Understanding Testim.io: A Beginner’s Guide

When choosing a testing tool, many teams naturally lean toward open-source options for flexibility and cost control. I wrote this guide for beginners who want to understand when a commercial, AI-driven tool like Testim makes practical sense, and how to approach it without overcomplicating their testing workflow. They tend to integrate well with various platforms, come with robust community support, and offer the flexibility to customize them cost-effectively. However, today we're making an exception to that rule! In this blog post, we'll dive into Testim and examine its features closely.

What is Testim?

Testim is an AI-powered automated testing platform designed to reduce test fragility, speed up test creation, and lower long-term maintenance effort. Its core value lies in stabilizing tests in applications that change frequently. It aims to boost test coverage, minimize maintenance efforts, scale efficiently, and simplify troubleshooting. Testim features "Smart Locators," which tackle common issues in software testing, such as slow test creation and unstable test results. This innovative use of AI in software testing is transforming the field, offering new possibilities for efficiency and accuracy in quality assurance.

Testim fits into modern development workflows by supporting both recorded and coded tests, allowing teams to balance speed with control while integrating seamlessly with CI and collaboration tools. Users can either code or record their tests, customize various implementation details, and connect with current CI or collaboration tools. Additionally, tests can be executed on third-party testing grids or directly on Testim's platform itself.

Testim is designed for teams that need reliable automation at scale, especially where UI changes and rapid releases make traditional test maintenance costly. It caters to three main areas:

1. Agile Development: For Agile teams, Testim enables faster feedback by allowing both technical and non-technical users to contribute to test creation without blocking delivery speed. Its user-friendly interface allows everyone on the team to get involved in testing, while its advanced features let experienced users tackle complex problems with reusable JavaScript code.

2. Salesforce Testing: Effectively leveraging such tools often requires expertise, which is why many teams hire Salesforce admin professionals who understand the intricacies of the platform and its testing needs. In Salesforce environments, Testim supports complex end-to-end workflows where UI elements and configurations change frequently.

3. Mobile App Testing: For mobile testing, Testim reduces setup complexity by unifying test creation, execution, and device management within a single interface, making mobile app testing more straightforward. With its low-code capabilities, users can quickly create and manage tests using the same intuitive Testim interface.

Prerequisites

Testim.io offers a free account that allows beginners to explore core features before committing to paid plans.

Test Creation & Execution

• Test creation in Testim follows a guided workflow that emphasizes recording first, then refining steps within the Visual Editor.
• Installed Chrome Extension on the browser. 
• Have Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge Chromium browser for Test Authoring 
• Test Cases will be saved in AWS 
• Each save creates a new version, allowing teams to track changes and revert when needed without losing test stability.
• Execute the test cases locally from Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge Chromium browser or Remotely from Testim Grid for other browsers 
• Remote test execution can be performed using CLI or Schedule

Creation of Test Cases

Create a test using the recording for the login scenario,

• Create a new test
• Base URL: http://demo.testim.io
• Test name: Enter the test name for reference
• Set the testing configuration
• Record the test
• Execute the test steps to log in manually
• Click on Pause or Stop to stop/pause the recording
• Save a test

1. Click on the New Test button which is available in the top
2. A new test opens in the Visual Editor. Here is where you record the test, add validations and edit the test steps.

Creating a New Test

Setting the base URL

1. Setting a default Base URL - You can set a default Base URL for a Project. This URL is automatically applied to all new tests which you create within the Project.

When you initially set up your project, you were required to select a Base URL for your testing application. You can change the default URL for your project at any time you need. All new tests will automatically use the default URL.

To set the default URL for a project

1. Navigate to Settings > Project from the main navigation menu.
2. Click the Edit button next to the Default Base URL field.
3. Enter the new default URL and click OK.

Testim will save this new default URL and this URL will be used as the Base URL for all new tests.

2. Setting the Base URL manually - If there is no default Base URL configured, then you need to manually enter the Base URL for each new test. If a default Base URL is configured, then that configured default URL is used unless you manually edit the URL.

When a first test is created, the Base URL will always be set as default URL. Then needed, can edit the Base URL for a particular test manually.

To set the Base URL for a single test manually

1. After creating a new test, in the Visual Editor click Step 1 or the Base URL link.

This will display the Test Configuration properties panel.

2. In the Base URL field, enter the new Base URL for the test.

Setting the test configuration

Test Configuration defines the environment in which tests run, ensuring execution conditions match either local setups or simulated environments on the Testim Grid. If you intend to run the test locally, then the configuration should match your local environment. If you intend to run the test on the Testim Grid, then Testim simulates whichever environment is specified.

Adjusting the Test Configuration

When you create a new test, the Test Configuration which is set as default will get applied automatically.

Test Configuration can be adjusted using one of the following methods:

1. Edit – Edit the current Test Configuration. The newly changed configuration will be applicable only to the current test (it does not affect the Configuration profile).
2. Choose Other – apply different Test Configurations from the list available.
3. Custom– Create a new configuration that is customized and apply it to the current test.

Recording the test

During recording, Testim captures user actions in the application under test and converts them into structured, editable test steps. Application Under Test (AUT) window is the opened one and the actions that you take in this window will be recorded by Testim and it gets configured as steps in your test.The following actions are identified as separate test steps:

• Click
• Double click
• Right click
• Scroll
• Set (enter text)
• Scroll on page
• Scroll to element
• Drag
• Resize window

Pause or Stop the recording

You can pause and restart the recording. Only actions from the AUT browser when you are in recording mode are included in the test. Actions taken when recording is paused are not included.

1. On the Visual Editor screen, while recording a test, the pause button is shown in the header bar. Click on the Pause button to pause the recording.
2. While recording is paused, the red record button is shown. Click on the record button to resume recording.

Saving a test

Navigate back to the AUT browser window and resume recording. You can jump to the window by clicking on the Go to app button.

To save a new test, follow the steps below, and the test is saved and added to the test library.

1. From the Visual Editor screen, click on the Save button.
2. Provide a Name and Description for your test and click OK.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the use of Testim?

Testim is an AI-powered automated testing tool used to create, execute, and maintain tests for web and mobile applications. It aims to increase test coverage, reduce maintenance efforts, and simplify troubleshooting in software development.

2. Is Testim better than Selenium?

Testim and Selenium serve different needs. Testim offers AI-assisted test creation and maintenance, making it more user-friendly for non-coders. Selenium provides more flexibility and control but requires more coding expertise. Choose based on your team's skills and project needs.

3. Can Testim be used for mobile testing?

Yes, Testim supports mobile app testing. It simplifies device and application management, allowing users to create and manage tests for mobile applications using its intuitive interface, making the mobile testing process more straightforward.

4. Can beginners use Testim?

Yes. Testim’s low-code interface allows beginners to start with recording while still supporting advanced customization.

5. Does Testim support CI/CD pipelines?

Yes. Testim integrates with common CI/CD tools to support automated testing in continuous delivery workflows.

Conclusion

Testim addresses common automation challenges by reducing test flakiness and simplifying maintenance, making it a practical choice for teams scaling automated testing without increasing complexity. When they are using automation processes/tools. With this, you can make automation simpler & more stable, so testers will feel free to try this testim.io and get the best result out of it. Also in the upcoming blogs, we can see about recording in multiple windows, performing the mobile test, editing the test, results of the test, and also performance using CLI mode.

While Testim.io offers powerful features, implementing effective software testing services requires expertise. F22 Labs specializes in comprehensive testing solutions, leveraging tools like Testim.io to ensure your applications meet the highest quality standards. Our expert team can help you navigate complex testing scenarios, maximize test coverage, and streamline your QA processes.