1. An automated testing method, for use in testing an application that is executable on a computing platform having a processor and memory, the method comprising: executing the application under test on the computing platform; accessing a tree data structure, the tree data structure being a data structure created on the computing platform for use in operation of the application, wherein the tree data structure corresponds to user interface components of the application used for user interface when the application is in use with a user of the application; obtaining a specification of user interface criteria of a testing analyst; processing the tree data structure with the specification to identify one or more matching nodes of the tree data structure that match the user interface criteria; and outputting a representation of the one or more matching nodes.