Web services allow software applications to communicate over networks using open standards like XML, SOAP, and WSDL. They face challenges around lack of trustworthiness, improper handling of client inputs, and manipulation of parameters by malicious users. Testing web services is important to detect errors early and evaluate system qualities before costly repairs are needed. Automated testing can help repeat tests efficiently and assess the functionality, performance, and scalability of web services as more clients access them.

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Web Services Test Automation: Framework, Challenges & Benefits

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Introduction:
Web services provide a standard means of interoperating between software applications running on
a variety of platforms and frameworks. These services form the basis of a connection technology
such that services are connected together into a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). Further,
services communicate with each other using web services, the most–used connection technology of
SOA. Web services effectuate a standardized way of integrating web-based applications using XML,
Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Web Services Description Language (WSDL), and UDDI open
standards over an internet protocol.
A web service is offered by an electronic device to another electronic device, communicating with
each other via the World Wide Web. It is also true that a failed web service wreaks havoc not
only for the managers but also for the administrators who are responsible for the server’s well–
being. A failure also causes problems for the clients trying to call a particular web service.

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The most important primary elements of web services are repository, messaging, and service. Since
web services are distributed over networks and applications, the testing requirements need to be
inclusive of the interfaces.
Web services are inherently vulnerable to additional risks in the areas of integration and
interoperability. They can be implemented using any programming language on any platform,
provided that a standardized XML interface description called WSDL is available. A standardized
messaging protocol called SOAP is also used at the same time. Web services often run over HTTP
but may run over other application layer transport protocols as well. Automating web services
testing facilitates the reduction of overall testing efforts.
What are the challenges faced by web services?
• Lack of assurance of trustworthiness
• Improper provision of client’s input parameters
• Malicious users can manipulate the different parameters at times to draw unauthorized
information
• Unavailability of source code hinders white-box testing

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Web Services Testing
Web services provide seamless connections from one software application to another over private intranets
and the Internet. Web services testing considers functionality and load aspects to check how a web service
performs for single clients and scales as the number of clients accessing it increases.
Testing of web services is useful to prevent late detection of errors, which requires complex and costly
repairs. It enables the detection of errors, evaluation, and approval of system qualities at an earlier stage. An
automated test approach, in particular, helps to efficiently repeat tests whenever needed. In particular, test
automation will be essential to a sound and efficient web services development process, for the assessment of
the functionality, performance, and scalability of web services.
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