Magento is an eCommerce platform used by many businesses to sell their products and services online. However, before going live with your shop, you'll want to ensure it's functioning correctly. So here's how to test it using some simple tools and techniques.
Table of Contents:
- What is Magento and why do businesses use it for their online shops?
- How to set up Magento for testing purposes?
- What tools and techniques can be used for testing an online shop running on Magento?
- How to verify that the shop is functioning properly?
- Common issues that can occur when running an online shop on Magento
- Conclusion
What is Magento and why do businesses use it for their online shops?
Magento is a popular eCommerce platform where businesses create and run their online shops. It is used by small companies as well as large enterprises.
Magento was created in 2008 by Varien, a US-based company. It was originally based on the osCommerce platform, but it has been completely rewritten. This CMS is now a standalone platform used by many businesses to sell their products and services online.
Magento is known for its flexibility and scalability. Indeed, small businesses use Magento because it is affordable and easy to set up. It also has a wide range of features that can be customized according to the business's needs. On the other hand, large enterprises use this CMS because it can handle a high volume of traffic and transactions.
Magento is also used by businesses that sell physical products, digital products, or both. Because Magento can be customized, companies can use it to create a unique shopping experience for their customers.
How to set up Magento for testing purposes?
If you want to test your online shop running on Magento, you'll need first to set up a testing environment. You can use this copy of your live shop to test new features or changes before pushing them to your live shop.
There are three ways to set up a testing environment for Magento:
Use a staging server
A staging server is a copy of your online store running on a separate server. This is the recommended way to set up a testing environment, as it will allow you to test your shop without affecting your live shop.
To create a staging server for Magento, you'll need to set up a separate server and install Magento on it. The staging server should be a copy of your live shop, so you can test new features or changes before pushing them to your online store.
Here are the steps to create a staging server for Magento:
Set up a separate server for your staging environment.
Install Magento on the staging server.
Copy the files and databases from your live shop to the staging server.
Configure the staging server to point to the copied databases.
Test your shop on the staging server.
Use a development server
A development server is a copy of your live shop that is running on the same server as your live shop. This is not the recommended way to set up a testing environment, as it can affect your live shop if something goes wrong.
To create a development server for Magento, you'll need to create a copy of your live shop and install it on the same server. The development server should be a copy of your live shop, so you can test new features or changes before pushing them to your live shop.
Here are the steps to create a development server for Magento:
Create a copy of your live shop.
Install Magento on the development server.
Configure the development server to point to the copied databases.
Test your shop on the development server.
Use a local server
If you don't have a staging server, you can set up a local development environment for Magento. This is a copy of your live shop that you run on your own computer.
To create a local development environment, you'll need to install Magento locally. The local development environment should be a copy of your live shop, so you can test new features or changes before pushing them to your live shop.
Here are the steps to create a local development environment for Magento:
Install Magento locally on your computer.
Copy the files and databases from your live shop to the local development environment.
Configure the local development environment to point to the copied databases.
Test your shop on the local development environment.
What tools and techniques can be used for testing an online shop running on Magento?
Once you have a testing environment set up, you can start testing your shop. There are a few tools and techniques that you can use to test an online shop running on Magento.
Use the Magento built-in functional testing framework
Magento comes with a built-in functional testing framework that can be used to test the functionality of your shop. The Magento functional testing framework is a PHPUnit test suite that can be used to test the functionality of your shop.
To use the Magento functional testing framework, you'll need to install PHPUnit and the Magento Test Framework on your computer. Once you have PHPUnit and the Magento Test Framework installed, you can run the tests from the command line.
Use UIlicious for testing
UIlicious is an accessible tool that can be used for automating web browsers. UIlicious can be used to test the functionality of your shop and much more. You can also use it to automatically navigate your online store from multiple browsers and operating systems.
To use UIlicious for testing, you'll need to create an account to access your free trial. Indeed, this testing solution is 100% cloud-based.
UIlicious has several benefits over the Magento built-in testing framework:
UIlicious is a standalone tool that doesn't require PHPUnit or the Magento Test Framework to be used.
UIlicious can be used on multiple browsers and operating systems.
UIlicious is a more comprehensive tool than the Magento built-in testing framework. It can run on anything that runs on a web browser.
Sign up for UI-licious now
Use an external testing tool
There are several external testing tools that can be used to test an online shop running on Magento. External testing tools can be used to test the functionality of your shop. External testing tools can also be used to test the performance of your shop.
Some popular external testing tools that can be used to test an online shop running on Magento include:
These are just a few of the many tools that can be used to test an online shop running on Magento. To find the right tool for your needs, you'll need to consider the type of testing that you want to do.
Once you've selected a tool, you'll need to install it on your computer to start testing your shop.
Use a combination of tools and techniques
You don't have to choose just one tool or technique for testing an online shop running on Magento. You can use a combination of tools and techniques to test your shop.
For example, you could use the Magento built-in functional testing framework to test the functionality of your store. You could also use UIlicious to test your shop on multiple browsers and operating systems. You could also use an external testing tool to test the performance of your website.
The best way to find the right combination of tools and techniques for testing your shop is to experiment and see what works best for you.
How to verify that the shop is functioning properly?
Once you have set up a testing environment and built up your toolset, you can start testing your shop. There are many ways to test an online shop, but here are some of the most important tests to run:
Functionality tests
Functionality tests check that the features of your shop are working properly. This includes tests like adding products to the cart, checking out, and creating an account.
To test the functionality of your online store, you can use manual testing or automated testing.
Manual testing is where you test the features of your shop yourself. This is a good way to test basic functionality, but it can be time-consuming.
Automated testing is where you use software to test the features of your shop. This is a good way to test complex functionality, and it can be faster than manual testing.
To set up automated testing, you can use UIlicious. The example below shows how a simple script written in less than 10 minutes can help you test the full checkout process on a Magento online store - here, the Liverpool FC shop - to verify that your website is able to recognize wrong credit card numbers:
Once you have written a test, you can run it to check that the feature is working properly.
Performance tests
Performance tests check that your shop can handle a high volume of traffic without slowing down. This is important, as you want your customers to have a good experience when they visit your shop.
To test the performance of your shop, you can use load testing. This is where you send a high volume of traffic to your shop to see how it responds.
You can use a tool like Apache JMeter to simulate traffic. Once you've set up JMeter, you can run a test to see how your shop performs under a high load.
If you're not sure how to set up JMeter, you can follow this tutorial.
Security tests
Security tests check that your shop is secure from hackers. This is important, as you don't want your customers' data to be compromised.
To test the security of your shop, you can use a web application firewall (WAF). This is a piece of software that blocks hackers from accessing your shop.
You can use a tool like ModSecurity to set up a WAF. Once you've installed ModSecurity, you can configure it to block known hacking attempts.
You can also use a tool like SiteCheck to scan your shop for vulnerabilities. This is a good way to find any security holes in your shop.
Once you've found a vulnerability, you can fix it to make your shop more secure.
Common issues that can occur when running an online shop on Magento
There are a few common issues that can occur when you're running an online shop on Magento. Here are some of the most common issues, and how to fix them:
Slow loading times
If your shop is taking too long to load, it could be due to several factors. This includes having too many products, using too many plugins, or having a slow server.
To fix this issue, you can try to optimize your shop for speed. This includes reducing the number of products, using fewer plugins, and upgrading to a faster server.
You can also try to cache your shop pages. This will make your shop load faster for repeat visitors.
Products not loading
If you're having trouble loading products into your shop, several problems could be the cause. This includes an incorrect product URL, a slow server, or an issue with the Magento database.
To fix this issue, you can try to clear the cache and re-index the Magento database. This will often fix the problem.
You can also try to upgrade to a faster server. This will help if the issue is due to a slow server.
Shop crashing
If your shop is crashing, it could be due to many kinds of errors. This includes a plugin conflict, an issue with the Magento database, or a memory leak.
To fix this issue, you can try to disable all plugins and re-index the Magento database. This will often fix the problem.
You can also try to increase the memory limit for Magento. This will help if the issue is due to a memory leak.
500 errors
If you're seeing 500 errors, it means that there is a critical error in your shop's code. Several causes can explain these dreadful error codes, including a plugin or extension that is incompatible with Magento.
To fix this issue, you can try to disable plugins and extensions one by one until the error goes away. You can also try to contact the support team for the plugin or extension that is causing the error.
Another way to fix this issue is to clear your shop's cache. This will often fix errors that are caused by cached data.
If you're still seeing 500 errors, you can try to contact Magento support for help.
Shopping cart not working
If your shopping cart is not working, the source of the problem can be anywhere. This includes an incorrect product URL, a plugin conflict, or an issue with the Magento database.
To fix this issue, you can try to clear the cache and re-index the Magento database. This will often fix the problem.
You can also try to disable plugins and extensions one by one until the problem goes away.
Checkout not working
If you're having trouble checking out of your shop, it could be due to a number of factors. This includes an incorrect shipping address, an issue with the payment gateway, or a plugin conflict.
To fix this issue, you can try to check the shipping address and make sure it's correct. You can also try to disable plugins and extensions one by one until the problem goes away.
Payment methods not available
If you're having trouble using a particular payment method, it can come from several origins. This includes an issue with the payment gateway or a plugin conflict.
Again, to fix this issue, you can try to disable plugins and extensions one by one until the problem goes away.
Security vulnerabilities
If you're concerned about security vulnerabilities in Magento, you can always install a security plugin. This will help to protect your shop from hackers and other malicious users.
You can also keep your shop up to date with the latest security patches. This will help to fix any vulnerabilities that are found in Magento.
These are just some of the most common issues that you may encounter when running a shop on Magento. By following the steps above, you should be able to fix most of these issues. If you're still having trouble, you can always contact Magento support for help.
Conclusion
Magento is a popular eCommerce platform that businesses use to create and run their online shops. In order to test an online shop running on Magento, you need to set up Magento for testing purposes and use the appropriate tools and techniques.
You can also use our automated testing solution UIlicious to verify that the shop is functioning properly. Register for free today.
Sign up for UI-licious now
Common issues that can occur when running an online shop on Magento include checkout problems, incorrect product prices, and broken links. By using UIlicious, you can avoid these common issues and ensure a smooth shopping experience for your customers.
