An Overview of Various Types of Software Testing

Despite a range of features and functionalities in your application, you might lose your users if the functions aren’t performing efficiently.  It is very important that the software, application, or website your end customers are interacting with delivers the expected benefits and fulfills the purpose. However, certain errors and bugs cannot be skipped during development. Different software tests are conducted during the software development process’s quality analysis phase. 

In this blog, we will talk all about the different tests that help to achieve the best version of software and ensure the best user experience. 

Manual Testing and Automated Testing  

While both types of testing are technological, one is still more advanced than the other. Manual testing is done in person by clicking on the features, buttons, APIs, and all the project parts with the help of a suitable tool. Manual testing is often expensive as we hire a person to complete the testing by themselves by setting up an environment. At the same time, manual testing is also prone to different errors since the human tester might omit steps in the test script.

Another testing technique is automated testing, in which a machine executes a test script written in advance. The complexity levels can vary greatly in automated testing. From checking the single method in a class to ensuring that the sequence of complex tasks is being performed efficiently, many tasks can be streamlined with this type of testing. Automated testing is more reliable and useful as compared to manual testing. 

Different Types of Software Tests

Now comes the different types of software tests conducted once the development team has completed the backend, frontend, and API integration process. These tests aim to make the software more useful and enjoyable for the end users. Here are the 10 different types of tests that help achieve the best version of software- 

• Unit Testing

Unit testing is the method of testing individual components and units of any application. This ensures that every unit of the software is working according to expectations. These are the automated tests designed to test the particular parts of the software including particular functions or methods. This testing is done at the lowest level of the complete development process where every unit is tested in isolation. 

• Integration Testing 

As the name suggests, integration testing helps to test how different units and components of the application connect and interact. Different issues can be faced when multiple components and functionalities of the application are connected. So,  integration testing ensures that different units mutually provide favorable results without causing bugs or errors. 

• Usability Testing 

This testing is conducted from the user’s perspective to check the software’s user-friendliness. For example, it affirms that the app is easy to use and accessible when the user uses the smartphone with one hand. Similarly, it ensures that the scroll bar is vertical, the app’s background color is dark, and the stock is presented in bright colors. 

• System Testing

System testing is conducted on the whole system for functional requirement specification, system requirement specification, or both. The main goal of this testing is to ensure that the application or the software is working efficiently on different devices and operating systems. This testing is carried out under the black box technique where the focus remains on the input and output without focusing on the internal work. 

• Functional Testing

Functional testing focuses on the application’s business requirements, ensuring that the desired software functions are achieved. This testing has nothing to do with the intermediate stats of the system as long as the results are acceptable. 

• Acceptance Testing

As one can get a good idea from the name of the testing, this test is conducted by the client to check if the deliverable is performing the desired tasks or not. This testing enhances the software quality and identifies the defects early to solve them without delay. At the same time, acceptance testing boosts the confidence of stakeholders by ensuring that the team will provide the software that matches the expectations. 

• Smoke Testing

This is the testing that is conducted to make sure that the software is stable for further testing. The reason behind its name is that the testing of the initial pass of the software is carried out. If everything goes well without the software catching any fire or smoke, it is assumed that it is ready for further testing. 

• Regression Testing

This is one of the most important types of testing. The main motto is to ensure that the corrections being implemented in the software are not generating any bugs or causing any problems. So, regression testing is often performed after the completion of any test or when any changes to the software have been made. 

• Performance Testing

Performance testing is designed to test the run-time performance of the software in the context of any integration system. It helps to test the software’s speed and the program’s effectiveness. The system’s performance in a given load is also checked in this testing, and thus, it is also called load testing.  

• Security Testing

A special team performs security testing to check whether any hacking method can penetrate the system. Moreover, this testing helps identify how the software, website, or application is secured from external threats and risks. At the same time, it is also determined whether the software is protected from malicious programs and viruses and carries strong authorization and authentication processes. 

Conclusion 

Testing is an integral part of the software development process that helps ensure that each function and feature of the application performs to its utmost potential. Different testing processes ensure that each part and component of the software executes the expected result without ruining the user experience. From security to usability and integrating the different elements, the quality analysis phase brings each software part to its best version. At the same time, running the entire QA process independently is not easy. Hiring the best software testing services companies to run the QA process for your exciting application is suggested.