Testing is a crucial step in the software development process, and understanding the different types of tests is essential for delivering high-quality products. “Testing type” is a term that refers to the various categories of tests used to evaluate software and ensure its reliability, functionality, and performance. From unit tests to integration tests, there are many different types of tests that software developers can perform to validate the functionality of their code. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the different types of tests and how they can help to ensure the quality of software applications. Whether you are a software developer or just interested in the field, understanding testing types will give you a solid foundation for making informed decisions about your testing strategy.
1/ What is Testing type?
Simply put, testing type can be understood as the categorization of testing activities based on their objectives and testing techniques. Each testing type is associated with a specific testing goal.
There are four main testing goals. Corresponding to them, there are four types of testing:
- Functional Testing
- Non-functional Testing
- Structural Testing
- Change-related Testing
① Functional Testing
Functional testing can encompass various forms of testing, such as Unit Testing, Integration Testing, System Testing, and others.
Functional testing can be understood as a test to see if the software performs its functions correctly and is performed at every testing level.
Functional testing can be performed using two methods:
- Requirement-based Testing: This is an approach that uses the requirements to design the test. Meanwhile, testers can use the content of the requirements to determine what parts need to be tested.
- Context-based Testing: This can be understood as an approach based on the actual steps of customers using the software. Use cases will be useful during the software testing process.
Functional Testing usually has the following 5 steps:
- Defining the functions you desire the software to perform.
- Generating input data based on function specification documents.
- Defining the outputs based on the specification documents of the functions.
- Executing Test Cases
- Comparing actual and desired results.
② Non-functional Testing
Non-functional testing is similar to functional testing in that both occur in all levels of testing.
If Functional Testing is aimed at testing the whole function or a specific function, Non-functional Testing is done to answer the question: “Does the software work well?”. Non-functional testing focuses more on other aspects of the software, such as the security and loadability of the software, for example, how many people can log in at the same time.
Non-functional testing includes:
- Performance Testing
- Load Testing
- Stress Testing
- Usability Testing
- Maintainability Testing
- Reliability Testing
- Portability Testing
③ Structural Testing
Structural testing is often considered a type of white-box testing. This process focuses on testing what is going on inside the software rather than on the functionality of the software.
Upon structural testing, the testers need to have an understanding of the construction and development process of this software. They will focus on how the software does the job, rather than just focusing on the functionality of the software.
Just like the above two Testing types, structural testing can also be applied at any level of testing. Developers can also apply structural testing during component testing or to a lesser extent in component testing.
④ Change-related Testing
The purpose of change-related testing is to check if the software is running smoothly after fixing bugs. There are two main types of change testing:
- Confirmation Testing: Usually, Confirmation Testing will take place after the defect in the software has been confirmed and fixed. At this point, the role of the Confirmation Tester is to see if the bug has actually been fixed or not. Testers will proceed by giving an identical input and testing whether the output is as expected or not.
- Regression Testing: The purpose of regression testing is to confirm that changes in the software or the environment have not caused unexpected adverse effects and that the system still meets the requirements. Regression testing is performed when the software changes, either due to bug fixes or new functionality. The implementation of Regression Testing should also be considered when the environment around the software changes.
Through this article, Novatesting hopes that fresh testers are more informed about the test types, thereby improving their testing knowledge and skill.