
<p>Ever wondered how computers interact with each other, what happens behind the visible screen when systems process the user request. The answer is simple and interesting, we humans use verbal and non verbal communication to communicate with one another, similarly the computers use&nbsp; Application Programming Interface to interact with one or more computers that are connected over the internet without user intervention. The <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/api-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing</a> methods help validate the API set-up of the application.</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_an_API"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is an API?</a></li><li><a href="#What_are_API_Methods"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> What are API Methods?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_API_Testingnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> What is API Testing?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Why_test_API_methodsnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Why test API methods?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_meant_by_Testing_API_Methodsnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> What is meant by Testing API Methods?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_test_different_API_methodsnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> How to test different API methods&nbsp;</a><ul><li><a href="#Manual_ways_to_test_APIsnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.1</span> Manual ways to test APIs&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Automated_ways_to_test_APIsnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.2</span> Automated ways to test APIs&nbsp;</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Challenges_in_testing_different_API_methodsnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Challenges in testing different API methods&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-an-api"><span id="What_is_an_API">What is an API?</span></h2>



<p>Application Programming Interface commonly called as API, is an integral part of software testing. It deals with testing the application interface from the backend layer based on the application’s logic. It follows a request and response protocol for communication, the&nbsp; request is from the client and response is from the server side. Here the client is usually the front end software and the server is the backend logic.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The application interface holds the information of the internal details of how the system functions. These are not directly accessed or visible to the end users, the programmers can build tailored API for the specific system or a shared one that allows others systems to access supporting interoperability.&nbsp; Which is why the design of the API highly depends on the software architecture.&nbsp;</p>



<p>At a high level we can say that both systems and softwares use APIs for accessing and executing purposes. The API specifications either showcase its behavior or the way in which it links with other APIs. It helps in standardizing the data flow and data exchange between web services. When the specifications are met and are used, making it available for customer interface then that is implementing or exposing the API.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IKlWhMjGbfq1PiXVGZ2qoLU4nN2lCtSSho63DYKl0JUbSuEOA6B5D_fmN3ImrVIz7uQX8zqhOx9eEqGLZE52F2o-cjOHZaE2TmQZHsnCA-W_5ofG4sKEJhl50G8qt_gEjEzuCfka_2D7Raf8fB47tbo" alt="How API Works" width="600" height="360" /></figure></div>



<p><strong>There are different types of APIs :&nbsp;</strong></p>



<ul><li>Private APIs : It is built and assessed specifically for a particular organization and only used in-house.&nbsp;</li><li>Partner APIs : The company provides access to potential customers or partners based on agreement&nbsp;</li><li>Public APIs: The access is open to public developers and used for commercial purposes.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-what-are-api-methods"><span id="What_are_API_Methods">What are API Methods?</span></h2>



<p>When we speak of API methods, the Web APIs use HTTP protocol for communication. As we know it follows the client server model, where the client sends the request and the server responds. There are many ways in which HTTP sends requests,which are the HTTP verbs and referred to by the value of their request method property.&nbsp; The important and most commonly used API methods&nbsp; are:&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>GET request&nbsp;</strong></p>



<ul><li>This is most common request and it is used to request data from the server&nbsp;</li><li>It retrieves and represents the exact data present and does not modify or perform task</li><li>Even if multiple identical requests are made, it returns the same result, this is called Idempotent&nbsp;</li><li>The Get request follows the read method from the CRUD operations&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p>Example:&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li>Get API used to load a website or navigate to a landing page&nbsp;</li><li>To get the popular items in a particular category, say latest filter applied&nbsp; for new products under home decor section on a ecommerce website&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p><strong>POST&nbsp; request</strong>&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li>It is used to send the data to the server to create or update a resource, therefore data mutation happens.&nbsp;</li><li>When same request is sent twice, it leads to duplication, it is called&nbsp; Non-Idempotent</li><li>The Post request follows the create method from the CRUD operations&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p>Example:&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li>When creating a new user account in gmail, it sends a Post request.&nbsp;</li><li>While registering for a webinar on a site, the Post API is used. All the data entered in the field are put in the response body of the request and sent to the server&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p><strong>PUT request&nbsp;</strong></p>



<ul><li>It is used to send data to the API for creating or updating an existing resource.</li><li>The difference between Put and Post is that the Put API is Idempotent.</li><li>Put will replace the resource in its entirety&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p>Example:</p>



<ul><li>Editing an existing students record in the student&#8217;s portal&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p><strong>DELETE request&nbsp;</strong></p>



<ul><li>It is used to delete a single or list of resources, more commonly found in RESTful API. It has to be used with caution.&nbsp;</li><li>Multiple identical requests for deleting the same resource will return a 404.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p>Example:</p>



<ul><li>Delete API is used to remove the irrelevant user data from the records&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-what-is-api-testing"><span id="What_is_API_Testingnbsp">What is API Testing?&nbsp;</span></h2>



<p>Software testing is done to check the quality of the software. Since API is the code that enables connection and communication between two software programs, the presentation layer and the backend database. It is important to check whether or not the APIs are connected properly.</p>



<p>API testing is one of the software testing practices where we test the APIs directly for its functionality, on its reliability, the performance, and most importantly the security. APIs are also tested as a part of integration testing, since the design of the software architecture and design of API are highly interdependent.</p>



<p><strong>An overview of the process flow to conduct API testing is as follows:&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p>Step 1: Understand and review API specification&nbsp;</p>



<p>Step 2: List down the API testing requirements&nbsp;</p>



<p>Step 3: Build the API testing strategy and API testing methods&nbsp;</p>



<p>Step 4: Set up the API testing environment&nbsp;</p>



<p>Step 5: Run tests using both positive and negative scenarios&nbsp;</p>



<p>Today most companies follow the concept of shift left testing, testing from the early stage to avoid bottlenecks. So testing starts from the bottom of the pyramid and goes all the way to the top. The bottom layer is the unit layer, where the developers perform code tests by writing unit test cases. Moving to the second level which is the server level where the API testing is done. It is then followed by the UI testing using GUI tests.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/PuuRMpUOlKuAp_nii5QDpnM2q_5cgAthTma6YoaHouh55u54KZyYZK37SShMR6G92Qn4Jpbbh0ewDhhPxety_WLUelH2aeUXYKJCeaS2VOHYwgqZ8e7YegzFT7mur3rz2x8gQfojTXGqMoVrEgcqp_Q" alt="API Layer" width="431" height="369" /></figure></div>



<h2 id="h-why-test-api-methods"><span id="Why_test_API_methodsnbsp">Why test API methods?&nbsp;</span></h2>



<p>With a huge number of API requests churned out each day, API testing is needed because it helps in validating if the API setup performs as expected and returns output as intended. The tests will cover API functionality, reliability, performance and security.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The reason why <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/sanity-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing is important</a> is because of the following reasons:&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li>API testing process is done before UI testing and it helps identify and eliminate most of the server level errors. Also, API testing consumes less testing time and testing cost than GUI testing</li><li>Since the API testing process helps in code-level functionality validation, it helps in identifying the small bugs before it turns into a critical one.&nbsp;</li><li>It helps in securing and optimizing the communication between servers and systems. It also focuses on checking if the business logic laid down is correct at the API level. Since it also includes dealing with sensitive data, checking for API security is crucial. It checks the APIs for compliance and security.&nbsp;</li><li>By ensuring the APIs perform as expected it helps to safeguard the business reputation for quality assurance in the minds of the customer and help them develop trust.&nbsp;</li><li>Checking and aligning the API testing strategy with CI/CD pipeline is important as&nbsp; it provides room for faster release cycle with reduced number of errors.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-what-is-meant-by-testing-api-methods"><span id="What_is_meant_by_Testing_API_Methodsnbsp">What is meant by Testing API Methods?&nbsp;</span></h2>



<p>Once the API set up is ready, it is tested based on the&nbsp; API testing methods. There are several ways to test the APIs and that can be done both manually and automated. From developer to testers to the DevOps engineers all create API testing strategy to conduct crucial tests in order to check and validate the API setup and its integration from end to end. Testing individual services or endpoint can be easy, but what is more important is to test the framework completely and eliminate errors in the setup at the earliest</p>



<h2 id="h-how-to-test-different-api-methods"><span id="How_to_test_different_API_methodsnbsp"><strong>How to test different API methods</strong>&nbsp;</span></h2>



<h3 id="h-manual-ways-to-test-apis"><span id="Manual_ways_to_test_APIsnbsp">Manual ways to test APIs&nbsp;</span></h3>



<p>In Manual testing, the testing is done manually without the use of test scripts.</p>



<p><strong>Exploratory testing:</strong> Just like the name suggests the testers explore the application to identify bugs. Testers could do black box testing by sending the requests to API and check if the desired output is received. In case of white box API testing, the testers usually try to find out and validate the API functions using the source code.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Usability testing:</strong> This type of testing depends on the API structure, usability goal and user segment. The API structure has to be reliable and usable. This testing is majorly user-centric, and the testing is carried out mimicking how the target user group&nbsp; would use the software. It helps validate the product’s functionality from the end users perspective.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Ad.hoc testing: </strong>It is usually carried out after the formal testing is done. The testers randomly test the product to check for any loopholes. It is done to check the stability of the overall APIs integration. It is mostly done when minor tweaks or new features are added to the product, the testers will right away check the specific update without any pre-defined planning or documentation of test cases.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-automated-ways-to-test-apis"><span id="Automated_ways_to_test_APIsnbsp"><strong>Automated ways to test APIs</strong>&nbsp;</span></h3>



<p>In automation testing the tests are automated using automation frameworks or tools.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Functional testing:</strong> It is performed to validate if the API performs as expected. The functionality of the API is tested using both positive and negative test scenarios to see if it returns the intended output. The API has to be well built to identify the valid and invalid requests&nbsp; Functional API testing can be a little challenging because of the lack of GUI. So the functional testing testing of API starts with verification of authentication process&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 functional API tests, 10x faster, with Testsigma</a></button></p><br></p>



<p><strong>Load testing: </strong>This is mainly to see how the API functions under heavy traffic. Based on the requirements, it involves stimulating a large amount of request volume and checking the response output and response time (ranging from per second or per minute to per hour)&nbsp; and looking out for errors. It is to check how the API operates under load. Load testing is carried out in regular intervals to record the performance benchmarks and breaking point of the APIs.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Security testing:</strong> The APIs along with its basic functionality also have security requirements listed down, such as authentication and access control. It is to protect the data and application from hacker attacks.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Regression testing: </strong>Testers prefer regression testing when their application is updated at frequent intervals, for example if new features are added during every sprint, and when there is a need for repeated testing. It helps to save time and efforts in re-running the <a href="https://www.javatpoint.com/test-scenario" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test scenarios</a> multiple times.</p>



<p>Searching and selecting the right tool for API testing and forming an API testing strategy is a crucial step. Testsigma is a low-code test automation platform, where tests are created using NLPs . Since it is low-code it does not require any prior coding knowledge and also helps non-coders to perform testing with ease.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Testsigma also provides Integrated Automated API testing. Testsigma’s API testing capabilities helps automate API testing for web, mobile and desktop applications using Natural Language Programming. It&nbsp; becomes a one stop solution for test management, test authoring, test execution and reporting without expertise in coding languages.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It enables the creation of tests for REST API methods &#8211; GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH, thereby providing complete all inclusive test coverage for APIs. It also supports data driven API tests and validates expected vs actual responses in real time and reflects the errors in the test status and test reports.&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 functional API tests, 10x faster, with Testsigma</a></button></p><br></p>



<h2 id="h-challenges-in-testing-different-api-methods"><span id="Challenges_in_testing_different_API_methodsnbsp">Challenges in testing different API methods&nbsp;</span></h2>



<p>Aligning the Initial setup of APIs with the requirements and sequencing the API calls is a mandatory step and it takes time and effort. In order to reduce manual intervention in API testing, identifying, automating and validating the tests can be initially challenging.&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li>Checking the system integration for APIs&nbsp; is a major task performed focusing more on the API design to evaluate its performance and validate each and every response to check if all the API calls are working properly.&nbsp;</li><li>Every time there are changes such as a new feature update or enhancements, it is necessary to keep track of the API tests and the impact on the API test automation process setup.</li><li>Validating the API parameters correctly and setting up required checkpoints is an important step to avoid security or stability issues.&nbsp;</li><li>Updating schema of API tests is a significant step, since schema provides the API syntax and grammar of the test documents, it is important to update the schema accordingly on every update and maintain it through the testing process.&nbsp;</li><li>It is a critical decision making process on choosing the right tool for testing API that fits the budget and also meets the API testing requirements.&nbsp;</li></ul>



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



<p>In today’s modern business environment, API testing is blooming and is an essential part of developing the application. Conducting the automated API testing not only helps in time and cost saving, it also makes it an integral part of the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/azure-ci-cd-pipeline/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI/CD pipeline</a>. It enables the business to provide quality applications and better user experience to the customers.</p>


Testing API Methods A Comprehensive Guide

Testing API Methods: A Comprehensive Guide

Quality Control What It Is and How It Works

Quality Control: What It Is and How It Works?


<p>Test estimation techniques refer to the methods and approaches used to determine or estimate the effort, time, and resources required for testing activities in software development projects.</p>



<p><br>Estimating the testing effort is crucial for effective project planning, resource allocation, and scheduling.</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_Software_Test_Estimation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is Software Test Estimation?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Test_Estimation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Why Test Estimation?</a></li><li><a href="#What_to_estimate"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> What to estimate?</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Estimation_Techniques"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Test Estimation Techniques</a></li><li><a href="#Test_estimation_best_practices"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Test estimation best practices</a></li><li><a href="#Software_Test_Estimation_Template"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Software Test Estimation Template</a></li><li><a href="#Summary"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Summary</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-software-test-estimation"><span id="What_is_Software_Test_Estimation"><strong>What is Software Test Estimation?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Software test estimation is a managerial task that involves assessing and approximating the required time, resources, and costs for executing tests in a specific environment. It serves as a projection that aids in preventing time constraints and exceeding budgets.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="why-test-estimation"><span id="Why_Test_Estimation"><strong>Why Test Estimation?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Test estimation is conducted for several important reasons:<br></p>



<ul><li><strong>Project Planning</strong>: With correct estimations done, the overall project timeline can be kept under check. Project managers can create realistic schedules and allocate resources as per need if they know the time required for testing activities well in advance. This allows for effective coordination with development and other project activities.<br></li><li><strong>Resource Allocation</strong>: With test estimations in place, the resource allocations: namely number of testers, testing tools, and testing environments required, can be allocated diligently and efficiently. It helps to ensure that overallocation or underutilization of resources is avoided.<br></li><li><strong>Budgeting and Cost Control</strong>: Budgets are crucial to any project’s success. Expenses like&nbsp; personnel costs, infrastructure costs, and tooling costs can be estimated well if testing efforts are estimated efficiently. By having a clear understanding of the expected costs, organizations can create accurate budgets, monitor expenses, and prevent cost overruns.<br></li><li><strong>Risk Management</strong>: Estimation can also help build visibility into any potential risks associated with testing including areas that may require additional attention or resources. This allows for risk mitigation strategies to be implemented proactively.<br></li><li><strong>Stakeholder Expectations</strong>: Estimation helps set realistic expectations with project stakeholders, including clients, managers, and development teams.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Project Optimization</strong>: Accurate estimation allows for better planning and optimization of testing activities. It helps identify opportunities for process improvements, resource optimization, and automation, leading to increased efficiency and productivity in the testing process.</li></ul>



<h2 id="what-to-estimate"><span id="What_to_estimate"><strong>What to estimate?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Estimation techniques are employed to estimate various aspects of software development projects. These techniques are used to estimate the effort, time, resources, and costs associated with different project components.&nbsp;</p>



<ol><li>With estimation techniques, one can estimate the effort required for activities such as analysis, design, coding, testing, documentation, and project management.&nbsp;</li><li>They help in estimating the time required to complete the project or specific milestones, considering dependencies and constraints.</li><li>&nbsp;Estimation techniques also assist in estimating the resources needed, including team members, their skills, tools, and infrastructure.&nbsp;</li><li>Additionally, these techniques can be applied to estimate the complexity of features and functionalities, identify potential risks and uncertainties, and estimate the effort required for testing, documentation, and other project activities.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<h2 id="test-estimation-techniques"><span id="Test_Estimation_Techniques"><strong>Test Estimation Techniques</strong></span></h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/BY0yzT3-XFDJ3_wNH3Ty9iA-bduolGzmGa7JFylQvKO0rkpM0exl7E0gOQUVVUYaTWZPVs9RFPqtUyaVJ_Tnw_ioFiBJItqjJ7ZexbMlevfmGFv1O-7lTX2V-1y8tR7pgW3ypw_yRTHNUjcL9aBVrlM" alt="Test Estimation Techniques" width="500" height="360"/></figure></div>



<p><strong>Following is a list of most common but widely used test estimation techniques:</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Estimation Techniques</strong></td><td>Brief introduction</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Work Breakdown Structure</strong></td><td>It is a method of breaking down large tasks into smaller, easily executable groups</td></tr><tr><td><strong>3-Point Software Estimation Test</strong></td><td>Tasks are broken down into smaller tasks, and then each task is estimated based on 3 points &#8211; Best case, Most likely and Worst case estimates</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Wideband Delphi Method</strong></td><td>It is a technique where an expert set of panel comes together to determine the most probable outcome and they have a common consensus</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Functional Point Analysis</strong></td><td>Large tasks are broken down into small tasks. Each small task is then estimated based on size, cost and duration of project</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Agile Estimation</strong></td><td>In these techniques, the current data and past&nbsp; experience are used for estimation and new information is continuously integrated into the project to refine the process of estimation</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Distribution in Percentage</strong></td><td>Here, every stage is assigned or assessed in terms of percentages. This is to find how much effort should be put into each stage of the testing cycle.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>Check Out: <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/agile-estimation-techniques/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Agile Estimation Techniques</a></p>



<h2 id="test-estimation-best-practices"><span id="Test_estimation_best_practices"><strong>Test estimation best practices</strong></span></h2>



<p>Test estimation is a critical aspect of the <a href="https://www.javatpoint.com/software-engineering-software-development-life-cycle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">software development cycle</a>. Accurate estimation helps in planning, resource allocation, and project management. Here are some best practices for test estimation:</p>



<ul><li><strong>Understand Requirements</strong>: You should have a thorough understanding of the project requirements before you begin estimating. Any ambiguities or incomplete requirements can lead to inaccurate estimates.</li><li><strong>Break Down Tasks</strong>: Rather than estimating the whole story as a single value, breakdown the testing effort into smaller, manageable tasks. This will make the estimation process more precise and will reduce the risk of overlooking important aspects.</li><li><strong>Use Historical Data</strong>: Sometimes historical data can help estimate better and faster. A similar story may have been estimated and worked upon earlier. Refer to past projects with similar scope and complexity to gain insights into the testing effort required.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Involve the Right Experts</strong>: Ask your team members if someone else has worked upon a similar story estimation. This input from experienced testers, test leads, and other stakeholders shall improve the accuracy of estimates.</li><li><strong>Use Estimation Techniques</strong>: Utilize the most suitable technique based on the project&#8217;s characteristics.</li><li><strong>Consider Risk Factors</strong>: Any potential risks that may impact testing efforts should be identified in the beginning. Factor in additional time for handling unforeseen issues that could arise during testing.</li><li><strong>Account for Environment and Infrastructure</strong>: Ensure that the required test environments, tools, and infrastructure are considered in the estimation. Setting up and maintaining these resources can take time.</li><li><strong>Review and Validate</strong>: A fresh eye can often see what a repetitive eye cannot see. Ask someone to review and this may help in better estimations.</li><li><strong>Update Estimations</strong>: As the project progresses and more information becomes available, reassess and update the estimates accordingly. Make sure you mention a reason for changing original estimation for any future reference.</li><li><strong>Track and Learn</strong>: Keep track of the actual time and effort spent on testing activities and compare them with the estimated values. Analyze any discrepancies and learn from them to improve future estimations.</li></ul>



<p>Remember that estimation is not an exact science, and unforeseen circumstances can affect the actual effort required. Regularly revisit and adjust the estimates as the project progresses to ensure a successful testing phase.</p>



<h2 id="software-test-estimation-template"><span id="Software_Test_Estimation_Template"><strong>Software Test Estimation Template</strong></span></h2>



<p><strong>Here is a sample template to be used for software estimations.</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Project Name:</strong> [Name of the Project]</td><td>                                                                                                                             </td></tr><tr><td><strong>Estimation Date:</strong> [Date of Estimation]</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Estimation Prepared By:</strong> [Name of Estimator]</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Estimation Reviewed By: </strong>[Name of Reviewer]</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Project Overview:</strong>[Provide a brief overview of the project, its objectives, and scope.]</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Test Scope:</strong>[List the in-scope items for testing, including modules, features, and functionalities.]</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Test Types Included:</strong>[List the types of testing that will be performed, such as functional, regression, performance, security, etc.]</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Assumptions:</strong>[List any assumptions made during the estimation process.]</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Estimation Technique:</strong>[Specify the technique used for estimation (e.g., Expert Judgment, Three-Point Estimation, Delphi Technique, etc.)]</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Contingency:</strong>[Specify any contingency effort included to account for unforeseen issues and risks.]</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Dependencies:</strong>[List any dependencies that may impact the testing effort, such as availability of developers or test environment.]</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Risks and Mitigation Strategies:</strong>[List potential risks related to testing and the strategies planned to mitigate them.]</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Estimation Approval:</strong>[Include a section for relevant stakeholders to approve the estimation.]</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Test Effort Breakdown</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Test Activity&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Estimated Effort (hours/days) |&nbsp;</td><td>Assumptions/Notes</td></tr><tr><td>Test Planning and Strategy</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-case-design-techniques/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test Case Design</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Test Environment Setup</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Test Data Preparation</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Test Execution&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>-Functional<br>-Regression <br>-Performance<br>-Security<br>-Other</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Defect Reporting and Tracking</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-closure-report/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test Closure and Reporting</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Total Estimated Test Effort&nbsp;</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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<p class="title">Here is a guide that talks about the different types and techniques of software testing</p>
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<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/the-different-software-testing-types-explained/" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Read more</a>
</div>



<h2 id="summary"><span id="Summary"><strong>Summary</strong></span></h2>



<p>The test estimation techniques are not just useful for testing software but can be helpful for the entire software development life cycle. Above mentioned techniques can be combined with each other to get a much more precise estimation. Getting accurate estimation for any project is a vital step in using the resources, time, and skills to their maximum potential.</p>



What is the 3-point estimation in testing?
The Three-Point Estimation, also known as the PERT (Program Evaluation and Review Technique) estimation, is a technique used in project management, including testing, to provide a more realistic and reliable estimate for task durations or effort. In the context of testing, the Three-Point Estimation involves considering three estimates for each task:
<ul>
<li>Optimistic Estimate (O): This is the best-case scenario estimate, assuming everything goes perfectly without any unexpected issues or delays.</li>
<li>Most Likely Estimate (M): This is the estimate based on a realistic scenario, considering typical challenges and factors that might affect the task.</li>
<li>Pessimistic Estimate (P): This is the worst-case scenario estimate, assuming various difficulties and potential delays come into play.</li>
</ul>
Using these three estimates, the PERT formula is applied to calculate the Expected Duration (ED) or Expected Effort (EE) for the task:<br>
ED=(O+4M+P)/6</br>
This formula places more weight on the “Most Likely Estimate” while incorporating the Optimistic and Pessimistic Estimates to balance out the influence of overly optimistic or pessimistic assumptions.



How many test estimation techniques are available?
There are several test estimation techniques available that project managers and teams can use to estimate the effort, time, and resources required for testing activities. Some of the commonly used test estimation techniques include:

<ul>
<li>Expert Judgment</li>
<li>Analogous Estimation</li>
<li>Parametric Estimation</li>
<li>Three-Point Estimation (PERT)</li>
<li>Delphi Technique</li>
<li>Wideband Delphi</li>
<li>Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)</li>
<li>Use Case Point Estimation</li>
<li>Test Point Analysis</li>
<li>Function Point Analysis</li>
<li>Comparative Estimation</li>
<li>Vendor Bid Analysis</li>
</ul>
These are just a few popular ones. Remember that each of these techniques has its strengths and weaknesses and may be more suitable for different project scenarios. Project managers often choose the technique that aligns with the project&#8217;s characteristics, available data, and team expertise.


Software Test Estimation Techniques & Best Practices


<p>Everyone has their own unique testing journey, but not everyone has it documented online for others to see. Nowadays, everything is online in almost all spheres of work. So, the important question is, &#8220;<em>Are your professional skills, capabilities, and offerings visible online?</em>&#8221; Surprisingly, only a small percentage of testers have a portfolio they can share. However, this is a great opportunity for new testers to create their portfolio and stand out.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In this article, I&#8217;ll share some easy and creative portfolio ideas for testers to showcase their skills, capabilities, and offerings. Let&#8217;s explore how one can build an impressive testing portfolio that will make you stand out among your peers.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Blogging"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Blogging</a></li><li><a href="#Automation_Work"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Automation Work</a></li><li><a href="#Public_Study_Notes"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Public Study Notes</a></li><li><a href="#Start_Your_Own_Blog_Website"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Start Your Own Blog / Website</a></li><li><a href="#Talk_at_Conferences_Meetups"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Talk at Conferences &amp; Meetups</a></li><li><a href="#Share_Your_Presentations"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Share Your Presentations</a></li><li><a href="#GitHub_Repos"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> GitHub Repos</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Open_Source_Software"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Test Open Source Software</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-blogging"><span id="Blogging"><strong>Blogging</strong></span></h2><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/IAn1fHPjxtazmYgBVpg-FxksN9hvhNmMqtAJU4OtjdHZmCfWU4d2rt25fPJpknVR7geTSXae1_fY8CA6XFhS3f1vyMPOLMD7mqFajOeKJGbx7B2NdtaIMVa7ms7Y80SZqcVX80UNjdTryb9hM2dVUw" alt="A person typing on a computer

Description automatically generated"/></figure></div>


<p></p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Small Threads / Micro Blogs</strong>
<ol>
<li>This is a good starting point for folks who want to make a <a href="https://writerbuddy.ai/free-tools" target="_blank" rel="noopener">start with writing</a>.</li>
<li>You can share small bite-sized testing tips, interesting observations, or even fun testing-related anecdotes from your day-to-day learnings in a small tweet or thread of tweets to keep your followers engaged.</li>
<li>Popular Platforms: Twitter, Threads, Mastodon</li>
<li>Example: <a href="https://twitter.com/QualityFrog" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Ben Simo 🐋 X (twitter.com)</a></li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>


<ol start="2"><li><strong>Text Blogs</strong><ol><li>Easiest way to start if you have some experience with writing.</li><li>Share your testing experiences, lessons learned, and insights through posts, or long-form articles on LinkedIn or Medium. It&#8217;s a great way to reach a professional audience and make a lasting impact.</li><li>Popular Platforms: LinkedIn – Articles / Posts, Medium, WordPress, Blogspot, etc.</li><li>Example: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-parwal/recent-activity/articles/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Articles | Rahul Parwal | LinkedIn</a></li></ol></li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li><strong>Image Blog / Visuals</strong><ol><li>They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so why not use images / visuals to feature&nbsp; visually appealing posts? Share before-and-after bug images of public apps, testing process snapshots, or infographics explaining complex testing concepts.</li><li>Popular Platforms: Instagram, Twitter</li><li>Example: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/eviltester/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Agile Software Testing Tips (@eviltester)</a></li></ol></li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li><strong>Video Blogs:</strong>&nbsp;<ol><li>If you love to face the camera or create engaging <a href="https://www.renderforest.com/intro-maker" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">youtube intro maker</a> video content on platforms like YouTube or Instagram. Walkthrough testing scenarios, demonstrate bug-finding techniques, or anything that you would like to share and connect with a wider audience through your visual storytelling.</li><li>Popular Platforms: YouTube, Instagram, etc.</li><li>Example: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NicolaLindgren/videos" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Nicola Lindgren &#8211; YouTube</a></li></ol></li></ol>



<h2 id="automation-work"><span id="Automation_Work"><strong>Automation Work</strong></span></h2><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/GUW1AAkS4-IWSVt7ZrP81CXUC-VBMJbl5iwvkHOHOqnYG41wTYNC4QQca9zn5LULPAcMbQ8lnItkZU8nMk_vMF81XomjHCnsgV9V0J4zDMFFGBfG-pEER5YLFNSOIdx96gHP8wpOPmYIUxr4OoSWhQ" alt="A toy in front of a computer

Description automatically generated"/></figure></div>



<br><ol><li><strong>GitHub Repos</strong><ol><li>If you are actively into coding, set up a GitHub repository to showcase your automation prowess. Share your personal automation scripts, projects, pull requests, and any custom frameworks you&#8217;ve developed to make your testing more efficient.</li><li>Take inspiration from creative profiles like &#8220;<a href="https://github.com/gauravkhuraana/gauravkhuraana" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Gaurav Khurana</a>&#8221; and put your own spin on it. You can make your GitHub profile a visually stunning representation of your testing &amp; automation journey. Here is a short video to help you get started: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xvLSmnXYuI" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">How to make your GitHub Profile look better &#8211; YouTube</a></li><li>Example: <a href="https://github.com/amuthansakthivel" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">amuthansakthivel · GitHub</a></li></ol></li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li><strong>Framework Design</strong><ol><li>If you&#8217;ve built testing frameworks for learnings or modified existing ones available in public, share your thought process, challenges faced, and the final results. Be sure to explain how your frameworks adds value to the testing process.</li><li>Example: <a href="https://github.com/automationhacks/appium-fast-boilerplate" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">GitHub &#8211; automationhacks/appium-fast-boilerplate</a></li></ol></li></ol>



<h2 id="public-study-notes"><span id="Public_Study_Notes"><strong>Public Study Notes</strong></span></h2><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Wy3W5MyJRsTO6-dD1tQ7cFR1mcbEuWxy_TpcWPgE5Sb8OLqJSYzzveCjyOlsX2zyy30mhp_JH26MKKeNoHxNhpvuFmurnsxoE8KGonGYn8FNu1ZD_IhnsgVNQtTYjSh9RE2NDyXrcDu15SQAC1ir4A" alt="Portfolio Ideas for Testers"/></figure></div>



<br><ul><li>In this age of continuous learning, how about not stopping at learning alone. An interesting way to convert your learnings into an online record of your learnings is to document your learnings by taking comprehensive study notes while learning new testing concepts or tools. </li><li>It will not only help you retain information better but also serve as valuable resources for others. The key is to organize your study notes and make them easily accessible. </li><li>Popular Platforms: Notion, OneNote, Github, etc. </li><li>Example: <a href="https://synapse-qa.com/?s=study+notes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Rahul&#8217;s Study Notes</a></li></ul>



<h2 id="start-your-own-blog-website"><span id="Start_Your_Own_Blog_Website"><strong>Start Your Own Blog / Website</strong></span></h2><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/cCCkG2QCTyKwBd8kOL8EfEF6wluK_5QSaFt8HdhQfTWtmjuPKCDppuiwwU4sM2O5OsQzzUzhC8Q2mlXcPaZY3wQllH3hB2g-3TY8p47yceXt35Nb1omsrOben2pOinVJj0JWrwGKy5Z3u8e7Cm7l3Q" alt="Portfolio Ideas for Testers"/></figure></div>



<br><ul><li>Creating your own blog or website gives you complete control over your content and presentation. It&#8217;s like having your own piece of real estate on the internet. It will act as your home on the internet.</li><li>Having a blog / website will also create luck for like-minded people to find you.</li><li>By regularly updating your blog or website with fresh and insightful content, you increase the chances of connecting with like-minded testers, potential employers, or collaborators.</li><li>Blogging Tip: Whenever you stumble upon useful testing resources or insightful articles, blog about them! It serves as a local cache for yourself and helps others discover valuable content.</li><li>Example: <a href="https://testingtitbits.com/blog/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Blog &#8211; Rahul&#8217;s Testing Titbits</a></li></ul>



<h2 id="talk-at-conferences-meetups"><span id="Talk_at_Conferences_Meetups"><strong>Talk at Conferences &amp; Meetups</strong></span></h2><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/CpPQNwn054Zg0DFkAp61wr6DP5NMIljvKekqgRzhskQAv-feUapceQ8IKxrPNt7gtAPfBCq46TA3Ypv7UnToIltqlNAbhc10K0cLbzSR33uJPr5iDhAM8sCilJQSOIDFTRP08MinAvUssl_Q50oTXg" alt="A close up of a microphone Description automatically generated"/></figure></div>



<br><ul><li><strong>Step 1 &#8211; Know about them:</strong> Stay updated about testing conferences and meetups happening around you or even online. Keep an eye on social media and tech event websites for announcements. Follow hashtags such as: #testingconference, #testingmeetup, etc.</li><li><strong>Step 2 &#8211; Attend Them: </strong>Attend conferences and meetups to learn from fellow testers, network with industry experts, and gain insights into the latest trends and practices.</li><li><strong>Step 3 &#8211; Apply as a Speaker: </strong>Once you gain enough confidence and experience, apply to speak at these events. Talk to the organizers about it. Sharing your knowledge with others is incredibly rewarding and helps you grow as a tester.</li><li><strong>Step 4 – Start with Sharing Micro Learnings:&nbsp; </strong>Short on time? Or not sure what to speak for a big talk. No worries! Start with sharing 15-minute micro-learnings on specific testing topics. It could be a small tool demo, a code snippet, or a bug-hunting technique.</li></ul>



<h2 id="share-your-presentations"><span id="Share_Your_Presentations"><strong>Share Your Presentations</strong></span></h2><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/nWZOE7OUcgegEN0QB_-oJHGBJ8r-7-A6cMkuvY7ije0FCUBp4junwii8lmmCNQRmRym59kk5AE3WLr1lM_Wq7zQwhyMrQBrC0JpMLzylIS0uc8LQjR-v6TQfydiSCp7dbAluExJICpz_qdp9VFm1Wg" alt="A projector with a beam of light Description automatically generated"/></figure></div>



<ul><li>You can turn your testing talks or ideas into <a href="https://publuu.com/multimedia-presentation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">multimedia presentations</a> and share them on social platforms.</li><li>It is a fantastic way to reach a wider audience and establish yourself as a knowledgeable tester.</li><li>This gives you the opportunity to expose your work in public and create an opportunity to attract review comments and collaborators.</li><li>Popular platform: LinkedIn, Slideshare, Slides, Github, etc.</li><li>Example: <a href="https://www.slideshare.net/rahul_verma/presentations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Rahul Verma presentations | SlideShare</a></li></ul>



<h2 id="github-repos"><span id="GitHub_Repos"><strong>GitHub Repos</strong></span></h2><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/uz5YIwUqihqGGSWI5vQ5685cNlJwOr-Eo6yPCaHeubcjtzuO28MK2k1ATdotAzcQNNr6mlw9vcbbRuGars6Ba70jNqRWitqa8KSdVWhvK1wFTeu-K6ACao2YFEYOVwENmliYwLTqSA_LqtHkKcdjsg" alt="Portfolio Ideas for Testers"/></figure></div>



<br><ol><li><strong>Showcase Code | Utilities</strong><ol><li>GitHub is a treasure for engineers.</li><li>Create utilities that help testers, or showcase your testing-related code snippets.</li><li>Example: <a href="https://github.com/yatt-ai/yattie" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">GitHub &#8211; dacoaster/yattie: A tool to help testers test.</a></li></ol></li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li><strong>Curate Resources:</strong><ol><li>Gather and curate testing-related resources from various repositories and create your own well-organized collection.&nbsp;</li><li>It&#8217;s an excellent way to show your expertise in the testing domain.</li><li>Example: <a href="https://github.com/abhivaikar/howtheytest" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">GitHub &#8211; abhivaikar/howtheytest: A collection of public resources about how software companies test their software</a></li></ol></li></ol>



<h2 id="test-open-source-software"><span id="Test_Open_Source_Software"><strong>Test Open Source Software</strong></span></h2><br>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/LTA5yhiH2YRLeqfpwvQSX5Xk5jCq-BOaozME9f4aLilKG3ihTbTHXKt3TfnWuh1UCDMQj35RpLuoHrzXmDOrioIPdJhO7mDPLhBvgeHzNGSEbzbh67WjwociVmWDvJKpcVoLTz2zjl7Imd-4pvlzOw" alt="A heart and a heart Description automatically generated with medium confidence"/></figure>



<br><ul><li>Testing open-source software not only helps the community but also helps you demonstrate your testing skills to the global world.</li><li>Most of the contributions that you do with Open Source Software remains public and can be used as a proof of work. You can contribute using any of the following: <ul><li>Bug Reports</li><li>Pull Requests</li><li>Change Requests</li><li>Documentation Contribution</li><li>&#8220;How To&#8221; articles / guides / tutorials on such software</li></ul></li><li>Writing &#8220;How-To&#8221; articles on testing open-source software will serve as evidence of your hands-on experience with these projects.</li><li>Popular open source project: <a href="https://github.com/testsigmahq/testsigma" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">GitHub &#8211; testsigmahq/testsigma: A powerful open source test automation platform for Web Apps, Mobile Apps, and APIs.</a></li><li>Contribution guide: <a href="https://testsigma.com/open-source-contribution" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Detailed Step-by-Step Guide for anyone who wants to start contributing to Open Source. (testsigma.com)</a></li></ul>



<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">Try Testsigma Open source</a></button></p><br></p>



<p>Remember, your portfolio is a reflection of your testing passion and skills. Mix and match these ideas to create a unique and personal showcase of your journey.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Happy testing, and may your portfolio shine like a bug-free application! Cheers!</p>


Portfolio Ideas for Testers Showcasing Your Testing Journey!

Portfolio Ideas for Testers: Showcasing Your Testing Journey!

Decision Table Testing A Complete Overview


<p>DevOps is all about streamlining and automating your software delivery life cycle. When you enable DevOps in your organization, all the development and operation activity needs to be automated.&nbsp;Let’s discuss DevOps Testing aspects here.</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_DevOps_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is DevOps Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Features_of_Testing_in_a_DevOps_Environment"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Features of Testing in a DevOps Environment</a></li><li><a href="#Who_is_Involved_in_DevOps_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Who is Involved in DevOps Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Testing_Types_in_DevOps"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Testing Types in DevOps</a></li><li><a href="#DevOps_Testing_in_Testsigma"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> DevOps Testing in Testsigma </a></li><li><a href="#DevOps_Testing_Best_Practices"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> DevOps Testing Best Practices</a><ul><li><a href="#Leverage_test_automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.1</span> Leverage test automation</a></li><li><a href="#Identify_test_automation_engineers"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.2</span> Identify test automation engineers</a></li><li><a href="#Select_the_right_testing_tools"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.3</span> Select the right testing tools</a></li><li><a href="#Track_performance_with_metrics"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.4</span> Track performance with metrics</a></li><li><a href="#Maintain_proper_documentation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.5</span> Maintain proper documentation</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-devops-testing"><span id="What_is_DevOps_Testing"><strong>What is DevOps Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>DevOps Testing is the continuous and automated process of software testing that enables continuous and faster delivery of software. The legacy approach of testing is performed manually. <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/manual-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Manual testing</a> involves more human activity, is more prone to error, and is more time-consuming. As DevOps focuses on automating processes, testing can fit into DevOps with the help of the right test automation tools.</p>



<p>Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/where-does-qa-and-test-automation-fit-in-devops/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Devops Test Automation</a></p>



<h2 id="h-features-of-testing-in-a-devops-environment"><span id="Features_of_Testing_in_a_DevOps_Environment"><strong>Features of Testing in a DevOps Environment</strong></span></h2>



<p>Organizations are swiftly moving to <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/devops-for-agile-teams/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DevOps for Agile teams</a>. Both approaches focus on the automation of testing activity.</p>



<p>Let&#8217;s understand the features of DevOps testing</p>



<ul><li>Testing is automated, and it is continuous.</li><li>Testing is carried out at different stages of SDLC.</li><li>Easy to roll back and detect errors in the code as results/reports will be instant.</li><li>Testing becomes a shared responsibility. Each team member is responsible for quality.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-who-is-involved-in-devops-testing"><span id="Who_is_Involved_in_DevOps_Testing"><strong>Who is Involved in DevOps Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>In DevOps Teams, everyone is equally responsible for the quality of the product. That means testing is done by the whole team. So no more blame game on the testing team. Designated testing team member will have expertise and skill set in the DevOps testing and he will drive the testing. Testing team member helps to choose the right tool, build the automation framework, automation code review, integrate testing activity with pipelines, etc. On the other hand, all team members will contribute to developing the automation scripts.</p>



<p>In DevOps testing, the tester needs to have a broad understanding of development, testing, and tools.</p>



<p>Some of the Key areas that DevOps QA members should focus on are given below.</p>



<ul><li>Source Control (using Git, Bitbucket, AzureDevOps, etc)</li><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/continuous-integration" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Continuous Integration</a> (using Jenkins, Bamboo, AzureDevOps)</li><li>Deployment Automation &amp; Orchestration (using Jenkins, AzureDevOps, Octopus Deploy)</li><li>Container Concepts (Kubernetes, Docker)</li><li>Cloud (using AWS, Azure, GoogleCloud, etc)</li></ul>



<p>Apart from above knowledge, tester may also need to write code in specific languages such as Java, Javascript, Python, C#, etc.</p>



<p>Read more &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/devops-test-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DevOps Testing Strategy</a></p>



<h2 id="h-testing-types-in-devops"><span id="Testing_Types_in_DevOps"><strong>Testing Types in DevOps</strong></span></h2>



<p>DevOps Testing focuses on testing during every stage of the Software Development Lifecycle. It emphasizes automation testing. All different testing types are automated and hooked into the DevOps pipeline to achieve Continuous Integration(CI) and <a href="https://testsigma.com/continuous-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Continous Testing</a>(CT)</p>



<p>Let&#8217;s take a look at different types of DevOps testing.</p>



<p id="h-unit-testing"><strong>Unit Testing</strong></p>



<p>Unit Testing focuses on small objects. It is also called white box testing. It covers all different conditions and methods available at the class level. Mostly it is written in the unit testing framework such as JUnit, NUnit, Jest, Mocha, etc.</p>



<p id="h-component-test"><strong>Component Test</strong></p>



<p>Larger and more complex applications are segregated into multiple components as it makes development easier and faster. Each component might contain different classes and objects to deliver small functionality. These functionalities are tested using an automation framework while building the application.</p>



<p id="h-integration-test"><strong>Integration Test</strong></p>



<p>As the application is built with components, two or more components are integrated into the product. These Integrated components are tested using the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/devops-automation-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DevOps testing tools</a>. It may or may not involve database calls.</p>



<p id="h-api-testing"><strong>API Testing</strong></p>



<p>Microservice architecture is the most popular and mostly followed in the organization. In API testing, individual or interrelated microservices are tested together. Mostly API contracts, static data, and data types are tested using API automation tools.</p>



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



<p>Functional Testing focuses on user workflows or end-user functionalities. Often called as end to end Testing. As it touches all the different components, databases, APIs, etc. This is the most critical type of testing. DevOps testing emphasizes incorporating automation tools for end-to-end testing as manual testing is the most time-consuming. Fortunately, tools like Testsigma, Selenium, and Playwright do this job without any hassle.</p>



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
<p class="title"> Start Automating your Tests for Web, Mobile, Desktop Applications and APIs , 10X faster with Testsigma  </p>
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
</div>



<p id="h-performance-stress-testing"><strong>Performance/Stress Testing</strong></p>



<p>Performance testing is important as the user experience is closely associated with it. Performance testing measures the overall application behavior under different loads, different network conditions, and infrastructure configurations. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_performance_testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Performance testing</a> can be scripted and automated. Tools such as JMeter, Blazemeter, K6, etc can be used for <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-stress-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stress testing</a>.</p>



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
<p class="title"> Start automating your tests for web, mobile, desktop applications and APIs with Testsigma  </p>
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Try for free</a>
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<h2 id="h-devops-testing-in-testsigma"><span id="DevOps_Testing_in_Testsigma"><strong>DevOps Testing in Testsigma </strong></span></h2>



<p>Let&#8217;s understand how Testsigma can help you in DevOps testing.</p>



<p><br>Step 1: Log in with Testsigma</p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">Step 2: Go to the “Test Plan” page</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/waJ9ah_0VHLhmH2fD76NM3zoOmXb9o9XOO2VsIal7VVjSX_KmN7Bhp2Nqm4VgL-LoKuWIBo4y0ocfUrCQ09CpCitLB4gFkhFMvFeCqT-eQFDUmjHHNkE2y5rufr2Nf3E7LninfQef6rwh7YpNulJTg" alt="Test Plan"/></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px">Step 3: Click on your test plan (Example: My Sample Test Plan)</p></p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">Step 4: Choose CI/CD Integrations</p></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/TebvSvT9GW9Cd7PWNbV-ga9jGqaXI0sFm7hPBXTReEDOZ5PZppVeTQvYV7e4haVRsbtnMp7JXR7A2kaWdi0s2VjwIppWE1OekrdQ6r-BilUlefMR0v8YPCFI75GFXKISTYH4USlsd5acicWV-fbMvQ" alt="sample devops test plan"/></figure>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px">Step 5: Choose your respective CI tool such as AzureDevOps, Jenkins, CircleCI, etc, and follow the on-screen instruction to configure.</p></p>



<p>Once you complete the integration, the Testsigma tests will be triggered automatically, as part of your development code pipeline, and no manual intervention is needed. Testsigma makes all DevOps testing integration much easier. Many organizations put Testsigma on a top tool list while enabling DevOps.</p>



<h2 id="h-devops-testing-best-practices"><span id="DevOps_Testing_Best_Practices"><strong>DevOps Testing Best Practices</strong></span></h2>



<p>You cannot learn everything from failures or trial and error methods as it costs a lot. Following the best practices is the smartest way to enable DevOps testing in your organization.<br><br>Some of the DevOps best practices are given below.</p>



<h3 id="h-leverage-test-automation"><span id="Leverage_test_automation"><strong>Leverage test automation</strong></span></h3>



<p>In a DevOps ecosystem, developers frequently commit the code to the repository. This may include a subset of features. It is difficult to perform testing every time the developer commits the code. The best approach is to make testing automated. As discussed there are different types of testing such as unit, component, API, integration, and <a href="https://testsigma.com/end-to-end-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">end-to-end testing</a>. Use test automation tools for different types of testing. Automation tools help to reduce the manual intervention of the testing. Also, swift feedback helps developers to revert the code if it is causing any errors.</p>



<h3 id="h-identify-test-automation-engineers"><span id="Identify_test_automation_engineers"><strong>Identify test automation engineers</strong></span></h3>



<p>In DevOps testing, everyone is responsible for the quality. This may not work exactly as you expected. As team members are having different skill sets. Identifying the test automation engineers is more important. While others are responsible for the quality, test automation engineers drive the DevOps testing. This way everyone is aligned with the whole testing process. The person who has an expertise in manual and automation is the best as they understand both product features and automation frameworks.</p>



<h3 id="h-select-the-right-testing-tools"><span id="Select_the_right_testing_tools"><strong>Select the right testing tools</strong></span></h3>



<p>Choose the right testing tools after careful analysis. <em>&#8220;There is no best automation tool in the market but there is the best automation tool for your organization&#8221;.</em> While choosing the test automation tool consider cost, skillsets, infrastructure needed, upskill effort, etc. Furthermore, you need to perform a detailed analysis of the application architecture,&nbsp; type of application, domain, etc. Remember, once you start the automation testing it is difficult to look back so make this decision carefully.</p>



<h3 id="h-track-performance-with-metrics"><span id="Track_performance_with_metrics"><strong>Track performance with metrics</strong></span></h3>



<p>Like Agile, DevOps also focuses on continuous improvement. The metrics can help to identify the testing gaps or improvement areas. Furthermore, metrics can also be used to measure success. Some of the helpful metrics are</p>



<ul><li>No. of test cases automated</li><li>No. of bugs discovered</li><li>Time taken for application testing</li><li>Occurrence of false failures in the automation suites.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-maintain-proper-documentation"><span id="Maintain_proper_documentation"><strong>Maintain proper documentation</strong></span></h3>



<p>The documentation may be time-consuming initially, but it makes the testing process organized and transparent. Documentation should include tool sets, installation, test reports, summary reports, test cases, regression reports, etc. Well-structured documentation also helps any new members to start their own. In DevOps, documentation is not a one-time effort. It&#8217;s a perpetual and collaborative effort.</p>



<p>Following the DevOps process and best practices may be challenging during the initial days however if you bring the habit to the organization it becomes the way to work. DevOps Testing focuses more on automation tools, in turn, it demands stable lower-level environments (QA, staging, pre-prod, etc). Many organizations spend less on lower environments to save the cost but it may not work in a DevOps ecosystem. There are many test automation tools that are DevOps ready, choosing the right automation tool can help in reducing the effort and cost.</p>



What tool is used for testing in DevOps?
Testing is broad terminology. It involves different types of testing such as unit testing, component testing, API Testing, end-to-end testing, etc. There are many testing tools to support these testing types. Selenium, Testsigma, Cypress, and Postman are a few names.


Is DevOps required for testing?
Testing can be done with or without DevOps however, if you adopt DevOps practices into your organization it is recommended to make testing a part of it.



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DevOps Testing Concepts, Best Practices & Tools

DevOps Testing: Concepts, Best Practices & Tools


<p>Software Quality is a term used to measure the degree of excellence of software. Software Quality attributes are extremely important while designing a software application.&nbsp;</p>



<p>There is a misconception that if the software application is bug-free then the quality of the software is high. However, a bug-free product is just one of the Software Quality Attributes. The quality of the software also depends on the user requirements, satisfaction, clearer design, usability, etc.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#List_of_Software_Quality_Attributes"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> List of Software Quality Attributes</a><ul><li><a href="#Reliability"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.1</span> Reliability</a></li><li><a href="#Maintainability"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.2</span> Maintainability</a></li><li><a href="#Usability"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.3</span> Usability</a></li><li><a href="#Portability"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.4</span> Portability</a></li><li><a href="#Correctness"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.5</span> Correctness</a></li><li><a href="#Efficiency"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.6</span> Efficiency</a></li><li><a href="#Security"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.7</span> Security</a></li><li><a href="#Testability"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.8</span> Testability</a></li><li><a href="#Flexibility"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.9</span> Flexibility</a></li><li><a href="#Scalability"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.10</span> Scalability</a></li><li><a href="#Compatibility"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.11</span> Compatibility</a></li><li><a href="#Supportability"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.12</span> Supportability</a></li><li><a href="#Reusability"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.13</span> Reusability</a></li><li><a href="#Interoperability"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.14</span> Interoperability</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Importance_of_Software_Quality_Attributes"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Importance of Software Quality Attributes</a></li><li><a href="#How_can_Test_Automation_Help_in_Improving_Software_Quality_Attributes"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> How can Test Automation Help in Improving Software Quality Attributes?</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-list-of-software-quality-attributes"><span id="List_of_Software_Quality_Attributes"><strong>List of Software Quality Attributes</strong></span></h2>



<p>Software Quality attributes help to measure the quality of the software from different angles. <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-quality-management/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Software Quality</a> Attributes can be broadly classified into 5 types: Design, Runtime, System, User, and Non-runtime qualities. However, when we go into detail there are at least 14 different attributes. Let&#8217;s discuss this in detail.</p>



<h3 id="h-reliability"><span id="Reliability"><strong>Reliability</strong></span></h3>



<p>Reliability is the ability of software applications to behave as expected and function under the maximum possible load.<br></p>



<p>Reliability is made up of different types</p>



<ul><li><strong>Availability:</strong> The percentage of time the application is available for use. 100% availability refers to the system being always available and never going down under any circumstances.</li><li><strong>Recoverability:</strong> Recoverability refers to the ability to recover the system quickly and efficiently.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Fault Tolerance:</strong> This attribute refers to the extent to which the system can tolerate hardware failures.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p>Let&#8217;s take an example of an e-commerce website. The website went down as one of the server nodes crashed. In an ideal situation, if the reliability attribute is implemented then the system should automatically failover to the other server node.</p>



<h3 id="h-maintainability"><span id="Maintainability"><strong>Maintainability</strong></span></h3>



<p>Maintainability refers to how easily software developers can add new features and update existing features with new technologies. The application architecture plays a critical role in maintainability. The well-architected software makes maintenance easier and more cost-effective.</p>



<p>Consider the scenario where the law enforces new privacy laws. If your software is running on legacy code, adhering to new laws might be challenging. If the software is well-architected and the code is well documented, implementing such changes would be an easy task.</p>



<h3 id="h-usability"><span id="Usability"><strong>Usability</strong></span></h3>



<p>The Usability attributes refer to the end user&#8217;s ease of use. Usability is tied to application performance, application UX design, and accessibility. To understand usability better let&#8217;s consider an e-commerce page &#8211; user has purchased an item and wants to return the item. Good usability makes the return option available on the orders page. In some cases, the return option may appear on to contact us page &#8211; in this situation user easily gets confused and faces difficulty to find the return option.</p>



<p>The usability design principles can help to design a good customer experience. The meaningful option texts, tooltips, and info icons are a great way to encourage self-learning.</p>



<h3 id="h-portability"><span id="Portability"><strong>Portability</strong><strong><br></strong></span></h3>



<p>The portability quality attribute refers to how easily the system can be ported or migrated to other environments containing different hardware or operating system specifications. The portability problem is majorly faced in mobile native applications.</p>



<p>An example of a portability issue &#8211; you have designed a web application that works perfectly fine on Android devices but when it is ported to iPhone devices (iOS), it fails to render. If your application is abstracted from UI and business logic, fixing such issues becomes easy.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 id="h-correctness"><span id="Correctness"><strong>Correctness</strong></span></h3>



<p>Correctness refers to the ability to behave or function as per software requirement specifications. This may include navigations, calculations, form submissions, etc.</p>



<p>Consider an example of sign-up. Your application should navigate to the terms and conditions page after signing up as per the requirement specification. However, it is landing on the home page without showing the terms and conditions page. Strict <a href="https://www.evoketechnologies.com/blog/code-review-checklist-perform-effective-code-reviews/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">code reviews checklist</a> and Unit testing can help to discover such bugs.</p>



<h3 id="h-efficiency"><span id="Efficiency"><strong>Efficiency</strong></span></h3>



<p>Efficiency can be defined as the time taken by the system to complete a specific task. In layman&#8217;s terms, it can be the performance of the application. Performance is the most critical software quality attribute as it can make the user system to a hung state. The utilization of system resources should be taken care with the most efficient way, and any memory leaks should be avoided to achieve high efficiency.</p>



<p>For example, if you open one of the video editor applications on your desktop, as soon as you open your system freezes, and all the other open application start to behave in an unintended way. This is a bad application design and shows the poor efficiency of the software.</p>



<h3 id="h-security"><span id="Security"><strong>Security</strong></span></h3>



<p>Security attribute focuses on the ability to safeguard applications, data, and information from unauthorized entities. This is very crucial as the data leaks may incur huge losses in terms of organization&#8217;s brand name and reputation. Furthermore, the organization may face a lawsuit.<br></p>



<p>Authentication, authorization, and data encryption are a few key areas that can safeguard from malicious attacks. Add on to this, if your application is B2C, educating customers also plays an important role.</p>



<p>An example of a security attribute is, you have developed an API endpoint that is exposed to the public however, there is no authorization required to access this endpoint. This can make API and the underlying system, less secure. To make the API secure you can consider enabling a JWT security token as mandatory, which can be created only by authorized users.</p>



<h3 id="h-testability"><span id="Testability"><strong>Testability</strong></span></h3>



<p>Testability is how easily QA members can test the software and log a defect and how easy it is to automate the software applications. Your application design should focus on making the testing easier and faster.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Consider an example, you have designed a web application that doesn&#8217;t contain any uniquely identifiable locators. This makes automation more complicated. Adding ids, data-testid, and class helps to cover more scenarios through automation.</p>



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<p>Nowadays <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automation testing</a> is most recommended as it makes the delivery faster. If your application is automation friendly then one can easily automate the application using automation software like Testsigma and identify the defects in the early stage.</p>



<h3 id="h-flexibility"><span id="Flexibility"><strong>Flexibility</strong><strong><br></strong></span></h3>



<p>Technology changes are more common nowadays. Flexibility refers to how quickly your application can adapt to future and current technology demands. Indirectly the flexibility attribute is tied up with your competency in the market. If your application is not up to date with the latest technology then you might not be able to deliver all the user needs.</p>



<p>For example, You are using a third-party library for styling your application. Due to some reasons, the third-party library declares the end of development. Now the question arises of how quickly your application can switch to another library. If it takes longer, then it might cost your business.</p>



<p>Never develop applications with tight coupling of libraries you have reference to, rather design applications in a generic manner and hook the libraries.</p>



<h3 id="h-scalability"><span id="Scalability"><strong>Scalability</strong></span></h3>



<p>Scalability is how easily your system can handle increasing demands without affecting the application&#8217;s performance. Vertical Scalability and Horizontal Scalability are two primary areas that help to meet the scalability criteria.</p>



<p>For example, an e-commerce website declares a Black Friday sale. On sale day, the application sees huge traffic. If your application is designed according to the scalability attribute, as soon as the traffic increases, the system should automatically add the server nodes and distribute the traffic. Failing to do that may result in your application going down.</p>



<h3 id="h-compatibility"><span id="Compatibility"><strong>Compatibility</strong><strong><br></strong></span></h3>



<p>Compatibility focuses on the ability to work software systems on different operating systems, and browsers seamlessly as expected without affecting any functionality.</p>



<p>A most common problem with the web application where it works on Chrome but it doesn’t on Firefox. This is because of compatibility issues. When it comes to business, you can&#8217;t restrict users to use a specific browser. However, such issues can be tested using the most popular tools like Testsigma. Testsigma provides 3000+ real devices and multiple browsers to execute your automated tests for compatibility testing. Using such <a href="https://testsigma.com/qa-automation-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automation tools</a> helps to discover compatibility issues at an early stage.</p>



<h3 id="h-supportability"><span id="Supportability"><strong>Supportability</strong></span></h3>



<p>It is the degree to which a software system can provide useful information for identifying and resolving the issues when application/functionality stops working. Enabling logging, monitoring, and health checks are most useful to adapt supportability.</p>



<p>For Example, Your application has a profile information page, which works perfectly fine for some users and only a few users are facing issues with the profile page. In this case, it is difficult to reproduce in a lower-level environment. The logs come in handy to identify the call stack and reference APIs which is causing the issue.</p>



<h3 id="h-reusability"><span id="Reusability"><strong>Reusability</strong></span></h3>



<p>It is the degree to which software components can be reused in another application or the same application. Reusable software components reduce the development cost and effort. This is one of the reasons most companies are encouraging component-based development.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For example, your organization is developing two different applications where both the application needs sign-in and sign-up forms. If you don’t have a reusable components strategy then you need to develop the same thing two times. On the other hand, if you have identified common components and designed those as reusable and shareable components it would be much easier to integrate sign-in and sign-up screens into both the application. The reusable component can also decrease maintenance costs.</p>



<h3 id="h-interoperability"><span id="Interoperability"><strong>Interoperability</strong></span></h3>



<p>Interoperability refers to the ability to communicate or exchange data between different systems. Which can be operating systems, databases, or protocols. The interoperability problem arises due to the legacy code base, poorly architectured application, and poor code quality.</p>



<p>For example, Your application needs to communicate with the payment gateway but you are facing challenges to integrate with the payment gateway due to various standards mismatch. If you had taken all the security, data, and standard API design approach this wouldn&#8217;t have happened.</p>



<h2 id="h-importance-of-software-quality-attributes"><span id="Importance_of_Software_Quality_Attributes"><strong>Importance of Software Quality Attributes</strong></span></h2>



<p>Software quality attribute determines software system usefulness and success. Often the software quality attributes safeguard you from reputation damage. Software quality attributes should be introduced at the early stage of the software development life cycle (SDLC). While architecting your application you should consider the quality attribute. If all the software quality attributes are taken care then your application can sustain in the market for a long time.</p>



<p>Adapting software quality attributes is not a one-time task, rather it is continuous and it can evolve. The management should enforce adapting software quality attributes to achieve high standards. Keep in mind that adapting quality attributes at a later stage might be challenging and it can be pricier. As many software quality attribute focus on core-level architecture, it should be introduced at an early stage.</p>



<h2 id="h-how-can-test-automation-help-in-improving-software-quality-attributes"><span id="How_can_Test_Automation_Help_in_Improving_Software_Quality_Attributes"><strong>How can Test Automation Help in Improving Software Quality Attributes?</strong></span></h2>



<p>The software automation tool can help in ensuring the various quality attributes. For example, when we talk about scalability, a performance testing tool such as JMeter can help you to ensure scalability before going to production. Similarly, the Testsigma test automation tool can help you to ensure Correctness, Compatibility, and Usability. Compatibility testing is the most challenging as it requires a huge investment in infrastructure. Read here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/automation-scalability/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automation Scalability</a></p>



<p>Fortunately, Testsigma made it easier. It provides 3000+ real devices including desktop and mobile platforms and provides many different browsers to test on. Using Testsigma without any additional effort you can run your compatibility across browsers and platforms using the same automation scripts. Testsigma is <a href="https://testsigma.com/codeless-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">codeless automation tool</a> that lets you write scripts in plain English. In turn, it helps to adapt the Quality attributes with less effort and cost.</p>



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<p>Doesn&#8217;t matter if your application is large or small, simple or complex you need to consider software quality attributes. Software quality attributes not only focus on technological aspects but it also important to run and sustain in the market. So quality attributes play a key role in both technology and business. Nowadays it&#8217;s not even an option rather it’s a need.</p>



What are the characteristics of software quality? 
The characteristics of software quality usually include:
<ul>
<li>reliability</li>
<li>maintainaibility</li>
<li>usability</li>
<li>portability</li>
<li>correctness</li>
<li>efficiency</li>
<li>security</li>
<li>testability</li>
<li>flexibility</li>
<li>scalability</li>
<li>compatibility</li>
<li>supportability</li>
<li>reusability</li>
<li>interoperability</li></ul>


What are the Software Quality Attributes?

Waterfall Model In Software Testing | What it is & Example?

Ultimate Guide to Enterprise Application Testing

Enterprise Application Testing – The Ultimate Guide


<p>Continuous Integration (CI) is a game-changing practice that enhances code quality, reduces time to market, and fosters a more collaborative development environment.&nbsp;Let&#8217;s explore its numerous benefits of Continuous Integration!</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_Continuous_Integration"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is Continuous Integration?</a></li><li><a href="#Benefits_of_Continuous_Integration"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Benefits of Continuous Integration</a></li><li><a href="#Wrap_Up"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Wrap Up</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-continuous-integration"><span id="What_is_Continuous_Integration"><strong>What is Continuous Integration?</strong></span></h2>



<p><a href="https://testsigma.com/continuous-integration" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Continuous Integration</a>&nbsp; is like having a team of diligent robots working together smoothly. Whenever a developer updates the code, these smart robots automatically spring into action. They integrate those changes with the main codebase without causing any disruptions.</p>



<h2 id="h-benefits-of-continuous-integration"><span id="Benefits_of_Continuous_Integration"><strong>Benefits of Continuous Integration</strong></span></h2>



<p>The following are some of the main advantages of continuous integration:</p>



<ol><li><strong>Early Bug Detection</strong></li></ol>



<p>The tests are run automatically every time developers make changes to the code. In this way problems are discovered before they can grow into more tough problems.&nbsp;</p>



<ol start="2"><li><strong>Improved Code Quality&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></li></ol>



<p>With continuous integration, after every checkin, the changes are integrated into the main repository . After the integration, the code is compiled and is made to run through some predefined set of automated tests. As this happens everytime, feedback about the checkin is also provided. Frequent feedback here ensures an improved code quality throughout the development.&nbsp;</p>



<ol start="3"><li><strong>Faster Feedback Loop</strong></li></ol>



<p>Developers receive quick feedback on their code changes, allowing them to address issues promptly..</p>



<ol start="4"><li><strong>Reduced Integration Problems</strong></li></ol>



<p>By testing code frequently, any integration problems are caught early and hence reducing any related problems.&nbsp;</p>



<ol start="5"><li><strong>Enhanced Collaboration</strong></li></ol>



<p>Via CI, developers are able to see what their fellow developers are working on easily. As a result, duplication of efforts is reduced, and communication is enhanced. This enhances trust and propels cooperation towards goals held in common.</p>



<ol start="6"><li><strong>Improved Quality with Automated Testing</strong></li></ol>



<p>The software quality is further enhanced when automated tests are integrated with CI. Here automated tests are run with each code integration. This makes sure that the new changes do not break the old functionality, hence acting as a safety net for the developers.&nbsp;Read here- <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/enhancing-robustness-ci-cd-pipeline-test-automation/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI/CD Test Automation </a></p>



<p>A popular tool for automating, executing and integrating your tests with your CI is <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Testsigma</strong></a>. This is a low-code, cloud-based test automation tool that allows you to automate web, mobile, desktop, and API tests in one place. With Testsigma, you can easily integrate your automated tests into the DevOps and CI/CD pipeline and ensure continuous testing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>It allows seamless integration with top <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/ci-cd-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI/CD tools</a> like Jenkins, Circle CI, Azure DevOps, AWS, Bamboo, Travis CI, and Codeship CI.</p>



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<ol start="7"><li><strong>Consistent Builds</strong></li></ol>



<p>CI ensures that builds are the same in all environments, reducing deployment issues. When code behaves consistently across development, testing, and production, it builds trust in the deployment process.</p>



<ol start="8"><li><strong>Faster Release Cycles</strong></li></ol>



<p>With CI, teams can release software more often and reliably. Quick testing and integration help teams respond faster to user feedback, increasing customer satisfaction.</p>



<ol start="9"><li><strong>Improved Documentation</strong></li></ol>



<p>Quite often, CI practices bring forth automatic generation of up-to-date project documentation. This assists well in the easy onboarding of new developers so that they can easily find the right information. Clear documentation helps in understanding project requirements and decreases manual effort on documentation.</p>



<ol start="10"><li><strong>Increased Developer Confidence</strong></li></ol>



<p>Knowing that their work will be tested automatically encourages developers to be more innovative and take ownership, which helps to create a culture of creativity.</p>



<ol start="11"><li><strong>Improved Deployment Processes</strong></li></ol>



<p>Developers can integrate code using smaller chunks through <a href="https://www.blackduck.com/glossary/what-is-cicd.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI/CD</a>. This further makes the review process simpler and of higher quality so that reviewers are not buried under them.</p>



<ol start="12"><li><strong>Improved Deployment Processes</strong></li></ol>



<p>An Improved integration process and quality with CI, also helps improve the deployment process.</p>



<p>Read here-  <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/ci-cd-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CI/CD Testing</a></p>



<h2 id="h-wrap-up"><span id="Wrap_Up"><strong>Wrap Up</strong></span></h2>



<p>Continuous Integration, or CI, makes the software development process more straightforward by automating builds, testings, and integrations. The result is quicker feedback with far better code quality and decreased time-to-market. CI gives development teams the ability to deliver high-quality software very efficiently.</p>





Continuous Testing
https://testsigma.com/continuous-testing


Continuous Integration
https://testsigma.com/continuous-integration


Continuous Delivery
https://testsigma.com/guides/continuous-delivery/


Continuous testing in DevOps
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="OZ2iFuZ5tW"><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/continuous-testing-at-the-speed-of-agile-and-devops/">Continuous Testing in DevOps &#8211; What it is &amp;  Benefits</a></blockquote><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" title="&#8220;Continuous Testing in DevOps &#8211; What it is &amp;  Benefits&#8221; &#8212; Testsigma Blog" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/continuous-testing-at-the-speed-of-agile-and-devops/embed/#?secret=1yuXvCsNXh#?secret=OZ2iFuZ5tW" data-secret="OZ2iFuZ5tW" width="500" height="282" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>




Benefits Of Continuous Integration - An Overview

Benefits Of Continuous Integration – An Overview


<p>A login page is important for any website/application to grant secure access to its customers. But do you know what is more important than that? A bug-free login page.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Certainly, no business wants an outsider to come in contact with the private data of other users. And if you run an enterprise that wants to avoid such issues, it&#8217;s important to focus on verifying the “password” and “forgot password” fields of the login page.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This exhaustive blog post on writing forgot password test cases is sure to assist you in the development of a login page for your upcoming projects.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Test_Cases_for_Password"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Test Cases for Password</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Cases_For_Forgot_Password"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Test Cases For Forgot Password</a></li><li><a href="#When_to_Automate_Test_Cases_For_Forgot_Password"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> When to Automate Test Cases For Forgot Password?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Automate_Test_Cases_For_Forgot_Password"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> How to Automate Test Cases For Forgot Password?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-test-cases-for-password"><span id="Test_Cases_for_Password">Test Cases for Password</span></h2>



<p>Although the password is one single field on the login page, you will realize how important it is to create password test cases so your customers are not left confused when they misplace the login credentials. Here is a list of test cases for the password field that you can follow:</p>



<ul><li>Verify if a valid password is allowing users to successfully log in to their accounts.</li><li>Check if an invalid password entry is preventing users from logging into the account.</li><li>Check if an error message displays when the entered password is wrong.</li><li>Validate that the password field is case-sensitive.</li><li>Verify the size, font, and placement of the password input field on the page.</li><li>Check that the entered password is not visible at first and is hidden by some special characters (dots, asterisk, or such).</li><li>Test if the option to make the password visible (usually, <em>Show Password) </em>is present or not.</li><li>Test if clicking on the <em>Show Password </em>button makes the password visible to the user.</li><li>Validate that the character limit for the password field is accurate and within the range specified in the specification documents.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-test-cases-for-forgot-password"><span id="Test_Cases_For_Forgot_Password">Test Cases For Forgot Password</span></h2>



<p>Similar to test cases for the password field, there are many test cases for the forgot password option. Knowledge of these different tests will help you run the right cases and scripts to verify the forgot password functionality on the login page. It is an essential requirement that every user will use once. We recommend that you properly understand the value of the forgot password function before building or running the below tests.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Features under test</strong></td><td><strong>Test cases</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Forgot password link</td><td>Check that the forgot password option is visible on the page.<br>Verify that the forgot password link is clickable.<br>Verify that clicking on the link takes the user to the forgot password page.</td></tr><tr><td>Forgot password functionality</td><td>Check if you receive an email with a password reset link with valid credentials.<br>Check if an error message is displayed when you provide an invalid email address for forgot password.<br>Verify that you get the password reset link for an already registered email.<br>Login after resetting the password and see if you can successfully log in.<br>Test that you receive a confirmation message or email after changing/resetting the password.<br>Test if the password reset option ensures taking input that follows the guidelines of password creation.<br>Check and see if the user gets blocked when they try to reset the password beyond a certain number of attempts.<br>Verify that the reset password link is disabled after the new password is set.<br>If there are any security questions, check if they are displayed right and take only valid answers.<br>Verify that the password reset link email is sent only to the particular user’s email.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="h-when-to-automate-test-cases-for-forgot-password"><span id="When_to_Automate_Test_Cases_For_Forgot_Password">When to Automate Test Cases For Forgot Password?</span></h2>



<p>Both password and forgot password options have many test cases that call for thorough understanding and attention. Missing out on even one test or its result can prove to be fatal for the entire software. It may give access to an individual who is not the right user or deny entry to the owner of the account. To avoid any of such instances and more of a similar manner and intensity, automating the <a href="https://www.javatpoint.com/test-case" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test cases</a> for the password field along with forgot password option is an essential choice.</p>



<p>You should automate your test cases when:</p>



<ul><li>There are numerous test cases that require immense manual effort and a high budget.</li><li>Your team has fewer members working on the project.</li><li>There are communication/collaboration issues when testing is done manually.</li><li>You want to avoid human-borne problems.</li><li>It is clear to you that opting for <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation</a> will save you time, money, and the discomfort of working on the same thing again and again.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-how-to-automate-test-cases-for-forgot-password"><span id="How_to_Automate_Test_Cases_For_Forgot_Password">How to Automate Test Cases For Forgot Password?</span></h2>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">For forgot password testing, you can go through the test cases that we have listed above. Here, we will take the example of verifying if the user receives an email upon clicking on the password reset button with the valid email address, with Testsigma as the test automation tool. Below is the Testsigma login page with <em>Forgot Password </em>link.</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/bSOoxYtaZIWA9eIrTGOnTOBXFRsbaPqZVHjHrw6iPeuiC6BjC6JNydHjG_hb79hQ2BEDKF6wZxcxDhzlmUqRgb04qkEMgizZoHXsNnAYIK-vL5oKVukTC3jyf_B5vUqXplJ1JYH7MKRLf1WwrEWykcw" alt="Testsigma signup"/></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px;padding-top:30px">This is the forgot password page we will request the link from:</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BTkwxdE3eJ1H3NzFdy31FVqktxTXioTwBJiRfaF-uqYa164vnMY5Ja1nU835Ryl75A-jvOdRGsttwQFsgCM905IBPJjBKzCgTiMAc4h0ZHRavhqCPIR3-3y25VWxlgNq8sI5HMipUdtvSbiPSZk4uPg" alt="Test Cases For Forgot Password 2"/></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px">Here are the steps on how you can automate the above-mentioned test case for forgot password with Testsigma tool:</p></p>



<p><strong>Step 1:</strong></p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">Create a new test case with a name and navigation URL.</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/tA516tUgbRWoM0ellM7gbqMtGyNYoNgnoLfECgAYuet9g-uuthwHRhs603zP2QQUHhnJ6WmDRfhi_djUpjTwhaV-fsjCsYatcrchgsRm6gZfBGYFgC9kQy2jPznhSLbUi1EgOwlr37YLJwcromMTm1Y" alt="Test Cases For Forgot Password 3"/></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px"><strong>Step 2:</strong></p></p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">Create the test steps using NLP dropdowns or the record option available in the tool. Testsigma provides multiple NLP options that you can choose to build the test steps in plain English without any coding.</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/H5GuXPK8LwyT4_tiJ-svV9IIUY9rJkT2nQIhq0Vyc0ZflTRO9xIQmew2fZYdd16mbJ6LmGZHngOJmVBiSz5aktWmEh585MbcGRX1INl6a9PU-kT_5z3VT7-7POlm6YEvMjOcZeqobFmA8Tm9iP9cA30" alt="Test Cases For Forgot Password 4"/></figure></div>



<p style="padding-top:30px"><strong>Step 3:</strong></p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">After you are done creating the tests, run them to see the pass and fail status. In this case, we have provided a valid email address to receive the password reset link, So the status would be <em>Pass. </em>You can also check screenshots and videos of the test to share with the team members.</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/NhvpdYdQoux8sLjdJEzceFQ9aB5jE9SgW4OIPdFCFQ-H7KQLUmLZ1ehKOtzXfM6NUn5Mj5hVJ_1uUQVHShkj_gBwBRVQsgWu7j0r905e7geaai97r1Ci4nwr9suFiU8X0Cy5EWDQXdcGHQxg3K-IAUE" alt="Test Cases For Forgot Password 5"/></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px"><strong>Step 4:</strong></p></p>



<p>Lastly, verify that you have received the email with the password reset link in your email. You can further check that the reset link is valid and works properly for you.</p>



<p>You can also check out how you can create <a href="https://testsigma.com/regression-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test cases for regression testing</a>, <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-cases-for-api-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing</a>, and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/what-types-of-test-cases-should-be-automated-for-efficient-cross-browser-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cross-browser testing</a> blogs and guides to better understand Testsigma and its features.</p>



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



<p>A password is only as strong and safe as it is tested out to be. And if your application or system runs on data that needs proper authorization for user access, logging in with a username and password is intricate to your business. Here comes the need to verify password and forgot password fields with the right set of tests and automation tools.</p>



<p>Both these input fields ask for proper testing. We have listed almost all the necessary tests that you can follow to verify the fields. Also, check out the example we have highlighted with Testsigma and see how you can automate our web, application, and API within minutes without coding a single line.</p>



How do you write a test case example?
A test case refers to a set of instructions that you need to run to verify certain features/functionality of the system. An example of a test case would be checking the search feature on a site by entering valid and invalid inputs.


How do you write a test case for a reset?
For a reset functionality, a test case would primarily look like checking the fields with valid and invalid input. Some of the tests would also be sending the right emails with proper reset links. We have discussed reset password test cases above in detail.


What are the possible test cases for the login page?
For the login page, test cases would include verifying the username and password functionality with positive and negative entries, checking the submit/login button, and validating successful login attempts.


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