What is Sanity Testing
What is Sanity Testing ?
Introduction
Software testing ensures the quality and reliability of applications. Among various testing methods, Sanity Testing is essential for verifying recent code changes before deeper testing. This article covers its purpose, benefits, and differences from other testing types.
What is Sanity Testing?
Sanity Testing is a software testing method that checks specific functionalities after minor updates or bug fixes. The goal is to confirm that recent changes work correctly and haven’t caused new issues. It is usually performed manually before extensive regression testing.
This type of testing is focused, quick, and unscripted, targeting affected areas without a full system check.
Key Characteristics
- Targeted Approach – Tests only modified or impacted software components.
- Quick Validation – Ensures basic functionality remains intact in a short time.
- Minimal Documentation – No need for extensive test case preparation.
- Post-Fix Testing – Conducted after resolving specific issues.
- Decision-Making Tool – Helps determine if deeper testing is necessary.
Why is Sanity Testing Important?
This testing process plays a crucial role by:
- Preventing Unnecessary Effort – Identifies major issues early.
- Ensuring Stability – Confirms that updates don’t introduce new problems.
- Speeding Up Testing – Saves time by focusing only on affected features.
- Improving Software Quality – Provides a quick assessment of key functions.
- Supporting Agile Development – Fits well in fast-paced CI/CD workflows.
How to Perform Sanity Testing?
Step 1: Identify Affected Areas
Determine which features were changed due to updates or bug fixes.
Step 2: Verify Key Functionalities
Test impacted sections to ensure proper functionality.
Step 3: Check Integration Points
Ensure related modules function correctly with the changes.
Step 4: Validate Fixes
Confirm that reported defects are successfully addressed.
Step 5: Decide Next Steps
If the testing passes, proceed with full regression testing. Otherwise, return for debugging.
Real-World Examples of Sanity Testing
Example 1: E-Commerce Website
A popular e-commerce platform fixes a bug in its checkout process where discount codes were not applying correctly. After the fix, the QA team conducts sanity testing to ensure:
Discount codes now apply as expected.
The total price calculation remains accurate.
No new issues appear in payment processing.
If sanity testing confirms these fixes, the team proceeds with full regression testing.
Example 2: Mobile Banking App
A mobile banking app updates its login security to support biometric authentication. Before running full-scale tests, the QA team performs sanity testing to:
Verify that biometric login works correctly.
Ensure traditional username/password login is unaffected.
Confirm the login process doesn’t introduce new crashes.
Example 3: SaaS Application
A cloud-based SaaS company fixes a reported issue where users couldn’t upload files in certain formats. Sanity testing is performed to:
Check that the file upload feature works for all supported formats.
Ensure no new issues arise in file processing.
Verify that files are stored and accessible as expected.
Sanity Testing vs. Smoke Testing
These two testing types often get confused. Here’s how they differ:
| Feature | Sanity Testing | Smoke Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Validates specific changes | Ensures application stability |
| Scope | Limited to modified areas | Covers core functionalities |
| Execution Time | Short | Longer |
| Test Cases | Unstructured | May include predefined cases |
| Performed By | Testers or developers | Testers |
Both are essential and serve distinct roles in software testing.
Benefits of Sanity Testing
- Fast Issue Detection – Identifies problems quickly.
- Efficient Resource Use – Saves effort by focusing on critical areas.
- Prevents Regression Failures – Avoids unnecessary deep testing if issues exist.
- Enhances Software Stability – Ensures recent changes don’t break functionality.
- Supports Agile and CI/CD – Facilitates rapid testing cycles in modern development.
Conclusion
Sanity testing is a crucial technique ensuring that recent software changes do not introduce new issues. It is quick, targeted, and helps maintain software reliability. By incorporating it into your development and QA workflow, you can improve efficiency and enhance software quality.
Adding this step to your testing strategy is particularly useful in agile environments, helping teams deliver stable and high-performing applications.
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