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Try for freeYou know that feeling when you’re lost in a maze of test cases and wondering if you’ve missed something important? As the famous software tester Michael Bolton says, “Checklist-based testing is like having a roadmap for your testing journey.”
So, a check-list is a guide that walks you through the maze of test cases, ensuring you get all critical turns.
Remember, Dora has a road map with her always!
Let me take you on an expedition of the ins and outs of checklist-based testing. I’ll also share the advantages of using checklists when testing.
Table Of Contents
What is Checklist-Based Testing?
Checklist-based testing is a software testing technique that uses a pre-planned list of tasks or items to be checked or verified during testing.
This approach is often used in conjunction with other testing methods, such as exploratory and scripted testing, to ensure that all aspects of the software are thoroughly tested.
The checklist usually comprises a series of specific test items that are checked off as completed, enabling the testing team to keep track of their progress and ensure that all required testing tasks have been performed. This technique is handy when specific requirements or regulations must be met, as the checklist can be tailored to include these items.
Let’s say a software development team is working on an e-commerce website that allows customers to create accounts, browse products, add items to their cart, and make purchases.
The team might use checklist-based testing to ensure the website is functional and bug-free.
The checklist for this project could include items such as:
– Create a new account
– Log in to an existing account
– Search for a product
– Add a product to the cart
– Remove a product from the cart
– Make a purchase using a credit card
– Make a purchase using PayPal
As the testing team works through each item on the checklist, they can check it off to ensure they have covered all essential aspects of the website. This approach ensures that the website is thoroughly tested and ready for release.
Advantages of Using Checklists in Testing
Here are the benefits of using the checklist:
- Improved consistency and repeatability: Checklists help ensure that all testers follow the same steps and check the same items, which can help improve the consistency and repeatability of test results.
- Reduced risk of overlooking essential items: Checklists can help to reduce the risk of overlooking important things that other testing methods may not cover.
- Improved communication and collaboration: Checklists can enhance communication and collaboration among testers, providing a shared understanding of what needs to be tested.
- Easier to create and maintain: Checklists are relatively easy to create and maintain, as they can be based on existing documentation, such as requirements documents and user manuals.
Difficulties of Using Checklists in Testing
A few challenges are:
- Upkeep: Checklists require regular maintenance to remain relevant and up-to-date with the evolving software.
- Rigidity: Overreliance on checklists may hinder creativity and exploration during testing, potentially missing unexpected issues.
- Documentation overhead: Creating and maintaining comprehensive checklists can be time-consuming.
How to Perform a Checklist Based Testing
Checklist-based testing is a structured software testing approach that uses a predefined list of tasks or steps to guide the testing process. This technique is often employed for manual testing, but it can also be incorporated into automated testing frameworks.
Steps to Perform Checklist-Based Testing:
Create Checklist:
a. Identify Testing Scope: Determine the specific functionalities and areas of the software to be tested.
b. Outline Test Cases: Create a detailed checklist outlining the steps for each test case.
c. Include Preconditions and Expected Results: Clearly define the preconditions for each test case and the expected results.
Assign Checklist:
a. Select Qualified Testers: Assign the checklist to a qualified tester or team.
b. Ensure Understanding: Ensure testers clearly understand the software’s requirements and the testing objectives. Read here about Requirement based Testing.
Execute Tests:
a. Systematically Follow Checklist: Testers should systematically follow the checklist, performing each step and documenting the results.
b. Note Observations: Record any observed defects, their severity, and steps to reproduce them.
Review and Analyze Results:
a. Identify Recurring Issues: Review the documented results once the testing is complete to identify any recurring issues or patterns.
b. Analyze Checklist Effectiveness: Analyze the effectiveness of the checklist and make adjustments as needed.
Update and Maintain Checklist:
a. Adapt to Changes: As the software evolves, update the checklist to reflect changes in functionalities or requirements.
b. Regular Review: Regularly review and maintain the checklist to ensure its relevance and effectiveness.
Checklist-Based Testing Best Practices:
- Clarity and Simplicity: Use clear and concise language in the checklist steps.
- Complete Coverage: Ensure the checklist covers all essential aspects of the software.
- Regular Maintenance: Regularly update the checklist as the software evolves.
- Integration with Automation: Consider integrating checklist-based testing into automated testing frameworks.
How to Perform Test Automation?
To perform test automation, you can follow these steps:
- Identify the tests to automate. Not all tests are suitable for automation. Some tests, such as exploratory or tests requiring human judgment, are best performed manually. However, many repetitive and time-consuming tests can be automated.
- Choose an automation framework. Many different automation frameworks are available, such as Testsigma, Selenium, Appium, and Cypress. Each framework has its strengths and weaknesses, so choosing one well-suited to your needs is essential.
- Write your test scripts. Test scripts are the code that tells the automation framework what steps to take to perform the tests. You can write test scripts in various programming languages like Python, Java, and JavaScript. With Testsigma, you write these steps in simple English, thus you don’t need to learn to code.
- Record and execute your tests. Once you have written your test scripts, you need to record them. This involves running the scripts and recording the automation framework’s steps. Once the tests are recorded, you can execute them whenever necessary.
- Maintain your tests. As your application changes, you must update your test scripts to reflect the changes. It’s essential to regularly maintain your tests to ensure that they are still accurate and effective.
Example
This Screenshot shows test cases written in Testsigma with the workflow of the checklist testing using a travel site.
Checklist-Based Testing Template
Here is a table for reference:
| Test Case Descriptions | Preconditon | Steps | Expected Results | Actaul Result | Status |
| Verify that the user can log in to the system. | The user has a valid account. | 1. Navigate to the login page. 2. Enter the user’s credentials. 3. Click the “Login” button. | The user should be logged in to the system. | The user is logged in to the system. | Pass |
| Verify that the user can create a new account. | The user does not have an account. | 1. Navigate to the signup page. 2. Enter the user’s information. 3. Click the “Create Account” button. | The user should be able to create a new account. | The user is able to create a new account. | Pass |
| Verify that the user can reset their password. | The user has forgotten their password. | 1. Navigate to the forgot password page. 2. Enter the user’s email address. 3. Click the “Reset Password” button. | The user should receive an email with a link to reset their password. | The user receives an email with a link to reset their password. | Pass |
Summary
Testing with a checklist is a super easy and effective way to make sure your software is in tip-top shape. Not only does it make sure all aspects of your software are tested, but it also ensures that everything is complete and consistent.
