The first software ever made was created by Tom Kilburn on June 21, 1948. The software that ran on the Manchester Baby Computer could successfully calculate 2 to the power of 18 within 52 minutes.
Fast forward almost three-quarters of a century later. We now have millions of software that can perform a ton of functions.
However, no software can work as it should or hit the shelves before comprehensive software testing.
This means checking whether the software works properly and meets its requirement specifications. These software tests are instrumental in removing any bugs and glitches on the software. As a result, this improves its quality and overall customer satisfaction.
In today’s post, we’ll be looking at some major types of software testing that any software developer should know about.
Functional and Non-Functional Software Testing
Software testing falls into two broad categories: functional and non-functional testing. As per the name, functional testing means testing the functional aspects of the software. It involves testing for every function of the software and seeing whether it produces the desired results.
Non-functional testing, on the other hand, focuses on the non-functional parts of the software, such as security, performance, and reliability.
Unlike functional testing, non-functional testing isn’t about whether the software works. Rather, it’s more about how seamlessly the software runs.
Both types of testing are pivotal for the smooth running of any software. Besides these two, there’s also maintenance testing, which is a broader type of testing.
Major Types of Software Testing
There are different types of software testing, each with its own importance. Here are some of the most common software testing types.
Unit Testing
Any software consists of different modules or components. Unit testing is when you have to test each of these modules individually.
Only computer programmers can do this type of software testing because it requires extensive knowledge of computer programming.
Unit testing is very extensive and intensely intricate. That’s because every unit of code in the software must undergo software testing to ensure every component runs as it should.
Integration Software
Most of the modules in your software must work together in synchrony to achieve the intended results. Integration testing checks whether the combined modules work together correctly. It’s less comprehensive and extensive than unit testing.
There are various tools for integration testing, but some of the best ones include Mocha and Jasmine. Integrations tests should be much fewer than unit tests because you’re testing combined and not individual modules.
User Interface Testing
The software’s user interface is what allows the software and user to interact. A user interface test confirms whether the software’s UI corresponds to the requirements specification of the software. It aims to make the software more user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing.
User interface testing is a relatively less complicated type of software testing. Both software testers and programmers can carry out the test.
Read Also: 5 Types of Software Every Business Needs in 2021
Alpha Testing
You can think of alpha testing as a methodological sweep of the entire software. It’s a test that developers carry out during the last step of software development. It looks for any errors and issues with the software before delivering it to the client.
This type of test involves creating a virtual environment that mimics the real environment. It ensures that the client or customers get error-free software. Alpha testing is followed by beta testing, which we’ll look at next.
Beta Testing
Beta testing is the last test developers carry out just before the launch of the software. Unlike alpha testing, software developers undertake beta testing in a real environment and not a virtual one. Real users or customers are an integral part of beta testing.
Beta testing ensures that the software is completely free of errors and any bugs. It also makes sure that the software runs as it should, without any glitching. The developers or testers collect feedback and constructive criticism from the users to improve the software.
End-to-End Testing
End-to-end testing is a functional type of software testing that tackles the entire software. For this type of test, you’ll need an end-to-end testing tool.
Some of the best tools for end-to-end software testing include Cucumber, Functionize and Karma.
Accessibility Testing
For your software to appeal to the general public, you need to make sure that disabled individuals can use the software. Accessibility testing is testing for whether disabled people can interact with the software. Disabled people include people with color blindness and hearing disorders.
Accessibility testing ensures that your software doesn’t exclude people with some form of disability. It’s among the easier types of software testing that requires only minor adjustments to the software.
Compatibility Testing
Any software worth its name must run across multiple platforms and work with different types of hardware and network configurations. Compatibility testing is a test that checks whether the software can work with different operating systems and hardware.
Compatibility depends on the kind of software in question. Any general software must work across multiple operating systems, and web applications must work with various browsers. We hope you get the drift.
Load Testing
Your software can only take so much processing load before it begins to degrade or malfunction. Load testing is an intricate type of software testing that tests how much load a system can take before the software starts to take a beating. Only seasoned professionals can handle this complex type of software testing.
Software Testing Is Mandatory
No software can hit the shelves without comprehensive software testing. Now that you know the many types of software testing, you can test your own software.
Remember, professional software testers can take a load off your back if you don’t have the skill or resources to run your own tests.
Check out our other informative articles and expand your knowledge on various tech topics.
