Software Testing

Software testing is a task that involves processes in measuring the quality of a software package. Software testing should not be confused with software quality control since software testing is independent of it and that testing does not necessarily guarantee results of software accuracy and robustness. Quality that is measured involves important aspects such as security, completeness, correctness, capability, usability, compatibility, maintainability, portability, efficiency and reliability. The process entails meticulous activities. Get to know more about software testing.

Another definition of software testing states that it’s a process where technical investigation is being conducted to disclose quality-associated data about a software product in relation to the framework it is designed to operate. The processes involved are arduous testing and application of the software product which more often than not includes the intention of locating errors. The reason why software testing is independent of software quality assurance or SQA is because software testing only provides comparison and criticism of the behavior and state of a software product. Testing, as a matter of fact, is just one aspect of software quality assurance.

There are different methodologies that can be applicable to the conduct of software testing. Effective software testing can be achieved not just by following mere routine instructions. Testing, as another software professionalism quotes, is a practice of questioning a software product so that evaluation can be attained. The term “questions” that is being called there actually refers to the operations of the tester. The answers to the questions will be the basis of the product’s behavior which becomes an important data in the evaluation process.

There are actually two kinds of software testing. The first which has been previously discussed is called dynamic testing where actual examination of the product is being made. The other kind of software testing is referred to as static testing. This involves walkthrough, inspection and reviews. In general, static testing involves humans in the process while dynamic software testing involves machine and man or machine only.

Validation and the verification stage are among the important phases in the software testing. Testing in itself is already a verification process. But according to technical definition, verification is the task of checking for item consistency and conformity to the design specification. Static testing and dynamic software testing are actually subtasks of the verification process. Validation on the other hand is the task of checking the product’s conformity and consistency to the user’s requirement.

During the verification and the validation phases of software testing, there are five levels of testing that must be observed. These five levels include unit testing, integration testing, system testing, system integration testing and acceptance testing. .

A software test starts with examining each component of a program. Programs are actually written by modules or parts and are not made entirely with one structure. This can be compared to building a house where each level and each part of the house is built separately and gradually and then later joined to form the output. Modular programming is helpful because it helps in tracing bugs or errors in a program.

Integration testing is the level where defects or flaws of the different program modules are seen. This process is very much like checking if the door panel can fit into the door frame. System testing level checks on the integrity of the software. Software testers should see to it that the requirements are all met. It’s exactly the same as checking if your house meets the required building codes.

System integration and acceptance testing are the final levels. This is usually called the ultimate judgment where by the product is tested by real users. In this stage, alpha and beta versions are produced. That’s why you get to hear software versions on the internet labeled beta which means that the product is still under close testing.

Software testing is indeed a crucial part in the software development life cycle. Without it, it is impossible to measure the success of a program.