
<p>Software testing is an important process in the software development life cycle where a product or an application is completely tested against the given requirements. The purpose of this process is to produce a product that is reliable and functional and works correctly.&nbsp; Software testers raise bugs if there are any deviations or errors in the software. In software testing, the product or the application being tested is called the test object.&nbsp;</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_a_Test_objectnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is a Test object?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Why_are_Test_objects_importantnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Why are Test objects important?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Test_objects_in_a_Test_Plan"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Test objects in a Test Plan</a></li><li><a href="#Types_of_Test_objects"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Types of Test objects</a></li><li><a href="#Test_object_example_of_a_webshop"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Test object example of a webshop</a></li><li><a href="#nbspHow_do_you_create_a_test_object"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> &nbsp;How do you create a test object?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_a_test_basis"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">8.1</span> What is a test basis?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_difference_between_a_test_object_and_a_test_item"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">8.2</span> What is the difference between a test object and a test item?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_test_objects_in_codeless_testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">8.3</span> What are test objects in codeless testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-a-test-object"><span id="What_is_a_Test_objectnbsp">What is a Test object?&nbsp;</span></h2>



<p>Test object in software testing is the application or the system being tested. The test object can be the entire system or a module of that system. It can also be a line of code being tested.Test objects are the elements of a system that are tested to ensure that the system functions as per the given requirements. It is important to test these test objects to ensure the system’s reliability and productivity.</p>



<h2 id="h-why-are-test-objects-important"><span id="Why_are_Test_objects_importantnbsp">Why are Test objects important?&nbsp;</span></h2>



<p>Here are some of the key points to highlight the importance of test objects.</p>



<ol><li>Each method or function at unit level represents test objects. Testing them at this stage, helps in early detection of defects and thus produces a stable software.</li><li>Test objects are also used in <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automation testing</a>. This testing is preferred when there are a large number of test objects or when tests are to be repeated multiple times.</li><li>APIs and modules represent test objects at integration level. Testing a seamless interaction between these objects detects any deviations.</li><li>During regression testing, previously tested components , features and fixed bugs become the test objects. This makes sure that the changes are not affecting the stability of a software.</li><li>For security testing, components with respect to authentication, data encryption, and authorization become important test objects. It is vital to ensure security of these components.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-test-objects-in-a-test-plan"><span id="Test_objects_in_a_Test_Plan">Test objects in a Test Plan</span></h2>



<p>Test plan is a document that serves as a roadmap for testing a software. It provides the approach, objectives, resources, scope, and schedule for testing the software. It helps the test team to understand how to test to ensure the stability and quality of the software.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In a test plan, test objects are the entities or the components that are targeted for testing. Test objects in a test plan ensure that all aspects of the software are thoroughly tested. Here are the steps on how the test objects are incorporated in a test plan-</p>



<ol><li>Test plan should first identify the test objects to be tested. It can be methods, components, modules, databases, and so on based on the type of testing.</li><li>Assigning the identified test objects to specific team members for testing. This gives clarity on who is testing which component.</li><li>Deciding the type of test required for all the test objects.</li><li>Identify the high-risk test objects and prioritize their testing. Also, identify the interactions between the test objects to test.</li><li>Ensure that all the test objects and their dependencies are tested. And all the test criteria are met.</li><li>Report all the details of the test objects. Document all the test details for reference.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-types-of-test-objects"><span id="Types_of_Test_objects">Types of Test objects</span></h2>



<p>In software testing, test objects are components or modules within a software system that are subject to testing. These objects vary depending on the type of testing being conducted. Here are some of the types of test objects-</p>



<ol><li><strong>Websites as test objects&nbsp;</strong></li></ol>



<p>Websites act as test objects when web applications or online services are being tested. Websites are tested for functionality, stability and performance across different devices and browsers. <a href="https://testsigma.com/website-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Website Testing</a> includes verifying all the links, testing different functionalities, performance testing and security testing.</p>



<ol start="2"><li><strong>Mobile apps as test objects</strong></li></ol>



<p>Mobile apps act as test objects for testing mobile applications. Mobile apps as test objects are tested for their performance and functionality as per requirement. They are also tested to check their performance across different devices and operating systems.</p>



<ol start="3"><li><strong>Internet of Things and Wearables as </strong><strong>test objects</strong></li></ol>



<p>Internet of Things and Wearables are tested for their performance, user experience, security, and functionality. Functionality testing includes testing sensors, communication, and actuators. Security testing includes testing access control, data encryption, and authentication methods.</p>



<ol start="4"><li><strong>Games as test objects</strong></li></ol>



<p>Testing games include testing their performance across various platforms, such as laptops, browsers, operating systems, and mobile applications. They are also tested to be user-friendly, engaging, and easy to use.&nbsp;</p>



<ol start="5"><li><strong>Chatbots and Virtual Assistants as test objects</strong></li></ol>



<p>Chatbots and Virtual Assistants are applications of artificial intelligence and natural language processing technologies. Evaluating their performance, usability, accuracy, and natural language processing capabilities is a part of testing these applications.</p>



<ol start="6"><li><strong>SaaS category test objects</strong></li></ol>



<p>Software as a Service(SaaS) is a cloud-based model where security, scalability, performance, and functionality are tested. <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-api-endpoints/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testing of API endpoints</a>, request and response formats, data formats, and error handling are a part of testing.</p>



<h2 id="h-test-object-example-of-a-webshop"><span id="Test_object_example_of_a_webshop">Test object example of a webshop</span></h2>



<p>A webshop, commonly known as an e-commerce website or an online store, is a digital platform where businesses sell their services or products over the internet. This platform facilitates its users to browse, select and buy their products virtually, without physically visiting a store. The advantage here is the increased accessibility and the reach to global audiences. In a webshop, test objects are its functionalities and components that are tested to make sure they work as per requirement. Some of the test objects in a webshop are-</p>



<ol><li>Search and filter options to ensure the products are easily accessible to users.</li><li>Add or remove from cart, increase or decrease the number of products, wishlist, and add coupons while checkout.</li><li>Checkout process, Payment window, and interaction between the app and payment applications.</li><li>Customer support windows such as the live chat, emails and contact forms.</li><li>User registration and verification mechanisms, security of sensitive user and payment information, and access controls.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-how-do-you-create-a-test-object"><span id="nbspHow_do_you_create_a_test_object">&nbsp;How do you create a test object?</span></h2>



<p>Creating a test object in manual testing includes the following steps-</p>



<ol><li>Identifying the components to test &#8211; based on the requirement given and functionalities to test.</li><li>Create test cases to test these components. Ensure that the test cases cover all possible aspects of a component.</li><li>Formulate the valid inputs for each test case and execute the test cases.</li><li>Record the test case results and analyze them against the given requirements.&nbsp;</li><li>Report bugs for the cases where there is a deviation from the given requirement.</li></ol>



<p>Creating a test object in automation testing includes the following steps-</p>



<ol><li>Analyze the application to be tested and identify the components of the application that are to be tested.</li><li>Selection of an automation tool that is suitable for the said application and has all the necessary features. Testsigma is a tool that can be used for automation.</li></ol>



<p><br><p><button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Check out Testsigma for your test automation needs</a></button></p><br></p>



<ol start="3"><li>Represent the test object locators by using the right syntax and methods in the automation tool. The test object locators are the unique identifiers such as ID, name, class, and so on.&nbsp;</li><li>Create the test objects by defining functions and methods for common actions.</li><li>Implement and execute the test scripts in the tool. Monitor the tests and report any bugs.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-conclusion"><span id="Conclusion">Conclusion</span></h2>



<p>Test objects act as the basic entities in software testing allowing the testers to analyze the functionality, performance, security, and scalability of a software.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Irrespective of manual testing or automation testing, test objects are the vital components that represent the components that are to be tested against the given requirement.</p>



<h2 id="h-frequently-asked-questions"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Questions">Frequently Asked Questions</span></h2>



<h3 id="what-is-a-test-basis"><span id="What_is_a_test_basis">What is a test basis?</span></h3>



<p>It is a document or a set of requirements that form the basis for creating test cases. It provides the information to design, create, and execute test cases.</p>



<h3 id="what-is-the-difference-between-a-test-object-and-a-test-item"><span id="What_is_the_difference_between_a_test_object_and_a_test_item">What is the difference between a test object and a test item?</span></h3>



<p>Test object represents a specific component that is being tested, whereas test item is an entity that includes the test object along with test documents, artifacts, requirements, and other related items.</p>



<h3 id="what-are-test-objects-in-codeless-testing"><span id="What_are_test_objects_in_codeless_testing">What are test objects in codeless testing?</span></h3>



<p><a href="https://testsigma.com/codeless-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Codeless testing</a>&nbsp; also called as no code testing, is a process where tests are created and automated without writing any code. Test objects, in this case, are the components that are selected, validated, and interacted with during the automated test process.</p>


Test objects in software testing | Types & How to Create it?


<p>Software testing is a process to check a software or an application for any defects, identify and rectify those defects to ensure the system meets its requirements. Software testing is  majorly categorised as Functional and Non functioning testing. These types are further divided into various types. </p>



<p>Let us consider an example of an online shopping application. Imagine this system to have different states like Empty cart, Adding items, Removing items and so on. The transition from these states can be represented with a graph. This takes us to the topic of this blog &#8211; <em>Graph Based Testing.</em></p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_State_or_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is State or Graph based Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_different_types_of_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> What are the different types of Graph based Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Advantages_of_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Advantages of Graph based Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Disadvantages_of_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Disadvantages of Graph based Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Steps_for_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Steps for Graph based Testing</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_automate_Graph_based_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> How to automate Graph based Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_challenges_for_Graph_based_testing_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> What are the challenges for Graph based testing automation?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">9</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_flow_graph_and_path_testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.1</span> What is flow graph and path testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-state-or-graph-based-testing"><span id="What_is_State_or_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>What is State or Graph based Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Graph based testing is a method to test a software or an application by representing it as a graph. The graph consists of nodes that represent different components or states and edges that represent the transitions or interactions between these nodes. The goal of this approach is to test different scenarios by traversing through this graph created for the software.</p>



<h2 id="what-are-the-different-types-of-graph-based-testing"><span id="What_are_the_different_types_of_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>What are the different types of Graph based Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>There are different types of graph testing approaches based on different requirements. Let us discuss some of them here.</p>



<ol><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/state-transition-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">State Transition Testing</a> &#8211; This is used for testing transitions between different states in a software. This approach is used when a software has multiple states and the transitions between states should be represented.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Data Flow Testing &#8211; This is to test the input, transition and output of data in a system. It ensures that the data is rightly being used and manipulated in a system.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/control-flow-graph-in-software-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Control Flow Testing</a> &#8211; This method is used to test the control within the software code. The control flow graph is designed to represent different branches of code that helps in designing different test cases.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Interaction Flow Testing &#8211; This is used to test different interactions between components in a software. This graph is used to write different test cases that help in testing all possible scenarios.</li></ol>



<h2 id="advantages-of-graph-based-testing"><span id="Advantages_of_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>Advantages of Graph based Testing</strong></span></h2>



<p>There are various advantages of graph based testing predominantly in systems with complex workflows. Let us know some of the advantages here.</p>



<ol><li>Graph based approach gives a visual representation of the workflow within a software. This helps the testers to understand better and also test different scenarios.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Graph based testing approach helps the testers to test different scenarios at earlier stages of software development. This helps to reduce the cost and effort at a later stage of development.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Systems where there are state based transitions and complex user interfaces benefit from graph based testing.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Graph based models represent different states, their transitions and workflow within an application. This helps testers to design a large number of test scenarios which in turn makes the application more stable and efficient.</li></ol>



<ol start="5"><li>Graph based testing helps in test automation. This testing follows certain paths and transitions that can be automated. Automation tools can navigate these paths, execute the test cases and check the system efficiency.</li></ol>



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<h2 id="disadvantages-of-graph-based-testing"><span id="Disadvantages_of_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>Disadvantages of Graph based Testing</strong></span></h2>



<p>Every approach has its own advantages and disadvantages. Likewise, let us discuss some of the disadvantages of graph based testing in this section.</p>



<ol><li>Designing graph models can be complex and challenging. Also, designing test cases based on complex graphs can be a time consuming task.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>With increasing software complexity, the graph needs to change which can be time consuming, complex and difficult to understand.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Designing these graphs needs expertise and dedication. The experts should design, maintain and write test cases for these graph models. This can be a barrier in some projects.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Different softwares would have different workflow and hence require different graph models. This lacks in standardisation and hence testers need time to understand and test new projects.</li></ol>



<ol start="5"><li>Graph models are to be designed such that it covers all the states and their transitions. Any deviation would result in missing some test cases. This in turn increases unidentified defects.</li></ol>



<h2 id="steps-for-graph-based-testing"><span id="Steps_for_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>Steps for Graph based Testing</strong></span></h2>



<ol><li><strong>Identify the test requirements &#8211;</strong> Understand the system for which the graph needs to be designed &#8211; its components , their transitions and the interactions between them. Define the goals and objectives of this method of testing. Choose the type of graph testing required.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li><strong>Build the graph model</strong> &#8211; Design the graph model based on the type selected. Represent each state or component and their interactions using edges and nodes respectively. Make sure to include all the states and all possible interactions are covered so the test cases can be built efficiently.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li><strong>Select the path to cover the requirements &#8211; </strong>Once the model is ready, identify the test cases, paths and scenarios that need to be tested<strong>. </strong>Design the test cases based on these observations. The test cases are to be written such that all possible scenarios are covered.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li><strong>Select the data to be entered &#8211;</strong> Once the test cases are ready, specify the data input for each test case. Execute the test cases based on the input selected. Record these test results and analyse to make fixes if required.</li></ol>



<h2 id="how-to-automate-graph-based-testing"><span id="How_to_automate_Graph_based_Testing"><strong>How to automate Graph based Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p><a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test automation</a> is the best way to achieve maximum results with minimum manual&nbsp; effort and time. Automating the graph based testing, primarily requires you to understand the model thoroughly. Some of the basic things to be followed for automating are &#8211;&nbsp;</p>



<ol><li>Selecting the right automation tool.</li><li>Understanding the model and writing automated test scripts.</li><li>Designing navigation logic to traverse through the graph. Also, handling decision points if there are branches in the graph.</li><li>Parameterise the test data to achieve reusability and flexibility.</li></ol>



<p>Testsigma is a no-code test automation tool that simplifies the automation of your end-to-end tests for web, mobile, desktop and API applications by letting you author tests in simple English. You don’t need to learn to code, and you can easily execute the tests and analyse their test results on Testsigma.</p>



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<h2 id="what-are-the-challenges-for-graph-based-testing-automation"><span id="What_are_the_challenges_for_Graph_based_testing_automation"><strong>What are the challenges for Graph based testing automation?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Although automation of graph based testing is possible, it can also be challenging. Let us see some of those challenges here.</p>



<ol><li>Complex applications require complex graph models. This can pose a problem for automation.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Any changes to an application requires change in graph models. This in turn requires change in automation scripts. This can be a maintenance overhead and also time consuming.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Some graph based testing may have some scenarios where the automation tool is not efficient enough. Tool flexibility is also a concern.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Learning graph based testing is a task. In addition to this, learning a tool as well can be overwhelming for a team.</li></ol>



<h2 id="conclusion"><span id="Conclusion"><strong>Conclusion</strong></span></h2>



<p>So far in this blog, we have tried to address the meaning, advantages, disadvantages , automation and the challenges for automation of graph based testing. Although there are challenges, graph based testing is the most effective way of testing for complex systems. It helps in early defect detection and covering more test cases. In conclusion, graph based testing is an effective and visual approach of testing by representing states and their transitions using graphs.</p>



<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Questions"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="what-is-flow-graph-and-path-testing"><span id="What_is_flow_graph_and_path_testing"><strong>What is flow graph and path testing?</strong></span></h3>



<p><a href="https://www.javatpoint.com/flow-graph" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flow graph</a> is a graph that represents the control flow of a program. It is used to show how the statements and functions in a program are executed. Flow graph testing is a method of testing the flow graph in a program.</p>



<p>Path testing is an approach that is used to cover different scenarios or use cases in a program. It is used to make sure that all possible paths of a program are tested.</p>



<p>Would you like to know more about <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/software-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Software Testing</a>? Follow the below links &#8211;&nbsp;</p>



<ol><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/phases-of-testing/">6 Key Phases of Testing in Software Testing (testsigma.com)</a></li><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/goals-of-software-testing/">What Are the Ultimate Goals of Software Testing? (testsigma.com)</a></li></ol>


Graph based Testing What it is & How to Automate

Graph based Testing | What it is & How to Automate?


<p>With emerging technologies and a large number of applications available these days, all that we need are better performing applications. To meet this requirement, developers can use performance profiling to make their softwares better. Performance profiling helps to make sure that the software achieves the requirements and runs efficiently. There are different tools available that you can choose based on your platform, the type of data you want to collect and the programming language being used.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_a_Performance_Profile"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is a Performance Profile?</a></li><li><a href="#Benefits_of_Performance_Profiling"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Benefits of Performance Profiling</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_stages_of_Performance_Profiling"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> What are the stages of Performance Profiling?</a></li><li><a href="#Performance_Testing_Vs_Performance_Profiling"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Performance Testing Vs Performance Profiling</a></li><li><a href="#Performance_Profiling_Tools"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Performance Profiling Tools</a></li><li><a href="#Importance_of_Performance_Profiling"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Importance of Performance Profiling</a></li><li><a href="#Challenges_of_Performance_Profiling"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Challenges of Performance Profiling</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_asked_questionsnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">9</span> Frequently asked questions&nbsp;</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_an_example_of_performance_profiling"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.1</span> What is an example of performance profiling?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_adopt_Performance_Profiling"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.2</span> How to adopt Performance Profiling?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_fundamentals_of_Performance_Profiling"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.3</span> What are the fundamentals of Performance Profiling?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-a-performance-profile"><span id="What_is_a_Performance_Profile"><strong>What is a Performance Profile?</strong></span></h2>



<p>A performance profile is an analysis of a software&#8217;s behavior while executing. It comprises data derived from various aspects such as run time behavior and resource utilization.</p>



<p>&nbsp;Performance profiling is a method of producing these profiles by analyzing a software with respect to certain metrics such as the time taken to execute a function, CPU time utilization, memory usage, run time behavior and resource utilization. It aids in identifying bottlenecks in your code and hence helps to improve your code.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="benefits-of-performance-profiling"><span id="Benefits_of_Performance_Profiling"><strong>Benefits of Performance Profiling</strong></span></h2>



<p>There are several benefits of adapting performance profiling. Some of them are discussed in this section.</p>



<ol><li>Improved code quality &#8211; Performance profiling helps in identifying sections of code that hamper the overall software execution. This helps in rectifying the code and hence improves code quality.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Efficient software &#8211; Performance profiling analyses a software against various aspects. Thus, it helps in developing an optimized and efficient software.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Resource Allocation &#8211; Performance profiling analyses and provides results based on resource utilization. This helps to efficiently plan, allocate resources, and ensure they are being used correctly.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Improved User Experience &#8211; With performance profiling, you get a better working application. This, in turn, improves user experience.</li></ol>



<ol start="5"><li>Scalability &#8211; A software can be continuously improved with performance profiling. This enables the software to take increased load and traffic without any significant performance degradation.</li></ol>



<h2 id="what-are-the-stages-of-performance-profiling"><span id="What_are_the_stages_of_Performance_Profiling"><strong>What are the stages of Performance Profiling?</strong></span></h2>



<ol><li>Define Objectives &#8211; The team should decide what needs to be analyzed before starting the process. Define the parameters (like CPU utilization, memory consumption, resource utilization, and so on) based on which the performance profiling should be done.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Select the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/profiling-tool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Profiling tools</a> &#8211; Choose a tool based on the programming language, platform, and the type of data to be collected.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Instrument your code &#8211; Mark and set up your code to collect the required data. This depends on the tool that is being used for performance profiling.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Write test cases &#8211; Prepare a number of test cases to satisfy all the required conditions and workload.</li></ol>



<ol start="5"><li>Profiling Setup and Code Execution &#8211; Configure the profiling tools and ensure that the environment is set up to collect the data.&nbsp; Once the configuration is completed, execute your code to collect the data. Also, work on different use cases to get all possible data.</li></ol>



<ol start="6"><li>Data Analysis &#8211; The data collected from different cases are analyzed by the team. If there are any code bottlenecks detected, they are to be rectified.</li></ol>



<ol start="7"><li>Code optimization &#8211; After analyzing all the data, any deviations detected are repaired to ensure an optimized, better performing, and less resource-using code.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<p>Performance profiling is an iterative process. The above stages are repeated until the performance is at an acceptable level.</p>



<h2 id="performance-testing-vs-performance-profiling"><span id="Performance_Testing_Vs_Performance_Profiling"><strong>Performance Testing Vs Performance Profiling</strong></span></h2>



<p>Now that you have understood what performance profiling is, you might have a doubt if Performance profiling is the same as Performance testing. Let us address the topic in this section. Performance testing and Performance profiling are related topics but are used at different stages of software development.</p>



<p>Performance testing is a process of testing a software on how it performs under given conditions and different work loads. Some of the types of performance testing are Load testing, <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/volume-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Volume testing</a>, Endurance testing and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-stress-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stress testing</a>.</p>



<p>Read here to know more about <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/performance-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Performance Testing</a>! REST APIs can also be tested for Performance. Follow this <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/api-performance-testing/#What_is_API_Performance_Testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">link</a> to get more insight on this topic.</p>



<p>Performance profiling on the other hand, can be considered a part of performance testing. It mainly focuses on software code optimisation by detecting bottlenecks, redundant code and thus helps in improving the functioning of a software. CPU profiling, Application-level profiling and Database query profiling are some of the types focussing on different aspects of software performance.</p>



<h2 id="performance-profiling-tools"><span id="Performance_Profiling_Tools"><strong>Performance Profiling Tools</strong></span></h2>



<p>You can choose from a variety of tools based on your requirements such as the programming language, the platform, and the type of data you need. Some of the performance profiling tools are &#8211;</p>



<ol><li>Database query profilers &#8211; pgBadger, SQL Service Profiler.</li><li>Java Performance Profilers &#8211; JProfiler, VisualVM.</li><li>Python Performance Profilers &#8211; Pyflame, Py-Spy.</li><li>C / C++ Performance Profilers &#8211; Valgrind, perf.</li><li>Web Application Profilers &#8211; New Relic, AppDynamics.</li></ol>



<h2 id="importance-of-performance-profiling"><span id="Importance_of_Performance_Profiling"><strong>Importance of Performance Profiling</strong></span></h2>



<ol><li>Analyzing the result with respect to resource utilization enables you to allocate resources correctly and efficiently.</li><li>Performance profiling improves the functioning of a software by continuously detecting the places where the code needs to be fixed.</li><li>It can be performed at the earlier stages of development hence managing time and quality of software.</li><li>Performance profiling helps to reduce costs in cases where it is billed based on usage.</li><li>It detects the code bottlenecks. The quality of code improves by rectifying these bottlenecks.</li></ol>



<h2 id="challenges-of-performance-profiling"><span id="Challenges_of_Performance_Profiling"><strong>Challenges of Performance Profiling</strong></span></h2>



<ol><li>Performance profiling tools vary based on different aspects. Choosing the right performance profiling tool for your requirements is a challenge.</li><li>The data results provided by profiling can be complex and time-consuming. The developers should have the skills to read and understand these results.</li><li>Some profiling tools can introduce overhead and alter a software&#8217;s behavior. This, in turn, can lead to incorrect data results and analysis.</li><li>To get the right results, you should understand which tool is appropriate, understand what parameters are to be measured and the software being profiled.</li><li>Profiling in a <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test environment</a> may not cover all the real world scenarios which might make it difficult to address and reproduce user issues.</li></ol>



<br><button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Automate your tests for web, mobile, desktop applications and APIs, 10x faster and from the same place with Testsigma</a></button><br>



<h2 id="conclusion"><span id="Conclusion"><strong>Conclusion</strong></span></h2>



<p>Performance profiling is an impactful process that helps to produce an effective and optimized software. This, in turn, gives you an edge over other applications.</p>



<p>It helps developers to understand the limitations of their code and overcome them. It does come with challenges, but with the right choice of tools and good understanding, performance profiling can be a crucial step to get a high-performing software.</p>



<h2 id="frequently-asked-questions"><span id="Frequently_asked_questionsnbsp"><strong>Frequently asked questions&nbsp;</strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="what-is-an-example-of-performance-profiling"><span id="What_is_an_example_of_performance_profiling"><strong>What is an example of performance profiling?</strong></span></h3>



<p>One of the examples of performance profiling is memory profiling where you can see how much memory is being used, if there is excessive memory allocated, and also if the memory is being used inefficiently.</p>



<h3 id="how-to-adopt-performance-profiling"><span id="How_to_adopt_Performance_Profiling"><strong>How to adopt Performance Profiling?</strong></span></h3>



<p>You can adopt performance profiling by understanding what needs to be analyzed, selecting the right tool, and working on the obtained results effectively.</p>



<h3 id="what-are-the-fundamentals-of-performance-profiling"><span id="What_are_the_fundamentals_of_Performance_Profiling"><strong>What are the fundamentals of Performance Profiling?</strong></span></h3>



<p>Some of the fundamentals of performance profiling are choosing the right tools, setting up the objectives, analyzing the results, and producing an optimized code.</p>


Performance Profiling Explained with stages

Performance Profiling: Explained with stages


<p>In the Software Development Life Cycle, software testing is a crucial step. Software testing helps to have a stable production by detection of bugs in early stages, decreases security breaches, checks that the software is compliant and reduces customer complaints.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In this blog, let us understand about a type of software testing – Workflow Testing.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Workflow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is Workflow Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_purpose_of_Workflow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> What is the purpose of Workflow Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_importance_of_Workflow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> What is the importance of Workflow Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Who_performs_Workflow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Who performs Workflow Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_perform_Workflow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> How to perform Workflow Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_features_of_Workflow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> What are the features of Workflow Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_different_phases_of_Workflow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> What are the different phases of Workflow Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_process_of_Workflow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> What is the process of Workflow Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_strategy_for_Workflow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">9</span> What is the strategy for Workflow Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#How_do_you_write_a_Workflow_Test_Case"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">10</span> How do you write a Workflow Test Case?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">11</span> Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">12</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_QA_workflow"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">12.1</span> What is QA workflow?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-workflow-testing"><span id="What_is_Workflow_Testing"><strong>What is Workflow Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Workflow testing is a process of testing the complete workflow of a functionality or an application against the given business requirement. Consider the functionality of buying a product in an ecommerce application. Workflow testing in this case involves adding a product to cart, selecting a payment method and making payment.</p>



<h2 id="what-is-the-purpose-of-workflow-testing"><span id="What_is_the_purpose_of_Workflow_Testing"><strong>What is the purpose of Workflow Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>The purpose of Workflow testing is to ensure that each functionality in a software or an application is working as per requirement. It is performed to make sure that the sequence of working for a software is correct. It also helps to analyse the interaction between functionalities. Workflow Testing also tests the behaviour of a software under different scenarios and use cases. Using this method of testing helps in identifying any deviations from defined business workflow.</p>



<h2 id="what-is-the-importance-of-workflow-testing"><span id="What_is_the_importance_of_Workflow_Testing"><strong>What is the importance of Workflow Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>It is evident that Workflow Testing is a major form of testing. In this section, let us understand the importance of Workflow Testing.</p>



<ol><li>Workflow Testing helps to verify working of each functionality and the interaction between these functionalities.</li><li>It provides user satisfaction. A well tested application or a software increases user confidence.</li><li>It performs end to end workflow testing from the initial step to the final outcome which makes the software more stable.</li><li>It can be performed with different use cases and scenarios and check the behaviour of software for each case.</li><li>With changing requirements, the software should also be changed. Workflow testing makes sure that these changes do not affect the functionalities and their interaction.</li></ol>



<h2 id="who-performs-workflow-testing"><span id="Who_performs_Workflow_Testing"><strong>Who performs Workflow Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<ol><li>Test Engineers – They are responsible to carry out the designing and execution of test cases. Test engineers write test cases for different scenarios and test the workflow.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Developers- They help the test engineers to understand the required outcome for a product, setting up the test environment and addressing the deviations or bugs raised when testing a product.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Integration engineers – They test the interaction between functionalities when integrating the complete software.</li></ol>



<h2 id="how-to-perform-workflow-testing"><span id="How_to_perform_Workflow_Testing"><strong>How to perform Workflow Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Manual Workflow Testing &#8211; The test cases are designed, the test environment is set up, and test cases are written. The test cases are then executed and verified against the required workflow. If there are any defects, they are rectified. Once the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defect" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">defects </a>are fixed, the software is retested and deployed.</p>



<p>Automated Workflow Testing – The process of testing remains the same in automated workflow testing as well. But choosing automated testing helps in increasing the efficiency, repeatability and the consistency of test cases. It also allows parallel testing across various test environments which in turn saves time. <a href="https://testsigma.com/">Testsigma</a> is an automated tool that can be used.&nbsp;</p>



<p><br><p><button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Automate your workflow tests for web, mobile and desktop applications, 10x faster, with Testsigma</a></button></p><br></p>



<h2 id="what-are-the-features-of-workflow-testing"><span id="What_are_the_features_of_Workflow_Testing"><strong>What are the features of Workflow Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Workflow Testing involves testing the sequence, interaction and the logic of functionalities or a software. In this section, let us see some of the features of Workflow Testing.</p>



<ol><li>This testing needs complete understanding of the business requirements and the software workflow.</li><li>Workflow testing is used to test each component or functionality of a software and hence makes sure that all these components are working as per requirement.</li><li>It performs integration testing and other types of testing as well.</li><li>It is a suitable testing process for workflow-based software or products.</li></ol>



<h2 id="what-are-the-different-phases-of-workflow-testing"><span id="What_are_the_different_phases_of_Workflow_Testing"><strong>What are the different phases of Workflow Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>There are a number of phases in workflow testing that help the test engineers to test a software. The result from these different phases of testing is a stable and reliable software. Let us discuss these phases here :&#8211;</p>



<ol><li>Inception phase &#8211; This is the initial phase where the test engineers plan the test designs, decide on the test scenarios, prepare the testing steps and the environment.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Elaboration Phase – This is the phase where test architecture baseline is designed.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Construction Phase – This is the phase where the actual testing is done. Each functionality is tested and also the integration between these functionalities is tested. This phase helps to find any bugs or any deviations from the business requirement.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Transition Phase – This is the final stage of Workflow testing. Regression testing is performed to confirm the functionalities even after making changes to some functionalities. Re-tests are carried out to make the end result stable.</li></ol>



<h2 id="what-is-the-process-of-workflow-testing"><span id="What_is_the_process_of_Workflow_Testing"><strong>What is the process of Workflow Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>If a software is tested in its earlier stages, bugs can be resolved sooner and the productivity can be increased. This can be achieved by following a sequence of steps. Let us discuss these steps in this section.</p>



<ol><li>Requirement analysis – This step is to gather all the required information. The business requirements and workflow are understood based on which the test strategies will be curated.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Write Test Cases – The testing team starts developing the test cases once the business workflow is understood. The test cases consist of different test case scenarios and decision tables.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Test Verification – This step is to verify the designed workflow with different users such as test managers, clients and the end users.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Test Execution – This is the most important step in the process. This is the phase where the workflow of a product or a software is tested. Different use cases and data inputs are given to analyse the end results.</li></ol>



<ol start="5"><li>Result Comparison – The obtained results from the previous step are compared with expected results. If there are deviations or bugs found, they are logged to be worked on.</li></ol>



<ol start="6"><li>Resolve the Issues and Deploy – Once the logged issues are all resolved, the working software is deployed in a live environment.</li></ol>



<h2 id="what-is-the-strategy-for-workflow-testing"><span id="What_is_the_strategy_for_Workflow_Testing"><strong>What is the strategy for Workflow Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>So far in this blog, we have understood the importance, features and the different phases. Let us now understand the strategies of Workflow testing.</p>



<ol><li>Workflow Analysis – This is where the business workflows are analysed and understood. Here, the test data and also the production data are analysed and evaluated. All the necessary planning is completed in this stage to avoid any discrepancies in later stages.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Workflow Designing – Once the workflow is understood, the team comes together to write test cases for different scenarios. The test cases are designed such that all the necessary outputs can be achieved. These test cases are compared and reviewed against the business workflow to make sure it meets with the requirement.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Workflow Execution and Monitoring – Here, the team executes all the test cases and verifies the output. If there are any defects, they are raised to be rectified. Once the defects are fixed, the test cases are executed again and then the software is deployed.</li></ol>



<h2 id="how-do-you-write-a-workflow-test-case"><span id="How_do_you_write_a_Workflow_Test_Case"><strong>How do you write a Workflow Test Case?</strong></span></h2>



<ol><li>Provide a title for the test case and define the purpose of the test case.</li><li>List out the prerequisites that need to be met before the execution of test cases.</li><li>Define the test data such as the input values and conditions.</li><li>Write the test case for different scenarios with both positive and negative input values.</li><li>Define the expected results for the test cases.</li><li>Mention if the test case has passed or failed with relevant justifications for both cases.</li><li>Maintain the version history that will be helpful with new changes and referencing.</li><li>Mention the test case author and the date on which the test case was written.</li></ol>



<h2 id="conclusion"><span id="Conclusion"><strong>Conclusion</strong></span></h2>



<p>Workflow testing makes sure that a software built is working as per the business requirement given. A well-defined and constructed workflow testing produces stable and usable software. A small section in this blog explains about <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automated testing</a>. </p>



<h2 id="h-frequently-asked-questions"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Questions"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="h-what-is-qa-workflow"><span id="What_is_QA_workflow">What is QA workflow?</span></h3>



<p>QA workflow is the process followed by the QA team for testing. It will include the phases of documentation, test case development, test automation as well as reporting, and any other steps that QA team deems necessary.</p>


Workflow Testing What It is, Process & How to Perform

Ranjana Kodlekere