AEM & Software Testing
A Comprehensive Guide for Functional Testers
This document provides an in-depth overview of AEM (Adobe Experience Manager) testing concepts,
covering both authoring-side validation and functional testing of published pages. It is intended for QA
engineers and functional testers working on AEM-based web projects.
1. Introduction to AEM Testing
Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is an enterprise-level Content Management System (CMS) used to
build and manage digital experiences across web, mobile, and other channels. Testing AEM involves two
primary layers — the Author environment and the Publish environment.
1.1 Author Environment
The Author environment is where content editors and authors create, manage, and preview digital content.
Testing here focuses on the usability and correctness of the authoring tools, component dialogs, and
workflow processes.
1.2 Publish Environment
The Publish environment serves content to end users. Functional testing on the publish side validates that
authored content renders correctly, pages load without errors, and the user experience meets design and
business requirements.
2. Key AEM Components Under Test
Component Description Key Test Areas
Title Displays page or section headings Heading tag, text, styling
Text (RTE) Rich text content block Formatting, links, lists
Image DAM-sourced media display Load, alt text, responsiveness
Navigation Site navigation links Active states, dropdown
Teaser Promotional content cards CTA links, image, copy
Carousel Rotating image/content slider Auto-play, controls, order
3. AEM Test Types
Authoring / UI Testing
Validates the CMS authoring experience — component dialogs, drag-and-drop, save/undo, mode
switching, page locking, and version management.
Functional Testing
Ensures published pages render correctly — verifying content accuracy, link navigation,
responsiveness, and cross-browser compatibility.
Regression Testing
Re-validates existing functionality after new AEM deployments or component updates to confirm no
previously working features are broken.
Accessibility Testing
Checks compliance with WCAG guidelines — keyboard navigation, screen reader support, alt text on
images, and sufficient colour contrast.
Performance Testing
Evaluates page load times, image optimisation, and overall responsiveness under varying network
conditions and device types.
SEO Testing
Confirms meta tags, page titles, canonical URLs, and structured data are correctly configured and
rendered on published pages.
4. Test Case Writing Best Practices
• Write test cases from the user's perspective — think about what they see and do.
• Keep test steps atomic and specific — each step should describe exactly one action.
• Always include a clear, measurable expected result for every test case.
• Cover both positive (happy path) and negative (edge case/error) scenarios.
• Use consistent naming conventions for Test IDs (e.g., TC_COMP_001).
• Link test cases back to requirements or user stories for full traceability.
• Review and update test cases after each sprint or release cycle.
5. Defect Reporting in AEM Projects
When raising defects found during AEM testing, ensure each bug report includes the AEM version,
environment (Author/Publish), browser/device details, reproduction steps, actual vs expected results, and
supporting screenshots or screen recordings. Classify severity accurately — a broken publish URL is
critical, while a minor styling misalignment may be low priority.
Document prepared for internal QA use | AEM Functional Testing Team