We usually don’t think about how much effort developers should put in to provide users with a high-quality product. Programmers are not the only individuals involved in software development. For correct operation, the program must be tested. And this job falls on the shoulders of quality control engineers. What methods do they use to perform good and adequate basic tests? Let’s consider this problem!
Common Types of Software Testing
If you order a new website or mobile app from a software development company, for example, testing services are included in the development process by default. But how does it happen? As a rule, the first QA engineers perform a requirements analysis. It allows testers to understand what the app should do and how to avoid bugs.
QA engineers then start applying various types of tests to specific software. These types include the following:
Acceptance test. Evaluators check whether the software meets all the acceptance criteria. It is then up to the client to make a decision as to whether the software will be submitted for review or accepted.
smoke test. It is similar to acceptance testing. At this stage, QA engineers go through a short test cycle to verify how the new product performs its functions, how it works, and how it is released.
Regression tests. It is applicable if some changes are made to the source code during the development process. But if we need a specific functionality to work properly, the operation may not work after certain changes. Therefore, regression testing allows specialists to find out if the required functionality works correctly and as well as it used to.
health tests. It is a focused test aimed at confirming that one function or another is working according to the requirements established in the specification. It is a subset of regression tests.
User interface tests. The tester checks whether the software meets the requirements of the graphical user interface and whether it is made in a single style. It involves testing with different screen resolutions, compatibility with various Internet browsers, as well as testing localized versions: translation accuracy and name length of interface elements.
permissions test. That’s where QA engineers need to check how the permissions system works on the software being tested. For example, you are a common user and it would have been very strange if you had access to administrator access rights, wouldn’t it? And the testers want to make sure that everything works correctly.
usability testing. QA engineers need to understand how to make the end product easy to use. Therefore, they put themselves in the shoes of ordinary users: they need to test the usability of the software and find out whether it is easy to use or not.
Types of advanced tests: why are they necessary?
In most cases, all of the types of tests considered above can help specialists to perform good tests. But if your product is not standard, the need for advanced testing may arise. Advanced tests include the following:
Sprint 0 activity. It means that QA specialists start testing even before the software is finished. It makes it possible to avoid mistakes at an early stage.
Automated regression and functional tests. Automation allows for quick results and fixes all bugs as soon as possible. Also, this type of test allows you to start the test with several parameters: some versions of input and expected data.
compatibility tests. It is important to understand how the product is compatible with system elements and other applications.
interrupt test. Everything is simple here – an understanding of how the product will work after an unexpected interruption.
Load Test. What will happen to your app if too many users start using it simultaneously? That’s what the testers need to figure out and then create the maximum load for the software.
security tests. Protection tests against possible web attacks.
Conclusion
We can see that the testing process is not easier than development. There are many important issues to consider and a serious development company should pay attention to them. If you don’t want to lose your users, you shouldn’t skip QA. In addition to basic tests, advanced tests can also be done to get a really good final product.