Types of software testing: why is testing important?
We usually don’t think about how much effort developers should put in to provide users with a high-quality product. Programmers are not the only individuals involved in software development. For correct operation, the program must be tested. And this job falls on the shoulders of quality control engineers. What methods do they use to perform good and adequate basic tests? Let’s consider this problem!
Common Types of Software Testing
If you order a new website or mobile app from a software development company, for example, testing services are included in the development process by default. But how does it happen? As a general rule, the first QA engineers perform a requirements analysis. It allows testers to understand what the application should do and how to avoid errors.
QA engineers then begin to apply various types of tests to specific software. These types include the following:
Acceptance test. Testers check whether the software meets all acceptance criteria. It is then up to the customer to make a decision as to whether the software will be submitted for review or accepted.
smoke test. It is similar to acceptance testing. At this stage, QA engineers perform a short cycle of tests to verify how the new product performs its functions, how it works, and how it is released.
Regression tests. It is applicable if during the development process some changes are made to the source code. But if we need a specific functionality to work properly, the operation may not work after certain changes. Therefore, regression tests allow specialists to find out if the required functionality works correctly and as well as it used to.
health tests. It is a focused test aimed at confirming that one function or another is working according to the requirements stated in the specification. It is a subset of regression tests.
User interface tests. The tester checks whether the software meets the requirements of the graphical user interface and whether it is made in a single style. It involves testing with different screen resolutions, compatibility with various internet browsers, as well as testing localized versions: translation accuracy and name length of interface elements.
permission test. That’s where QA engineers need to check how the permissions system works in the software being tested. For example, you are a common user and it would have been very strange if you had access to administrator access rights, wouldn’t it? And testers want to make sure everything is working properly.
usability testing. QA engineers must understand how to make the end product user-friendly. Therefore, they put themselves in the shoes of ordinary users: they need to test the user-friendliness of the software and find out whether it is user-friendly or not.
Types of advanced tests: why are they necessary?
In most cases, all of the types of tests considered above can help specialists perform good tests. But if your product is non-standard, the need for advanced testing may arise. Advanced tests include the following:
Sprint 0 activity. It means that QA specialists start testing even before the software is finished. It makes it possible to avoid errors at an early stage.
Automated functional and regression testing. Automation makes it possible to get quick results and fix all errors as quickly as possible. Also, this type of test allows you to start the test with several parameters: some versions of input and expected data.
compatibility tests. It is important to understand how the product is compatible with system elements and other applications.
interrupt test. Here everything is simple: an understanding of how the product will work after an unexpected interruption.
Load Test. What will happen to your app if too many users start using it simultaneously? That’s what the testers need to find out and then create the maximum load for the software.
security tests. Protection tests against possible web attacks.
conclusion
We can see that the testing process is not easier than the development. There are many important issues to consider and a serious development company should pay attention to them. If you don’t want to lose your users, you shouldn’t skip quality control. In addition to basic tests, advanced tests can also be done to get a really good final product.