Top 9 Software Testing Trends to Watch Out for in 2023

Curious about what’s in store for software testing in 2023? This year brings with it its own share of emerging software testing trends that have the potential to greatly impact how organizations approach testing and ensure software quality. However, the underlying concept is the same - The testing process must be integrated more closely into the development process to meet these demands.

In this article, we'll explore the top software testing trends for 2023, their impact on organizations, and their overall effect on the scope of organizations. So let's jump right in and discover the exciting future of software testing with QA trends 2023 and how they are slowly but steadily shaping the future!

1. Transforming AI and ML in Software Testing

The recent growth of AI and ML technologies is only going to accelerate in the near future. In fact, the adoption of AI-driven testing solutions is going to expand at a CAGR of almost 40% between 2022 and 2030. The very nature of software testing is transforming through AI and ML technologies as we speak—with an increasing focus on automation. 

• By using AI algorithms to create test cases and ML techniques to detect patterns and anomalies in test data, testing processes can see significant improvements in terms of speed and accuracy
• AI and ML algorithms have enabled organizations to enhance the quality and reliability of their software, delivering it more quickly and efficiently. 
• As the demand for faster, more accurate, and more efficient testing continues to grow, the use of AI /ML for software reliability particularly in automation testing will continue to evolve and improve
• This will pave the way for the development of new and improved algorithms for AI-powered software testing.

2. The Wonder of Scriptless Automation in The Testing Landscape!

Automation testing has evolved, and how! While today, 97% of software professionals are using automation, the future of automation testing is going scriptless. 

With scriptless automation testing thrown into the equation, the need for scripting and coding in software testing is eliminated. It’s intriguing because it minimizes routine testing efforts and helps businesses and testers automate test cases without paying attention to development. The result? Organizations can perform automated testing without requiring specialized technical skills.

• With scriptless automation testing tools, testers can create test cases and test scenarios using graphical user interfaces instead of writing code.
• This reduces the time to create and maintain test scripts. 
• The use of codeless automation testing will expand as businesses look for ways to simplify, restructure, streamline, and open up the testing process to a broader audience of users.

3. Raising the bar on security and performance with Blockchain Testing

Worldwide spending on blockchain solutions is estimated to expand from 4.5 billion US dollars in 2020 to approximately 19 billion US dollars by 2024. The popularity of blockchain technology is only continuing to grow, making the testing of blockchain an all the more essential trend in software development. An increasing number of companies are embracing blockchain testing tools, as it’s a critical aspect of creating dependable blockchain-based applications that businesses can rely on to keep the safety and security of their products a priority.

The primary objective of blockchain testing is to recognize and rectify any issues that could impact the performance of the blockchain, such as compatibility issues or security vulnerabilities. As interest in blockchain technology continues to surge in the coming years, the scope of blockchain testing is expected to expand accordingly.

4. The Rise of Microservices in the Digital Era

To stay ahead of the curve in software testing, organizations need to shift away from traditional monolithic testing methods and embrace a more agile and flexible approach - Microservices Testing. Looking at microservices testing insights and its approach, it involves breaking down applications into smaller, interconnected services, offering advantages such as enhanced scalability, faster deployment, and reduced downtime risks.

While there are new microservices testing challenges related to microservice architecture, organizations are expected to invest more in microservices testing as they adopt this architecture style. DevOps practices can further assist organizations by enabling continuous testing and deployment of microservices, allowing them to bring new features and improvements to the market quickly.

5. Harnessing the Power of Image and Video Testing

In the age of mobile devices and high-speed internet, users demand visually stunning experiences from their applications, pushing businesses to prioritize image and video testing to stay competitive. As the complexity of visual content increases, image testing will play an increasingly critical role in ensuring a top-notch user experience.

To keep up with these demands, organizations are turning to automated testing methods such as compression testing to ensure that images and videos perform at their best while maintaining high quality. Automated testing also helps reduce the risk of human error in scenarios where manual testing is tedious and prone to errors.

6. Advancements in Selenium 4

Why selenium is a preferred tool for automation testing? Selenium 4 represents a major leap forward in the Software Testing Industry, with a range of new features and enhancements designed to improve the user experience, test execution and reporting, concurrency, stability, and performance.

This latest version boasts a revamped IDE, new APIs, enhanced Selenium Grid architecture, W3C standardized protocol, advanced diagnostics, relative locators, and more. Its cutting-edge capabilities have the potential to transform web automation testing and take it to new heights.

As one of the most widely used automation testing tools, Selenium 4 provides exceptional flexibility and scalability for automated cross-browser testing of web applications. For companies looking to stay ahead of the curve in software testing, Selenium 4 is a tool that CTOs should seriously consider.

7. Shortening Time-to-Market by leveraging shift left testing strategies

Shift left testing has emerged as the new norm for competent testing. As software development becomes increasingly intricate and speed becomes more critical, the shift left strategy in software testing prioritizes testing early in the development process, rather than waiting until the end. In this way, problems can be resolved and risks can be reduced very early on in the development stage. 

Shift left testing is not only about changing the timing of testing activities; it also emphasizes how testing is performed. To accelerate time-to-market, cloud testing platforms like LambdaTest offer shift left testing benefits, allowing developers to test their web applications on a range of real devices and browsers, identify and rectify bugs early in the development cycle, and deliver high-quality software quickly.

8. Help Teams Accelerate Secure Software Delivery with DevSecOps

Software testing trends are moving towards a secure approach with DevSecOps, the modern software development methodology that prioritizes security by integrating it into every stage of the development process. By 2030, the DevSecOps market size is projected to reach USD 41.66 billion at a CAGR of 30.76% from 2022 to 2030. 

• DevSecOps security testing offers a comprehensive approach for organizations to mitigate security vulnerabilities by adding security measures at every step of the development process - from design to deployment. 
• Early detection and resolution of security issues result in cost and time savings. 
• The adoption of DevSecOps is expected to continue to grow as organizations focus on enhancing software security and countering the evolving threat landscape.

9. Uncovering the potential of IoT Testing for Smart Devices and Systems

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a wonderful example of the most advanced use of technology that is profitable for regular users, businesses, and even whole cities. By 2025, it is projected that there will be over 75 billion connected IoT devices. The global IoT revenue is estimated to hit $96 billion in the same year. As it continues to grow, software testing trends are rapidly evolving towards IoT testing. The IoT testing framework represents an intricate network of physical objects, including vehicles, household appliances, and other devices that rely on connectivity, electronics, and software to collect and exchange data.

To ensure optimal performance of these devices, security and functional testing have become paramount, especially with the exponential increase in the number of IoT devices. As a result, the field of IoT testing is experiencing significant growth, with the primary objective of ensuring that IoT systems and devices meet end-user expectations by performing as intended.

In the world of software testing, continuous testing isn't just nice to have - it's an absolute must. That’s why, in today's digital landscape, reinventing yourself to meet changing demands is crucial. With technology evolving at breakneck speed and user expectations at an all-time high, organizations must stay on top of emerging trends to ensure their software is up to par.

In the world of software testing, continuous testing isn't just nice to have - it's an absolute must. That’s why, in today's digital landscape, reinventing yourself to meet changing demands is crucial, especially if you're a UAT tester. With technology evolving at breakneck speed and user expectations at an all-time high, organizations must stay on top of emerging trends to ensure their software is up to par.