what is software testing? definition types and principles

Testing is an important process in the software development life cycle and helps ensure that the software meets the end users’ expectations. What is software testing? Definition types and principles of software testing are some of the things we will simplify for you, besides telling you why we thing it all matters in software development process.

Testing is intended to ensure that the software meets the manufacturer’s specified requirements and is safe to use.

Testing can be done at different stages of the

 development process and 

can be divided into two main types: 

-group testing

 and
 
-process testing. 

We will discuss the principles of software testing and explain the methods for conducting each type of test.

What is software testing?

Software testing is the process of testing software to ensure its quality. To do this, testers will use different methods, such as manual and automated tests, to determine if the software meets the customer’s expectations.

There are several types of tests that a tester can use, including unit, penetration and system tests. Unit testing tests individual pieces of code, while integration testing examines how different parts of the software work together.

The purpose of software testing is to identify and fix defects in the software before it is released to users. Testing also ensures that software functions as expected and meets customer needs.

There are different types of testing, including:

• unit testing,
• system testing,
• acceptance testing, and
• performance testing.

Each type of test has its own purpose and focuses on different areas of the software.

Unit testing tests individual units of code – such as functions, methods and classes – to make sure they work as expected.
System testing examines the overall functionality of a software system, including resource compatibility and data integrity
Acceptance testing checks that all UI features work as expected
Benchmarks measure software performance under various conditions
Performance testing – Quality Assurance (QA) professionals perform software testing during development to ensure that the final product meets customer expectations. They monitor continuous testing to ensure that defects are fixed quickly.

Software testing model

Types of software testing include manual, automated and embedded testing.

• Manual testing involves manually testing the software using one’s own skills or tools.
• Automated testing occurs when tools are used to automate the testing process
• Integrated testing involves using multiple methods together to quickly find defects

There are three types of software testing:

functional,

regression and

security

Functional testing – is the process of verifying that the software is working properly.

Regression testing – is the process of identifying and correcting any problems that have been introduced into the software since it was tested.

Security testing – is the process of detecting and preventing unauthorized access to software

Each type of software testing has its own unique benefits and challenges.

For example,

functional testing can be used to ensure that all features of the application are working as expected, while

regression testing can be used to identify and fix problems that are introduced after the application is released.

Security testing can help protect against malicious attacks.

It is important to choose the right type of software testing for your needs. You should consider the resources you have and the time you need to complete the test.

7 principles of software testing

1. The test shows the presence of defects

These tests indicate the presence of defects in the software. The purpose of testing is to make software fail. Comprehensive testing minimizes the presence of defects. If testers do not find defects after repeated regression analysis, it does not mean that the software is free of bugs. The tests refer to the presence of defects and do not refer to the absence of defects.

2. Perfect testing is not possible

All functional testing using inputs that are both positive and negative is called fatigue testing.

Why is it not possible to do boring tests?

Suppose you want to test an input field that accepts ages between 18 and 20, so we test that field using 18,19,20. If an input field accepts a range between 18 and 100, we should try using inputs like 18, 19, 20, 21, …, 99, 100.

This is a basic example, you may think that you can achieve this using automation tools. Assume that the same region accepts a few billion values.

It was not possible to test all possible patterns due to publication time limits. If you continue to test all possible test scenarios, the time and cost of using the software will increase.

Therefore, instead of making a tedious test, the risks and important factors must be taken into account when testing and evaluating the test effort.

3. First test/ early testing

Defects discovered early in the software development life cycle (SDLC) are less expensive to fix. Therefore, doing the first test reduces the cost of fixing the defect. Let’s think of two scenarios, the first is that you have discovered something wrong with the compilation process and the second is that you have discovered a bug in the open functionality. It is less expensive to change an incorrect requirement than to correct an open function that is not working as expected.

4. Accumulating errors

Defect clustering in software analysis means that a small module or feature has the most errors or has the most functional failures. According to the Pareto principle (80-20 rule), 80% of the problems come from 20% of the modules and 20% of the remaining problems from the remaining 80% of the modules. So you focus on testing 20% ​​of the modules while encountering 80% bugs.

5. pesticide paradox

The complexity of pesticides and software testing is the process of repeating the same test over and over again, eventually the same test will no longer detect new pests. Therefore, to overcome this paradox of pesticides, it is necessary to constantly check the tests and add or improve them to find other defects.

6. Testing depends on the situation

The testing process depends on the environment of the software you are developing. You test different software in different situations. For example, online banking applications require different testing methods than e-commerce sites.

7. No error message

99% of software that is free of bugs can still be unusable, if bugs have been included in the software and the software does not meet the needs of the customer. The software you build is not only 99% free software without bugs, but it must meet the needs of the customer, otherwise it will be unusable software.

Software testing process

Testing is a process to evaluate the performance of an application or system. To ensure that a product is reliable and bug-free, testing is essential.

Testing can be divided into two types:

• functional and
• non-functional testing.

Functional testing involves verifying that the application works as expected. This includes performing tasks such as logging in, filling out forms and clicking buttons
Functional testing focuses on diagnosing problems with the user interface (UI), system performance, and security. It may also include tests that measure how close a given version of the software is to the desired specification.
The key to effective software testing is a well-defined process.

There are five important phases in any software testing process:

• design,
• implementation,
• analysis,
• iteration and
• control.

Planning involves developing a test plan based on the needs of the product being tested. This includes

• identifying the features to be tested,
• the type of data the application will process, and
• who will be responsible for conducting each test.

Decision-making involves actually testing the product using existing conditions and parameters. This includes creating test cases based on plans and using the right tools and methods to execute them
Results analysis provides feedback that can be used to improve test planning and execution. This includes identifying the problems encountered, determining the cause of the problems, and revising the test plan if necessary.
Modification involves making changes to the product or testing environment to improve the quality of the results. This may include adding new features, modifying existing ones, or changing how tests are run.
Management includes reviewing progress and resources in the research process, evaluating progress against goals, and reporting any problems or successes in management.

How to do software testing

The purpose of software testing is to identify and fix defects before they cause problems for the end user.

We will discuss the basics of test planning and how to conduct tests.

1. What is the test plan?

Test planning is a process that helps you design and execute tests to evaluate the performance of a system or application. Test planning includes identifying the features to be tested, determining the types of tests to be run, and estimating the time and resources required to complete the testing process.

2. How do you choose which test to take?

You should choose tests that cover as many aspects of the system or application as possible. This will help ensure that your test is complete and reliable. When choosing a test, consider the following:

Purpose of the test – Some tests are designed for validation, while others are for validation
Test quality – Tests can be focused on a department or part of an application or system
Tests – High priority tests should be done first
Availability of resources – Some tests may require more time or resources than others to complete

3. How to estimate the time and resources needed to conduct the test?

There is no clear formula for estimating the time and equipment required to conduct the test.

Some factors that can affect the plan include:

Type of system or application – Systems with complex functionality may require more time to test
Number of tests to run – More tests will lead to a faster and more accurate estimate of the time and resources required.

4. How are test plan results communicated to members?

The team should be informed of the results of the trial plan as soon as possible. This will help them prioritize their testing efforts and ensure that defects are fixed before they cause problems for end users.

In summary, test planning is an important process that helps you design and execute tests to evaluate the performance of a system or application.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your scanning process is efficient and reliable.

Things to try

Testing is an important part of any software development process. The purpose of testing is to identify and fix problems before they cause problems for the customer or the user. Testing can be manual or automated, but the basic principle remains the same: catch problems early and prevent them from becoming destructive.

1. When testing new software, it’s important to decide what to test.
2. One way is to do a thorough product research before starting the research process. This assessment will help determine where there are known weaknesses and where improvements can be made.
3. Once you understand the product well, you can start testing different features and functions.
4. Once you have identified the features and functions to test, you need to plan the tests.
5. This includes creating product-specific tests that reflect real-world conditions. You need to specify how many tests are required and when they should be performed.
6. Finally, you need to track the results so you can determine if your testing efforts are effective.

Testing is an important step in any software development process.

By following basic principles, you can ensure that your product is reliable and meets customer expectations.

Last word

Testing is an important part of any software development process, and having a basic understanding of the principles behind it is crucial.

We’ve outlined some of the key concepts behind software testing and outlined some steps you can take to become a better tester.

Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to properly test your code and identify any problems during the development process.