What is Software Testing Methodology?
Software Development Methodology can be defined as a set of real ideas or methods and best practices which caters the need to manage software projects efficiently. It includes various strategies and testing types to ensure that the application under test meets client criteria. Depending upon the type of testing methodology, like Unit testing, Integration Testing, System Testing, Performance Testing, etc., there is a defined objective, strategy, and deliverables for each of them.
For any software development methodology, software testing is a key part. Testing methodology is often referred as development methodology, so can be referred to Waterfall and Agile.
Unit Testing
Here, the software is tested at the most basic level. Unit testing is performed mostly by the developers, where each component of the software is tested individually.
Acceptance Testing
It is a basic verification test also considered as build verification tests. It decides whether or not the build is worth for deeper testing. In other word acceptance testing is a kind of software testing where the system is tested for acceptability. The test evaluates the system’s compliance with the business requirements.
Functional Testing
Functional testing tests all the functionality contained within a product. For example, in an application like Photoshop, functional testing will test all the functionality contained in it, like opening files, determining appropriate format filters, and handling errors within that functionality.
System Testing
Here, the software is tested as a collective system. System testing incorporates multiple features into an end-to-end process or scenario. The purpose of the test is to evaluate the system’s compliance with the requirements.
Performance testing
Performance testing tests an application’s performance characteristics, including size, number of users, failure time, etc. It can also measure how an application responds to requests and its behaviour when subjected to load.
Security Testing
It checks application’s security, i.e. how it protects user assets. It is a testing technique that determines how data is protected and functionality is maintained as intended.
Many people consider testing methodology part of testing. For example, boundary testing involves testing of the limits, i.e. below and above the limit.
How to set up software testing methodologies?
Software testing methodologies must not set up just for testing software code. The main agenda must be considered and the key reason should be satisfied by the testing methodology.
Scheduling
In order to implement the successful testing methodology, realistic scheduling must be done, so that the need of every member of the team should be met.
Defined Deliverables
A well-defined deliverables helps to keep all the members of the team on the same page. There should not be any ambiguity in the deliverables having direct content.
Test Approach
A right test approach must be formulated once the scheduling is done and deliverables are made available. A good test approach can be formulated through definition documents and developer meetings, which can be used for the project.
Reporting
Transparent reporting is determined the effectiveness of the testing approach used in the project.
