Testing is an integral part of any software development. To do this as correctly as possible, you need to figure out what types of testing are and what sequence they should be done. It will allow you to identify more errors, find possible code errors and fix problems in time.
Building a software testing strategy is highly dependent on the application itself, the site, or the program you are making. Functional testing allows you to understand how your product can achieve its stated goals. So, it should check whether all buttons work, whether all algorithms function correctly, and whether the clients can satisfy their needs.
Before starting work, it is necessary to think over the STLC phases. It implies:
- Product analysis;
- Work planning;
- Case Development;
- Environment Setup;
- Execution;
- Cycle Closure.
Before starting work, the tester creates an appropriate document, where he or she indicates the size of the work to be done, the sequence of performing various types of testing, what tools will be used, and much more.
After all the work has been completed, the specialist must systematize the results obtained and offer his or her solutions to eliminate errors.
Types of functional testing
Today there are several types of functional testing; among the most popular are:
- Unit testing;
- Sanity testing;
- API testing;
- UI testing;
- Acceptance testing.
Each type of testing has its characteristics, so it makes sense to consider them in more detail.
Unit testing
Any software consists of various modules. It is necessary to test them both individually during the development process and after they are combined into a single whole. Sometimes, as an independent element of the code, the module works fine, but as soon as it is entered into the program, it starts to fail.
In addition, one module may block the work of another. That is why testing is necessary after each improvement of the program code, even if the program has typically been working for several years.
Sanity testing
This type of testing is carried out because some changes were made to the software and to check how effectively previous errors were eliminated. It aims to understand how the changes were made logically and whether they allowed the program to develop in the right direction.
API testing
Many users expect applications to be able to interact with other programs or systems. API testing aims to integrate the product into various software, whether it can access the necessary data inside the device or in other applications.
UI testing
For a person to use your product with pleasure, you need to take care of the quality of the user interface. It must be as simple, understandable, and at the same time, beautiful as possible. It is important that a person can find the necessary function in a few clicks and easily use it.
During UI testing, a specialist tries to understand how pleasant it will be for a person to look at and interact with the interface.
Acceptance testing
It involves finding out if a person will be able to take advantage of the features stated in the business plan. If other types of testing mainly involve the study of program code, then acceptance testing consists of the involvement of independent users who can evaluate how effective your product is.
Specialized testing types
The above types of testing are universal. They must be carried out regardless of what product you are creating. However, it makes sense to use particular types of software for QA testing in some cases. Among the most common are:
- Accessibility testing;
- Security testing;
- User experience testing.
Let’s look at the fundamental features of these types of testing.
Accessibility testing
Quite often, you need to check whether everyone can use your product. Companies that meet federal accessibility standards can open up additional revenue streams and reduce the risk of lawsuits. It is essential to understand how such services are available to all users.
Security testing
If you ask your customers to provide their data, you should take care of the product’s security. It is especially true for eCommerce websites. It would be best to make sure that attackers cannot intercept the payment, find out customer data, or cause other harm. Security testing can look for vulnerabilities in the program code and modulate hacker attacks to check how the system will react to them.
User experience testing
No matter how beautiful the interface of your product is, it is imperative to make sure that it will be convenient for the people to use it. It is essential to check whether ordinary users without special training will be able to use your product, find the necessary functions, and how convenient it will be for them to employ it.
To make a correct analysis of your software’s condition, you may contact qualified testers like functional testing company TestFort. Experts will be able to identify the slightest errors and recommend eliminating them and making repeated tests. Try to ensure that testing becomes a system, not a one-time process.