Machines are taking over the world! One wrong move and we could have a machine uprising on our hands, which would lead to the end of the world as we know it.
Grim as this picture may be, the importance of software testing can prevent some version of this apocalypse from happening. To prevent this you’ll need the machines and devices powered by software to behave exactly as you want them to.
But what is software testing and what methods can we apply for effective testing? Read on to find out!
Content List
What Is Software Testing?
When developing new software, it’s critical to not only check that it meets the specified requirements but also identify any defects it may have that may stand in the way of developing a quality product. These defects may be in the form of software bugs, errors or missing specifications that contradict the initial requirements.
Through software testing, the functionality of a software application is thoroughly evaluated through some verification and validation procedures. The process seeks to answer three primary questions:
- Does the software meet the technical and business requirements as stipulated in its design and development?
- Is it working as per the requirements?
- Is it implementable using the same features?
If the answers to these questions are positive, then the final product will be foolproof. Software consulting services exist to help you do just that.
Principles of Software Testing
Testing in software engineering is a critical part of the development process. Next, we look at five things you need to know when it comes to software testing.
1. Detect and Eliminate Bugs
Software developers may be considered modern-day geniuses, but even they are capable of missing a few bugs in the software. It is therefore vital to device test cases that play out different scenarios to reveal defects that would otherwise go undetected.
2. The Earlier You Test, the Better
When developing software, you may be tempted to wait until the project is complete before embarking on testing. While this process may work for some, it’s always better to test as you go along in order to find better ways to utilize your existing time.
3. Software Testing Depends on the Context
Just like you wouldn’t wear roller skates to a hiking expedition, you wouldn’t subject gaming software to the same level of scrutiny as an app related to a health device. The methods and procedures for testing software are defined by the type and characteristics of the application.
4. Defects in Clustering
More often than not, the software isn’t defective in its entirety. The defects are usually the result of errors in some modules within the system.
5. There’s No Such Thing as Bug-Free Software
Software testing aims to identify and eliminate all the faults in a system. While this may be a noble cause, it doesn’t mean that if you don’t detect any bugs, your application is ready for shipping. You need to use other methods of testing.
Methods of Software Testing
The methods used for testing software are numerous. Nonetheless, they are broadly categorized into two categories:
1. Manual Testing
In this case, software testers execute various test cases without using automated tools. Wondering “what is a software tester?”
Well, they are the people who perform manual tests in every environment while employing different sets of data. The success and failure rate of each process is recorded.
2. Automated Testing
As the name suggests, this technique involves the use of suitable testing software to detect bugs in the application. They execute repetitive tasks like regression testing as well as stress and load testing without the intervention of a manual tester.
Final Words
When asking the question “what is software testing?” it’s important not to think of it as a separate activity. Its activities are all part of the software development process.
We hope that this article gave you some insight into the basics of software testing. We’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. In the meantime, read about how you can track a mobile phone using Hoverwatch.