The document discusses software test automation. It defines software test automation as activities that aim to automate tasks in the software testing process using well-defined strategies. The objectives of test automation are to free engineers from manual testing, speed up testing, reduce costs and time, and improve quality. Test automation can be done at the enterprise, product, or project level. There are four levels of test automation maturity: initial, repeatable, automatic, and optimal. Essential needs for successful automation include commitment, resources, and skilled engineers. The scope of automation includes functional and performance testing. Functional testing is well-suited for automation of regression testing. Performance testing requires automation to effectively test load, stress, and other non-functional requirements