Keyword driven testing is a software testing technique that separates much of
the programming work of test automation from the actual test design. This allows
tests to be developed earlier and makes the tests easier to maintain. Some key
concepts in keyword driven testing include:
Keywords, which are typically base level and describe generalized UI
operations such as "click", "enter", "select"
Business templates which are typically high level such as "login", "enter
transaction"
Action Words, or short "Actions", which can be both base level and high
level and in their most general form allow earlier defined key words to be
used to define higher level action words
Keyword driven testing is a very powerful tool helping organizations to do more
automated testing earlier in the testing process and making it easier to
maintain tests over time. As with any complex undertaking, there are "success
factors" that can determine whether or not a testing effort will be successful.
This paper will outline key success factors for keyword driven testing including
base requirements, the vision for automation, success factors for automation,
and how to measure success.
