Software testing is an important technique for assessing the quality of a software product. Several types of testing should be carried out on larger-scale software development projects. Each type of testing has a certain “specification” that defines the correct expected behavior the test is examining so that incorrect behavior (an observed failure) can be identified.
Here are the 6 test types usually encountered in the QA process
Unit Testing – Ensure every line of code executes properly
Unit testing is a software development process in which the units (lines of code) are individually and independently inspected for proper operation. This type of testing is usually carried out by the developer while the component is being developed. To write cleaner code, more quickly and with fewer bugs, the developer needs to unit test the software. The type of unit tests is normally discussed in terms of the type of coverage they provide:
Function coverage – Every function or method is executed by at least one test case.
Path coverage – Is the most comprehensive type of testing that a test suite can provide. Every line of code is covered by at least one test case.
Statement coverage – In this process every line of code needs to be checked and executed.
Integration Testing – Ensure the various application modules integrate
Integration testing is a logical extension of unit testing. Two units that have already been tested are combined into a component and the interface between them is tested.
Functional Testing – Ensure that every application feature produces its expected outcome
Referred to as black box testing, this type of testing is a phase in the software testing cycle where a certain feature or set of features from the application/system is tested. This type of testing requires no knowledge of the underlying implementation and has the objective to measure the quality of the functional (business) components of the system.
System Testing – Ensure all features combine to deliver the desired business results
The functionalities of the system are tested from an end-to-end perspective. System testing helps in checking the correctness of the business, functional, technical, and any non-functional requirements of the application.
This type of testing also falls within the scope of functional black box testing and should require no knowledge of the inner design of the code.
Regression Testing- Ensure new changes did not adversely affect other parts of the system
The main purpose of regression testing is to verify that modifications in the software or the environment have not caused any unintended adverse side effects and that the system still meets its requirements.
For regression testing to be effective, it needs to be seen as one part of a comprehensive testing methodology that is cost-effective and efficient while still incorporating enough variety.
This type of test is executed whenever the software changes, either as a result of fixes or new or changed functionality, and usually contains a relevant subset of tests that would be performed for a complete testing of the application.
User acceptance testing – the customer is satisfied with the system
This type of test is often the final step before rolling out the application and aims to test how well users interact with the system, that it does what they expect, and is easy to use. The customer is usually responsible for performing these tests.
Besides these 6 test types that are usually encountered in the QA process other two tests are “a must” for some types of applications.
Load testing – is the process of putting simulated demand on software, an application, or a website in a way that tests or demonstrates its behavior under various conditions. This type of testing involves applying ordinary stress to a software application or IT system to see if it can perform as intended under normal conditions. An app that performs fast enough helps its intended audience conduct business more efficiently.
Performance testing – is the process of determining the speed or effectiveness of a software program. This process can compare two or more devices or programs in terms of parameters such as speed, data transfer rate, bandwidth, or efficiency.
Why is functional testing so important for QA?
The further you go into the development process, the harder it is to track down the cause of a failure. If you wait until system or acceptance testing, the failure could be hidden anywhere in the system – you will have to be an astute detective to find the fault now. Consequently, the later in the process a failure is detected, the more expensive it becomes to fix it.
How do you ensure your QA?
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