As the mobile application ecosystem continues to expand, the demand for robust testing frameworks has never been higher. Appium, an open-source and cross-platform mobile application automation tool, has gained immense popularity for its flexibility and ease of use. In this blog, we will delve into the world of Appium by exploring a simple sample test code, providing beginners with a solid foundation for mobile application testing.

Understanding Appium

Before we dive into the code, let’s briefly understand what Appium is and why it stands out in the mobile testing landscape. Appium is an automation tool that supports both Android and iOS platforms and allows testers to write tests using their preferred programming languages. With Appium, you can test native, hybrid, and mobile web applications, making it a versatile choice for mobile app testing.

Setting Up Your Environment

To begin your journey with Appium, you’ll need to set up your testing environment. Ensure you have the following components installed:

1. Appium Server: The core component that facilitates communication between your test code and the mobile device or emulator.
2. Mobile Device Emulator or Physical Device: Appium supports testing on both emulators and real devices.
3. Appium Client Libraries: Depending on your programming language of choice (Java, Python, JavaScript, etc.), you’ll need to install the corresponding client library to interact with the Appium server.

Writing Your First Appium Test Code

For the purpose of this example, we’ll use Java as the programming language. Below is a simple Appium test code snippet that opens the Calculator app on an Android emulator and performs a basic addition operation

import io.appium.java_client.AppiumDriver;
import io.appium.java_client.MobileElement;
import io.appium.java_client.android.AndroidDriver;
import org.openqa.selenium.remote.DesiredCapabilities;
import java.net.URL;
import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;



public class AppiumSampleTest {
public static void main(String[] args) {
// Set the desired capabilities for the Android emulator
DesiredCapabilities caps = new DesiredCapabilities();
caps.setCapability("platformName", "Android");
caps.setCapability("deviceName", "emulator-5554");
caps.setCapability("appPackage", "com.android.calculator2");
caps.setCapability("appActivity", "com.android.calculator2.Calculator"); // Initialize the Appium driver
try {
AppiumDriver < MobileElement > driver = new AndroidDriver < > (new URL("http://127.0.0.1:4723/"), caps); // Perform a basic addition operation
MobileElement digit2 = driver.findElementById("com.android.calculator2:id/digit_2");
MobileElement plusButton = driver.findElementByAccessibilityId("plus");
MobileElement digit3 = driver.findElementById("com.android.calculator2:id/digit_3");
MobileElement equalsButton = driver.findElementByAccessibilityId("equals");
digit2.click();
plusButton.click();
digit3.click();
equalsButton.click(); // Wait for a few seconds to observe the result
TimeUnit.SECONDS.sleep(3); // Close the app
driver.closeApp();
} catch (Exception e) {
System.out.println("An error occurred: " + e.getMessage());
}
}
}

Explanation of the Code:

• The code begins by setting up desired capabilities, which include information about the platform, device, app package, and activity.
• It then initializes the Appium driver using the desired capabilities and establishes a connection to the Appium server.
• The test performs a basic addition operation using the Calculator app on the Android emulator.
• After the test, the app is closed, and any potential errors are caught and displayed.

Conclusion

This simple Appium test code serves as a starting point for beginners venturing into mobile application testing. Understanding how to set up your environment and write basic Appium test scripts lays the foundation for more complex testing scenarios and automation practices. As you progress in your mobile testing journey, you’ll find Appium to be a powerful tool for ensuring the reliability and functionality of your mobile applications across various platforms. Click this link  to nagivate to Appium github repo page.