality and reliability of Salesforce Lightning components. As a QA professional, it is essential to understand the best practices involved in manual testing of Lightning components. Here are some best practices to follow:

1. Check Design Attributes
   Verify Component Display: Ensure the component is displayed correctly on the page and aligns with the design requirements.

2. Functional Testing
   Positive Testing: Run the flow to perform positive testing, ensuring the component functions as expected.

3. Reusability
   Reuse Code: Reuse code via inheritance to avoid duplicating code and ensure consistency across components.

Practical Examples and Test Cases

Let’s Look at some test cases and practical examples for testing Lightning components, divided into manual and automated testing categories:

Manual Testing Examples

Test Case 1: Verify Component Display

Objective: Ensure the component appears correctly on the page and matches design requirements.

• Step 1: Navigate to the Salesforce application.
• Step 2: Locate the Lightning component on the page.
• Step 3: Check that the component is displayed correctly, with all elements visible and aligned according to the design specifications.
• Expected Result: The component should match the design requirements without any visual discrepancies.

Test Case 2: Positive Testing with Valid Inputs

Objective: Ensure the component functions as expected with valid inputs.

• Step 1: Navigate to the component.
• Step 2: Enter valid data into all input fields (e.g., valid email, proper names, etc.).
• Step 3: Submit the form or trigger the component action.
• Expected Result: The component should process the input correctly and display the expected results (e.g., confirmation message, data saved correctly).

Test Case 3: Negative Testing with Invalid Inputs

Objective: Verify the component handles errors properly with invalid inputs.

• Step 1: Navigate to the component.
• Step 2: Enter invalid data into the input fields (e.g., invalid email format, special characters where not allowed).
• Step 3: Submit the form or trigger the component action.
• Expected Result: The component should display appropriate error messages and prevent the form from being submitted.

Automated Testing Examples

Test Case: Verify Data Binding and Event Handling with Selenium

Objective: Ensure the component updates correctly when data changes and handles events properly.

Assume we have a Lightning component that displays a list of items and allows users to add a new item.

public class LightningComponentDataBindingTest {
    public static void main(String[] args) {

        WebDriver driver = new ChromeDriver();

        // Navigate to the Salesforce page containing the component
        driver.get("https://your-salesforce-instance.lightning.force.com/c/yourComponentPage");

        // Verify initial list of items
        List<WebElement> items = driver.findElements(By.cssSelector("c-itemList .item"));
        int initialItemCount = items.size();
        System.out.println("Initial item count: " + initialItemCount);

        // Add a new item
        WebElement newItemInput = driver.findElement(By.cssSelector("input.new-item"));
        WebElement addItemButton = driver.findElement(By.cssSelector("button.add-item"));
        newItemInput.sendKeys("New Item");
        addItemButton.click();

        // Verify the new item is added to the list
        items = driver.findElements(By.cssSelector("c-itemList .item"));
        int updatedItemCount = items.size();
        System.out.println("Updated item count: " + updatedItemCount);

        if (updatedItemCount == initialItemCount + 1) {
            System.out.println("New item added successfully.");
        } else {
            System.out.println("Failed to add new item.");
        }

        // Close the browser
        driver.quit();
    }
}

Conclusion

Testing Lightning Components is a critical aspect of Salesforce application development. By adopting a comprehensive QA approach that includes unit testing, integration testing, performance testing, security testing, and user acceptance testing, you can ensure your components are reliable, performant, and secure.