Often, there isn't one clear guide to follow, making learning about software testing confusing. Trying to fully understand something when there's so much information out there, but it's all over the place and very specific, can be challenging. To solve this, we’ve put together different pieces of the software testing puzzle to help you get a complete understanding. Continue reading to learn more about the emerging QA testing methodologies and techniques of 2024, bridging gaps and enhancing clarity in this constantly changing field.
Quality Assurance (QA) is a systematic process designed to determine whether a product or service meets specified requirements. It has a proactive nature that prevents defects in products and services before they occur. Testing, a component of QA, is the practice of executing a program or application to find errors.
Let's go into more detail about these differences below.
Software Testing Methodologies are overarching strategies or frameworks that guide the overall approach to testing throughout the software development lifecycle. They include principles, practices, and processes that determine how testing is planned, executed, and managed.
The goal is to have a consistent and effective approach to ensure quality throughout the entire development process. These methodologies often integrate testing into every stage of software development to catch and resolve issues early, improve efficiency, and ensure the final product meets user expectations.
These provide a framework or set of guidelines that shape the culture and workflows of software development teams. They influence when and how testing is integrated into the development process.
Types of Software Testing represent specific techniques or methods used to test the software. They focus on what is being tested and how. They are further categorized based on various criteria, such as:
The aim is to evaluate specific aspects of the software, such as functionality, performance, security, and usability. Each type of testing targets a particular area of concern to be sure that software behaves as intended under various conditions.
Testers perform these tasks or procedures according to the methodologies and project requirements using various tools and techniques.
In this section, we'll review the most renowned and widely used testing methodologies.
The Agile model is renowned for its broad application, extending beyond testing to encompass software development and marketing. It operates through a sequence of brief, focused periods called sprints, managed by dedicated teams who adaptively respond to evolving project requirements.
One of the key strengths of Agile is its focus on early and continuous delivery of valuable software, which inherently reduces risks associated with project development. The methodology's iterative nature allows teams to reflect on and adapt their strategies based on feedback and findings from previous sprints. For instance, if a particular product segment harbored more defects than anticipated, subsequent iterations can allocate additional focus and testing resources to that area.
Scrum, a widely recognized framework within the Agile methodology, exemplifies this approach with its sprint-based structure. Each sprint concludes with a review session, where the team evaluates progress and strategizes for upcoming sprints, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the testing process.
The Waterfall model emphasizes a sequential progression through the testing phases.
The process flows downwards through distinct phases like requirements analysis, design, implementation(coding), testing, deployment, and maintenance. Following this, a testing team advances through the project in incremental stages, where each phase must be fully completed before you move on to the next.
In the context of testing, the Waterfall model typically places the testing activities after the implementation (coding) phase. Testing is conducted on a more or less complete product rather than iteratively throughout its development. Thus, it benefits projects with very stable requirements and where changes are unlikely or minimal. The most notable strength of this methodology lies in its simplicity, offering a clear and structured approach. However, due to its stringent sequential nature, its rigidity can be a drawback, as it limits the team's ability to adapt and implement changes to the testing strategy quickly.
The V-Model is an extension of the Waterfall model. The "V" shape of the model illustrates how each phase of development (on the left side of the V) is directly linked to a corresponding testing phase (on the right side of the V).
While the V-Model itself doesn't encourage the beginning of testing immediately after a development phase concludes in the way iterative models like Agile do, it does enforce a strict discipline of completing each development phase with its corresponding testing phase in mind. This approach helps identify and correct errors related to each phase before moving on to the next, which can help conserve time and resources by preventing the escalation of problems.
The Incremental methodology is distinguished by its iterative development process, where the product is built and delivered in manageable parts, each adding new features or components. A significant advantage of this methodology is its adaptability, enabling teams to quickly incorporate changes or address issues as they arise during testing.
The Spiral Methodology is an advanced approach integrating the incremental development model focusing on early risk identification and mitigation. It proceeds through iterative cycles or 'spirals,' comprising four main phases:
A vital feature of this methodology is its focus on detailed risk analysis at every phase, empowering teams to tackle potential challenges proactively. This strategy enhances the swift identification and resolution of errors, fostering a comprehensive grasp of issues for more efficient troubleshooting.
The XP, or Extreme Programming, methodology is a comprehensive agile framework that promotes close collaboration among all team members (developers, testers, and ultimately, customers). It's known for practices like:
XP's approach ensures that each code segment is written, reviewed, tested, and aligned with customer needs before being considered complete.
Quality Assurance (QA) is closely linked with testing and teamwork focused on maintaining high code quality. This overview below presents the key types and approaches fundamental to QA testing methodologies.
In QA, testing is broadly categorized into two main types: static and dynamic.
Standard static testing methodologies include audits, walkthroughs, metric analysis, technical reviews, management evaluations, and inspections. These focus on process-oriented aspects rather than the product itself. Dynamic testing is further divided into:
Functional testing analyzes each software function to verify its compliance with the specified requirements. It is typically done through black box testing, where QA engineers assess the external functionality without going into detail about the application's internal working. Common types include:
Non-functional testing evaluates the software's overarching attributes, such as performance, usability, reliability, and efficiency, focusing on aspects that enhance the user experience beyond mere functional compliance. Common types include:
How can we ensure that Quality Assurance (QA) meets technical standards and upholds values of environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and ethical integrity? Here are some strategic ways to weave these considerations into your QA practices:
1. Eco-friendly testing environmentsOptimizing your QA process takes thoughtful planning, teamwork, and a willingness to tweak workflows. It's about everyone being on the same page, with management steering the ship. The first step? Seek guidance from seasoned professionals with a proven track record in effective QA practices. This is where Global App Testing can make a significant difference. Our team is ready to extend its expertise by integrating experienced QA engineers into your projects.
We're committed to sharing our best practices, incorporating effective methodologies into your team, and helping you deliver the highest quality product. By partnering with us, you gain access to our wealth of knowledge and resources and the opportunity to adopt these methodologies for independent application in the future. Let's book a call and see how we can bring your QA processes to new heights.
15 Tips to write functional test cases
How to create a test plan for software testing in 2024
Automated testing vs Manual testing - What's the difference?