You can buy the best golf clubs money can buy, but it won't magically lower your handicap unless you know how to use them. Software testing is no different – it won't give you good results unless you know how, who, what, and when to utilize it. Software testing ensures that a software application is of the highest possible quality for users and tests a product to prevent any issues from becoming a bottleneck.
There are many ways you can approach software testing. However, it's easy to get confused by the sheer number of testing types and how they overlap, let alone what each does.
So, let's start with the basics and cover all the testing subcategories along the way!
Software testing is a comprehensive process that ensures that software applications are reliable, secure, and user-friendly. It encompasses a range of techniques and methodologies, each targeting different aspects of software to provide a quality product. In this ultimate guide to software testing, we will cover the following:
1. Types of testing:
2. Testing approaches:
3. Functional vs. Non-Functional testing:
4. Stages of testing:
Manual testing is a process where software testers manually execute test cases without using any automation tools. They play the end-user role and try to find as many bugs in the application as quickly as possible. The bugs are collated into a report and passed to the developers to review and fix. Manual testing often focuses on usability, performance testing, and software quality assessment.
Manual testing is further divided into:
Automated testing is when an automation tool executes pre-scripted test cases. Test automation aims to simplify and increase efficiency in the testing process. If a particular form of testing consumes a large percentage of quality assurance, it could be a good candidate for automation. Acceptance testing, integration testing, and functional testing are all well-suited to this type of software test. For instance, checking login processes is an excellent example of when to use automation testing.
Speed and efficiency:
Cost considerations:
Suitability for different tasks:
White box testing and black box testing are two fundamental approaches in software testing, each with its unique focus and methodology.
White box testing involves testing the software's internal structure, design, and coding. In white box testing, the tester has complete visibility of the source code and uses this knowledge to design test cases. The main focus is on the logical flow of the software, code structure, conditions, paths, and branches.
Techniques:
It often involves the use of automated tools and requires programming knowledge.
Black box testing focuses on the software's functionality without considering its internal code structure. The tester is unaware of the internal workings of the application and tests the software by checking its inputs and outputs. The primary focus is on the software's functionality, behavior, and requirements.
Techniques:
This testing can be done manually or with automated tools but does not require knowledge of the programming language or the internal structure of the software.
Grey box testing is called that because it's seen as a middle ground between the "white" (clear, open to view) and the "black" (opaque, closed to view) testing methodologies. This approach provides a more comprehensive testing perspective by considering both the software's internal workings and external functionality.
Key characteristics:
Software testing can also be broadly categorized into two additional types:
Functional testing validates the software system against the functional requirements/specifications. Here are the various types of functional testing:
Unit testing is testing individual units or components of an application. The aim is to ensure that each unit performs as designed. It is typically carried out by developers rather than the quality assurance team, as it requires a detailed knowledge of the internal program design and source code and belongs to the White box approach.
The techniques employed include:
Integration testing is where individual units or components of a software application are combined and tested as a group. The primary purpose of integration testing is to identify and address issues related to the interaction and integration between these individual parts.
For example, it can include issues like data format mismatches, interface mismatches, faulty communication among components, or failure to handle dependencies properly.
Integration testing usually follows unit testing (where individual components are tested in isolation). After units are individually tested, they are gradually aggregated and tested together in a process that can be incremental or all at once, depending on the testing strategy.
Strategies:
1. Big Bang approach: All components or modules are integrated simultaneously and then tested as a whole. This approach is more straightforward but can lead to challenges in identifying the root cause of failures.
2. Incremental approach: Integration and testing are done step by step. It includes:
Various tools are used to facilitate integration testing. These might automate the process, simulate components (stubs and drivers), or help manage test cases.
It's considered more comprehensive than unit testing but less so than system testing. Integration testing focuses on the architectural structure of the application.
Interface testing verifies the interactions and data exchanges between different components or systems. It's specifically concerned with ensuring that interfaces between software modules, systems, or services function correctly according to specifications and expected behavior.
Components tested:
Types of Interface testing:
System testing is a high-level software testing process where a complete and integrated software system is evaluated to ensure that it meets specified requirements. This type of testing is conducted after integration testing, where individual modules or components of the software are combined and tested as a group.
System testing typically employs a black-box testing approach, where the tester does not need to know the internal workings of the software. The focus is on input and output and the system's functionality. It is usually performed in an environment that resembles the production environment to simulate real-world conditions as closely as possible.
Types of System testing:
Manual regression testing is a method of verification that is performed manually. It confirms that a recent update, bug fix, or code change to a software product or web application has not adversely affected existing features. It utilizes all or some of the already executed test cases, which are re-executed to ensure existing functionality works correctly and no new bugs have been introduced.
By nature, regression testing requires constant repetition. It can be performed manually or using an automated method. The definition is the same as manual regression testing; it's a verification method that is automated rather than performed manually.
Smoke testing, often called "Build Verification Testing," is a type of software testing performed on a preliminary build to ascertain whether the most crucial functionalities of the application work correctly.
Smoke testing covers the most important functions of the application but does not delve deeply into the finer details. It's a surface-level test that checks basic functionalities like launching the app, simple user interactions, and the stability of the primary features. It's usually conducted using a black box testing approach, where the testers are not concerned with the internal code structure but rather with the basic functionality. Smoke tests are typically quick to run and are often used every time a new build is created, making it a regular part of the Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipeline.
Smoke testing can be done manually but is often automated to speed up the process, especially in agile development environments where builds are frequent.
It acts as a gatekeeper, ensuring a build is stable and functional enough to warrant further testing. If a build fails the smoke test, it is typically sent back for fixing before additional testing is done, saving time and resources.
Sanity testing is an important step in the software testing process, especially in Agile and iterative development environments. It helps quickly identify any key functionalities problems after a minor change, ensuring that the software is stable enough for further detailed testing.
This testing focuses on quickly evaluating the functionality to determine whether it is rational (or "sane") to proceed with further, more rigorous testing.
Sanity testing is usually unscripted, focusing on particular functionalities rather than systematic test cases. It is typically a subset of regression testing. It is performed after regression testing but before full-scale testing of the application. It's usually carried out manually due to its focused and rapid nature.
Acceptance testing is a critical phase in the software development lifecycle, primarily focused on determining whether the software meets the end user's needs and requirements. It's the final testing stage before the software is deployed. The client or end-users typically conduct this type of testing, sometimes called User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
Types of Acceptance Testing:
Feedback from acceptance testing is crucial as it may lead to changes or enhancements in the software. The approval from this phase is often considered the green light for software deployment.
The importance of non-functional testing is on par with functional testing, as it plays a significant role in ensuring client satisfaction. While functional testing assesses what the software does, non-functional testing evaluates how well the software performs, contributing to the overall user experience and application quality. The following are the most common types:
Once the development cycle is nearly complete, load testing is carried out to check how an application behaves under the actual demands of the end users. Load testing is usually performed using automated testing tools that simulate real-world usage. It intends to find issues that prevent software from performing under heavy workloads.
Localization testing checks the quality of a localized version of an application for a particular culture or locale. When an application is customized for a foreign country or presented in a different language, localization testing ensures accuracy. It predominantly tests in three areas: linguistic, cosmetic, and functional.
Does the translation negatively affect a brand or messaging? Do the changes create any alignment or spacing problems for the user interface? Is functionality affected by regional preferences?
Accessibility testing is performed to ensure that an application is usable for people with disabilities. This includes visual impairments, color blindness, poor motor skills, learning difficulties, literacy difficulties, deafness, and hearing impairments. For example, website accessibility can be measured by using W3C (known as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines or WCAG).
Compatibility testing validates whether an application can run on different environments, including hardware, network, operating system, and other software.
Penetration testing (or pen testing) is a type of security testing. It is done to test how secure an application and its environments (hardware, operating system, network, etc.) are when subject to attack by an external or internal intruder. An intruder is defined as a hacker or malicious program. Penetration tests either force an attack or do so by using a weakness to gain access to an application. It uses the same methods and tools that a hacker would use. Still, the intention is to identify vulnerabilities so they can be fixed before a real hacker or malicious program exploits them.
Several testing types in software development blur the lines between functional and non-functional testing, addressing aspects of both. These "in-between" testing types include:
While primarily a non-functional aspect focusing on user experience and interface design, usability testing can also encompass functional elements. It ensures that the software is user-friendly and that functional aspects like navigation and data input work seamlessly.
This type of testing checks both functional and non-functional aspects. Functionally, it ensures that the software operates as expected across different browsers, operating systems, and devices. Non-functionally, it addresses user experience in different environments.
It is typically seen as a functional testing type, ensuring that new code changes don't adversely affect existing functionalities. However, it can also cover non-functional aspects if these are impacted by code changes, such as performance or usability issues.
Primarily non-functional, focusing on how the software performs under various conditions. However, it can include functional elements, like ensuring that functionalities work correctly under load or stress conditions.
It is often categorized as non-functional due to its focus on the system's robustness, resilience, and secure configuration. However, it also includes functional aspects, such as verifying the functionality of access control mechanisms, authentication processes, etc.
It is predominantly a manual testing approach where testers explore the application without predefined test cases. While it can focus on functional aspects, it often uncovers non-functional issues like usability, performance, and reliability concerns.
It involves testing application programming interfaces (APIs) both functionally (ensuring they return the correct data, error handling, etc.) and non-functionally (testing performance and security aspects of the API).
Simulates real user scenarios, thereby covering functional aspects of the application. It also assesses non-functional aspects like system performance and user experience.
GUI (Graphical User Interface) testing can be categorized as both functional and non-functional testing, depending on the aspects being tested:
Functional aspects:
Non-Functional aspects:
No single testing method addresses all software requirements. Leading organizations employ a mix of testing strategies at various stages of development for optimal outcomes, a concept central to QAOps. Much like using top-tier golf clubs effectively, software testing demands knowledge of appropriate utilization.
Software testing, pivotal in the development lifecycle, ensures applications perform as expected and meet user needs. This involves thorough testing to identify flaws, confirm functionality, and adhere to specific requirements. Innovations in testing methods and tools, particularly those used by Global App Testing (GAT), have greatly improved this process.
Key advantages of Global App Testing:
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