Test Efficiency How It Differs From Test Effectiveness

Test Efficiency: How It Differs From Test Effectiveness?

Test Case Review Process And Checklist


<p>Imagine you&#8217;re a chef cooking up a delicious meal for your guests. You&#8217;ve planned out your ingredients and recipe, but before you start cooking, you need to make sure your kitchen is organized and all the kitchen tools and accessories you need is within reach. This is where test implementation comes in, the crucial stage of software testing where the test plan is put into action. Just like a chef, the test manager should ensure that everything required for testing is ready and testers can start testing.</p>



<p>In this article, we will discuss what test implementation is and its pros and cons in detail. Let&#8217;s get started.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><ul><li><a href="#What_is_Test_Implementation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">0.1</span> What is Test Implementation?</a></li><li><a href="#Responsibilities_of_a_Test_Manager_in_the_Test_Implementation_Phase"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">0.2</span> Responsibilities of a Test Manager in the Test Implementation Phase</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Implementation_and_Test_Automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">0.3</span> Test Implementation and Test Automation</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Disadvantages_of_Early_Test_Implementation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Disadvantages of Early Test Implementation</a></li><li><a href="#Advantages_of_Early_Test_Implementation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Advantages of Early Test Implementation</a></li><li><a href="#Major_Tasks_Involved_In_Test_Implementation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Major Tasks Involved In Test Implementation</a></li><li><a href="#Summary"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#How_do_you_implement_software_testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.1</span> How do you implement software testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_implementation_and_testing_phase"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.2</span> What is the implementation and testing phase?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h3 id="h-what-is-test-implementation"><span id="What_is_Test_Implementation"><strong>What is Test Implementation?</strong></span></h3>



<p>Test implementation is a process of organizing and prioritizing tests and creating test data. Sometimes, if necessary, it also involves preparing test harnesses and creating automated test scripts.</p>



<p>During this stage, the Test Analyst or Test Manager makes sure that all the prerequisites are handled to initiate the test execution. They then implement the test designs as test cases, test procedures, and test data, which are then executed to verify the functionality of the software.</p>



<p>It is crucial to choose the right tests and execute them in the right order. Also, this is vital while using risk-based strategies, where testers prioritize tests based on the risks and problems.</p>



<p>If you are following the <a href="https://standards.ieee.org/ieee/829/3787/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">IEEE829</a> standard, then you must define the below parameters too,</p>



<ul><li>Test inputs</li><li>Expected test results, and</li><li>Steps to follow for each test process</li></ul>



<p>These will be documented together, and test data will be stored in database tables, flat files, etc.</p>



<h3 id="h-responsibilities-of-a-test-manager-in-the-test-implementation-phase"><span id="Responsibilities_of_a_Test_Manager_in_the_Test_Implementation_Phase">Responsibilities of a Test Manager in the Test Implementation Phase</span></h3>



<p>Another important part of the implementation phase is that the Test Manager should ensure that the testing team is ready to execute the test design.</p>



<p>The following are some of the responsibilities of a Test Manager in this phase:</p>



<ul><li>Ensuring that all the test procedures are organized and available to testers.</li><li>A guideline of who will execute what test cases, when, and test data for testing.</li><li>Finalizing the timeline of test execution</li><li>Ensuring that the tools to be used by testers are in place</li><li>Ensuring that the test environment for executing test data is in place</li><li>Are the test cases documented and reviewed?</li><li>Ensuring that the test environment is configured to the guidelines</li><li>Preparing a schedule for test execution, describing the order for execution of manual and automated tests.</li><li>Checking for constraints like risks and priorities</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-test-implementation-and-test-automation"><span id="Test_Implementation_and_Test_Automation"><strong>Test Implementation and Test Automation</strong></span></h3>



<p>Test implementation is not just about manual testing. It involves creating automated testing scripts as well. Automated testing should be properly implemented to ensure a good ROI (Return on Investment).In this stage, the Test Managers define the priority and the execution order of the manual and automation tests. Not just that, even the acquisition of tools required for testing, like automation testing tool, test data generation tool, framework, and more, is done in this stage.</p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px"><a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a> is a powerful test automation platform that lets you automate web, mobile, and desktop apps and APIs in one place. It allows you to create test cases in plain English statements as it supports <strong>Natural Language Processing</strong>. This makes editing, removing, or updating the test cases at any stage very easy.</p></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_f1855eb8fb739a48289f4b0c8e435912_2000.png" alt="Testsigma"/></figure>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px">The following are some of the <a href="https://testsigma.com/features">features of Testsigma</a>,</p></p>



<ul><li>It is a no-code platform, so no coding skills are required for testing. You can create test cases using NLPs.</li></ul><br>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_6c6ab8cbfc26693ac18bfe6e0a4dadfe_2000.png" alt="Testsigma - Test Automation Platform"/></figure>



<br><ul><li>With Testsigma, you can <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/roi-test-automation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">achieve a good ROI</a> quickly.</li><li>It is also available as an <a href="https://github.com/testsigmahq/testsigma" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">open-source</a> and free version.</li><li>You can perform cross-browser testing, <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-api-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing</a>, UI testing, integration testing, regression testing, end-to-end testing, and more in one place.</li><li>It makes testing 10x faster than traditional testing methods.</li><li>If you go for the Testsigma Cloud version, you can start with test automation in 2 minutes without the need to install anything on your end.</li><li>Easily create and maintain tests on the cloud.</li><li>Extended customer support via chat, email, phone, and community.</li><li>Offers third-party integrations with multiple tools like Jenkins, CircleCI, and more.</li></ul><br>



<p><button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="display: block;
    margin: auto;"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Start automating your tests using Testsigma Cloud for free using the 21-day free trial.</a></button></p>



<br><h2 id="h-disadvantages-of-early-test-implementation"><span id="Disadvantages_of_Early_Test_Implementation">Disadvantages of Early Test Implementation</span></h2>



<p>The following are some of the drawbacks of implementing the tests early,</p>



<ul><li>When an Agile software development life cycle is used for software development, then the code might undergo multiple changes between consecutive iterations. This will make the entire test implementation ineffective.</li><li>Not just the Agile life cycle, using an iterative software development lifecycle will also affect the code between iterations.</li><li>The above scenarios will make the predefined tests obsolete and might require continuous maintenance.</li><li>Even while using a sequential life cycle like the Waterfall model for product development, if the project is not managed properly and if the requirements keep changing later, then early test implementation is ineffective.</li></ul>



<p>Hence, the Test Manager must consider the below factors before the test implementation process,</p>



<ul><li>Identify the type of Software development life cycle used for product development</li><li>Features that require testing</li><li>Define how frequently the requirements may change in the later stages of the project lifecycle</li><li>Possibility of code changes between two iterations</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-advantages-of-early-test-implementation"><span id="Advantages_of_Early_Test_Implementation">Advantages of Early Test Implementation</span></h2>



<p>Early test implementation is a good practice. Let&#8217;s discuss some of the advantages of early test implementation,</p>



<ul><li>Concrete test cases provide practical examples of how the application behaves.</li><li>Also, domain experts find it simple and easy to verify concrete tests rather than non-concrete business rules.</li><li>It helps identify any weaknesses in software specifications.</li><li>It further promotes collaboration between testers, developers, and other members of the project team.</li></ul>



<p><em>Note &#8211; If you&#8217;re wondering what a concrete test case is, a concrete test case is a specific test scenario with predefined input values, expected results, and execution steps.</em></p>



<h2 id="h-major-tasks-involved-in-test-implementation"><span id="Major_Tasks_Involved_In_Test_Implementation">Major Tasks Involved In Test Implementation</span></h2>



<p>The following are some of the major tasks involved in test implementation,</p>



<ul><li>Develop and prioritize test procedures.</li><li>Prepare <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-harness/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test Harness</a></li><li>Create test suites from test procedures.</li><li>Prepare test data for test execution.</li><li>Finalize, implement, and prioritize test cases.</li><li>Create automated test scripts. Using a powerful test automation platform like Testsigma, you can create test steps using simple language or use Java to test certain scenarios that might require coding.</li><li>Set up the test environment and verify that everything is configured correctly.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-summary"><span id="Summary">Summary</span></h2>



<p>Test implementation is a critical stage in the software testing process. The implementation of tests early in the development process can help detect bugs early, which can save time and resources while improving overall quality.</p>



<p>So, just like how a well-organized kitchen sets the stage for a successful meal, proper test implementation sets the stage for a successful software release.</p>



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



<h3 id="h-how-do-you-implement-software-testing"><span id="How_do_you_implement_software_testing">How do you implement software testing?</span></h3>



<p>Test implementation is the process of prioritizing and organizing tests. The implementation of software testing involves several steps, like planning the tests, designing test data, creating test cases, prioritizing the tests based on risks, finalizing the timeline for testing, test execution schedule, acquisition of testing tools, and so on.</p>



<h3 id="h-what-is-the-implementation-and-testing-phase"><span id="What_is_the_implementation_and_testing_phase">What is the implementation and testing phase?</span></h3>



<p>The implementation and testing phase is a stage in the software development life cycle (SDLC) where the software testing plan is created, implemented, and executed. This helps ensure that the application meets the requirements and works as intended.</p>


Test Implementation in Software Testing - An Overview

Test Implementation in Software Testing – An Overview


<p>Software testing is a crucial aspect of any software development process, and test design plays a major role in ensuring the effectiveness of the testing process. It refers to the process of creating test cases that can effectively validate the functionality of the software being developed. It involves identifying test scenarios, defining test conditions, and creating test cases that can detect bugs in the software. Test design is a challenging process that requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a great understanding of the product. In this article, we will discuss test design and everything you need to know about it.</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_Test_Design"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is Test Design?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_Purpose_of_Test_Design"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> What is the Purpose of Test Design?</a></li><li><a href="#When_to_Create_a_Test_Design"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> When to Create a Test Design?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_is_Test_Design_Important_for_Test_Automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Why is Test Design Important for Test Automation?</a></li><li><a href="#How_Is_Test_Design_Done"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> How Is Test Design Done?</a></li><li><a href="#Top_Test_Design_Techniques"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Top Test Design Techniques</a><ul><li><a href="#1_Equivalence_Class_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.1</span> 1. Equivalence Class Testing</a></li><li><a href="#2_State_Transitioning"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.2</span> 2. State Transitioning</a></li><li><a href="#3_Exploratory_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.3</span> 3. Exploratory Testing</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Test_Design_Concepts_You_Must_Be_Familiar_With"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Test Design Concepts You Must Be Familiar With</a><ul><li><a href="#Test_Automation_Pyramid"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.1</span> Test Automation Pyramid</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Coverage_and_Code_Coverage"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.2</span> Test Coverage and Code Coverage</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Suites_and_Test_Cases"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.3</span> Test Suites and Test Cases</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Summary"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Summary</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_test_design_in_QA"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.1</span> What is test design in QA?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_the_steps_in_test_design"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.2</span> What are the steps in test design?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_an_example_of_a_test_design"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">9.3</span> What is an example of a test design?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-test-design"><span id="What_is_Test_Design">What is Test Design?</span></h2>



<p>Test design is a process that defines how testing has to be done. It involves the process of identifying the testing techniques, test scenarios, test cases, test data, and expected test results.</p>



<p>Also, testers need to be specific about the test cases they create, such as providing specific inputs, steps, and test data for each test case.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-is-the-purpose-of-test-design"><span id="What_is_the_Purpose_of_Test_Design">What is the Purpose of Test Design?</span></h2>



<p>Software testing, like all processes, is an investment and is considered successful when it provides an ROI. To ensure, we are getting the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/roi-test-automation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ROI; it has to be tracked too</a>. One factor that will create an impact on the ROI, is the effectiveness of the test strategy. An effective test design will largely dictate the effectiveness of the testing strategy, thus the ROI from the software testing process.</p>



<h2 id="h-when-to-create-a-test-design"><span id="When_to_Create_a_Test_Design">When to Create a Test Design?</span></h2>



<p>Test design should be created once the test conditions are defined, and adequate information is available to create the test cases of both high and low levels.</p>



<h2 id="h-why-is-test-design-important-for-test-automation"><span id="Why_is_Test_Design_Important_for_Test_Automation">Why is Test Design Important for Test Automation?</span></h2>



<p>Just as Test Design is important for an effective test strategy, a well-defined test design plays an important role in the success of test automation too.</p>



<p>It is a crucial activity that helps determine the effectiveness of automated test cases in identifying bugs and is highly essential for quality control and testing.<em>&#8220;More than the act of testing, the act of designing tests is one of the best bug preventers known. &#8220;</em> &#8211; says Boris Beizer.</p>



<p>For the effectiveness of test automation, you also need to have a test automation tool that supports your goals. Thus, choosing the right test automation tool is vital, as also stated by a report that said: <a href="https://research.aimultiple.com/test-automation-statistics/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">26%</a> of companies consider finding the right tools for automation testing as their biggest challenge.</p>



<p>Here is a blog that will help you <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/10-points-to-help-you-choose-the-right-test-automation-tool/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">choose the right test automation tool</a></p>



<p>Testsigma is a powerful no-code test automation platform that lets you automate web, mobile, and desktop applications and APIs in one place 5 times faster. Start using Testsigma to achieve an ROI from your test automation sooner.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-is-test-design-done"><span id="How_Is_Test_Design_Done">How Is Test Design Done?</span></h2>



<p>Test design is done using several test design techniques. The following is a list of some of the top design techniques,</p>



<ul><li>Equivalence Class Testing</li><li>State Transition</li><li>Exploratory Testing</li><li>Boundary value analysis</li><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/pairwise-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pairwise test </a>design</li><li>Error guessing test design</li></ul>



<p>Let&#8217;s talk about some of the top techniques in the below section.</p>



<h2 id="h-top-test-design-techniques"><span id="Top_Test_Design_Techniques">Top Test Design Techniques</span></h2>



<p>Let&#8217;s discuss the top techniques in detail.</p>



<h3 id="h-1-equivalence-class-testing"><span id="1_Equivalence_Class_Testing">1. Equivalence Class Testing</span></h3>



<p>Equivalence class testing, also known as Equivalence Class Partitioning, is a test design technique that lets you partition your test data into equivalent classes or sections.</p>



<p>It aims to reduce the number of test cases required to test a product by dividing the input domain into a set of equivalence classes. You can use this whenever an input field has a range like age.</p>



<p><strong>Example:</strong></p>



<p>Consider a gaming website has a form that requires users to enter their age. And the form specifies that the age has to be between 18 and 60. Now, using the Equivalence Class Partitioning technique, you can divide the input range into three partitions, as follows,</p>



<ul><li>1 to 17 (invalid)</li><li>18 to 60 (valid)</li><li>&gt;60 (invalid)</li></ul>



<p>By partitioning the input range into equal partitions, you can create test cases that cover all possible scenarios. This way, you can easily make sure that your form is working correctly without testing every possible number between 18 and 60.</p>



<h3 id="h-2-state-transitioning"><span id="2_State_Transitioning">2. State Transitioning</span></h3>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">It is a type of black box testing that is performed to check the change in the application&#8217;s state under various inputs. This testing is used where different system transitions have to be tested.</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="512" height="317" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/test-design.png" alt="Test Design" class="wp-image-36779" /></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px"><strong>State Transition Diagram</strong>Above is a state transition diagram that needs to be tested, it depicts how a system&#8217;s state changes on specific inputs. The four main components for a state transition diagram are as follows:</p></p>



<ol><li>States</li><li>Transition</li><li>Events</li><li>Actions</li></ol>



<p>State transition testing helps understand the system&#8217;s behavior and covers all the conditions. Let&#8217;s try to understand this with an example.</p>



<p><strong>Example:</strong></p>



<p>Consider a bank application that allows users to log in with valid credentials. But, if the user doesn&#8217;t remember the credentials, the application allows them to retry with up to three attempts. If they provide valid credentials within those three attempts, it will lead to a successful login. In case of three unsuccessful attempts, the application will have to block the account.</p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">The below image will explain this scenario in a clear way.</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="2400" height="1260" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Slide-16_9-47.png" alt="State Transitioning Example

" class="wp-image-29248" /></figure></div>



<br><h3 id="h-3-exploratory-testing"><span id="3_Exploratory_Testing">3. Exploratory Testing</span></h3>



<p>Exploratory testing is primarily used in Agile methods and involves outside-the-box thinking.</p>



<p>This process does not follow pre-defined test cases but instead involves testers using their knowledge, skills, and creativity to identify issues that may not have been anticipated by developers.</p>



<p>During exploratory testing, the tester will explore the software application in an unstructured way, creating and executing tests on the fly. The goal of this testing is to uncover bugs that may have been missed by other traditional testing methods.</p>



<h2 id="h-test-design-concepts-you-must-be-familiar-with"><span id="Test_Design_Concepts_You_Must_Be_Familiar_With">Test Design Concepts You Must Be Familiar With</span></h2>



<p>As a software tester, there are several test design concepts that you must be familiar with to create effective test cases. Here are some of the most important test design concepts,</p>



<h3 id="h-test-automation-pyramid"><span id="Test_Automation_Pyramid">Test Automation Pyramid</span></h3>



<p><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/testing-pyramid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Test Automation Pyramid</a> is a testing framework that helps developers and testers to build high-quality products. It emphasizes the importance of automation at each level. The pyramid consists of three levels, each representing a different type of testing as follows,</p>



<ul><li>Unit Tests</li><li>Integration Tests</li><li>End-to-End Tests</li></ul><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_c16ec456872814f4201ea32d8adda958_2000.png" alt="Test Automation Pyramid" /></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px"><strong>Unit testing:</strong> Here, testing is done on individual units or software modules. Each unit is tested separately to ensure that it behaves as intended and meets its requirements.<strong>Integration testing:</strong> It helps verify that different modules of a software application are working as intended when they are integrated together.<strong>End-to-End testing:</strong> It involves evaluating the entire software application, from start to finish, to ensure that all components work together as expected and meet the requirements and business objectives. Also, it enables quick feedback cycles and helps developers fix bugs in a short time. It helps save time, reduce costs, and improve the overall quality of an application.</p></p>



<h3 id="h-test-coverage-and-code-coverage"><span id="Test_Coverage_and_Code_Coverage">Test Coverage and Code Coverage</span></h3>



<p>Both test coverage and code coverage are two related but distinct concepts in software testing. Test coverage refers to the maximum extent to which an application has been tested.</p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">Test coverage is calculated as follows,</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_e6a57381fb6b6df9baffdeabb9564c59_2000.png" alt="Test coverage" /></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px">For example, if you have 2000 lines of code, your test cases should be able to test the entire codebase. If only 1000 lines of code are tested out of 2000, the test coverage is 50%. Aim for 100% test coverage which means that your entire application functionality is tested to ensure a high-quality product.Code coverage specifically refers to the percentage of the code that has been covered by tests. Simply put, code coverage tells how much code is tested, and test coverage tells if your tests cover the application&#8217;s functionality or not.</p></p>



<p>Code coverage is calculated as follows,</p>



<p><strong><em>Code Coverage Percentage = (Number of lines of code executed)/(Total Number of lines of code in an application) * 100</em></strong></p>



<p>If the entire piece of code is tested, then you may consider that the code coverage is 100%. Good code coverage is considered a good metric for testing.</p>



<h3 id="h-test-suites-and-test-cases"><span id="Test_Suites_and_Test_Cases">Test Suites and Test Cases</span></h3>



<p>Test Suites and Test cases are interrelated terms. A test suite can be defined as a collection of test cases designed to test a specific functionality of the software. They are typically created and managed by testers.A test case is a set of instructions that defines the steps to be taken and the expected results for testing specific software functionality. Simply put, test cases are individual tests.</p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">When you automate your test cases, Testsigma &#8211; a no-code test automation tool also supports the addition, updation, and deletion of test cases and test suites. It is very easy to <a href="https://testsigma.com/docs/test-cases/manage/add-edit-delete/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">create test cases</a> using its NLP approach. It also lets you easily manage and run automated test cases on the cloud.</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_e69813b7bb64fad47fabffb4dc7b2f19_2000.png" alt="Testsigma" width="800" height="400" /></figure></div>



<br><h2 id="h-summary"><span id="Summary">Summary</span></h2>



<p>Test design is a vital aspect of software testing that cannot be overlooked. A well-designed test strategy can provide valuable insights into the quality of software, helping testers identify issues before they become major problems. Thus, it helps businesses save a lot of time, effort, resources, and cost in the long run.</p>



<p>Testing is not just about finding bugs but also about ensuring that the software meets the user&#8217;s needs and expectations. By following a structured test design approach, businesses can achieve both of these goals.</p>



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



<h3 id="h-what-is-test-design-in-qa"><span id="What_is_test_design_in_QA">What is test design in QA?</span></h3>



<p>Test design is a stage of the software testing process where testers create test scenarios and develop test cases and test scripts.</p>



<h3 id="h-what-are-the-steps-in-test-design"><span id="What_are_the_steps_in_test_design">What are the steps in test design?</span></h3>



<p>Test designing involves writing and developing test cases. Testers will also have to do the following,<strong></strong></p>



<ul><li>Identify the test objectives</li><li>Identify the test scenarios</li><li>Specify the test data and expected results</li><li>Create the test cases</li><li>Decide on the test schedule</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-what-is-an-example-of-a-test-design"><span id="What_is_an_example_of_a_test_design">What is an example of a test design?</span></h3>



<p>Test design can be created using various test design techniques, such as equivalence classes, state transition, boundary value analysis, error guessing, etc.</p>



<p>Let&#8217;s consider your website has an input field that accepts values only from 1 to 10. The test condition for the above scenario would be,</p>



<ul><li>&lt;1 &#8211; Invalid</li><li>1 &#8211; 10 &#8211; Valid</li><li>&gt;10 &#8211; Invalid</li><li>Any three-digit number (Example &#8211; 100) &#8211; Invalid</li></ul>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px">The below image will help you understand better,</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_4ad5fbabeaa76cbe74bd1da33d2f2451_2000.png" alt="What is an example of a test design" /></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">The values -1, 0, 2, 12, and 100 should be okay to test the above scenario. Here, both Equivalence classes and Boundary Value Analysis is used.</p></p>


Test Design in Software Testing - A Comprehensive Guide

Test Design in Software Testing – A Comprehensive Guide


<p>When a software is in the testing phase, different types of testing techniques and methodologies are followed on different layers. Two such types of testing are functional testing and integration testing. Both play a significant role in ensuring the quality of the product and delivering a top-notch product. In this article, we will discuss functional and integration testing &#8211; when to perform them, the benefits of executing these tests, and then the key differences between them.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Difference_Between_Functional_and_Integration_Testing_8211_Overview"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Difference Between Functional and Integration Testing &#8211; Overview</a></li><li><a href="#Functional_Testing_vs_Integration_Testing_8211_Detailed_Comparison"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Functional Testing vs Integration Testing &#8211; Detailed Comparison </a><ul><li><a href="#Purpose"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.1</span> Purpose</a></li><li><a href="#Workflow_Comparison"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.2</span> Workflow Comparison</a></li><li><a href="#Use_Case_Comparison"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.3</span> Use Case Comparison</a></li><li><a href="#Challenges"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.4</span> Challenges </a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Functional_Testing_Vs_Integration_Testing_Core_Differences"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Functional Testing Vs Integration Testing – Core Differences </a></li><li><a href="#Functional_Testing_and_Integration_Testing_8211_When_to_Automate"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Functional Testing and Integration Testing &#8211; When to Automate?</a></li><li><a href="#Wrapping_Up"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Wrapping Up</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#Is_functional_testing_manual_or_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.1</span> Is functional testing manual or automation? </a></li><li><a href="#Is_integration_testing_the_same_as_UAT"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.2</span> Is integration testing the same as UAT? </a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-difference-between-functional-and-integration-testing-overview"><span id="Difference_Between_Functional_and_Integration_Testing_8211_Overview"><strong>Difference Between Functional and Integration Testing &#8211; Overview</strong></span></h2>



<p><strong>Functional testing</strong> helps verify that the software works as expected and meets user’s expectations. It is a type of black-box testing that involves testing various aspects of the application, such as user interfaces, APIs, databases, and other system components, to validate that they are working as expected. It doesn&#8217;t involve looking into the internal working of software functions &#8211; just observing output on the appropriate input.</p>



<p><strong>Read all about <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/functional-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Functional Testing</a></strong></p>



<p><strong>Integration testing</strong> is when two or more components are integrated and tested as a whole. It ensures that smaller components are working correctly together after integration and provides an error-free user interface for the end users. It helps to improve the performance and scalability of the software and increase the overall software quality.</p>



<p><strong>Read all about <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Integration Testing</a></strong></p>



<h2 id="functional-testing-vs-integration-testing-purpose"><span id="Functional_Testing_vs_Integration_Testing_8211_Detailed_Comparison"><strong>Functional Testing vs Integration Testing &#8211; Detailed Comparison </strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="functional-testing-vs-integration-testing-purpose"><span id="Purpose"><strong>Purpose</strong></span></h3>



<p id="purpose-of-functional-testing"><strong>Purpose of Functional Testing</strong></p>



<p>Functional testing helps verify that the software meets the functional requirements. It ensures that the software behaves as expected and aligns with the business requirements.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It checks everything like the end-to-end workflows, functionality of the application, APIs, database, client-server communication, security, etc. Every functionality is tested with different inputs, and the test result will be compared with the expected output.</p>



<p id="purpose-of-integration-testing"><strong>Purpose of Integration Testing</strong></p>



<p>Integration testing helps test the interactions between different software modules after they have been individually tested.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The main aim of integration testing is to ensure that the integrated components work together as intended and to identify any issues that might arise due to their interactions. Typically, integration is done after unit testing.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="workflow-comparison"><span id="Workflow_Comparison"><strong>Workflow Comparison</strong></span></h3>



<p>Let&#8217;s take a look at the workflow difference between the integration test vs functional test,</p>



<p id="functional-testing-workflow"><strong>Functional Testing Workflow</strong></p>



<ul><li>Understand the software requirements and functional specifications provided by the development team or stakeholders.</li><li>Create test cases that cover different functional aspects of the application and test scenarios.</li><li>Now, create a document for the traceability matrix after designing the test cases.</li><li>Create test data and start executing test cases.</li><li>Once the test is complete, compare the actual result with the expected result to validate if the product works as it is intended to be.</li></ul>



<p id="integration-testing-workflow"><strong>Integration Testing Workflow</strong></p>



<ul><li>Understand the requirements and specifications provided by the developers.</li><li>First, divide the application into smaller modules and understand each module&#8217;s functionality.&nbsp;</li><li>Next, find where you start and finish in each part and create a test plan.&nbsp;</li><li>Choose the best integration testing approach based on the app&#8217;s needs and identify test conditions.</li><li>Then, start to design test cases to perform integration testing and analyze the results.</li></ul>



<h3 id="use-case-comparison"><span id="Use_Case_Comparison"><strong>Use Case Comparison</strong></span></h3>



<p>Functional testing and integration testing are both critical aspects of the software testing process, but they serve different purposes and focus on different aspects of a software application. Let&#8217;s consider different use cases to understand this,</p>



<p id="functional-testing-use-case"><strong>Functional Testing Use Case</strong></p>



<p>Use Case: Consider you are <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/ecommerce-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testing an e-commerce application</a>&#8216;s shopping cart functionality.</p>



<ul><li><strong>User Scenario:</strong> Add to Cart Functionality</li><li><strong>Test Description:</strong> Test the cart&#8217;s functionality. That is, when a user adds a product to the cart, the cart should be updated with the correct name, price, and quantity of the product.</li><li><strong>Expected Result:</strong> The application should accurately update the cart and show the correct product details.</li></ul>



<p id="integration-testing-use-case"><strong>Integration Testing Use Case</strong></p>



<p>Use Case: Consider an e-commerce website where users can browse products, add them to their cart, and proceed to checkout. The website is made up of several components: a product catalog, a shopping cart, a user authentication system, and a payment gateway.</p>



<ul><li><strong>User Scenario:</strong> Test the interactions between these components to ensure they work as expected.</li><li><strong>Integration Test:</strong> Test the cart module, checkout module, etc. That is, adding multiple products to the cart and verifying the cart&#8217;s accuracy. Next, add a product to the cart, log out, and then log in again to ensure the cart items are retained. Then, add products to the cart, proceed to checkout, and verify that the payment gateway works correctly.</li><li><strong>Expected Outcome:</strong> The user should be able to browse products, add items to the cart, login, proceed to checkout, and complete the payment.</li></ul>



<h3 id="challenges"><span id="Challenges"><strong>Challenges </strong></span></h3>



<p>Let&#8217;s take a look at the challenges between integration testing vs functional testing,</p>



<p id="challenges-of-functional-testing"><strong>Challenges of Functional Testing</strong></p>



<ul><li>Designing comprehensive and effective test cases for all possible functional scenarios can be complex and time-consuming.&nbsp;</li><li>Functional testing can become complex when requirements change frequently, requiring constant updates to test cases and test data.</li><li>Functional changes or bug fixes in one area of the software can unintentionally impact other areas. Ensuring that new functional additions don&#8217;t break existing functionality requires robust regression testing. Get here the Comparison between <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/regression-testing-vs-integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Regression Testing vs Integration Testing</a></li><li>Defining clear test requirements for every change is difficult due to the detailed and measurable information they contain.</li><li>Keeping a simple report to decide whether something works or not with functional tests might not work well. This is because reports are divided based on features and defects.</li><li>It takes a long time to fix recurring issues and to set up the test environment.</li><li>Creating test metrics to analyze and improve applications is challenging due to software complexities and varying test requirements.</li></ul>



<p id="challenges-of-integration-testing"><strong>Challenges of Integration Testing</strong></p>



<ul><li>When you replace mock data with real modules, you might find new bugs.</li><li>It is time-consuming and needs good coding skills to create integration tests because programs and data required for testing are mocked.&nbsp;</li><li>It is difficult to understand the logic because the software code is written by multiple teams separately.</li><li>It is difficult to understand the code because it is written by different teams separately.</li><li>Testing integrated parts of the software is complicated because various things like the database, platform, and software environment affect the tests.</li><li>Choosing the right testing approach can become harder when you have multiple options to consider.</li><li>Integration testing gets even more complex when external features, tools, and libraries from different companies with their own dependencies are involved.</li></ul>



<h2 id="functional-testing-vs-integration-testing-core-differences"><span id="Functional_Testing_Vs_Integration_Testing_Core_Differences"><strong>Functional Testing Vs Integration Testing – Core Differences </strong></span></h2>



<p>The table below depicts the integration test vs functional test core differences,</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Functional Testing</strong></td><td><strong>Integration Testing</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Helps verify that the software is functioning as expected and meets the user&#8217;s requirements</td><td>Helps test how different software modules interact with each other</td></tr><tr><td>Executed by testers</td><td>Executed by testers and developers</td></tr><tr><td>Helps identify issues that might interrupt the application&#8217;s working</td><td>Helps identify issues that might occur while integrating different components</td></tr><tr><td>It is performed before integration testing</td><td>It is performed after unit testing and functional and before system testing</td></tr><tr><td>It is quite complex when compared to integration testing, as the entire application is tested.</td><td>It is less complex as we test the modules.</td></tr><tr><td>It uses the black-box technique.</td><td>It uses the gray box testing technique (both white box and black box testing)</td></tr><tr><td>Tools used &#8211; Testsigma, Selenium, Katalon, Tricentis, etc.</td><td>Tools used &#8211; Testsigma, Selenium, JUnit</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="h-functional-testing-and-integration-testing-when-to-automate"><span id="Functional_Testing_and_Integration_Testing_8211_When_to_Automate"><strong>Functional Testing and Integration Testing</strong> &#8211; <strong>When to Automate?</strong></span></h2>



<p>You should automate the functional and integration testing if you repeatedly execute the same functional and integration tests, and you see an ROI on automating them. <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automated testing</a>, when planned and executed well, reduces the total time and effort required to perform testing, thus accelerating the time to market, and also provides an ROI.</p>



<p><a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a> is a powerful test automation tool that lets you automate web, mobile, and desktop applications in the same place. It is an AI-driven platform that lets you create test cases in plain English, which makes the testing 10x faster.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_94755119bdfe2d7dfa2cde9844b93e72_2000.png" alt="Functioanl Testing vs Integration Testing" width="840" height="399" /></figure>



<p>The following are some of the top benefits offered by Testsigma,</p>



<ul><li>It is a no-code test automation tool that lets you author simple and complex tests in simple English</li><li>It is very simple and easy to use</li><li>Also comes with a record and play feature to record user actions and later automate them as test cases on the cloud.</li><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-cross-browser-testing-tool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automate cross-browser testing</a> across 3000+ real devices and 1000+ browser/OS combos.</li><li>A no-code test automation tool that does not require coding to write test scripts</li><li>Automate your web, mobile, desktop, and API tests in one place</li><li>Easy test maintenance on the cloud</li><li>No need to download any tools or frameworks</li><li>Supports parallel test execution</li></ul>



<p>Testsigma is also available as an open source and free version.Start automating your functional and integration tests with Testsigma Open Source</p>



<h2 id="h-wrapping-up"><span id="Wrapping_Up"><strong>Wrapping Up</strong></span></h2>



<p>Functional testing and integration testing are closely related to each other, but they are not the same. We hope that this article helped you understand them and their differences better.</p>



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



<h3 id="h-is-functional-testing-manual-or-automation"><span id="Is_functional_testing_manual_or_automation">Is functional testing manual or automation? <strong></strong></span></h3>



<p>Functional testing can be both manual and automated. Manual functional testing involves human testers executing test cases manually to verify the software&#8217;s functionality. On the other hand, <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/automated-functional-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automated functional testing</a> involves using automation testing tools to execute test cases and compare actual results with expected results. Automated functional testing is typically faster, more efficient, and repeatable than manual testing.</p>



<h3 id="h-is-integration-testing-the-same-as-uat"><span id="Is_integration_testing_the_same_as_UAT">Is integration testing the same as UAT? <strong></strong></span></h3>



<p>No, integration testing is not the same as user acceptance testing (UAT). They both serve different purposes in the <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/what-is/sdlc/#:~:text=The%20software%20development%20lifecycle%20(SDLC,expectations%20during%20production%20and%20beyond." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SDLC</a>. Integration testing is focused on verifying the interactions between different modules of the application, while UAT is focused on validating the software from the perspective of end-users.</p>





Integration testing vs End To End Testing
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Unit Testing vs Integration Testing
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Functional testing tools
https://testsigma.com/tools/functional-testing-tools/


Functional testing vs Non Functional Testing
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