Where is Software Testing Used?

Where is software testing used? This article is aimed at answering this question. Software testing is used to check if a product matches the expected requirements to ensure that the software is defect-free. It is used for identifying errors, gaps or any missing requirements It can provide objective information about the software quality and risk of its failure to users. There are different types of software testing approaches. 

Approaches of Software Testing

There are different types of software testing approaches that are used for different components, depth and levels of access granted. Let us discuss three major approaches:

      1. White Box Testing

White box or Structural Testing is based on the structure of an application’s internal code. This verifies the input-output flow and for improving the design, usability and security. In white-box testing, the code is visible to testers due to which it is also known as Clear box/ open box/ transparent box testing. In this testing approach, an internal perspective of the system and programming skills are used for designing test cases. This is unit level testing.

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      2. Black Box Testing

The Blackbox testing approach involves testing from the perspective of an end-user. Black box testers evaluate the software functionality without analysing the internal code structure. It is known as Behavioural or Input-Output Testing. The functionalities of the software are tested without the knowledge of internal code structure and implementation details. The testing methodology focuses on the input and output of software and is based on the software requirements. 

       3. Grey Box Testing

Grey box testing is the combination of White Box testing and Black Box testing. Grey box testers require access to detailed design documents for creating better test cases in this process. Grey box testing is performed to search for defects due to the improper structure or improper usage of the application. This testing is well-suited for the purpose of functional testing due to its characteristics and to confirm that the software meets the requirements defined for it.

While we have discussed the different approaches to software testing, we will try to identify where is software testing used.

Uses of Software Testing

In this section, we will be discussing the uses of software testing in detail. The main use of software testing is to identify gaps, errors, semicolons and missing requirements. The other purposes of testing include verification and validation, quality assurance and reliability estimation. Let us discuss each use.

1. To Identify Bugs

Software testing is used for identifying any defects or bugs in the system. There are various bug tracking tools available in software testing to track the bug related to the software. Debuggers help programmers in locating bugs through the execution of code line by line and watching variable values. Software testing ensures that the product is as per the expectations and is worth launching in the market. Testing at an early stage of software development can also prevent probable mishaps that can prevent money and breach.

     2. For Verification & Validation (V&V)

Software testing is also used for verification and validation. This is an investigating process to confirm if the software satisfies specifications and if it fulfils the required purpose. Verification is a process of checking that the software achieves the goal without any bugs. Validation is a type of dynamic testing that ensures that the expected software is being developed. Testers can make claims based on the interpretations of testing results such as analysing if a product works under certain situations or not. Quality comparison among different products with the same specification is possible based on the results from the test. These are known as dirty or negative tests that confirm that the software does not work. A testable design can be easily validated, falsified and can be maintained. 

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     3. For Reliability Testing 

The software testing confirms whether software can perform a failure-free operation for a specified period of time in a particular environment. Reliability testing ensures that the software is bug-free and can perform the expected purpose. This testing helps discover many problems in the software design and functionality. It is performed at different levels including unit, assembly, subsystem and system levels. The software reliability is reliant on the structure and amount of testing it has been subjected to. Software testing is a statistical sampling method that is used for gaining failure data for reliability estimation.

     4. Software Compatibility

The other use of software testing is assessing software adaptability. Through testing, testers can identify the platforms where the software is not compatible. This process ensures a smooth user experience and avoid negative experiences. Testers can also identify reasons behind software’s incompatibility with certain platforms and work towards making it compatible with that particular platform.

     5. Accelerating Software Development

Software testing also accelerates the process of development since testers can identify areas of lag, loopholes and probable breaches. This will prevent multiple rounds of retesting and lead to a faster software development process. Development time on new features can be significantly reduced by specifying the set of test cases that a new feature should match with to be considered as deliverable. This provides developers with fixed targets to work towards thus enabling better timeline estimates and reducing the introduction of new bugs.

     6. Quality Assurance

Software testing is a part of a software quality assurance process. In this process, specialists and auditors are concerned with software development rather than just focusing on documentation, code and systems. They examine and change the process itself to reduce the defect rate i.e. the number of errors that might end up in the delivered software. Software testing investigates software undergoing testing to provide quality-related information to stakeholders.

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Software testing is an inevitable part of software development. In order to develop software with the least number of errors and smooth performance, software testing must be performed at different stages of the development cycle. 

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