Understanding different types of software testing is crucial for delivering a reliable application. Smoke Testing checks basic stability after a new build, while Sanity Testing verifies specific bug fixes or minor updates. Functional Testing ensures that features work as expected based on business requirements. Regression Testing prevents new changes from breaking existing functionality. End-to-End (E2E) Testing simulates real-world user workflows, and Performance Testing checks system speed, load handling capacity, and responsiveness. Implementing these (some or all) test types helps maintain software quality and prevent critical failures.
Here’s a basic explanation of each test type with simple examples:
1. Smoke Testing
Purpose: Ensures that the core functionality of the application is working before deeper testing. It acts as a basic stability check after a build or deployment.
Example:
• Checking if the application launches successfully.
• Verifying if a user can log in with valid credentials.
• Ensuring the homepage loads without errors.
💡 Analogy: Like checking if a car starts before going on a long drive.
2. Sanity Testing
Purpose: A quick check of specific functionality after minor changes or bug fixes to ensure they work as expected. It is narrower than smoke testing.
Example:
• Verifying if a fixed issue (e.g., password reset functionality) works correctly.
• Ensuring a new button added to the UI works as expected.
• Checking if a database update reflects correctly in the UI.
💡 Analogy: Like fixing a broken switch in a house and ensuring only that switch works, without checking all the lights.
3. Functional Testing
Purpose: Tests whether the application behaves as expected according to business requirements. It focuses on what the system does.
Example:
• Testing a shopping cart to see if adding/removing items works correctly.
• Checking if an email is sent when a user registers.
• Ensuring a user can apply a discount coupon and see the correct price.
💡 Analogy: Like testing if a vending machine dispenses the correct snack when the right button is pressed.
4. Regression Testing
Purpose: Ensures that recent code changes do not break existing functionality. It is done after bug fixes, updates, or new feature additions.
Example:
• After updating the login process, testing if previous login methods (Google, Facebook) still work.
• Ensuring a new feature in a banking app does not break existing transactions.
• After fixing a checkout bug, verifying if other payment options still work.
💡 Analogy: Like fixing a broken pipe in a house and checking if all other plumbing still works.
5. End-to-End (E2E) Testing
Purpose: Tests the entire user journey across multiple integrated systems, mimicking real-world usage.
Example:
• Verifying if a user can register, search for a product, add it to the cart, make a payment, and receive an order confirmation email.
• Testing if a banking app allows fund transfers, sends notifications, and updates transaction history correctly.
💡 Analogy: Like checking if a restaurant experience flows smoothly—from ordering food to payment and receiving a bill.
6. Performance Testing
Purpose: Checks how the system performs under different loads, ensuring speed, scalability, and responsiveness.
Example:
• Measuring if a website loads within 2 seconds under normal traffic.
• Checking if a mobile app can handle 10,000 users at the same time.
• Verifying if a database query retrieves results within an acceptable time limit.
💡 Analogy: Like stress-testing a bridge to see how much weight it can handle before it collapses.