Understanding E2E testing to validate a complete user journey

End-to-end testing is a software verification method that involves testing a complete user journey, from start to finish, in conditions that are as close to reality as possible.

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‍E2E testing reproduces the entire behavior of the end user - unlike unit tests, which focus on a single function, or integration tests, which validate communication between modules.

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It does not only apply to complex software. It is also ideal for validating web products such as websites, online applications, or mobile apps, accessible via a browser or a connected device.

Furthermore, it is not only applicable to complex software. It is also ideal for validating digital products such as websites, online applications accessible via a browser, or mobile apps.

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For example: logging into an account, searching

Today, even a minor interruption in the customer journey can have a direct impact on revenue or user satisfaction. This is why E2E testing is essential: it allows you to detect real malfunctions, including those that fall outside the scope of more technically focused tests.

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By simulating real interaction, end-to-end testing:

• Reflects actual user behaviour
• Ensures the functional consistency of the entire system
• Maintains a smooth experience, particularly at critical points (login, payment, confirmation, etc.)

They apply to all products accessible via a browser or mobile device:

• Websites
• Online business platforms (ERP, CRM, intranet)
• Mobile and tablet applications
• Multichannel journeys: website + email + SMS + back office

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With Kapptivate, it is possible to test complex scenarios such as:

• Retrieving an OTP code via SMS or email
• Continuing the journey on the website or application
• Validating an event in the back office

There are several ways to approach an E2E test, depending on the application architecture, the type of path to be validated, and business constraints. There are three main types of E2E tests: horizontal, vertical, and multichannel.

Horizontal E2E tests

Horizontal tests consist of verifying the functional continuity of a user journey within a single application. These are scenarios covering several modules or features, but always in a homogeneous environment (e.g. the same website or application interface).

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A typical example in an e-commerce site:

• Logging into a user account
• Searching for a product
• Adding to basket
• Payment

This type of test is ideal for validating the entire purchasing journey from the end user's perspective and detecting any potential friction points.

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Kapptivate makes it easy to create these horizontal E2E scenarios visually, without code, and to replay them on different browsers and devices to ensure stable and consistent behavior.

Vertical E2E tests

Vertical tests focus more on the technical depth of the journey. The aim is to test each layer of the system, from the user interface to the database or third-party services.

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Example :

• The user fills out a form on the front end.
• This form triggers an API request.
• The API interacts with a back office or database.
• The result is returned to the user (confirmation, email, etc.).

This type of test is often used for critical features, where a single bug can block the entire chain.

Multichannel E2E testing

Multichannel testing is now a major challenge for companies whose user journeys involve multiple environments or media.

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These tests simulate scenarios where the user interacts with multiple systems or interfaces, for example:

• Logging into a website
• Receiving a validation code via SMS
• Returning to the site to finalize an order
• Receiving a confirmation email
• Verifying the transaction in the back office

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These journeys are highly representative of modern user practices: secure sign-up processes, two-step payments, access to customer portals, and more.

Thanks to its ability to run on real devices, Kapptivate can orchestrate these complex scenarios seamlessly, including channel switching, email navigation, OTP retrieval, API interaction, etc.

Steps to create a relevant end-to-end test:

1. Identify critical user journeys
2. Break down each step of the journey
3. Simulate real conditions (browser, OS, resolution, latency)
4. Run tests manually or via an automated tool
5. Analyse the results to identify errors

With Kapptivate, implementation is made easy thanks to a low-code interface, a versioning system, execution on real devices and one-click test relaunch.

E2E monitoring: continuously monitor your key journeys

Once created, tests can be run at regular intervals to act as monitoring scenarios.

This monitoring allows you to:

• Run a critical test every hour or every day
• Identify anomalies before users do
• Respond quickly in the event of service degradation

The advantages of end-to-end testing

Among its main advantages:

• Overall view of the product: E2E tests cover all functional and technical layers of a journey, from front to back.
• Detection of real errors : they identify bugs under conditions close to actual end-user scenarios, where unit tests may fall short.
• Improved user experience: by making key journeys such as purchasing, registration or login more reliable, friction points are reduced.
• Continuous monitoring: scenarios can be programmed to run automatically at regular intervals, enabling proactive supervision.

The limitations of end-to-end testing

Although powerful, E2E tests are not without their limitations. They can become complex to manage, especially without the right tools.

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Here are the main limitations to be aware of:

• Longer execution time: an E2E scenario involves several steps and services, which increases its duration.
• More maintenance: even the smallest change to the interface or business logic may require the scenario to be updated.

Stability can sometimes be difficult to guarantee: some tests may fail due to an incomplete test environment, external dependencies or variable response times.

Kapptivate was designed specifically to address these challenges. Thanks to its low-code platform, E2E scenarios are:

• Easy to create and modify, even without a developer profile
• Historised and versioned, with tracking of all changes
• Executed on real browsers and devices, for realistic conditions
• Automatically documented with logs, screenshots and video of the journey

In addition, tests can be replayed with a single click and scheduled over time, transforming your testing campaign into an intelligent and autonomous monitoring tool.

Guaranteeing the quality of a digital product requires validating the entire journey under real browsing conditions to ensure that everything works from start to finish.

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 To automate and improve the reliability of this process, Kapptivate offers a powerful, easy-to-use platform that can run your scenarios on real devices, generate comprehensive reports, and transform your tests into proactive monitoring.