In today’s fast-paced digital world, the software is everywhere. From the apps we use on our phones to the software that runs our cars, it has become a crucial part of our lives. However, the software is complex and prone to bugs, so software testing is an essential part of the development process.
In this article, we’ll explore the key phases of testing known as the software testing life cycle (STLC) and dive into some best practices that can help you streamline your testing process.
The process of software testing consists of different phases that ensure the software is of high quality and meets the specified requirements.
These stages of testing include planning, requirements analysis, test design, test execution, defect tracking, test reporting, and closure.
Each STLC phase in the software testing plays a critical role in ensuring that the software is tested thoroughly and meets the required standards.
Phases of STLC
- Requirement Analysis
- Test Planning
- Test Case Development
- Test Environment Setup
- Test Execution
- Defect Reporting
- Test Closure
Let’s break each of these phases of testing down and explore them in more detail.
- Requirement analysis
Requirement analysis is the first phase of STLC, where the requirements of the software system are analyzed. This phase involves understanding the software requirements and ensuring that they are clear, concise, testable & deliverable. The goal of requirement analysis is to ensure that the software is designed and developed according to the customer’s needs.
During requirement analysis, software testers need to focus on understanding the functional and non-functional requirements of the system. Functional requirements are the features and capabilities that the software must provide, while non-functional requirements are the quality attributes, such as performance, reliability, and security.
One of the key activities in requirement analysis is creating a requirements traceability matrix (RTM). An RTM is a document that maps each requirement to the corresponding test case. This helps ensure that all requirements are covered by the test cases.
- Test planning
The next phase in the test cycle is test planning, which involves creating a test plan. A test plan is a document that outlines the testing strategy, scope, objectives, and approach. The goal of test planning is to ensure that the testing effort is organized and systematic.
During test planning, software testers need to identify the test environment, testing tools, and test data required for testing. They also need to determine the testing schedule, resources, and roles and responsibilities of the testing team.
- Test case development Phase
In this software testing in the SDLC phase, software testers create test cases based on the requirements and test plan. Test cases are the specific steps that are executed to verify that the software system meets the requirements.
During test case development, software testers need to ensure test coverage, which means that the test cases cover all the functional and non-functional requirements of the software. They also need to create positive and negative test cases to ensure that the software behaves as expected in different scenarios.
- Test environment setup
In this software testing in the SDLC phase, the testing environment is set up. The testing environment includes the hardware, software, and network configurations required to execute the tests.
During the test environment setup, software testers need to ensure that the testing environment is identical to the production environment. This helps ensure that the test results are accurate and reliable.
- Test reporting
Test execution is the phase where the actual testing takes place. The test cases created during the test case development phase are executed in the test environment.
During test execution, software testers need to ensure that the test cases are executed according to the test plan to find bugs. They also need to capture the test results and report any defects found during testing.
- Defect reporting
In this software testing in SDLC phase, defect reporting defects found during testing are reported to the development team. Defects can be reported using a defect tracking tool, which allows the development team to track and prioritize the defects.
During defect reporting, software testers need to provide a detailed description of the defect, including the steps to reproduce the defect, the expected behavior, and the actual behavior, so developers and other stakeholders can easily understand the defect. They also need to classify the severity of the defect based on its impact on the software system.
- Test Closure
Test closure is the final phase of the software testing process. This phase involves reviewing the testing process and ensuring that all the testing objectives have been met.
During test closure, software testers need to ensure that all the test cases have been executed and that all defects have been resolved. They also need to create a test closure report that summarizes the testing effort, including the test results, defects found, and lessons learned.
By following the methodologies for each process of software testing life cycle, the testing team can ensure that the software is thoroughly tested and meets the specified requirements. Keep in mind that software testing is an ongoing process. It requires continuous improvement and adaptation to meet the project’s changing needs.
Learning Software Testing as a Beginner
If you’re new to software testing and want to learn more about the testing process in software testing, there are many resources available. Online courses and tutorials can help you understand the basics of software testing, as well as the various types of testing in Software development life cycle. These types include unit testing, integration testing, system testing, acceptance testing, and more. Understanding the role of software testing as well as the entry and exit criteria in SDLC is essential to ensuring the quality of software products. You can also participate in online forums and communities to ask questions and get feedback from experienced testers.
Takeaway!
Software testing plays a crucial role in the software development process. By following the seven phases of the software testing life cycle and implementing best practices, testers can ensure that software is of high quality and meets the specified requirements. Also, make sure you follow entry criteria and exit criteria. By continuously improving the testing process, testers can help streamline the development process and ensure the success of future projects.
