Different Types of Testing Software: Every Developer Should Know

Introduction: Different Types of Testing In Software

Humans are just like people and this is why mistakes happen regularly. Thus, any software program humans develop should be assumed to be flawed and checked and tested for problems and bugs. The problem is that some of these may be just minor, but most can be costly and even in life tragedies. Then it will come into question, which exactly in the software testing are the different varying types, and why do we need them? In this blog, we will discuss in detail about all the software testing types and when to use them.

What Is Software Testing?

Software testing services helps to find any errors in the software and also to examine the output whether successfully passes the business requirements and specifications. It is a continuous process with the name of software testing life cycle (STLC) and is a part of a comprehensive software development life cycle (SDLC). Besides the testing also confirms the effectiveness, interactivity, and user-friendliness of software systems.

What is the Importance of Software Testing?

Software testing is essential as there exists a prospect of software design flaws or errors that can be discovered and resolved beforehand when the software’s final quality will go to the market. The fundamental working principles of properly tested software are dependability, security, and productivity which help save time, customers’ confidence, and satisfaction.

The Different Types of Testing In Software

The testing in software is mainly divided into two parts, which are as follows:

1. Manual Testing
2. Automation Testing

1. Manual Testing

Manual checking is the activity consisting of using the application functions and features to check how the application works. The tester will run the software and implement the test cases, which they are given in advance. The testers make test plans, test the software, and submit the test report on software functions in software testing. Manual testing takes time in that it is done by human beings who have a high chance of getting it wrong.

Advantages of Manual Testing:

• Fast and accurate visual feedback: It is almost like an insect that works with checking dynamics changes of applications and their properties like layout, text, etc.
• Less expensive: It is inexpensive and low grade from its fabricated process without any expensive machine or skilled worker.
• No coding is required: The thing to mention is that you don’t have to be a programmer to use the black box testing approach. The approach is always for those testers who have never been through.
• Efficient for unplanned changes: Ideal for situations of sudden unplanned changes to an application as it is easy to adopt.

2. Automation Testing

Automated Scripting is a method in which Tester develops the necessary scripts or uses suitable Software testing tools for test automation for their testing purpose. Automation means of mechanizing the manual process. It permits performing such activities as a robot can without the involvement of a Manual Tester.

Advantages of Automation Testing:

• Simplifies Test Case Execution: In automation testing, things run by themselves, and one can watch the results as the process unfolds in the end. That is, both the complexity and the efficiency of the testing operation will be improved.
• Improves Reliability of Tests: Automation testing guarantees equal importance to each area of the testing so, the client receives an impactful product.
• Minimizing Human Interaction: In automation testing, all the tasks are automated from a test case creation to execution. Hence, the chances of human error occurring due to forgetfulness are eliminated. This way we can just fix any bugs after release.

When to Choose Manual and Automated Testing?

Project characteristics

Manual testing suits small and fast-changing projects better than more automated testing. It is a good idea to have automated testing for very large, complicated projects that will take a long time to finish.

Test type

Manual testing is best suited for both usability and exploratory. Automation makes sense in the case of regression testing, load testing, and test cases that are to be run repeatedly.

Resources

Think about the adequacy of the staff that is qualified enough for testing purposes and the money that will be used for testing hardware and the development of automation.

Software stability

There will be a need, in the beginning, for manual testing as a stable version and often changes in software. Once you have the software function stable and proven, then you can switch right over to automation testing for efficiency.

Balance

In a lot of cases one can produce the best results by mixing the automated and manual testing techniques. Sometimes manual testing finds usability problems, but automated testing is great for regression and repetitive testing.

Classification of Different Types of Testing in Software

1. Functional Testing

Functional testing aims to check that the software meets its specified requirements regarding the functions. This type of testing is carried out by assessing the individual functions which is a combination of the pieces of the software or features to make sure that they are functioning as desired. Common functional testing services processes involve the review of inputs and outputs validation, the checking of user interfaces, and the confirmation that the system operates as expected.

Benefits of Functional Testing:

• Bug-free product: One of the goals of functional testing is to satisfy the users with a malfunction-free product of exceptional quality.
• Customer satisfaction: It is the way to ensure that the selections are throughout and that the client is happy.
• Testing focussed on specifications: The activities of testing the function are mainly driven by the needs and the usage patterns of customers.
• Proper working of application: The app quality is guaranteed and also the app works properly to provide all its functions when it is effectively used.
• Improves quality of the product: It is only when the product has endured function testing and is assured that it is secure and safe that it can claim quality.

2. Non-Functional Testing

As opposed to non-functional testing, which focuses on the elements in the software yet are not simply involved in the specific functions but do play a significant role in the enhanced system performance and user experience. This sort of testing determines features like responsiveness, stability, usability, security, and interoperability. More than functional checking non-functional testing meets the quality criteria of software and indicates user satisfaction through its performance and user experience.

Benefits of Non-functional Testing

• Improved performance: Non-functional testing is executed by doing test flows that conduct interpretations of the same performance for functional systems.
  Less time-consuming: Thus, non-functional testing is time-saving so it is usually performed as the first step at a time.
• Improves user experience: Non-functional testing like Usability testing tools for mobile apps serves as a validation of the comfortable and convenient use of the software by users. Therefore, consider concentrating on increasing application performance.
• More secure product: One of the types of security testing is non-functional testing, in which testers identify security vulnerabilities which include how secure is the application from internal and external attackers.

Types of functional testing

A. Unit Testing

Unitary testing is a type of software testing that aims at checking each modular component of the designed software on its own to ensure that it performs as per expectations. The purpose is to ensure that the units function as instructed and every operating unit works properly according to the design. Developers mostly write unit tests for small parts of code such as functions and methods, and these are executed automatically as a part of the development process.

Example: In a banking application, the function responsible for calculating interest on a savings account might be verified by a unit test. The correct value should be returned with that pre-defined input.

Benefits:

• Early Detection of Bugs: Highlights the problems of a unit before integration, which facilitates and simplifies debugging.
• Faster Development: Accelerates the development process as fast feedback on code modifications is provided.
• Improved Code Quality: Supports the code that is modular, reusable, and easy to maintain.
• Regression Testing: Provides a buffer between the code changes and any possible new broken functionalities.
• Enhanced Confidence: It gives developers and stakeholders trust in the version control system.

Types of unit testing

A. Gorilla Testing

The type of software testing technique where the tester pushes into verification a specific module or component and constant to results that any defects or bugs appear is gorilla testing. Consequently, the Gorilla’s approach would present this kind of task in depth, where each module of the component can be made to withstand high loads or function well under extreme conditions.

Example: On a big-size e-commerce Gorilla Testing may include well-extended checkout process testing – with more than one payment method, different shipping options, and other order confirmation options as well.

Benefits:

• Resources utilization by targeting the essential functions only.
• Performs in-depth validation of particular branches, thus combating possible flaws of a critical nature.
• Enhances the component-wise testing of key features to guarantee a better user experience.

B. Integration Testing

Integration testing is a type of software testing procedure in which individual units or entities that make up a software application are coupled and tested together as a complete unit. The central target here is to confirm that the individual elements are working and interacting perfectly. Integration testing provides integrity by testing if all interfaces between components work properly, correct data is passed between modules, and system behavior truly complies with the requirements

Integration testing can be further broken down into Integration testing can be further broken down into:

• Component Integration Testing: Mostly it is the link between the micro-comparisons of different interconnected parts.
• System Integration Testing: This type of test looks into what happens when the subsystems are passing information or among the layers of the software application.
• End-to-End Integration Testing: This type of testing is to confirm that the full software suite communicates correctly with each other and with any external platforms, which were paid for by external software providers.

C. System Testing

System Testing is a phase of software testing whereby the software that is fully integrated and complete is tested. It checks if all the components are working correctly and conform to the specified specifications before releasing them to the open market.

Example: Testing of an e-commerce web-based platform to ensure that features like browsing of products, payment processing, and order tracking are operational in an isolated production environment that mimics the real world.

Benefits:

• Specifies problems that exist in the connections between system elements.
• Determines whether the system meets the functional and non-functional requirements.
• Gives stakeholders the confidence it is ready to launch.
• Reinforces users’ belief in the system’s faithfulness and effectiveness.

Types of System Testing

A. End-to-End Testing

An end-to-end testing strategy is a complete testing approach that tests the performance of an application from the beginning till the end that mimes the real user case scenarios across all connected technologies and systems.

Example: Within the e-commerce application, the end-to-end testing would test the purchase process from selecting products, and loading them onto the card until the payment confirmation and the order placement.

Benefits:

• Identifies System-wide Issues: Finds pitfalls in the relationships between different elements.
• Ensures Seamless Functionality: It will ensure that the app uses actual situations as the test environment
• Enhances User Satisfaction: This brings down the probability that the system would suffer from critical service issues.
• Streamlines Development:Helps to get problems detected early and settled easily, so development time and costs are reduced.

B. Monkey Testing

Monkey Testing also called guerrilla testing is a software testing method that is based on injecting random inputs into an application and explores the application’s behavior and crash situations sometimes.

Example: In an internet browser, Monkey Testing is simulated by performing a series of random clicks on links, entering text, and navigating through the pages to examine how the browser handles these unexpected user interactions.

Benefits:

• Brings to light undiscovered glitches and unsafe hacks.
• Mimics real-world user behavior.
• Complements traditional testing methods.
• The reliability and stability of software getting better.

C. Smoke Testing 

Smoke Testing is a shallow level of testing that aims at verifying whether the main functionalities of an application are operating well, without involving the details. The graduation phase intends to guarantee the stability of the build before taking it any further for comprehensive testing.

Example: During the website development project, all new builds are tested with standard functionality checks like login, home page display, navigation, and form submission.

Benefits:

• Early Detection of Critical Issues: Like, during the smoke testing, just a few minutes and any major bugs can be detected. Then these can be addressed as early in the development cycle as possible.
• Time and Cost Savings: By detecting hard issues at an early stage, smoke testing prevents unnecessary spending on more detailed testing of unreliable builds.
• Improved Communication: It enables the linkage of different teams via sharing a basic and stable functionality understanding.
• Enhanced Confidence: Successful smoke tests grant confidence that the build can proceed accordingly with further testing activities.

Acceptance Testing

Acceptance testing is the process of system validating user requirements that can be performed efficiently, test cases can be running on the actual system with the real users for the final acceptance of the system.

Example: In software development, user acceptance testing could be used to test a new feature or a functionality making sure that they conform to the expectations of the end users and are released for final deployment.

Benefits:

• Make sure that the system is getting the job done.
• Empower the end-users with the system’s effectiveness.
• Determines deviations between predicted and real results at the beginning of the program.

A. Alpha Testing

Alpha Testing deals with trying out software both in made-up or real environments by people who can potentially be future users or an independent test team before the software is launched for the public.

Example: The development team tests an app’s performance, usability, and functionality with alpha testing during its development, by involving a limited number of insider users or beta testers.

Benefits:

• Identifying problems in advance of mass production.
• Reactions of real people directly enhance the software quality and user experience.
• Raises the confidence in the software’s worthiness for public release.

B. Beta Testing

Beta testing is the stage at which a product is given out to a targeted group of users so that feedback and bugs can be gotten to discover possible mistakes before the official launch of the product.

An example of beta testing is when a software company launches in beta status the new release of its application which will be used by a group of volunteer members to verify its functionality and report any bugs and usability flaws.

Benefits

• Tracking and removing bugs before the initial release.
• Get important feedback from first-hand customers.
• Helps us with things like higher product quality and user contentment.
• Sustaining the incentivized environment among the users before the official release.

C. User acceptance testing

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is the most crucial phase of the software testing process where users validate the system to find out whether the application designed or developed meets the end users’ needs before its deployment.

Example: During UAT for banking applications, users need to check that all features including transferring money, balance check, and account details modification work correctly

Benefits:

• Verifies that the system satisfies user expectations and requirements.
• Identify gaps or inconsistencies between system and user expectations.
• It gives users trust in the system before the start of the launch.
• Provides a risk-free, post-deployment, and the user guaranteed satisfaction.

D. Sanity Testing

Sanity Testing can be regarded as a subtest of Regression Testing, with the main purpose of confirming that the most important functions of an application are in perfect working condition after a minor change or a small bug fix.

Example:- For instance, the test that follows a change to the website’s login page would verify that users can still log in satisfactorily.

Benefits:

• Fast testing of the key functionalities, is essential.
• Effective management of time and resources.
• Timing of discovering major problems after changes.

Types of Non-Functional Testing

1. Security Testing

Security testing is what lets the user understand the system’s risk likelihood of the absence of any authorized access and the endangerment of its data to threats and unauthorized access. Security testing could be exemplified by penetration testing, a process where professionals delivering security services conduct trials by imitating a cyberattack to uncover loopholes in the main defenses.

Benefits:

• Detects the alarming cyber vulnerabilities before hackers attack.
• Protect data that is confidential from synonymous attacks and flaws.
• Restores people’s confidence in the product and service providers.
• It reduces the possibility of financial losses and reputation crises.
• Guarantees conformity with regulatory authorities and guidelines.

Types of Security Testing

• Penetration testing: Exploiting of potential security flaws in the software is done through a simulation of an attack which is carried out either by a hacker or by another miscreant.
• Fuzz testing: It is about the purposeful submission of unexpected or malformed input data to the application with the objective of any issues associated with the program’s ability to handle and validate data.
• Access control testing: This involves testing the software system’s obstruction control tools if the data, which are classified as sensitive, are granted to the authorized individual

2. Performance Testing

Performance testing determines how a system would fare under specific operational levels or different stress loads, such as assessing speed, response time, and stability to guarantee the system works optimally.

Example: Having performance testing on a website, to check the responsiveness and stability of the website when there is high user traffic, is the same as simulating a large number of users getting to the site at the same time.

Benefits:

• Identifies the weaknesses of the system and its crucial factors.
• Provides superb system stability while running under different situations.
• Increase in user experience due to speed and responsiveness optimization.
• Keep customers’ satisfaction high through minimization of downtime and slowdowns

A. Load Testing

Load Testing is the kind of performance testing where a system is examined as it attempts to cope with traffic from numerous users or levels of high input. It captures if the system size changes at various loads. It shows whether the system’s response time, throughput, and resource utilization are consistent after system size changes.

Example: The process testing loads an e-commerce website by mimicking the actions of numerous concurrent users by adding items to the cart and proceeding to checkout. The test is designed to check how we’ll scale on a heavy traffic occasion, expecting page loading response time and transaction processing speed.

Benefits

• This maintains system scalability as the workload grows.
• Identifies issues before they affect users to maintain a stable system.
• It produces a smoother performance and quicker response rates.
• Mitigates the risk of disruption or downtime during the peak periods.
• Implements resource optimization for low operating costs.

B. Stress Testing

Stress testing as a type of software testing is the kind that evaluates the resilience and robustness of a system in the face of extreme cases, for example under high traffic volume, heavy loads, or conditions of exhaustion of resources. The primary purpose of this test is to define the system’s failure points and analyze the system’s behavior at maximum load.

Example:

As an example, an endurance test for a web server’s capacity may include sending a top number of concurrent requests to the server, mimicking a sharp increase in traffic. This test will help in how the server can handle these trends, whether it remains stable and can gracefully recover from failures or blockages.

Benefits

• Specify the weak spots in the system.
• Ensures failure-safe system performance under diverse adverse conditions.
• Improves overall system performance.
• Improves user experience while indicating the period of unavailability.
• Reduces the implications of systems failure.

C. Volume Testing

The process of Volume Testing deals with a system that is subjected to an amount of data considering the logical situation of the system regarding performance and scalability under real production loads.

Example: Testing a database management system by operating it with a large amount of data to check if it is capable of storing data smoothly and performance in retrieving and processing data efficiently.

Benefits:

• Detects performance blockages caused by heavy loads.
• Stabilizes the system and keeps the data as safe as possible.
• Ensure the platform has the flexibility to cater to various data volumes.
• It leads to better resource use and efficiency.

D. Scalability Testing

Scalability testing is for evaluating whether the system can hold up and perform well against increasing workload sizes or the growing number of users so performance is not degraded by the rise in demand.

Example: Social Media platforms that are undergoing scalability testing may imitate that the users’ activity peak by gradually raising the number of concurrent users who log in to use a platform. The test indicates how the system carries the excess volume of operations, factoring in response time, resource usage, and system stability.

Benefits:

• Helps in planning for future resources based on expected growth.
• Spotlights performance blocks and lets you optimize before they negatively impact the user.
• Stabilize the system and respond during heavy loads, preventing downtime and revenue loss.

E. Endurance Testing

The kind of performance testing that is called endurance testing or soak testing is the one that lets know the system’s qualification to work continuously in normal or peak operating conditions.

Example: For example, for a site that is subject to endurance testing, the user interactivity may stretch to a more continuous level such as browsing, searching, and making transactions. This is to certify that its performance cannot be degraded by the sustained heavy traffic.

Benefits:- 

• Calling out memory leaks for proactive optimization is included in it.
• Proved system stability under the pressure of a long-standing workload.
• Minimize the risks of crashes or downtime that happens, due to heavy usage.
• Provide an overview of the allocation of resources and scalability planning.

3. Usability Testing

Usability testing is used for this purpose to assess the interface of users and overall user experience as well. It requires the software to be tested with actual users to provide feedback on ease of use, learnable interface, effectiveness, and finally user satisfaction.

Types of Usability Testing

A. Exploratory Testing

Exploratory testing is a method of software testing that involves examining and operating the application without a predetermined right test case allowing for unplanned, spontaneous testing into which the interaction can be included that moves this process forward.

Example: An exploratory tester could use a specific software feature for example clicking on different features, using different inputs, and watching the way the application responds. For instance, while putting the guide for e-commerce testing website to a test, the tester would check out the purchasing process, explore various payment methods, and run multiple check-out processes to see how the system would handle it.

Benefits:-

• Uncovers unexpected bugs.
• Updates for version changes and applications.
• Identifies usability issues effectively.
• Fosters collaboration among stakeholders.
• Supplying early feedback for fast issue fixes.

B. User interface Testing

User Interface Testing: The evaluation of a software application’s graphical interface is one of the ways that User Interface (UI) testing is done. This testing ensures that the software application meets all the design specifications and offers an intuitive and user-friendly experience for the end users. The testing concentrates on issues related to placement, navigation, adaptation, visual effects, and the way website visitors look at your website.

Example: Let us discuss the website for a web sale platform for example. Elements such as buttons, forms, and menus shall be verified to ensure that they display properly with expected functionality. The testing team also guarantees the website is responsive across different devices including phones, tablets, or PCs, and that the overall ordering process is seamless and hassle-free for the user.

Benefits:

• Enhanced User Experience.
• Improved Usability
• Increased Customer Retention
• Early Detection of Design Flaws
• Brand Consistency.

C. Accessibility Testing

Accessibility testing provides a guarantee that products and services are intelligible in their usage not only by people with disabilities (like those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disability, etc.), but by any other group of users as well.

Example: Experimentation with screen readers in the website to promote compatibility for the visually impaired population.

Benefits:

• The tool guarantees equity in information and services provision to every user.
• Enhances usage provision and contentment for everybody.
• It grants a bigger audience for the general public, including those with disabilities.
• It helps to reinforce the concept of social good.

Compatibility Testing

Compatibility testing is a subtype of non-functional testing known as the testing performed on a system to determine whether the system runs smoothly in various OS/environments. Compatibility testing is the most traditional way to test an application before releasing it. On one hand, it is just about the application’s software testing on several software, hardware platforms, networks, browsers, etc. This is important during product production as well as during implementation and it is normally used to limit the future known issues related to compatibilities.

Advantages of Compatibility Testing:

• It guarantees every customer to be fully contented.
• It offers a service to a multi-platform, just like ridesharing or e-wallets.
• Identifying defects during the development of the software.

Types of Compatibility Testing In Software

A. Cross Browser Testing

Browser interoperability testing is used to ensure that a website as well as a web-based program performs consistently and functions properly in different web browsers.

Example: Testing a website across browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Opera to make sure that the website displays and works well on each of them.

Benefits

• Consistency of performance across browsers makes for a smooth experience for all users.
• Cross-browser and cross-device compatibility enable the outreach to a bigger audience.
• Showing dedication to quality and professionalism improves the perception of the brand.
• Enhanced traffic and conversion rates of brand websites

B. Cross-platform Testing

This testing type is known as cross-platform or multi-platform testing, which aims to make sure that a software application works properly regardless of the operating system, platform, or device. It includes testing the functional and performance quality of the application on different operating systems (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android iOS, etc.).

Example: For example, a software company that is producing novel management software. The company carries out platform integration to guarantee that its products run properly in other operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Benefits

• Provides for steady experience across the various platforms.
• Saves money by recycling test cases and resources.
• Advances sales by guaranteeing the accessibility.
• Builds brand reputation and customer trust.

Conclusion

Software testing is an especially important factor in terms of making sure that software products are of good quality, reliable, and meet predestined performances. Testing is very critical in improving software quality, software teams can prevent defects early from developing thus delivering software products that meet both user demands and business requirements. Knowledge of the different types of QA testing and the right time to adopt them is crucial for attaining ideal software development end products.