Introduction

Appium is a tool used to automate mobile applications. Whether you're testing an Android or iOS app, Appium lets you interact with the app just like a real user would clicking buttons, entering text, swiping, and more without manually tapping on the device.

Uses of Appium

  1. Cross-Platform: It supports both Android and iOS. You can write one script and use it on both platforms with minimal changes.
  2. Supports All App Types: Appium can test native apps (apps built specifically for Android or iOS), hybrid apps (apps with a web component), and mobile web apps (websites on mobile browsers like Chrome or Safari).
  3. Open Source: Appium is completely free and open-source, which makes it a popular choice for many companies.
  4. No Code Change Required: You don’t need to modify your app or add special hooks for Appium. It works "as is."

How Does Appium Work?

Appium uses a client-server architecture. The Appium Client (where you write your test scripts) communicates with the Appium Server (which controls the devices). It translates your test commands into actual actions on the mobile device (like tapping a button or entering text). For Android, Appium uses UIAutomator2 to perform actions. For iOS, it uses XCUITest.

Appium Architecture:

  • Appium Server: This is the backend server that listens to your commands and sends them to the device.
  • Appium Client: This is where you write your test scripts, using programming languages like Java, Python, JavaScript, C#, and others.
  • Mobile Automation Engines: These engines are responsible for executing the commands sent by Appium, such as tapping on buttons, swiping on the screen, or entering text.
    • For Android, Appium uses UIAutomator2 or Espresso to interact with the app.
    • For iOS, Appium uses XCUITest to automate interactions.
  • Mobile Device/Emulator: The actual mobile phone or emulator where the app is installed and tests are executed.

How to Use Appium?

  1. Set Up Appium:
    • Install Appium Server (through Appium Desktop or Node.js).
    • Install the necessary drivers (for Android/iOS).
  2. Write Tests:
    • Use programming languages like Java, Python, or C# to write scripts using a WebDriver library.
    • Set the Desired Capabilities (device name, platform, app path) to tell Appium which device and app to automate.
  3. Run Tests:
    • Launch Appium Server.
    • Execute the script, and Appium will interact with the app on the device or emulator.