Software testing is necessary to ensure the quality of a software program. But this testing won't produce relevant results until you understand how and when to utilize it. Software testing ensures highest quality of a software program for users and evaluates a product to ensure that no problems develop at a later stage.
In this blog, we will discuss in-depth software testing, software testing types with examples, levels of testing in software testing, types of software testing diagrams, how many types of software testing exists, and many more. You can be an expert in software testing, all you need is to enroll in Software Testing courses and read books and articles on the same.
What is Software Testing & Why It is Important?
A software test is conducted to determine whether the actual software product or program complies with expectations and is error-free. It entails the human or automatic operation of software or system components to evaluate one or more exciting properties. The ultimate goal of software testing is to find flaws, gaps, or unmet requirements or properties in comparison to the expected documented needs and criteria.
Why is Software Testing vital? It is crucial because it allows early detection of faults, mistakes or bugs in the software program so that they can be fixed before the software product is delivered. Thoroughly tested software programs ensure reliability, security, and high performance, leading to time-saving, cost-effectiveness, and customer pleasure.
Software Testing Categories
Software Testing is divided into various categories. The three basic types of software testing categories are discussed below :
1. Functional Testing
This kind of black-box testing is used based on the requirements of the program that is to be tested. The program is tested by providing input, and the testing results are then reviewed for compliance with the functionality parameters according to which it was designed.
Functional testing types include integration testing, unit testing and more. A fully integrated system is subjected to functional testing as a plan to see whether it complies with the requirements. This category of testing ensures that the program functions as it is supposed to.
2. Non-Functional Testing
This testing category focuses on evaluating an application or program based on its non-functional characteristics. Non-functional testing examines other aspects such as the usability and reliability of an application or program.
Testing software based on crucial requirements like performance, safety, and the user interface is known as non-functional testing. This testing includes accessibility, load, security, and usability testing.
3. Maintenance
Maintenance of software programs during the software testing process is crucial. The entire system or program must be tested again to fix any faults discovered during the testing process. These testing processes are necessary for the system to develop and evolve to its highest quality.
Different Types of Software Testing With Examples
In this section, we will take you through functional and non-functional testing in software testing types.
A. Functional Testing
Functional testing verifies that a program, website, or system performs exactly as it should.
1. Unit Testing
Unit testing is a method of speeding up testing procedures and minimizing unnecessary tests by examining small chunks of code to make sure that the various components of a program function properly on their own.
For example, there is a straightforward calculator program. The unit test can be written by the developer to determine whether the user enters two numbers and obtains the correct total for the additional capability.
2. Integration Testing
An integrated systems’ compliance with a set of criteria is ensured through integration testing. It is carried out in an integrated hardware/software environment to ensure proper system operation.
When an airline's website is used by a user to purchase a ticket, compatibility testing should be conducted when integrating an airline website with a payment processing system.
3. Smoke Testing
This kind of software testing verifies the dependability of a software program and is carried out on the initial program build to guarantee that the program's crucial features are operational.
For example, websites for pet insurance are being tested and you are purchasing insurance. Before conducting any thorough testing, a testing technique for this website confirms that all of these functionalities are operating as intended.
B. Non-Functional Testing
Non-functional testing examines a system's readiness by non-functional criteria that are not covered by functional testing.
1. Performance Testing
Performance testing looks at a software application's speed, stability, dependability, scalability, and resource utilization under a specific workload.
For example, if your application responds to requests from 100 users in 3 seconds or less, stress testing can be performed by applying the load of no more than 100 users.
2. Accessibility Testing
Testing for accessibility involves making sure your mobile and online applications are functional and usable for users with and without disabilities.
3. Volume Testing
Volume testing is a part of software testing, involving exposure of the software to a significant amount of data and testing how effectively it operates.
How Does Software Testing Work?
The step of software testing involves running software programs to look for flaws and weak points. Software programs must be error-free to function correctly and ensure user satisfaction. The software program will be declared free of all errors if the program passes all the testing parameters, and only then the testing is deemed successful.
In addition to such methods, there are countless additional software testing methods that we get for you in this article. Software testing and its various types have advantages such as bug prevention, lower development costs, better performance, and customer satisfaction.
What are the Different Types Of Software Testing Techniques?
In this topic, we will go through the types of software testing tools and techniques:
1. Equivalence Partitioning
Equivalence partitioning involves categorizing a program's input. Valid and inappropriate states are the components of an equivalence class. As the primary goal of employing Moral Equivalence Partitioning is to get the same result from any of the chosen best-constructed types, it decreases the number of tests.
2. Analysis of Boundary Values
This method concentrates on those areas as more problems happen at the input domain’s boundaries. As an illustration, the programmer selects rather than =, resulting in errors.
3. Testing for Decision Tables
Causing-effect graphing is another name for decision table testing. It creates a graph using various input circumstances (origin) and their system outcomes (output/effect) before turning it into a table format. This method gives a thorough depiction of the conditions and their products.
4. Testing Based on Experience
Experience-based testing is considered when the time window for delivering products is concise, or the criteria documents are unavailable or insufficient.
5. Testing Based on Risk
Risks are negative situations or events that could happen when a product has been created. Risk-based testing makes early bug detection for the most significant and essential issues possible.
How to Achieve Effective Software Testing?
- Produce thorough bug reports - Document thorough bug reports of the program after the testing process so that the bugs can be fixed accordingly.
- Produce concise test cases - Work and produce concise test cases to refer to them during future testing.
- Participate and talk - Participate in team discussions and meetings and talk about your test findings to find easy solutions.
- Pose inquiries to yourself - Question yourself about certain doubts and try to find answers for the same.
- Be optimistic - Always maintain a positive attitude and optimism while finding a solution for the problems found in the programs.
Conclusion
Software testing confirms that a software application or product performs to set standards as intended. The general techniques, strategies, testing phase, and testing types have all been mentioned in detail in this blog. Do remember that not every project or program requires the same testing types. Check out KnowledgeHut’s Software Testing courses to gain expertise in software testing and experience a premium learning methodology.
The KnowledgeHut course curriculum will help you in learning software testing by applying your skills in a work-like environment. Enroll in the course to get an in-depth understanding of software testing techniques.
