What Are the Different Types of Software Testing?

Before a software application is released, it should undergo a thorough software testing process to ensure that everything is working properly. There are four main software tests that should be performed before an app can be released: unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing.

Unit Testing

During this first round of software testing, the program is submitted to assessments that focus on specific units or components of the software to determine whether each one is fully functional. The main aim of this test is to determine whether the application functions as designed. In this phase, a unit can refer to a function, individual program or even a procedure. One of the biggest benefits of this testing phase is that it can be run every time a piece of code is changed, allowing issues to be resolved as quickly as possible. It’s quite common for software developers to perform unit tests before delivering software to testers for formal testing.

Integration Testing

Integration testing allows individuals the opportunity to combine all the units within a program and test them as a group. This testing level is designed to find interface defects between the modules/functions. This is particularly beneficial because it determines how efficiently the units are running together. Keep in mind that no matter how efficiently each unit is running, if they aren’t properly integrated, it will affect the functionality of the software program. In order to run this type of software testing, individuals can make use of various testing methods, but the specific method that will be used to get the job done will depend greatly on the way in which the units are defined.

System Testing

System testing is the first time the complete application will be tested. The goal at this level is to evaluate whether the system has complied with all the requirements. System testing is undertaken by independent testers who haven’t played a role in developing the program. This software testing is performed in an environment that closely mirrors production. System testing is very important because it verifies that the application meets the technical, functional, and business requirements that were set by the customer.

Acceptance Testing

Lastly, acceptance testing is conducted to determine whether the system is ready for release. During the software development life cycle, requirement changes can sometimes be misinterpreted in a fashion that does not meet the intended needs of the users. During this final phase, the user will test the system to find out whether the application meets their needs. Once this process has been completed and the software has passed, the program will then be delivered to production.

When a program is more thoroughly tested, a greater number of bugs will be detected; this ultimately results in higher quality software. At SOLTECH, we’ve developed software for nearly 20 years, and we’re serious about our QA. If you’re looking for a persnickety group of software developers, hyper-critical of each piece of work they produce, let’s talk. We might make a great team.

Resource: The Checklist For Sharing Your Software Vision

Before you get started in developing your software app, your thoughts and ideas should be clarified and written down so they can be consistently and easily shared and understood. To help you get started on the right foot, we have created a checklist.

You can grab a copy of that checklist below and share it with your team!