Software testing terminology

Introduction

To adopt a thorough testing process, one has to be familiar with the various testing techniques and terminology. Presented below are some of the terminology on vital testing techniques, methods and Product quality indices.

Testing Strategies

Verification: Verification refers to the set of activities that ensure that the software correctly implements a specific function, imposed at the start of that phase. Testing activity focuses on verifying the correct implementation of business requirement and customer requirement.

Validation: Validation refers to the set of activities which ensure the software that has been built is traceable to customer requirements.

Validation includes activities like Code-walkthrough to ensure that the software conforms to set standards.

Software Testing is a systematic activity aimed to uncover errors in a software program with respect to its specification to fulfill stated requirements.

Unit Testing: Unit Testing refers to the testing of individual software units or related units, where a unit is the smallest functional part of an application. Unit testing makes heavy use of White box testing techniques along with Black box techniques.

In our environment, a typical screen and its associated components make a unit. White box testing measures like code-walkthroughs, control flow graphing are used extensively at this level apart from functional testing efforts like messages, boundary values etc,.

Integration Testing: Integration testing refers to the testing in which software units of an application are combined and tested for evaluating the interaction between them. Black box test case design are most prevalent during integration, though white box testing techniques like Control flow graphing and Execution tracing are also carried out.

Inter module and inter product integration issues are the prime focus areas here. We concentrate on the application’s business rules and ensure they are validated across different modules.

System Testing: Testing conducted on a complete, integrated system to evaluate the system’s compliance with its specified requirements. Software once validated for meeting functional requirements must be verified for proper interface with other system elements like hardware, databases and people. System Testing verifies that all these system elements mesh properly and the software achieves overall function / performance.

We carry out Product audit and acceptance, performance testing as a part of system testing.