Software Testing

                 Introduction to Software Testing

 

Software testing is a critical phase in the software development lifecycle (SDLC) that ensures the quality, functionality, security, and reliability of a software application. It involves evaluating and verifying that a software product meets the specified requirements and performs as expected.

Software Testing
What is Software Testing?

Software testing is the process of executing a software application to identify defects, errors, or missing requirements. The primary goal is to ensure that the software functions correctly under different conditions and meets user expectations.

Importance of Software Testing
  1. Ensures Quality – Detects and fixes defects before deployment.
  2. Enhances Security – Identifies vulnerabilities to prevent security breaches.
  3. Improves Performance – Ensures the application runs efficiently under different workloads.
  4. Ensures Compliance – Helps meet industry and regulatory standards.
  5. Increases Customer Satisfaction – Ensures a bug-free experience for end-users.
Types of Software Testing

Software testing is broadly classified into two types:

1. Manual Testing

Testing conducted by a human without automation tools. It includes:

  • Exploratory Testing – Tester explores the application without predefined test cases.
  • Ad-hoc Testing – Random testing without a structured test plan.
2. Automated Testing

Testing conducted using automation tools to increase efficiency. It includes:

  • Unit Testing – Testing individual components of the software.
  • Integration Testing – Ensuring that different modules work together.
  • System Testing – Testing the complete system against requirements.
  • Regression Testing – Ensuring new changes don’t break existing functionality.
Levels of Software Testing
  1. Unit Testing – Tests individual units of the code.
  2. Integration Testing – Tests interactions between modules.
  3. System Testing – Tests the entire application as a whole.
  4. Acceptance Testing – Validates the software with real-world scenarios before release
Software Testing Methodologies
  1. Black Box Testing – Tests software functionality without looking at the internal code.
  2. White Box Testing – Tests internal structures and logic of the code.
  3. Grey Box Testing – A mix of both black and white box testing.
Software Testing
Common Software Testing Tools
  • Selenium (for web application automation)
  • JUnit (for Java unit testing)
  • TestNG (for advanced testing frameworks)
  • Appium (for mobile application testing)
  • LoadRunner (for performance testing)
 Levels of Software Testing
  • Unit Testing: Tests individual components/modules of software.
  • Integration Testing: Verifies interactions between integrated modules.
  • System Testing: Tests the complete system as a whole.
  • Acceptance Testing: Ensures the software meets business requirements.
 Functional vs. Non-Functional Testing
  • Functional Testing: Ensures software performs its intended functions.
  • Non-Functional Testing: Checks performance, usability, security, etc.
  Common Testing Methods
  • Regression Testing: Ensures new changes don’t affect existing functionality.
  • Smoke Testing: Basic testing to check if critical functionalities work.
  • Sanity Testing: A quick test to verify small changes in functionality.
  • Performance Testing: Evaluates speed, stability, and scalability.
  • Security Testing: Identifies vulnerabilities and threats.
  • Usability Testing: Checks user-friendliness and accessibility.
What is the purpose of software testing?

To check if the software works well, runs faster, and makes users satisfied.

What is a software testing tool?

The tools that are used for the testing of software.

Which testing is best?

Unit tests