Hey there, tech enthusiasts and passionate testers! For the last one year, our industry is flooded with material on how ChatGPT and other AI models will transform the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/future-of-software-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">future of testing</a>. I promise you that this article will be different and would not talk about the capabilities of ChatGPT but would instead talk about the myths in testing industry that ChatGPT has busted.&nbsp;



Brace yourselves as we unveil the myth that ChatGPT, the AI language model, has finally shattered: the notion that coding is the primary &#8220;super&#8221; skill for success in testing. Believe it or not, coding is not the be-all and end-all of testing prowess. Let&#8217;s explore why and discover what lies ahead for the testing landscape.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Introduction">1 Introduction</a></li><li><a href="#Whats_Next">2 What’s Next?</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">3 Conclusion</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-introduction">Introduction</h2>



For years, the belief that coding skills are paramount for testers has sustained in the industry. Many aspiring testers or mid-range experienced testers felt compelled to hone their programming abilities, and even practice competitive programming assuming it was the golden ticket to excel in the industry. But ChatGPT has emerged as a game-changer, challenging this long-running assumption.



 With ChatGPT, it has become increasingly easy and simple to generate test framework codes, sample scripts, test data generation utilities, and whatnot. Just a simple search on YouTube, and you will find a plethora of video tutorials on how to generate code samples <a href="https://hix.ai/chatgpt" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">using ChatGPT</a>. In most cases, the code generated by the AI model needs basic to no modification for most simple to basic use cases of test automation. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/kpX0JFZdmD4kjR3zlbNj67fONXu2XONzOf6t5-41mJ3TteTTVmVoxk6i1k0zjyRGfJ0pIoWOxAqGZwgvCB0t6n6Qe5WbB75eqC-0PZ9hce7R-foqFFujlvU7G6BiDFk1xMu6hf7M3RiHpHK3CfLdhQ" alt="A picture containing wall, flag, indoor, fabric

Description automatically generated" /></figure>



This article is not against coding or programming as a skill. Coding is undeniably valuable in testing, especially when it comes to creative and custom automation needs. However, it is merely one piece of the puzzle. Testing is a multidimensional craft that demands a diverse skill set to deliver fruitful results.&nbsp;



<h2 id="what-s-next">What’s Next?</h2>



With the rise and boom of AI &amp; No Code tools in the market (Ex: <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a>), it’s clear that basic framework generation or scripting work will get easy and simple. As the testing landscape evolves, it&#8217;s essential for testers to embrace this transformation and continue to nurture their diverse skill set. By focusing on the key testing skills, testers can adapt to the changing industry and remain at the forefront of delivering exceptional value.



So, what are these key testing skills that deserve your attention? Let&#8217;s see some of the essential abilities that testers have not been focusing much but should be focusing on:



<ol><li>Risk Analysis: As a tester, we primarily test to find information about the risks and help the team reduce their risk gap. Your ability to assess risks and prioritize them is crucial. Identifying potential issues, the risk gap associated with them as well as their impact on the system under test helps the team make well-informed decisions and drive the project effectively. Here are a few resources to get started and understand risk analysis in testing:<ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g97mMeC9EIE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Michael Bolton. Risk Analysis. QA Fest 2018 &#8211; YouTube</a></li><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/risk-based-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">What is Risk Based Testing? Top Benefits &amp; Approaches (testsigma.com)</a></li><li><a href="https://riskstormingonline.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">RiskStorming Online</a><a href="https://riskstormingonline.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> | A Quality Strategy Created Together</a></li><li><a href="http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Risks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">RISKS-LIST: RISKS-FORUM Digest (ncl.ac.uk)</a></li></ul></li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Effective Communication: As a tester, we are often the bearer of bad news. Conveying such news is socially difficult. Being able to articulate such thoughts in verbal as well as written forms, report bugs with advocacy, collaborate with developers, and interact with stakeholders are all vital aspects of a tester&#8217;s role. If you are looking for a long-term career in tech, communication is one skill that you should master early in your career.</li></ol>



 Here are a few resources to learn the art of persuasive and influential communication:



<ul><li><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/top-ways-communicate-software-testing-insights-better/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Top 7 Ways t</a><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/top-ways-communicate-software-testing-insights-better/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">o Communicate Software Testing Insights Better (testsigma.com)</a></li><li><a href="https://manassaloi.com/2020/05/19/master-communication-writing.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">How to communicate better | Manas J. Saloi (manassaloi.com)</a></li><li><a href="http://testertested.blogspot.com/2013/05/emailing-skills-and-its-power-to.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Tester Tested !: Emailing skills and its power to influence for software testers (no, just me)</a></li></ul> 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/2KJ0vYoXRKTYVfQ5ZhTzQMlSNPZuVObXkP4NX9txfe4qIXENhtkR-hUEwh43poGlIavxJbkkoUUXG5TyZ2PJZfFMZ6ZGQZaIHUK_70Zl2jxeupWqSQUYjQqxOI4aNbfiSaTh4lQgo3MOQ9DjIEfZZg" alt="influential communication" /></figure></div>



 <ol start="3"><li>Bug Advocacy: Bug Reports are high-visibility items for project stakeholders. As a tester, simply reporting bugs is not enough. Bugs that are not acted upon do not translate into actual value. Testers should learn the art of advocating for the bugs they discover. This skill involves presenting clear evidence, explaining the impact of the bug, and conveying its risk and importance to the stakeholders. Here are few resources to learn the art of bug advocacy &amp; beyond:</li></ol>



<ul><li><a href="https://www.thetesttribe.com/courses/bug-advocacy-course/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Bug Advocacy: Report Bugs that Get Fixed, Like a Pro (thetesttribe.com)</a></li><li><a href="https://leanpub.com/bugadvocacy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Bug Advocacy by Rahul Parwal et al. [Leanpub PDF/iPad/Kindle]</a></li><li><a href="https://issuu.com/santhoshtuppad/docs/crash-course-on-reporting-bugs-in-software-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Crash Course on Reporting Bugs in Software Testing by Santhosh Tuppad &#8211; Issuu</a></li></ul>



<ol start="4"><li>Exploring Requirements: Requirements are often unclear, ambiguous, and inconsistent in most software projects. Also, not all requirements will be in written form. Just like development, requirements need to be tested as well as explored too. Testers need to be skilled at diving deep into the project context, understanding the scope, and exploring the missing parts of the requirements. This key skill will determine your ability to cover and target the right areas.</li></ol> 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BolEhu8S7KgroC6_HSxOAkDluyfO_v8mrHBdGl0rXWmtliwT3aQcxPzllyaKxwu916p9viODM0WoCaujCh2TUeLQoPJdF8J-qFfgc5DRLeVBY0vJNiJ9FaXjxIbV8nhTvm2JDF0eeuDw5ZzA2BxTyQ" alt="A picture containing text, screenshot, font, line
" /></figure></div>



 Here are a few resources to be good at exploring requirements:



<ul><li><a href="https://www.thetesttribe.com/blog/exploring-requirements/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Exploring Requirements: Part 3 of Requirement Gathering Blog Series (thetesttribe.com)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh4-p_02coc&amp;t=583s" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Perform Systematic Exploration and Understand Testing Requirement | Rahul Parwal #requirements #test &#8211; YouTube</a></li><li><a href="https://leanpub.com/exploringrequirementsone" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Exploring Requirements… by Gerald M. Weinberg [PDF/iPad/Kindle] (leanpub.com)</a></li></ul>



<ol start="5"><li>Test Strategy: Creating and discussing about your <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-testing-strategy/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test strategy</a> is an important aspect of professional systematic software testing. Crafting a solid test strategy is a vital skill for testers. It involves devising a plan that outlines the testing approach, techniques, quality criteria’s, project environment, and coverage areas to ensure thorough testing.</li></ol>



 Here are a few resources and reference examples to learn the art of creating a holistic test strategy:



<ul><li><a href="https://www.huibschoots.nl/wordpress/?p=2726" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Creating a Test Strategy – Magnifiant: exploring software testing (huibschoots.nl)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.satisfice.com/download/heuristic-test-strategy-model" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Heuristic Test Strategy Model &#8211; Satisfice, Inc.</a></li><li><a href="http://thetesteye.com/posters/TestStrategyChecklist.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Test Strategy Checklist (thetesteye.com)</a></li></ul>



<ol start="6"><li>Product Modeling: The ability to model the product mentally or as an abstract model helps testers gain a deeper understanding of its behavior, interactions, and potential risk areas. By creating a visual model or representation of the product, testers can target effective test scenarios as well as structure their tests better. It also helps in achieving a higher test coverage.&nbsp;</li></ol>



 Here are a few resources to learn about systematic product modeling:



<ul><li><a href="http://thetesteye.com/blog/2012/02/many-models-better-test-ideas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Many Models – Better Test Ideas</a></li><li><a href="https://www.annemariecharrett.com/how-i-use-modelling-in-software-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Model a system is critical in software testing (here&#8217;s how) (annemariecharrett.com)</a></li><li><a href="http://testerstories.com/2017/12/modeling-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Modeling Testing – Stories from a Software Tester (testerstories.com)</a></li></ul>



<ol start="7"><li>Biases: Like in any other field, biases, and prejudices can be very risky in software development. As a tester, it’s good to know about them in advance and develop a questioning / investigative attitude whenever you feel you are getting biased. Biases can affect your testing judgments and overall decision-making processes. Often, you will have to consciously de-bias yourself from the diverse set of information and emotions around you.&nbsp;</li></ol>



 Here are few resources to learn about biases and how to not let them affect your testing:



<ul><li><a href="https://originality.ai/blog/are-gpt-detectors-biased-against-non-native-english-speakers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Are ChatGPT Detectors Biased Against Non Native English Speakers</a></li><li><a href="https://testingtitbits.com/does-psychology-influence-your-test-experiments/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Are Biases Influencing your Test Results? &#8211; Rahul&#8217;s Testing Titbits</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/www.sog.unc.edu/files/course_materials/Cognitive%20Biases%20Codex.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Cognitive Biases Codex.pdf (unc.edu)</a></li><li><a href="https://betterhumans.pub/cognitive-bias-cheat-sheet-55a472476b18#.5q3u387fg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Cognitive bias cheat sheet. An organized list of cognitive biases because thinking is hard. | by Buster Benson | Better Humans</a></li></ul>



<ol start="8"><li>Negotiation: Testers often find themselves in situations where negotiation skills come in handy. Estimations and negotiations go hand in hand. Your ability to negotiate and buy time will play a key role in quality delivery. Collaborating with stakeholders under pressure to address conflicting priorities is an art that will save you a lot of hassle in the long run.</li></ol>



 Here are a few resources to learn the art of negotiation as a software tester or consultant:



<ul><li><a href="https://secretsofconsulting.blogspot.com/2006/05/yielding-to-pressure-vs-negotiating.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Gerald Weinberg&#8217;s Secrets of Writing and Consulting: Yielding to Pressure vs. Negotiating (secretsofconsulting.blogspot.com)</a></li><li><a href="https://developsense.com/blog/2009/08/test-estimation-is-really-negotiation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Test Estimation Is Really Negotiation – DevelopSense</a></li></ul>



<ol start="9"><li>Persuasion: Testing is not just about finding information about the product. It also involves helping the team make well-informed and beneficial decisions for the product and team. Often these things are not directly under your control as a tester. Convincing others about the importance of testing, the value of certain approaches, or the severity of a bug requires persuasive skills. Testers who can effectively present their case influence decision-makers positively.</li></ol>



 Here is a crisp mindmap to help you understand and implement the art of persuasion as a tester:



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TUG3XgOs4H-dfigxv2SmhNzPC3Kzhe6WdzBlRVlkfAD7W1Pm9tqSpnMFbnUeryftLCOnwj1LP7YC2ytcc_2_f6O-k6ebSGhYngGjFDJltWsdFHXisZS2CDM0YCdMVwLyWxoKEYoxJXWYqN1YtkqXgw" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" /></figure>



 <ol start="10"><li>Note-Taking: Just like testing, everyone can do note-taking to some degree. However, professional note-taking requires conscious practice and consistent efforts. Effective note-taking is a skill that often goes underrated but plays a significant role in your testing as well as your credibility as a professional. Taking comprehensive and organized notes helps testers track their progress, document important findings, and maintain a clear record of their work.</li></ol>



 Here is a crisp summary of the paper on Exploratory Tester’s Notebook by Michael Bolton that would give you the need and benefits of good note-taking in exploration:



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/mZ7sOcHSzPIZ0Ur3Lali31QjRc8oBCVQ9nSVx3Hz1xM2cwNYBbcdiCOb9jUh7M0PmjyxxJtgcNUwxfuEYNB4N75TFMH9_uyTQqCIO4UfQ1RMEycQ1WAL5Grk2SxvuXdhcXZJYIvi3HvH-o4woSelcg" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" /></figure>



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



In this article, we covered 10 essential skills that testers should now focus on honing to stay relevant and excel in their testing career. With testers upskilling themselves on these skills, we can soon envision a future where skilled testers collaborate seamlessly with AI models like ChatGPT, combining their human expertise and critical thinking skills with the model&#8217;s computational and processing capabilities. This synergy would result in more comprehensive and intelligent testing.



Interested to explore a powerful open-source testing tool that aims to assist you well with your human expertise?&nbsp; 



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



 In conclusion, ChatGPT&#8217;s disruption of the long-standing myth that coding is the primary &#8220;super&#8221; skill for success in testing has pushed everyone to look around for a new era of possibilities. By recognizing, nurturing and embracing the diverse skill set required for testing, we empower ourselves to tackle complex challenges, advocate for quality, and drive innovation in the ever-evolving world of software testing.



Happy testing, and may your bug hunts be fruitful and fulfilling!

With ChatGPT here, what's next for the Testing Industry

With ChatGPT here, what’s next for the Testing Industry?

Power of DevOps Quality Metrics A Comprehensive Guide

Power of Quality DevOps Metrics: A Comprehensive Guide

Every tester spends excessive time understanding the application and its specifications to test it. But imagine the wastage of time and cost for testers when the software build, which developers pass for testing, keeps failing every test. All of this is possible to avoid by using Build Verification Testing or BVT.



The process consists of individually checking the software builds to ensure they are going for testing only after the build is stable and ready.



Let’s learn about BVT and its process.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_Is_Build_Verification_Testing">1 What Is Build Verification Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Build_Verification_Testing">2 Why Build Verification Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Principles_of_BVT">3 Principles of BVT</a></li><li><a href="#The_Process_of_BVT_Testing">4 The Process of BVT Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Why_Automation_Is_Essential_For_Build_Verification_Testing">5 Why Automation Is Essential For Build Verification Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Some_Benefits_Of_BVT_Testing">6 Some Benefits Of BVT Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Tips_For_Selecting_Build_Verification_Tests">7 Tips For Selecting Build Verification Tests</a></li><li><a href="#Build_Verification_Testing_Checklist">8 Build Verification Testing Checklist</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">9 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">10 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#Who_performs_BVT">10.1 Who performs BVT?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_difference_between_build_verification_testing_and_build_acceptance_testing">10.2 What is the difference between build verification testing and build acceptance testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_an_example_of_BVT_testing">10.3 What is an example of BVT testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-build-verification-testing">What Is Build Verification Testing?</h2>



Build verification testing, or BVT, is a set of tests run on every new build to check if the build is stable and ready for further testing. It consists of test cases that validate the core features of the software build. Any build that fails BVT is rejected and goes back to the developers for resolution. Later, it comes back after a fix, and<a href="https://testsigma.com/regression-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> regression testing</a> happens on it with the same set of test cases.



The idea is to save time and resources by eliminating the back-and-forth between the build and testing phases. And this testing proves highly useful when there are multiple inter-dependent builds. It is also called<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/smoke-testing/"> Smoke testing</a> and mainly checks for build verification and acceptance.



An example of BVT is verifying the basic functions of a registration form, such as page rendering and successful registration upon providing the correct credentials. Any build that functions according to its expected behavior passes the BVT testing and moves ahead for further testing.



<h2 id="h-why-build-verification-testing">Why Build Verification Testing?</h2>



BVT aims to ensure that the system or the build exhibits the expected behavior as defined in specifications documents. Some of the reasons why you should perform build verification testing are as follows:



<ul><li>Early detection of issues: BVT is conducted in the early stages of development or after making significant changes to a system. By verifying the expected behavior, you identify bugs and resolve them early on, reducing the likelihood of more severe problems later in the development cycle.</li><li>Risk mitigation: BVT helps mitigate risks associated with the system&#8217;s behavior. It identifies potential risks such as security vulnerabilities, data loss, or incorrect functionality by validating and addressing the expected behavior before the system gets deployed to production.</li><li>Verification of requirements: BVT ensures that the system meets the specified requirements or specifications. It helps validate that the system performs the intended functions and behaves correctly.</li><li>Confidence in system functionality: Performing BVT assures that the system is functioning properly and helps build confidence among stakeholders, including developers, testers, project managers, and end-users, about its quality.</li><li>Efficiency and time savings: By conducting BVT, any deviations from the expected behavior can be identified promptly. This allows developers to make the necessary corrections early on, reducing the overall time and effort required for testing and debugging.</li><li>Customer satisfaction: BVT ensures that the system meets the expected behavior, which in turn increases the likelihood of customer satisfaction as they receive a reliable and functional product.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-principles-of-bvt">Principles of BVT</h2>



Primarily, the principles of BVT are developing a stable build, verifying the build&#8217;s health, and moving toward automation. These three points basically cover multiple aspects of BVT, such as:



<ul><li>Early Testing: BVT should be performed as early as possible in the development cycle to catch issues and bugs at an early stage. It helps identify and rectify problems before they become complex and costly to fix.</li><li>Focus on Critical Functionality: BVT prioritizes testing the critical functionalities of the system or software component that significantly impact the overall build performance or user experience.</li><li>Test End-to-End Scenarios: BVT should include test scenarios that cover the end-to-end functionality of the system. Such an approach is useful in verifying the interaction between different components of the system.</li><li>Clear and Measurable Criteria: The testing should have clear and measurable criteria for determining each test case&#8217;s expected behavior and success measure.</li><li>Reproducibility: BVT should be reproducible, with the tests being the ability to execute multiple times with the same inputs and produce the same results. Reproducibility is important for debugging and investigating issues that arise during testing.</li><li>Documentation: You must be able to well-document the BVT process, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_plan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test plans</a>, test cases, and test results. This helps in maintaining a record of the testing process, facilitates collaboration among team members, and provides a reference for future testing and maintenance activities.</li><li>Automation: Whenever feasible, leverage automation tools and frameworks to streamline the testing process. Automation helps increase efficiency, reduce human errors, and enable repeated execution of tests, allowing for faster feedback on the system&#8217;s behavior.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-the-process-of-bvt-testing">The Process of BVT Testing</h2>



You know that BVT consists of certain core functionality tests to check if the software build is ready for testing. Now, let’s see how the BVT process happens and what steps are involved in it.



Performing BVT is quite straightforward: run pre-defined, repetitive tests to see if the build is functioning as it is supposed to. And because the tests are redundant, automating your BVT process using automation tools is logical. Follow these steps to run BVT:



<ul><li>Select the right BVT tests from the already defined test cases.</li><li>Execute the test cases as part of your CI/CD pipeline.</li><li>Analyze and report the test results upon every run.</li><li>In case a BVT test fails, send it back to the developer, log the results, and reject the build.</li><li>Now, developers will work on the issue resolution based on your report and feedback.</li><li>They will send back a new build after fixing the problem, which will again go through BVT with the same set of tests.</li><li>If the build passes BVT, move it forward for testing; otherwise, reject it and send it back for further resolution.</li></ul>



These steps are general guidelines, and the actual implementation of BVT may vary based on the project&#8217;s specific needs, complexity, and context.



<h2 id="h-why-automation-is-essential-for-build-verification-testing">Why Automation Is Essential For Build Verification Testing?</h2>



BVT tests must be automated because automation makes testing extremely accessible and easy. And since these tests are run repeatedly to ensure the build is ready for the testing phase, automation also saves time and cost. The best way to approach BVT automation is to automate everything from start to end, including the build release process and the BVT results.



Automation tools assist in running the tests. And because BVT focuses only on core functionalities, you can go for tools that offer simple yet effective ways to write and execute tests. Testsigma is one such automation tool that provides testers the ability to save and re-run test cases, which is an important part of the BVT process. Another advantage of using Testsigma for BVT is the tool’s feature allowing testers to create test cases in plain English and save them whenever. It further helps that the tool supports web, mobile, desktop and API testing broadening your testing horizons.



 <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 BVT tests, for web, mobile, desktop, and APIs, from the same place, with Testsigma</a></button> 



<h2 id="h-some-benefits-of-bvt-testing">Some Benefits Of BVT Testing</h2>



Behavioral Verification Testing (BVT) offers several benefits in the software development process. Some of the key benefits of BVT include:



<ul><li>Checks all major core functionalities before executing in-detail tests, thereby saving time and money</li><li>Detects potential bugs even before the testing phase starts</li><li>Helps mitigate risks associated with the behavior of the system</li><li>Ensures that the system adheres to the specified requirements or specifications</li><li>Instills confidence in the development team, testers, project managers, and stakeholders by thoroughly verifying the behavior of the system</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-tips-for-selecting-build-verification-tests">Tips For Selecting Build Verification Tests</h2>



Some tips you should keep in mind while selecting build verification tests are:



<ul><li>Choose all the test cases that cover the core and major functionalities of the software.</li><li>Select test cases that cover end-to-end scenarios of user interactions or system processes.</li><li>Include test cases that cover various input combinations, boundary values, error conditions, and exceptional scenarios.</li><li>Ensure to mention the right version details about the build in the tests.</li><li>Go for test cases that can be automated and executed within 30 minutes.</li><li>Add BVT tests as a part of your CI process.</li><li>Allocate more test cases to high-risk areas to verify and mitigate potential risks thoroughly.</li><li>Select the scalable tests that can be re-used with new additions and modifications of build functionalities.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-build-verification-testing-checklist">Build Verification Testing Checklist</h2>



By now, you have a clear idea about BVT and its scope. And while you can start performing the tests, it is good to have a checklist ready to make sure no critical step goes missing. Follow the below list for running your BVT process.



<ul><li>Develop a BVT test plan outlining the objectives, scope, and test coverage.</li><li>Verify that all the test cases within BVT cover the major functionalities of the build.</li><li>Check if all the tests included in the final testing process are sufficient for build verification.</li><li>Define the entry and exit criteria and follow them strictly.</li><li>Identify and prioritize the test cases.</li><li>If feasible, try to automate all tests.</li><li>Provide detailed reporting of the bugs and rejected builds.</li><li>Follow a standard guideline when the build fails BVT and goes back to developers for a fix.</li><li>Ensure to properly follow the build pass criteria, i.e., do not even overlook any minute issue when it comes to qualifying the build as pass or fail.</li><li>Maintain the automation script with the right input values to re-run them for testing rejected builds after resolution.</li></ul>



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



BVT is a test that is conducted before the detailed testing phase on every new software build. The goal of BVT is to check the core features of the build to see if it is stable and ready for testing. BVT prevents the failing of test cases when the testing on the build actually starts. Build owners work on incoming builds to identify the issues and reject or pass them based on the outcome. With BVT, we only aim to validate the basic functionality of the software rather than verifying all the possible edge cases.



Most of the BVT test cases are automated as they need to be re-run to test new or existing builds that keep coming for testing. You can automate BVT test cases using tools that support writing and executing small, basic tests in record time with lesser resources. Testsigma is equipped with AI to assist testers in creating tests that can be saved, re-run, and written in plain English to perform the BVT process easily. The tool is popular for its accessible testing methods, including NLP-based scripting, data-driven testing, and reusable test groups, which are all required for BVT.



We encourage you to explore Testsigma for all your testing requirements. Register for a<a href="https://testsigma.com/request-demo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> free demo</a> to learn more about the tool and how it will help you to create end-to-end tests 10x faster for web, mobile apps, &amp; APIs.



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



<h3 id="h-who-performs-bvt">Who performs BVT?</h3>



Developers or testers can both perform BVT. Often, the person who executes and maintains BVT results is called the BVT owner and takes care of the testing process before rejecting or passing the build as per the outcome.



<h3 id="h-what-is-the-difference-between-build-verification-testing-and-build-acceptance-testing">What is the difference between build verification testing and build acceptance testing?</h3>



Build verification testing is also called build acceptance testing, which focuses on accepting the build for the detailed testing phase. Both terms are interchangeable in meaning.



<h3 id="h-what-is-an-example-of-bvt-testing">What is an example of BVT testing?</h3>



An example of BVT can be verifying the core functionality of an e-commerce application by signing in and adding products to a cart to buy. For a video/audio sharing app, it can be checking if the videos/audios are displaying and playing as intended. By definition, BVT does not include every edge case but only focuses on validating the primary feature of the build.

Build Verification Testing (BVT Testing) - A Quick Guide

Build Verification Testing (BVT Testing) – A Quick Guide

Portability Testing What it is, How it Works & Examples

Portability Testing | What it is, How it Works & Examples

Scrum Testing - What it is, Why it’s important, and How it Works

Scrum Testing – What it is, Why it’s important, and How it Works?

Search can be an important functionality for any application that has a good amount of content. For example, for a website, search functionality can allow users to look for specific blog titles, products, features, and more without having to browse through the entire site. Similarly, for a mobile application that hosts content, what would you do if Netflix did not have a search functionality? As search is such an important functionality to have, making sure it works as expected is important too. So, in this blog,&nbsp; we discuss the test cases for search functionality.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Where_Would_You_Use_Search_Functionality">1 Where Would You Use Search Functionality?</a></li><li><a href="#Positive_Test_Cases_for_Search_Functionality">2 Positive Test Cases for Search Functionality</a></li><li><a href="#Negative_Test_Cases_for_Search_Functionality">3 Negative Test Cases for Search Functionality</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Cases_Using_Search_Operators">4 Test Cases Using Search Operators</a><ul><li><a href="#Exact_match_search">4.1 Exact match search</a></li><li><a href="#Phrase_match_search">4.2 Phrase match search</a></li><li><a href="#Broad_match_search">4.3 Broad match search</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Advanced_Search_Functionality">5 Advanced Search Functionality</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Automate_Test_Cases_for_Search_Functionality_Explained_with_Testsigma">6 How to Automate Test Cases for Search Functionality? Explained with Testsigma</a></li><li><a href="#Tools_for_Automating">7 Tools for Automating</a><ul><li><a href="#Testsigma">7.1 Testsigma</a></li><li><a href="#Functionize">7.2 Functionize</a></li><li><a href="#Eggplant">7.3 Eggplant</a></li><li><a href="#TestRigor">7.4 TestRigor</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Summary">8 Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">9 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#How_do_you_write_a_test_case_for_a_search_filter">9.1 How do you write a test case for a search filter?</a></li><li><a href="#How_do_you_write_test_cases_for_sorting_functionality">9.2 How do you write test cases for sorting functionality?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-where-would-you-use-search-functionality">Where Would You Use Search Functionality?</h2>



Any website is vast, made up of web pages, including hundreds of blogs, product pages, product feature pages, guides, documents, resources, and much more. How would you access a particular product feature or a guide page among many such pages? Search functionality is useful in these situations. And as mentioned above, search functionality is also useful in many other places as well, such as OTT platforms, social media platforms, news portals, voice assistant devices like Alexa, and smartphones. Some of the websites also have a search feature with filters to add more options for the users.



Clearly, with requirements at these many places, search functionality is an important aspect of any development process that must receive sufficient attention. And to test this feature, you need a well-laid-out list of test cases, both <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/19355354/positive-test-cases-and-negative-test-cases" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">positive and negative</a>. Let’s discuss them in detail.



<h2 id="h-positive-test-cases-for-search-functionality">Positive Test Cases for Search Functionality</h2>



For any kind of search functionality, you can create and run the below-mentioned positive test cases. These cases cover different scenarios to verify that the search functionality performs the right operation and delivers accurate results.



<ul><li>Enter a valid search term and expect relevant results to be displayed. Searching for &#8220;cat food&#8221; on an e-commerce website should show a list of cat food products as a result.</li><li>Enter multiple valid search terms and ensure that the search function can handle them appropriately. Searching for &#8220;blue dress&#8221; on a fashion website should show a list of blue dresses.</li><li>Verify that the search function is case-insensitive. Searching for &#8220;apple&#8221; or &#8220;APPLE&#8221; should yield the same results.</li><li>Test if the search function can find exact matches and prioritize them in the search results. Searching for &#8220;iPhone X&#8221; on a mobile phone website should display the exact matching product as the top result.</li><li>Apply additional filters (such as price range, category, or location) along with the search term and verify that the search results are displayed accordingly. Searching for &#8220;laptop&#8221; and applying a filter for &#8220;under $10000&#8221; should display laptops within the specified price range.</li><li>Test the search functionality with many results and verify that the results are displayed on pages with appropriate navigation options. Searching for &#8220;books&#8221; on an online bookstore should display a certain number of books per page and provide a pagination option for browsing through the results.</li><li>See that searching for irrelevant terms or products should show messages like ‘search item not found’ to the users. For instance, searching for ‘phone chargers’ on the grocery application should display such a message.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-negative-test-cases-for-search-functionality">Negative Test Cases for Search Functionality</h2>



Some of the negative test cases for search functionality help identify potential issues in the search functionality. It ensures that appropriate error handling and user feedback are implemented.



<ul><li>Submitting an empty search term and checking that an appropriate error message is displayed. Leaving the search field blank and clicking on the search button should prompt a message like &#8220;Please enter a search term.&#8221;</li><li>Entering an invalid search term and verifying that the search function handles it properly. Searching for &#8220;@#$%&#8221; or a string of random characters should result in a message like &#8220;No results found&#8221; or &#8220;Invalid search term.&#8221;</li><li>Entering a search term that does not exist in the system. Searching for a specific product or item that is not available in the inventory should display a message like &#8220;No results found&#8221; or &#8220;Item not found.&#8221;</li><li>Apply invalid filters or combinations of filters and verify the search function. Applying a price filter with an unrealistic range (e.g., $10,000,000 &#8211; $1) should display an error message like &#8220;Invalid price range&#8221; or ignore the invalid filter.</li><li>Testing the search functionality with search terms containing special characters. Searching for &#8220;C++&#8221; or &#8220;iPhone 12+&#8221; should not produce any errors or unexpected behavior related to the special characters.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-test-cases-using-search-operators">Test Cases Using Search Operators</h2>



In some cases, you can use certain operators to refine your search results. Majorly, there are three popular search operators:



<h3 id="h-exact-match-search">Exact match search</h3>



The search engine should return results that contain the exact phrase being searched without any variations or synonyms. For instance, entering the searh query [blue electric car] on Google will list down results that matches exactly with the query. The format for exact match on Google is [search term].



<h3 id="h-phrase-match-search">Phrase match search</h3>



The search engine should return results that contain the phrase in the order given in the search term. Typing “blue electric car” on Google will give results with same phrase along with extra words before or after the keyword. The syntax for phrase match is “search term” on Google.



<h3 id="h-broad-match-search">Broad match search</h3>



The search engine should return results that contain the phrase in any order and returns results if the search term is present in them. This option takes the search term and gives results that remotely similar to it. Entering blue electric car will return car options, blogs, Wikipedia results, and more.



Broad match option takes synonyms and misspellings to show all the results available.



<h2 id="h-advanced-search-functionality">Advanced Search Functionality</h2>



Advanced search filters are mainly a part of online search engines rather than e-commerce websites. For instance, Google and Yahoo! Have certain advanced search filters that you can use to refine your search results. An example of an advanced search filter is making it language specific. Another example could be narrowing down the search results to a specific location or area.



Usually, online shopping sites do not have such advanced filters as normal filters function sufficiently to guide the users in searching.



<h2 id="h-how-to-automate-test-cases-for-search-functionality-explained-with-testsigma">How to Automate Test Cases for Search Functionality? Explained with Testsigma</h2>



To automate search functionality, you can simply choose a test automation tool that supports validating the search functionality without worrying about installing libraries and supportive drivers.



Here, we are demonstrating the automation of a search functionality test case with Testsigma.



Testsigma is a <a href="https://testsigma.com/qa-automation-tools" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation tool</a> that runs on the cloud and requires no external installation of extra files. It is codeless and AI-based, making it an easy and powerful tool to start your automation journey for any feature of your website or application.



 With Testsigma, there are two ways to write tests &#8211;&nbsp;



<ol><li>&nbsp;Testsigma recorder that turns every interaction with the website into test steps&nbsp;</li><li>Writes your own test cases using NLPs.&nbsp;</li></ol>



 To verify the search functionality on a website, you should run multiple tests &#8211; positive as well negative. For this example, let’s assume that you have to validate the search option present on the blog page of Testsigma.



First, create a test under ‘Test Development’ option in Testsigma tool. 



<figure><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lOwUGvyD0z4uFSt4AdzWveu1ZUBSEE_GMok6NQgQhrPDROM93C1P1YrYtX41MwLt3VBOjYKskKrFkZIkl8wi0ePOtB6Nc7CJXRZPayvEYJoUTa5mKdZ0IQiFxZ8W4RtiiZnCxy8Zof34" alt="Test Cases For Search Functionality"></figure>



Create a test case with Name and URL to be tested.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pn1cEWRpnUn3lowN5RgUO_PWj0BZIO5pJrcNl2f_FDoUD2wJQIaeS_J0Lh-VEseY8Ml_zx-EJ3BGdWD9nyFwSs4JHCnvIohcc-nhxI9G9o2REUmGkqX-yY4yIZtsh8rmSp7kskkB5cXA" alt="Test Cases For Search Functionality"/></figure>



Going with the record approach for test step creation, select the Record option on the top right corner, and perform the below actions:



<ul><li>Identify the search box</li><li>Enter search term into the box</li><li>Click on the search icon or press enter</li><li>Select the first result that comes up</li><li>Verify if the search query is present on the clicked result page</li></ul>



The below image shows how the test steps include recognizing the URL, the search button, and entering the search term in the search field. The results should broadly match the search term entered in the search field. The test cases consist of a verify statement that checks if the search query is present on the blog page.



<figure><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Va5Ov8xB2xm8VNxRVObpMk7XEYaYMfDKHrfdalSlw19-XlJwLLVLvMwLK2XpalOgj05D7pRongHQwFXhPUxf4PeJ0Py3VVHULu4VFvyS3c39ZoZfxQIBZ783vrb6EFiK9db-mvEcSXIe" alt="Test Cases For Search Functionality"></figure>



Search functionality test using Testsigma



<h2 id="h-tools-for-automating">Tools for Automating</h2>



There are several tools you can use to automate the test cases for search functionality. Let’s discuss their features.



<h3 id="h-testsigma">Testsigma</h3>



As mentioned in the above section, <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma </a>is a no-code, cloud-based, AI-powered test automation tool that offers testers the ability to write and run test cases in plain English using NLPs. They can easily create new tests in the tool and write and run the test steps to check about anything on their website. Some of the features that are extremely useful in Testsigma are:



<ul><li>Codeless automation, hence knowledge of a scripting language is not needed.</li><li>Supports web, mobile, and API testing.</li><li>Provides the option to create test reports and analyze them.</li><li>Integrates with third-party tools, including CI/CD tools.</li><li>Has the capability to run parallel tests.</li><li>Checks functional and non-functional aspects of the application and website.</li><li>Self-healing tests for better maintenance.</li><li>Smart test recorder.</li></ul>



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Automate your search functionality tests 10x faster 
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Explore Testsigma</a>
</div>



<h3 id="h-functionize">Functionize</h3>



Functionize aims to simplify test automation by leveraging AI and NLP capabilities, reducing the need for extensive coding and maintenance efforts. The tool focuses on intelligent test creation, adaptive maintenance, and efficient test execution, enabling teams to achieve faster and more reliable software testing. Some of the features of this tool are:



<ul><li>Parallel test execution.</li><li>Intelligent test recorder.</li><li>Use of NLPs for writing test cases.</li><li>Support for third-party integrations and collaboration platforms.</li><li>Useful reporting and analytics option.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-eggplant">Eggplant</h3>



Eggplant is a test automation tool that specializes in functional and user-centric testing. It offers a range of features and capabilities to help organizations ensure the quality and performance of their software applications. Here are some key features of Eggplant:



<ul><li>Offers image-based testing.</li><li>Focuses on user experience testing by simulating user interactions.</li><li>Supports test automation at different levels, including GUI testing, API testing, and database testing.</li><li>Enables testers to perform data-driven testing.</li><li>Provides a visual representation of the tests being executed.</li><li>Promotes test script reusability.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-testrigor">TestRigor</h3>



TestRigor is a no-code test automation tool that empowers manual QA testers to create automated tests using plain English commands. It supports various types of applications, including web UI, native and hybrid mobile apps, mobile browsers, and APIs. Some features of testRigor are:



<ul><li>Supports web, mobile, and API testing.</li><li>Integrates seamlessly with CI/CD and Test case management tools.</li><li>Cross-platform and cross-browser support.</li><li>No-code test automation tool.</li><li>Offers test maintenance capabilities.</li></ul>



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



Search is an important functionality on every website and application that helps users find a specific post, product, or feature among hundreds of available on the site. And testing this functionality requires you to understand the basic features of how search should work and what more advanced filters you need to verify.



You can either run the test cases manually, or you can employ an automation tool, such as Testsigma, to perform end-to-end testing of your search functionality. Testsigma has many certain features that help you to write test cases easily within minutes. Take snapshots, save test data, manage reports and analytics, and share the tests with your colleagues for feedback. Truly, it is a one-in-all test automation tool that assists you with web, mobile, and API testing. For more details, visit our <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a> or register for a <a href="https://testsigma.com/request-demo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">free demo</a>.



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



<h3 id="h-how-do-you-write-a-test-case-for-a-search-filter">How do you write a test case for a search filter?</h3>



There might be multiple test cases for a search filter. For example, some of them are verifying selecting/deselecting a filter, ensuring all the filter options are proper, the results displayed are as per the filter options, and clearing all the filters selected. You can create test steps for these filter options and automate them using a tool.



<h3 id="h-how-do-you-write-test-cases-for-sorting-functionality">How do you write test cases for sorting functionality?</h3>



To write test cases for sorting functionality, first understand how the sorting functionality should work. Every website will have its own specifications. And after that, create test cases to verify if the results are being displayed as per the selected sorting, if you are able to view all the sorting options, and if you can select/deselect the options available.

Test Cases For Search Functionality Testsigma Example

Test Cases For Search Functionality: Testsigma Example

As a software product tester, you must understand the fundamental difference between verification vs validation testing. While these terms may sound the same, they have distinct meanings. They also play unique roles in the software development process.



Generally, verification testing helps ensure the software meets the specified requirements and standards. In contrast, validation testing ensures that the software meets the needs and expectations of the end users.



To help you understand each better, let&#8217;s delve deeper into the difference between verification and validation testing. I’ll also explain why they are critical to any software project&#8217;s quality and success.



Whether you are a manual tester, automation engineer, or C-level executive, this verification vs validation testing comparison will provide you with valuable insights into the world of <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/software-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">software testing</a>.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-m--0DTEB_QZ_pYPZpIzm-1cSkxUxXqjJHbWqwDGcPInIX744gGdUFALZ6do8lzd083MgA-aDaM7sU5hTII-n40Pp7T6g3QGcndY3d7MUn1bp9_Rnb7Y2NNb5Y0ZMZUczfbhJ5kF3jyWa8f_kg6rBQ" alt="Verification Vs Validation " width="600" height="400" /></figure></div>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_Is_Verification_Testing">1 What Is Verification Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_Is_Validation_Testing">2 What Is Validation Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Purpose_of_Verification_and_Validation">3 Purpose of Verification and Validation</a></li><li><a href="#How_are_Verification_and_Validation_Testing_Performed">4 How are Verification and Validation Testing Performed?</a></li><li><a href="#Tips_for_Successful_Verification_and_Validation">5 Tips for Successful Verification and Validation</a></li><li><a href="#Difference_Between_Verification_vs_Validation_Testing">6 Difference Between Verification vs Validation Testing</a></li><li><a href="#A_Good_Understanding_of_Verification_vs_Validation_in_Testing">7 A Good Understanding of Verification vs Validation in Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Verification_vs_Validation_Testing_and_Automation">8 Verification vs Validation Testing and Automation</a></li><li><a href="#Popular_Test_Automation_Tools_For_Verification_and_Validation">9 Popular Test Automation Tools For Verification and Validation</a></li><li><a href="#FAQs_About_Verification_Vs_Validation_in_Testing">10 FAQs About Verification Vs Validation in Testing</a><ul><li><a href="#1_What_is_the_VV_model_in_software_testing">10.1 1. What is the V&amp;V model in software testing?</a></li><li><a href="#2_What_is_an_example_of_verification_and_validation_in_software_testing">10.2 2. What is an example of verification and validation in software testing?</a></li><li><a href="#3_What_are_the_types_of_validation">10.3 3. What are the types of validation?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-verification-testing">What Is Verification Testing?</h2>



Verification testing is a process used in software development to ensure two things. One is that a product or system meets its specified requirements. Another is that the product or system adheres to the design and development standards.



Overall, it confirms that the software or product being developed meets the intended purpose and works as intended.



The verification process is typically performed throughout the software development cycle. It involves various testing techniques and tools. These tests ensure that each component of the software functions correctly and meets the expected requirements.



<h2 id="h-what-is-validation-testing">What Is Validation Testing?</h2>



Validation testing involves various testing techniques and tools designed to simulate real-world scenarios. Then, you compare the results to the requirements and specifications. It will ensure that the software meets all necessary criteria.



Any defects or issues identified during validation testing are addressed. The software also gets retested until it meets all requirements. 



Read here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/validation-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Validation Testing</a>



<h2 id="purpose-of-verification-and-validation">Purpose of Verification and Validation</h2>



So, the whole point of Verification &amp; Validation is to ensure that the product meets all the customer&#8217;s requirements.



&nbsp;Once we get the results, we can show that the product does what it&#8217;s supposed to do and satisfies the needs it was made for.



<h2 id="how-are-verification-and-validation-testing-performed">How are Verification and Validation Testing Performed?</h2>



The following are four commonly utilized methods for software quality assurance:&nbsp;



1. <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/peer-review-in-software-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peer Reviews</a>: This involves sharing the software product with individuals and requesting them to review it. The reviewers can provide their observations regarding the product&#8217;s quality and contribute towards identifying any issues.&nbsp;



2. Assessments: A dedicated team inspects the software product and helps identify potential faults and critical areas that require attention.&nbsp;



3. Walkthrough: This method involves demonstrating the software to individuals free to ask questions and express their doubts. This approach can help identify potential issues and provide valuable feedback.&nbsp;



4. Desk&#8211;Checking: This is the process of reviewing a software&#8217;s source code. The development team typically desk-checks a program to ensure the algorithms and code function correctly.



<h2 id="tips-for-successful-verification-and-validation">Tips for Successful Verification and Validation</h2>



Here are some major tips you should consider:



1. Clearly define verification and validation objectives: Set specific goals for the verification and validation process to achieve the desired outcomes.



2. Use appropriate verification methods: Select suitable techniques such as inspections, testing, or simulations to assess the correctness and completeness of the system effectively.



3. Establish a thorough<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> test plan</a>: Develop a detailed plan that outlines the scope, schedule, resources, and criteria for evaluating the system&#8217;s performance.



4. Conduct rigorous testing: Execute thorough tests to identify defects, errors, or inconsistencies in the system&#8217;s functionality and ensure it meets all specified requirements.



5. Involve stakeholders throughout the process: Engage relevant stakeholders to gather feedback, address concerns, and validate that the system meets their expectations.



6. Document and track results: Maintain precise records of all verification and validation activities performed, including any issues identified and their resolutions, to ensure traceability and accountability.



<h2 id="h-difference-between-verification-vs-validation-testing">Difference Between Verification vs Validation Testing</h2>



Now that you have enough information about both tests, let’s examine the fundamental difference between verification and validation testing.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Verification Testing</td><td>Validation Testing</td></tr><tr><td>Focuses on whether the software meets its specified requirements&nbsp;</td><td>Focuses on whether the software meets the needs of end-users&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Typically conducted during the development process</td><td>Typically conducted after the development process</td></tr><tr><td>Involves testing at the component, module, and system levels</td><td>Involves testing the software as a whole</td></tr><tr><td>Involves testing with sample data</td><td>Involves testing with real-world data</td></tr><tr><td>Designed to catch defects early in the development process</td><td>Designed to catch defects before release to end-users</td></tr><tr><td>Examples include <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/unit-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unit testing</a>, <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">integration testing</a>, and <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/system-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">system testing</a></td><td>Examples include <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/uat-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">user acceptance testing</a>, alpha and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/beta-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">beta testing</a>, and <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/compatibility-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">compatibility testing</a></td></tr><tr><td>Helps to ensure that the software is built correctly</td><td>Helps to ensure that the correct software is built</td></tr><tr><td>Helps to increase confidence in the software</td><td>Helps to increase user satisfaction</td></tr><tr><td>Improves the quality of the software</td><td>Reduces the risk of product recalls or legal issues</td></tr><tr><td>Can be automated or manual</td><td>Often involves <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/manual-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manual testing</a></td></tr><tr><td>Requires a good understanding of the software requirements and specifications</td><td>Requires a good understanding of end-user needs and expectations</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="h-a-good-understanding-of-verification-vs-validation-in-testing">A Good Understanding of Verification vs Validation in Testing</h2>



While both verification testing and validation testing are important parts of the software development process, they focus on different aspects of the software.



Verification testing ensures that the software is built correctly and meets its specified requirements. On the other hand, validation testing ensures that the software meets the needs of end-users and is fit for its intended purpose.



Conducting both verification and validation in <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/principles-of-software-testing-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">software testing</a> helps ensure your developed product is high quality and meets the requirements and expectations.



<h2 id="h-verification-vs-validation-testing-and-automation">Verification vs Validation Testing and Automation</h2>



The integration of automation in both verification and validation testing offers numerous advantages. Automated tests can be executed consistently and repeatedly, reducing human error and accelerating the testing process.



It allows for the early identification of defects, leading to faster bug fixes and a more robust final product. Moreover, automation enables broader <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-coverage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test coverage</a>, as it becomes feasible to execute a large number of test cases in a short span of time.



<h2 id="h-popular-test-automation-tools-for-verification-and-validation">Popular Test Automation Tools For Verification and Validation</h2>



Testsigma



<a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma </a>is a no-code test automation tool that lets you automate your tests in simple English, with no need to learn to code. The best part is that it lets you automate your tests for web, mobile, APIs and desktop applications from the same place and that too 10x faster.&nbsp;



Testsigma is a complete cloud-based solution, thus you just need to create an account on Testsigma, and you can start automating your tests, executing them, generating reports for them and integrate them with you existing CI/CD pipelines.



<button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a style="color:#fff" href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Start automating your verification and validation tests with Testsigma</a></button>



Selenium



Selenium is a widely-used open-source automation framework for web applications. It provides a suite of tools and libraries for browser automation, allowing testers to write scripts in various programming languages such as Java, Python, or C#.



Selenium can simulate user interactions, perform actions like clicking buttons or entering text, and verify expected outcomes. It is commonly used for functional testing and regression testing of web applications.



Appium Appium is an open-source project and ecosystem of related software, designed to facilitate UI automation of many app platforms, including mobile (iOS, Android, Tizen), browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari), desktop (macOS, Windows), TV (Roku, tvOS, Android TV, Samsung), and more.&nbsp;



<h2 id="h-faqs-about-verification-vs-validation-in-testing">FAQs About Verification Vs Validation in Testing</h2>



<h3 id="h-1-what-is-the-v-v-model-in-software-testing">1. What is the V&amp;V model in software testing?</h3>



The V&amp;V (Verification and Validation) model is a software testing model that involves both verification and validation activities throughout the software development lifecycle. It helps:



<ul><li>catch defects early in the development process,</li><li>reduce the risk of product recalls or legal issues,</li><li>and increase confidence in the software.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-2-what-is-an-example-of-verification-and-validation-in-software-testing">2. What is an example of verification and validation in software testing?</h3>



An example of verification testing is unit testing. It checks whether individual components of the software meet their specifications. An example of validation testing is user acceptance testing. It tests whether the software meets end-users&#8217; needs.



<h3 id="h-3-what-are-the-types-of-validation">3. What are the types of validation?</h3>



Types of validation include



<ul><li>functional validation, which tests whether the software functions as intended;</li><li>performance validation, which tests whether the software meets performance requirements;</li><li>and security validation, which tests whether the software is secure and protected from unauthorized access.</li></ul>

Verification vs Validation Testing Key Differences 

Verification vs Validation Testing: Key Differences 

QA vs UAT Difference between QA and UAT Testing

QA vs UAT: Difference between QA and UAT Testing

What is Production Testing? | Benefits, Best Practices & Tools

The importance of guaranteeing the quality and dependability of software systems cannot be overstated in the fast-paced world of software development.&nbsp;



Extensive testing is conducted to identify and rectify defects before they reach end-users. However, even with rigorous testing processes in place, some defects manage to remain undetected. These elusive defects, known as latent defects, can have a significant impact on software performance, user experience, and overall system integrity.&nbsp;



In this blog post, we will delve into the concept of latent defects in <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/software-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">software testing</a>, explore their implications, and provide examples to illustrate their significance.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_a_Latent_Defect_in_Software_Testing">1 What is a Latent Defect in Software Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_causes_latent_defects">2 What causes latent defects?</a></li><li><a href="#nbspSigns_of_Latent_Defect">3 &nbsp;Signs of Latent Defect</a></li><li><a href="#Latent_Defect_Example">4 Latent Defect Example</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Automation_to_catch_Latent_Defects">5 Test Automation to catch Latent Defects</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Identify_Latent_Defects_Solving">6 How to Identify Latent Defects &amp; Solving ?</a></li><li><a href="#Latent_Defect_vs_Masked_Defect">7 Latent Defect vs Masked Defect</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">8 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">9 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#1_What_is_the_difference_between_a_defect_and_a_latent_defect">9.1 1. What is the difference between a defect and a latent defect?</a></li><li><a href="#2nbsp_What_is_an_example_of_a_latent_and_patent_defect">9.2 2.&nbsp; What is an example of a latent and patent defect</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-a-latent-defect-in-software-testing">What is a Latent Defect in Software Testing?</h2>



Latent defects, also referred to as hidden defects or dormant defects, are flaws within software systems that go unnoticed during the testing phase but surface later in the operational or production environment. These defects remain latent or dormant until specific conditions trigger their occurrence, leading to unexpected behavior, system failures, or suboptimal performance.



Latent defects can be introduced during any phase of the software development life cycle (SDLC), including requirements gathering, design, coding, or even in the testing phase itself. They often arise due to the complexity of software systems, incomplete test coverage, inadequate test scenarios, or limitations in the testing process. Latent defects can lie dormant for a significant period, making them challenging to identify and rectify.



<h2 id="h-what-causes-latent-defects">What causes latent defects?</h2>



Latent defects can be caused by various factors throughout the software development life cycle. Here are some common causes:



<ul><li>Incomplete or Inaccurate Requirements: Latent defects can emerge if the initial requirements gathering phase is not thorough or if there are ambiguities or gaps in the requirements documentation. Misinterpretation or omission of critical requirements can lead to latent defects that remain undetected until later stages.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Inadequate <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-coverage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test Coverage</a>: When the testing process does not cover all possible scenarios and edge cases, latent defects may go unnoticed. Limited test coverage can result from time constraints, resource limitations, or insufficient test case design. If specific test scenarios are overlooked, latent defects related to those scenarios may surface in the operational environment.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Insufficient Testing Techniques: The effectiveness of testing techniques used during the software testing phase can impact the detection of latent defects. If the testing team relies solely on functional testing and neglects techniques such as boundary value analysis, <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/equivalence-partitioning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">equivalence partitioning</a>, or stress testing, latent defects may remain hidden until specific conditions trigger their manifestation.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Environmental Differences: Latent defects can occur when the testing environment differs significantly from the production environment. This could include variations in hardware, software versions, network configurations, or data sets. Differences in these environments may prevent the identification of defects that are only triggered by specific environmental conditions.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Complex Interactions and Dependencies: Modern software systems often have complex architectures with numerous components and dependencies. Latent defects can arise due to unforeseen interactions between these components, leading to unexpected behavior or failures. It can be challenging to anticipate and test all possible combinations and interactions, especially in large-scale systems.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Human Error: Latent defects can also result from human error during the development or testing process. Mistakes in coding, incorrect implementation of requirements, or oversight during test case creation can introduce latent defects that go unnoticed until later stages.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Limited Time and Resources: Pressure to meet deadlines and resource constraints can impact the thoroughness of testing activities. When testing is rushed or given limited resources, the chances of latent defects escaping detection increase.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-signs-of-latent-defect">&nbsp;Signs of Latent Defect</h2>



Identifying latent defects can be challenging since they remain hidden during the testing phase. However, there are certain signs or indicators that may suggest the presence of latent defects. Here are some common signs to watch out for:



<ul><li>Unexpected System Behavior</li><li>Performance Issues</li><li>Data Inconsistencies</li><li>Uncovered Edge Cases</li><li>User Feedback or Bug Reports</li><li>System Failure or Outages</li><li>Difficulty in Reproducing Issues</li></ul>



By actively monitoring and analyzing system behavior, user feedback, and reported issues, software development teams can improve their chances of uncovering latent defects and implementing necessary fixes to enhance the system&#8217;s stability and performance.



<h2 id="h-latent-defect-example">Latent Defect Example</h2>



Let&#8217;s consider a hypothetical example to better understand latent defects. Imagine a software application used for online banking, where users can transfer funds between accounts. During the testing phase, the testing team successfully conducts various test scenarios, including transferring funds from one account to another within the same bank. All tests pass, and the software is deemed ready for deployment.



However, once the application is live, users begin reporting an issue when attempting to transfer funds to accounts in different banks. The application fails to process these transactions correctly, leading to financial discrepancies. Upon investigation, it is discovered that the testing team did not include test cases covering interbank fund transfers, resulting in an overlooked latent defect.



In this scenario, the latent defect remained dormant until specific conditions were met (interbank transactions), triggering its manifestation. The defect&#8217;s impact on the application&#8217;s functionality was not initially apparent during testing, but it significantly affected the system&#8217;s overall performance and user experience in the production environment.



<h2 id="h-test-automation-to-catch-latent-defects">Test Automation to catch Latent Defects</h2>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test automation</a> can play a crucial role in catching latent defects by augmenting the testing process and increasing the chances of defect detection. Here are some ways test automation can help in identifying latent defects:



<ul><li>Improved Test Coverage: Test automation allows for the creation and execution of a larger number of test cases compared to manual testing. Automated tests can cover a wide range of scenarios, including edge cases and complex interactions, which increases the chances of identifying latent defects that may only surface under specific conditions.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Regression Testing: <a href="https://testsigma.com/regression-testing/automated-regression-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automated regression testing</a> helps ensure that previously resolved defects or changes in the codebase have not reintroduced any latent defects. By automating the execution of regression test suites, software development teams can quickly identify any regression-related latent defects that may have been inadvertently introduced during development or maintenance activities.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Consistency and Reproducibility: Automated tests provide consistency and reproducibility, eliminating human error and ensuring that test scenarios are executed in a standardized manner. This allows for better comparison and analysis of test results, making it easier to spot unexpected behavior or inconsistencies that may indicate latent defects.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Execution of Large Data Sets: Automated tests can efficiently handle large data sets and perform data-driven testing. By automating the generation and execution of test cases with various data inputs, it becomes possible to test a broader range of scenarios and identify potential latent defects related to data handling, calculation, or processing.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Stress and Performance Testing: Test automation can facilitate stress testing and performance testing by simulating a high load on the system. By automating the generation of concurrent requests, varying data volumes, or complex workload scenarios, potential performance-related latent defects can be uncovered, such as memory leaks, bottlenecks, or resource limitations.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Continuous Integration and Continuous Testing: Choose test automation tools that integrate seamlessly with your <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_integration" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">continuous integration</a> (CI) and <a href="https://testsigma.com/continuous-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">continuous testing </a>(CT) pipelines. Automated tests can be triggered automatically with each code commit, ensuring that any latent defects introduced during development are identified early on. This allows for faster feedback loops and quicker remediation of defects.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Monitoring and Alerting: Test automation can be combined with monitoring tools to detect and alert on unexpected system behavior or performance degradation in the production environment. By automating the monitoring and analysis of system metrics, logs, or user feedback, latent defects that arise in the operational environment can be identified promptly.</li></ul>



 <button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Automate your tests for web, mobile, desktop and APIs, for better and earlier detection of latent defects, with Testsigma</a></button> 



<h2 id="h-how-to-identify-latent-defects-solving">How to Identify Latent Defects &amp; Solving ?</h2>



Here&#8217;s a table summarizing how to identify and solve latent defects through a combination of manual and automated testing:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Identifying Latent Defects</td><td>Solving Latent Defects</td></tr><tr><td>Manual Testing</td><td>1. Thorough Requirements Analysis: Analyze requirements documentation for clarity and completeness. 2. Exploratory Testing: Perform unscripted testing to uncover hidden defects. 3. User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Involve end-users to capture real-world scenarios and gather feedback. 4. Error Analysis: Analyze user feedback, bug reports, and system logs for patterns and anomalies.</td><td>1. Debugging and Code Review: Investigate and debug issues to identify the root cause of defects. 2. Code Refactoring: Improve code quality through restructuring and optimization. 3. Documentation Enhancement: Update documentation to accurately reflect requirements and implementation details. 4. Retesting: Verify the effectiveness of fixes through retesting.</td></tr><tr><td>Automated Testing</td><td>1. Test Coverage Analysis: Use code coverage tools to identify areas with limited test coverage. 2. Automated Regression Testing: Automate regression test suites to catch regression-related latent defects. 3. Data-Driven Testing: Automate tests with various data inputs to uncover latent defects related to data handling or processing 4. Performance Testing: Automate performance tests to identify latent defects related to system scalability and performance under stress.5. Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Testing (CT): Incorporate automated tests into CI/CT pipelines to catch latent defects early.</td><td>1. Automated Test Maintenance: Update and maintain automated tests to align with changes in requirements or the codebase. 2. Test Script Enhancement: Improve test scripts to cover additional edge cases and scenarios. 3. Test Failure Analysis: Analyze test failures to determine if they indicate latent defects or other issues. 4. Monitoring and Alerting: Automate system monitoring and analysis to detect potential latent defects in the production environment.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 id="h-latent-defect-vs-masked-defect">Latent Defect vs Masked Defect</h2>



Here&#8217;s a table summarizing the key differences between latent defects and <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/defect-masking/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">masked defects</a>:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Latent Defect</td><td>Masked Defect</td></tr><tr><td>Definition</td><td>A defect or flaw in software that remains hidden until it manifests in the operational environment or during system usage.</td><td>A defect that is concealed or masked by the presence of another defect, making it difficult to detect or isolate.</td></tr><tr><td>Visibility</td><td>Not immediately visible during the testing phase.</td><td>Present but concealed by another defect.</td></tr><tr><td>Cause</td><td>Incomplete testing, oversight, or insufficient test coverage during development and testing.</td><td>Overlapping or overshadowing symptoms or behaviors by another defect.</td></tr><tr><td>Detection Timing</td><td>Typically detected after software deployment or usage by end-users.</td><td>Requires careful analysis and investigation to identify and separate overlapping issues.</td></tr><tr><td>Isolation</td><td>Standalone issue that becomes evident once triggered.</td><td>Requires identifying and addressing the primary defect causing the masking effect.</td></tr><tr><td>Impact</td><td>Can impact software functionality or performance once triggered in the operational environment.</td><td>Can lead to overlooking or misdiagnosing a defect, potentially affecting software quality.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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



In conclusion, latent defects are a type of software defect that remain hidden or dormant during the testing phase but manifest themselves once the software is deployed or used by end-users. These defects can have a significant impact on the functionality, performance, and user experience of the software system.



Identifying latent defects requires thorough requirements analysis, exploratory testing, user acceptance testing, and error analysis. It is important to go beyond scripted test cases and actively explore different scenarios to uncover hidden defects that may not be immediately apparent.



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



<h3 id="h-1-what-is-the-difference-between-a-defect-and-a-latent-defect">1. What is the difference between a defect and a latent defect?</h3>



The difference between a defect and a latent defect lies in their visibility and timing of detection:



<ul><li>Defect: A defect, also known as a bug or an issue, is a flaw or error in the software that affects its functionality, performance, or behavior. It refers to a deviation from the expected or desired behavior of the software.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Latent Defect: A latent defect, on the other hand, is a specific type of defect that remains hidden or dormant during the testing phase but manifests itself later, often after the software is deployed or used by end-users.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-2-what-is-an-example-of-a-latent-and-patent-defect">2.&nbsp; What is an example of a latent and patent defect</h3>



Here are examples of a latent defect and a patent defect:



<ul><li>Latent Defect Example:</li></ul>



Consider a software application used for financial calculations. During testing, all the defined test cases pass successfully, and the software is deemed ready for deployment. However, after deployment, it is discovered that under certain specific conditions, such as when the input values exceed a certain threshold, the calculations produce incorrect results. This issue was not detected during testing and remained latent until it manifested in the operational environment.



<ul><li>Patent Defect Example:</li></ul>



In contrast, a patent defect is a defect that is immediately apparent and can be detected during the testing phase. For example, imagine a web application where clicking on a particular button consistently leads to a crash or an error message. This defect is evident during testing as it disrupts the expected flow of the application and can be easily reproduced and observed by testers.

Latent Defect In Software Testing With Example

With the rapid growth of e-commerce, the payment gateway plays a critical role in ensuring seamless transactions between buyers and sellers. This blog post will delve deep into the test cases for testing payment gateways.



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets">Table Of Contents<ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_a_Payment_Gateway">1 What is a Payment Gateway?</a></li><li><a href="#Types_of_Payment_Gateway_Systems">2 Types of Payment Gateway Systems</a></li><li><a href="#Payment_Gateway_Testing">3 Payment Gateway Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Payment_Gateway_Test_Cases_Example">4 Payment Gateway Test Cases Example</a></li><li><a href="#Payment_Gateway_Testing_Automated_and_Manual_8211_Examples">5 Payment Gateway Testing: Automated and Manual &#8211; Examples</a><ul><li><a href="#Manual_Testing_Example">5.1 Manual Testing Example: </a></li><li><a href="#Automated_Testing_Example">5.2 Automated Testing Example: </a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Importance_of_Testing_Payment_Gateways">6 Importance of Testing Payment Gateways</a></li><li><a href="#Testing_Types_for_Payment_Domain">7 Testing Types for Payment Domain</a></li><li><a href="#Checklists_While_Preparing_Test_Cases_For_Payment_Gateway">8 Checklists While Preparing Test Cases For Payment Gateway</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Test_Payment_Gateway_Complete_Checklist">9 How to Test Payment Gateway: Complete Checklist</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion">10 Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions">11 Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#How_to_do_API_testing_of_the_payment_gateway">11.1 How to do API testing of the payment gateway?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_a_payment_gateway_example">11.2 What is a payment gateway example?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-a-payment-gateway">What is a Payment Gateway?</h2>



So, you know when you buy stuff online and have to enter your bank details? Well, that&#8217;s where payment gateways come in! They&#8217;re like the middleman between you and the business you&#8217;re buying from. They make sure your payment info stays safe from sneaky hackers and fraudsters. Payment gateways connect your bank to the merchant&#8217;s bank so you can pay for stuff securely. It&#8217;s all about making sure your payments are safe and sound! Cool, isn&#8217;t it?



<h2 id="h-types-of-payment-gateway-systems">Types of Payment Gateway Systems</h2>



Listen up! You&#8217;ll need a payment gateway system if you&#8217;re trying to sell stuff online. It&#8217;s a safe way for customers to pay with credit or debit cards. The payment gateway makes sure everything goes smoothly between you and your customers. It&#8217;s like a bodyguard for your money and data during online transactions. Payment gateway systems protect customers from advanced attacks like <a href="https://www.identityguard.com/news/synthetic-identity-fraud" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">synthetic identity theft</a>, where someone can use their name and financial information to conduct transactions.



Hosted Payment Gateway



Hosted Payment Gateway is a third-party provider that hosts a payment gateway. Here is a payment processing system that enables customers to make payments directly on the hosted website. The customer enters their card details on the provider&#8217;s secure website, and the gateway processes the payment.



Shared Payment Gateway



Have you ever heard of a Shared Payment Gateway? So, a Shared Payment Gateway is a cool system that lets a bunch of different merchants use the same payment gateway for their online sales. This is perfect for online marketplaces that sell stuff from different vendors. It saves them time and money because they don&#8217;t have to set up separate payment gateways for everyone. Plus, it&#8217;s easy for customers to buy things because they only have one checkout process. The best part is that it&#8217;s secure and keeps all merchants&#8217; customer data safe.



<h2 id="h-payment-gateway-testing">Payment Gateway Testing</h2>



Payment gateway testing is when we check if our online payment system works properly. We want to ensure that our customers can pay without issues and that their information is safe and secure. We also make sure that the payment system works smoothly with other web applications. Lastly, we check to see if we&#8217;re following all the rules and regulations related to online payments. If the payment gateway tests pass, our customers can pay easily and safely.



<h2 id="h-payment-gateway-test-cases-example">Payment Gateway Test Cases Example</h2>



Here are some example test cases for testing payment gateways:



<ol><li>Check if the payment gateway can connect with the bank systems.</li><li>Ensure that the payment gateway allows users to enter their payment details securely.</li><li>Verify that users can initiate payments using valid credentials.</li><li>Validate if the payment gateway processes the payments accurately.</li><li>Test that the payment gateway responds to invalid credentials correctly.</li><li>Check if the payment gateway can capture payment details accurately.</li><li>Confirm the payment gateway returns the correct response codes for successful and unsuccessful payments.</li><li>Test the ability of the payment gateway to handle multiple simultaneous payments.</li><li>Verify that the payment gateway is integrated properly with the merchant system.</li><li>Ensure you do not store financial data after each payment processing session.</li></ol>



You must test and check the payment gateway regularly so it stays reliable and does its job right. 



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-cases-for-banking-application/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test Cases for Banking Application</a>



<h2 id="h-payment-gateway-testing-automated-and-manual-examples">Payment Gateway Testing: Automated and Manual &#8211; Examples</h2>



Let’s try to understand the manual and automated approaches better, with examples:



<h3 id="manual-testing-example">Manual Testing Example: </h3>



Let&#8217;s say you are manually testing all the payment options; 



Test Case: Check if the search page is displayed correctly on desktop 



Test Steps: 



1. Launch the web browser.



2. Navigate to the application&#8217;s search page. 



3. Verify that the page elements (e.g., search bar, search button, search results) are displayed as expected.



4. Resize the browser window to check for content and layout consistency. 



5. Check that images and text look and display correctly.



6. Ensure the page is fully loaded with all content.



7. Close the browser.



Expected result: The search page displays correctly on the desktop, with all elements and content displaying correctly. No layout issues appear.



<h3 id="automated-testing-example"><a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automated Testing</a> Example: </h3>



Let&#8217;s say you want to automate one of the <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/what-is-test-case/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test case</a> to verify if all the payment options are displayed on the Payment Gateway page correctly. You can do that in <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma </a>using our Web Automation feature. 



Steps: 1. Log in to Testsigma and select a project. Give the project a Name.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_50407a7f1b42a33a0cd6dd9a58451288_2000.png" alt="Testsigma Test automation platform -Payment Gateway Test Cases" /></figure>



2. Now you can Create a New Test case &#8211; Click the + symbol- Choose Test Case from the dropdown.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_388ba7a2f591b700437f6d50c3e335af_2000.png" alt="2.Testsigma Test automation platform - Payment Gateway Test Cases" /></figure>



3. In “Create Test Case” page, give the Name and URL(URL of the page you must test). I have used a Demo Page(Letzpay.com) in this example.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_72b7c00b64c70d6914b72d7eafbc37a4_2000.png" alt="3 .Testsigma - Payment Gateway Test Cases" /></figure>



4. Click on the Record Steps button and begin the process. The webpage you have chosen will appear in a new window.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_3601b48cb83072d4c8de56876b2edf47_2000.png" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" /></figure>



5. You can see the Test steps are created automatically with the necessary Elements when I continue purchasing.



Here, we have taken a Demo project of a website where I will show you to purchase via UPID. You can also choose Net banking or Cards.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_21b9999b4fd00c9ae7ba0e67fb68d2ef_2000.jpeg" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" /></figure>



6. Here, for example, I chose to make my purchase using PhonePe. You can see the summary page too.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_9f5829428cf3b11f69711db668e78004_2000.jpeg" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" /></figure>



7. Once I click the Pay button, the QR code appears for me to scan.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_3b73a75124212e5dcdd88ff4fadbe8bc_2000.jpeg" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" /></figure>



8. Here, for example, after I scan the code, the payment gets processed successfully. That&#8217;s it. Now you can run the test.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_4fa1807a442956035dadc77394f4913b_2000.png" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" /></figure>



9. Execute the Test. Here you can see the System requirements I have chosen to execute this test case.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_bd8cfeb52f4b09d780d7d472cbf1bfdb_2000.png" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" /></figure>



10. The Result- Once all the steps are executed, you can see the Test Passed.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_45b9b81774ceae82b34750db886a6a72_2000.png" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" /></figure>



Note: Export the results as XLS, or PDF



Now, the test case will either pass or fail based on the result of the element visibility assertion. The test case will display an appropriate message in case of a failure. 



Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/app-failure/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mobile App Failure</a>



This is just one example of Payment Gateway Testing that can be automated using Testsigma. Using Testsigma, the testers can create automated test cases, maintain their test suites and execute them with a single click. Testsigma is equipped with Mobile Device cloud and Desktop browsers to run the tests on different Operating Systems and Platforms.



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
Automate your payment gateway tests for web as well as mobile, 10x faster 
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Check out Testsigma</a>
</div>



<h2 id="h-importance-of-testing-payment-gateways">Importance of Testing Payment Gateways</h2>



Testing Payment Gateways:



<ul><li>Ensures that transactions are processed accurately and securely.</li><li>It helps identify and resolve any technical issues or errors in the payment process.</li><li>Builds trust with customers by providing a seamless and reliable payment experience.</li><li>Protects against fraud and unauthorized transactions.</li><li>Helps businesses comply with industry regulations and standards for payment processing.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-testing-types-for-payment-domain">Testing Types for Payment Domain</h2>



As the payment domain covers various methods for financial transactions, it is important to understand the different types available. The most common types are:



Functional testing involves verifying that the payment system is working as intended. We ensure we process transactions correctly, accept payment methods, and appropriately handle errors or exceptions.



Security testing is necessary for any payment system. This type of testing involves identifying vulnerabilities in the system and ensuring that sensitive data is protected. It includes things like penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and data encryption.



Performance testing ensures that the payment system can handle a high volume of transactions without slowing down or crashing. This involves stress testing, load testing, and capacity planning to ensure the system can handle peak usage times without issues.



Integration testing We need to perform <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/integration-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">integration testing</a> to ensure that the payment system integrates seamlessly with other systems, such as the website or mobile application.



Generally, thorough testing of the payment domain is essential to ensure a smooth and secure user experience for customers.



<h2 id="h-checklists-while-preparing-test-cases-for-payment-gateway">Checklists While Preparing Test Cases For Payment Gateway</h2>



When preparing test cases for a payment gateway, you must cover all possible scenarios to ensure the smooth functioning of the payment gateway.



<ol><li>Verify the payment gateway integration with the website or application.</li><li>Test payment methods like credit/debit cards, net banking, and digital wallets.</li><li>Ensure that the payment process is secure and encrypted to protect sensitive information.</li><li>Test for error handling scenarios such as incorrect card details or insufficient funds.</li><li>Verify that the transaction details are accurately recorded and displayed to the user after completion of the payment process.</li></ol>



<h2 id="h-how-to-test-payment-gateway-complete-checklist">How to Test Payment Gateway: Complete Checklist</h2>



Let us keep our checklist simple and easy! Here you go.



<ol><li>Test the payment gateway integration with your website or application to ensure it functions properly.</li><li>Verify that the payment gateway is compatible with all major web browsers and operating systems.</li><li>Conduct a test transaction using different payment methods (credit card, debit card, PayPal, etc.) to ensure each method works correctly.</li><li>Check for any errors or issues during the transaction process, such as timeouts or failed transactions.</li><li>Test the refund process to ensure that it is working correctly and refunds are processed in a timely manner.</li><li>Verify that the payment gateway is secure and meets industry data protection and encryption standards.</li><li>Test the payment gateway&#8217;s reporting functionality to ensure you can access accurate transaction data and reports.</li><li>Conduct load testing to ensure that the payment gateway can handle high volumes of transactions without any issues or slowdowns.</li><li>Verify that customer support is available and responsive in case of any payment-related issues or questions.</li><li>Ensure compliance, as it&#8217;s important to ensure that all payment processing is done in accordance with industry standards and regulations. This includes verifying the identity of customers, protecting their personal and financial information, and adhering to anti-money laundering laws.</li></ol>



Thats it! So, all these steps can help protect your business and customers from potential fraud and other risks.



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



Well, that&#8217;s a wrap on our guide to payment gateway testing! We hope you found it helpful and informative. As we&#8217;ve outlined, payment gateway testing is crucial to ensure a smooth and secure payment process for your customers. Remember, testing is an ongoing process, so be sure to regularly test and update your payment gateway to ensure it continues to meet your customers&#8217; needs. Happy testing!



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



<h3 id="h-how-to-do-api-testing-of-the-payment-gateway">How to do API testing of the payment gateway?</h3>



<a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/api-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">API testing</a> of the payment gateway involves verifying that the API functions correctly and securely. This can be done by sending requests to the API and checking the responses for accuracy and consistency.



<h3 id="h-what-is-a-payment-gateway-example">What is a payment gateway example?</h3>



A payment gateway example is a service that authorizes payments for online merchants, allowing them to accept credit cards, electronic checks, and other customer payment methods. Examples of popular payment gateways include PayPal, Stripe, Apple Pay, Square, Amazon Pay, and Authorize.net.

Wait a second...Did you try Testsigma?

Wait a second...
Did you try Testsigma?