The importance of software testing and the techniques used

Development and testing are the two most important stages of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) for any piece of software or application. Writing numerous lines of code during the development stage can lead to the creation of a functional software tool that addresses business logic, but it is important that the software application is tested for potential errors before being released to the end user.

By emulating the real-world scenarios, testing helps identify any potential bugs which might affect the software's functionality or effectiveness. Identifying and fixing bugs translates to a better user experience.

Types of bugs in software testing and their impact

Anomalies in the behavior of software applications lead to undesirable results. Bugs identified by software testing can be classified into five main categories based on their impact on the application: performance, functionality, usability, compatibility, and security. Software testing allows for complete analysis of potential bugs, thereby preventing them from making it to production.

Not all bugs or errors are identified during the testing phase; some are identified only after the end user starts using the software in the real world. The errors encountered in such cases are usually time-sensitive and need to be addressed quickly. A complete understanding of the full range of software testing techniques and the nature of the errors encountered helps in resolving said errors efficiently.

Errors can be as insignificant as a misplaced comma in a message intended for the end user, or capable of causing major issues, such as security breaches that potentially affect millions of users. Based on the severity of the damage resulting from an error, the development team may have a short timeframe to resolve the anomaly and publish the changes.

Types of software testing automation

The two main types of software testing are automated and manual testing. Manual testing is the oldest and most time-consuming of the two, requiring human intervention throughout the testing phase. Automated testing, as the name suggests, requires assistance only in setting up the automation of the testing process. Many companies choose automated testing for high accuracy and optimal coverage for repetitive testing that involves multiple test cases. Meanwhile, manual testing is preferred in scenarios where unique high risk tests are involved.

Automated software testing techniques are primarily classified into three categories:

• Black box testing - Black box testing is done on a particular code block relating to a specific function of the software. The tester doesn't have knowledge of the functionality or access to the code. This type of testing is carried out during various stages of the testing phase and its purpose is to uncover any errors that an end user might encounter while trying out the functionality.
• White box testing - The tester knows the product or module's requirements and goals thoroughly and has access to the respective codebase. Testing is done from the developer's perspective after understanding how each functionality behaves. Unlike in the case of black box testing, the tester needs to be equipped with high-level programming knowledge.
• Grey box testing - This method is a combination of both white box and black box testing. The tester has an overall understanding of the software being developed and testing is done from the user's perspective. Grey box testing offers the best aspects of both white box testing and black box testing, while restricting the access to only the required parts of the codebase.

Black box testing and white box testing are often used to complement each other, and both methods are essential for an efficient testing process. The following are the testing techniques that fall under at least one of these methods, or all three collectively:

• Functional testing - In functional testing, the codebase for the software's functionality is tested. Ensuring that every new functionality of the software is devoid of any errors takes precedence in this type of testing. Functional testing can be further divided into the following types:
  • Unit testing - Unit testing is usually referred to as the initial stage of software testing. It deals with the testing of individual parts of the software and helps in identifying flaws early on. Each module or block of code from the codebase is tested as soon it is written.
  • Smoke testing - Once a new build is ready, a basic test is done to check the overall stability of critical functionalities. Smoke testing determines the application's readiness for further testing.
  • Sanity testing - Sanity testing is a subset of regression testing. The purpose of sanity testing is to check the stability of the newly added functionality or the bugs that were resolved. Just like smoke testing, the software build is pushed for further testing only if it passes sanity testing.
  • Integration testing - Generally, individual software components are tested and then added to the existing application. But once the components are integrated, it is essential to check whether they function effectively as a whole. Integration testing helps testers identify incompatibilities between software components.
• Non-functional testing - This type of testing involves testing other aspects of the software apart from the feature and functionality. It focuses on improving the quality and performance of the software or the application.
• Regression testing - This is one of the most widely used software testing techniques. After the addition of new functionality or changes to the software, it is essential to check whether the additions or changes are affecting the software's overall performance. Regression testing is mandatory in most cases, especially after major changes to the codebase.

Choosing the right software testing technique

Each project is unique with its own set of functionalities and requirements. Different testing techniques are employed during different phases of the testing project. For any project, unit testing initially aligns more closely with the project's requirements as the codebase continues to be updated. But throughout the project, smoke and sanity testing, followed by regression testing, have an important place in the testing phase, since they ensure that no changes to the codebase—big or small—affect the software's performance.

The QA team has to choose the right testing technique and testing platform for the task at hand. User acceptance testing (UAT) is usually the last phase of the software testing process and involves emulating real-world conditions and enabling the end user to test the software to ensure that every functionality works as intended.

Zoho QEngine's test plan

In software testing, test planning is a basic step that involves the detailed planning and strategy of executing testing projects. In Zoho QEngine, each test plan has one or more test suites, which can then be scheduled to automate at a given day and time of choice. The test suites contain test cases that can be executed in sequence or parallel according to the requirement.

Zoho QEngine is capable of executing multiple test plans simultaneously, and you can view a detailed explanation of the tests executed on the results dashboard. The test platform is capable of handling the testing of an application's individual functionalities. It can also test the software's overall integrity, as well as its integration with multiple third-party services.