Software testing is a critical part of software development that companies mainly use to polish their product and remove deficiencies. During the process, the testers check if the program is made according to a client’s requirements and if it’s suitable for that particular industry. Besides manual checkups, IT teams use a plethora of automated tools to execute this process.
In this article, we’ll talk a bit more about the different tests and why this process is so important during app development.
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Understanding different types of software tests
All software testing can be categorized as functional and non-functional. During the functional testing, the developers are trying to establish if an app fulfills a client’s requirements and whether it works as intended. On the other hand, non-functional testing tackles various performance aspects, compatibility, security, and things of that nature.
Here are the common functional tests:
- Unit testing (checks if the smallest parts of the software, or units, are working as intended)
- Integration testing (determines if all components and features can work properly in cohesion)
- Acceptance testing (establishes if the clients would intuitively use the program as it was intended to be used)
- Regression testing (determines how individual features affect overall software functionality)
- Sanity testing (type of regression testing that focuses on menus, commands, and functions)
- Smoke testing (tests basic features)
- End-to-end testing (mimics a natural user behavior to determine if people could properly perform different actions)
These are the non-functional tests:
- Performance testing (tests the software for performance, focusing on things like reliability, speed, and responsiveness)
- Stress testing (assesses the maximum load that a program can take before a crash)
- Load testing (type of performance testing under load)
- Security testing (ensures that the platform is secure against outside threats and doesn’t have glaring security flaws)
- Usability testing (measures user-friendliness of an app)
- Reliability testing (analyzes how software would behave in different conditions)
- Compatibility testing (determine if the software can work on different devices and operating systems)
Each of these tests has its specific functionality and works in conjunction with other tests. Only by checking everything can you determine whether the software can be used as initially intended. If you wish to learn about testing as a part of a broader development process, make sure to click here.
7 Benefits of app testing
Here are 7 main reasons why developers should test their software before rolling it out:
1. Resource utilization
First and foremost, software testing is a great way for everyone involved to save money. This is especially true if you perform tests during the early stages, as you can quickly discover bugs that could become a major issue later on.
Testing is also crucial before the initial roll-out. If the app was made for the general public, testing can ensure that the program works as intended and that there aren’t any major flaws. As such, it would leave a better impression on early adopters and set the basis for better branding later on.
2. Security
Security has become a major consideration for brands all over the world. As the number of global malicious attacks continues to increase, businesses are starting to invest lots of resources to safeguard their sensitive data. When it comes to certain types of software models, such as SaaS, it is expected that developers take care of this task.
During testing, teams establish if a platform has some major flaws that can easily be exploited. Through improved security, developers can ensure that the product is reliable and that the users have the best possible experience.
3. Product quality
One of the focal points of product testing is determining whether the software works according to the client’s requirements. The service provider should go through different features and determine if they’re suitable for the client’s business needs.
Keep in mind that product quality can refer to all sorts of stuff, but, for the most part, it is an indication of reliability, functionality, and safety. Among others, you’re trying to determine if the software can do a better job than the available competitors on the market.
4. Client satisfaction
Client satisfaction has always been a major factor for products and companies. Even before the Internet, we were heavily dependent on Word-of-Mouth marketing for promotion and brand awareness. That being said, testing is crucial for ensuring that users get just the thing they need, packaged in a way that is most suitable for them.
The main emphasis is on creating a program that is intuitive and easy to use. The testers have to check UI and UX to ensure that even newbies can utilize the program without a hitch. On top of that, they have to ensure that the features are practical and better than what competitors have to offer.
5. Development improvements
In an ideal work, testers and developers should work side by side to address any issues as soon as they appear. A proactive stance is vital for early detection, as IT companies could stop further development and address the issues before proceeding to the next phase.
While continuous stops might seem annoying, they are valuable in the long run. With early testing and detection, you can remove errors that would backtrack the development process and lead to a resource loss.
6. Feature additions
As you add more and more to the original code, making changes becomes increasingly difficult. By performing regular testing and improving upon basic functionality, you can seamlessly add new features. Changing older pieces of code is usually tricky for developers, which is why they avoid making any alterations unless it’s completely necessary.
7. Performance improvements
Testing, for the most part, is meant to assess software performance in different situations. Aside from regular speed, responsiveness, and reliability testing, you’ll also push the program to its limits during stress tests. All of these checkups are necessary to ensure that the app can work equally for all users on all devices and in all situations.
Conclusion
Based on everything said so far, testing is obviously a vital part of the development process. With this method, you can ensure that the software is working as intended and that it can fulfill the needs of common users.
