
<p>All software undergoes continuous modifications. Sometimes developers do so to fulfill clients’ requests, and other times it is to upgrade the functionality or security features. But whatever the case, any changes made to the software require continuous monitoring and maintenance. Testing software for how maintainable it is, is called Maintainability testing. </p>



<p>Let’s dive deeper into the subject in this blog. We will also talk about <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automated testing </a>with maintainability testing.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Maintainability_Testing_in_Software"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is Maintainability Testing in Software?</a></li><li><a href="#Factors_Affecting_the_Maintainability_of_the_Software"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Factors Affecting the Maintainability of the Software</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Measure_the_Maintainability_of_an_Application"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> How to Measure the Maintainability of an Application?</a></li><li><a href="#How_to_Improve_Your_Software_Maintainability_with_Testsigma"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> How to Improve Your Software Maintainability with Testsigma?</a><ul><li><a href="#Steps_to_conduct_GUI_testing_with_Testsigma"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.1</span> Steps to conduct GUI testing with Testsigma:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Maintainability_Testing_Best_Practices"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Maintainability Testing Best Practices</a></li><li><a href="#Summary"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_purpose_of_maintainability"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.1</span> What is the purpose of maintainability?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_an_example_of_maintainability_in_software_quality"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.2</span> What is an example of maintainability in software quality?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-maintainability-testing-in-software"><span id="What_is_Maintainability_Testing_in_Software">What is Maintainability Testing in Software?</span></h2>



<p>Maintainability testing is verifying the software’s ability to maintain itself as it goes through several changes. Maintainability refers to a software’s capability to maintain itself under varying situations. It is important as applications go through several changes throughout the SDLC process, which clearly requires proper maintenance along with regular testing. And with maintainability testing, it becomes easier to validate a system’s potential to keep going with frequent features updates and bug fixes, among other things.</p>



<p>Maintainability testing is non-functional testing that defines how easy it is for developers to maintain, analyze, change a system, and run tests on it.</p>



<p>Please note that <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-maintenance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">maintenance testing</a> and maintainability testing are different. The former focuses on testing an application because of changes introduced in it. The latter checks how well the system can handle and maintain the changes.</p>



<h2 id="h-factors-affecting-the-maintainability-of-the-software"><span id="Factors_Affecting_the_Maintainability_of_the_Software">Factors Affecting the Maintainability of the Software</span></h2>



<p>There are several real-world and software-based factors that influence the maintainability of a system. </p>



<p><strong>For instance, some of the real-world factors are:</strong></p>



<ul><li>How old the software is currently and how many changes it experiences on a weekly/monthly basis?</li><li>If the memory and storage of the application is sufficient to withstand the changes and maintain its functioning accordingly.</li><li>The skill your business possesses to understand maintainability testing.</li><li>How developers built the application? Did they develop with the idea of making the system self-sufficient and maintaining itself during modifications?</li></ul>



<p><strong>The software-based factors are:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Does the structure of the software support maintenance?</li><li>Which programming language is used to develop the software?</li><li>If the software is self-reliable to withstand changes without breaking down.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-how-to-measure-the-maintainability-of-an-application"><span id="How_to_Measure_the_Maintainability_of_an_Application">How to Measure the Maintainability of an Application?</span></h2>



<p>Now, we will discuss how to measure them and gauge the maintainability of an application. Two of the most common measurement scales are: how changeable an application is and how stable it is while going through those changes. <a href="https://www.iso.org/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">ISO</a> is a popular standard that is internationally accepted and also provides guidelines for Systems and Software Quality Requirements and Evaluation (SQuaRE).</p>



<p>There are 5 prominent ISO-defined attributes that support the measurement of an application’s maintainability:</p>



<ul><li><strong>Modularity:</strong> This attribute focuses on the modular components of the system. It checks if the software consists of several independent components coming together. Based on the modularity of the application, a small change can have an impact on the application that might require renovations.</li><li><strong>Reusability:</strong> This attribute looks for pre-existing code snippets you can reuse in the application or another software to replicate its functionality. It reduces the cost of writing new code and improves the quality and overall productivity of the software.</li><li><strong>Analyzability:</strong> It checks how efficiently a software flow, often unintended, can be found and fixed. This attribute identifies defects in the system components that require changing.</li><li><strong>Modifiability:</strong> As per its name, modifiability is the criteria of the system that checks how much a system can be modified without compromising its quality and existing features.</li><li><strong>Testability:</strong> This attribute defines the degree of effectiveness with which test criteria can be developed. It further checks if these tests can meet those criteria.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-how-to-improve-your-software-maintainability-with-testsigma"><span id="How_to_Improve_Your_Software_Maintainability_with_Testsigma">How to Improve Your Software Maintainability with Testsigma?</span></h2>



<p>There is no one way or concrete method to follow while implementing maintainability testing. As every software undergoes certain changes throughout SDLC and even after its release, maintainability testing then works on a case-to-case basis. Typically, automation tools greatly support and expedite maintainability, such as <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a>. Let’s take an example of running visual testing with Testsigma to understand how the tool supports maintainability testing. You can perform both static and dynamic visual testing using our tool.</p>



<p>Testsigma allows the execution of visual testing for web and mobile applications. Before starting, you only need to tick the ‘Enable Visual testing for this step’ option. The visual testing option is now available for the next successful run, where the online UI elements are compared against a baseline image.</p>



<h3 id="h-steps-to-conduct-gui-testing-with-testsigma"><span id="Steps_to_conduct_GUI_testing_with_Testsigma">Steps to conduct GUI testing with Testsigma:</span></h3>



<ul><li>Create a test case, add it to a test suite, and add the test suite to a Test Plan as per your requirement.</li></ul><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/step-1_377529c5a8877f32e7869dc65a848865_2000.jpg" alt="Create a Test Case" width="800" height="400"/></figure></div>



<br><ul><li>Enable Visual Testing for the test steps that need visual testing.</li></ul><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/enable-visual-testing_db8e8e08798cc94c84f275da70258acb_2000.jpg" alt="Enable Visual Testing" width="800" height="400"/></figure></div>



<br><ul><li>Run your test plan once to save all images as base images. These are the baseline pictures to compare the visual changes.</li><li>Now Run your test plan again. The tool will automatically take screenshots of your application at every test step and make reference images.</li></ul><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/run-the-test-plan-view-the-results_377cd46e65e10a74256e68a4d06ad5a6_2000.jpg" alt="Run the Test Case" width="800" height="400"/></figure></div>



<br><ul><li>Testsigma automatically compares these reference images with the base images in the first run to find differences.</li></ul><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/find-visual-errors_10baecf60cdf72d6e7323219516b3b39_2000.jpg" alt="Compare the Results" width="800" height="400"/></figure></div>



<br><ul><li>Any other changes in the screenshots are automatically ignored to avoid false negatives.</li></ul><br>



<p>Having a baseline image makes it easy to test the visuals and maintain the same quality and look of the application in the future. Such practice improves the maintainability of the application and even allows for reusing the test cases if similar visuals need to be tested later on. <a href="https://testsigma.com/request-demo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sign up for a demo</a> to see all this in action.</p>



<p><button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="display: block;
    margin: auto;"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Improve the maintainability of your software with an efficient test automation tool, Testsigma</a></button></p>



<h2 id="h-maintainability-testing-best-practices"><span id="Maintainability_Testing_Best_Practices">Maintainability Testing Best Practices</span></h2>



<p>But before you start maintaining your tests and also implement maintainability testing, here are some of the best practices that work for every type/category:</p>



<ul><li>Ensure to build a list of maintainability factors before you start with the testing, which would include the stability and complexity of the code.</li><li>The software must adhere to appropriate standards for the database, interface, and development processes. One instance of this will be verifying if the application supports optimized algorithms and the ability to reuse the code.</li><li>Your maintainability testing should comply with the five maintainability attributes we mentioned above: Modularity, Reusability, Analyzability, Modifiability, and Testability.</li></ul>



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



<p>Maintainability testing is the software’s ability to maintain itself as it goes through several modifications. It reduces the cost of maintaining the system. There are different categories of maintainability testing that focus on separate areas of the application and check for possible issues.</p>



<p>There are multiple ways to measure maintainability, which we have discussed in the above section.</p>



<h2 id="h-frequently-asked-questions-faqs"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQs">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</span></h2>



<h3 id="h-what-is-the-purpose-of-maintainability"><span id="What_is_the_purpose_of_maintainability">What is the purpose of maintainability?</span></h3>



<p>The purpose of maintainability is to better the maintenance efforts of the software. The higher the maintainability, the better the ability of the application to handle the changes and maintain itself.</p>



<h3 id="h-what-is-an-example-of-maintainability-in-software-quality"><span id="What_is_an_example_of_maintainability_in_software_quality">What is an example of maintainability in software quality?</span></h3>



<p>An example of maintainability in <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-quality-assurance-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">software quality</a> is code with a clear structure and proper commenting that makes it easier for developers to debug and analyze the program if new lines are added to it.</p>


Maintainability Testing What, How to Measure & Best Practices

Maintainability Testing | What, How to Measure & Best Practices

What is Risk Based Testing Top Benefits & Approaches

What is Risk Based Testing? Top Benefits & Approaches


<p>As a software project ends, every tester must check the effectiveness of the testing process to gain insights into the areas of improvement. So, QAs create a Test Closure Report. It includes all the test data, such as test cases, test plans, test suites, and other testing-related information for future reference. With this report, the test insights are recovered, making reviewing the testing process easier and identifying improvement areas in future projects. In this blog, we&#8217;ll discuss the importance of a Test Closure report in the testing development life cycle and detailed steps involved in creating a Test Closure report.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Test_Closure"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is Test Closure?</a></li><li><a href="#Need_for_Test_Closure"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Need for Test Closure</a><ul><li><a href="#Stages"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.1</span> Stages </a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#What_is_a_Test_Closure_Report"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> What is a Test Closure Report?</a></li><li><a href="#Importance_of_Test_Closure_Report_in_Test_Automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Importance of Test Closure Report in Test Automation</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Closure_Activities_When_to_Perform_them_and_Why"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Test Closure Activities: When to Perform them and Why?</a><ul><li><a href="#Checking_for_Completion_of_Tests"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.1</span> Checking for Completion of Tests</a></li><li><a href="#Handing_Over_Test_Objects"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.2</span> Handing Over Test Objects</a></li><li><a href="#Learning_Experience"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.3</span> Learning Experience</a></li><li><a href="#Archiving"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.4</span> Archiving</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Benefits_of_Test_Closure_Activities"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Benefits of Test Closure Activities</a><ul><li><a href="#Evaluating_Exit_Criteria_and_Reporting"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.1</span> Evaluating Exit Criteria and Reporting</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Conclusion</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#1_What_are_the_contents_of_test_closure_report"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">8.1</span> 1. What are the contents of test closure report?</a></li><li><a href="#2_Who_will_prepare_the_Test_Closure_Report"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">8.2</span> 2. Who will prepare the Test Closure Report?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-test-closure"><span id="What_is_Test_Closure"><strong>What is Test Closure</strong>?</span></h2>



<p>Test Closure is a crucial step in the TDLC that formally concludes and completes testing activities for a software release. It comprehensively summarizes the testing activities and results, including any issues and bugs found and resolved during the testing phase. Test Closure can also be considered as documentation of the testing process, and its purpose is to inform stakeholders about the quality and readiness of the software for release.</p>



<p>A good Test Closure has details such as the testing scope, <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test environment</a>, testing methodologies, test cases, and any issues and defects identified and resolved during testing. In addition to providing an overview of the testing results, the report should also contain a detailed analysis, highlighting any areas of concern and potential improvements.</p>



<h2 id="h-need-for-test-closure"><span id="Need_for_Test_Closure"><strong>Need for Test Closure</strong></span></h2><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/need-for-test-closure_1e8d21cc8da7cb5ade1763a9e90e39db_2000.jpg" alt="Need for Test Closure"/></figure></div>



<br><ul><li><strong>Official Announcement for End of Testing Phase:</strong> Test Closure lets other team members know that testing has concluded and the software is ready for the next phase. This announcement helps team members to prepare for the next phase, such as deployment or release.</li><li><strong>Detailed Analysis:</strong> The Test Closure gives a clear picture of the issues found and resolved during the testing process. It will help the team to analyze the source of errors and resolve them quickly in future.</li><li><strong>Assessment of Risk Factor: </strong>Test Closure assesses the risk factor of the software. This helps clients decide whether or not to go ahead with the release of the software. If the risk factor is too high, the software needs further modification before the release.</li><li><strong>Present Test Metrics To Client:</strong> Test metrics are documented in the Test Closure, along with a detailed description of the testing process. This document provides an overview of the testing efforts and serves as a reference for future projects. Presenting test metrics to clients not only helps them understand the effectiveness of the testing process but also builds their confidence in the software.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-stages"><span id="Stages">Stages </span></h3>



<p>Test closure is an important phase in the software development life cycle, which has six distinct stages, to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the software before we release it to the end users.</p>



<ul><li><strong>Checking planned deliverables: </strong>The first stage is to check the planned deliverables, which includes reviewing the test case documents, test plan, test scripts, test data, traceability matrix, test results, and reports. Here, the team ensures that all the planned deliverables are met and delivered to the stakeholders.</li><li><strong>Closing Incident Reports: </strong>Incidents are any variations or deviations observed during the testing phase. These incidents are logged as a report in the earlier stages and resolved before the process ends.</li><li><strong>Handover to Maintenance: </strong>After resolving incidents, the testware (all the info regarding test plans, test cases, test scripts, and other things needed to design and execute a test) is handed over to the maintenance team. They provide support to the software during its release.</li><li><strong>Archiving Environment: </strong>Here, the software, including test scripts, test environment, and test infrastructure, are finalized and archived for later use.</li><li><strong>Documenting System Acceptance: </strong>System acceptance testing is an important step in software testing since it validates that the system is ready for deployment and satisfies user expectations. By performing system acceptance testing, you can minimize the risks of deploying software lacking the desired criteria/quality. So, documenting this includes every aspect of the developed software and application and its supporting data and information. The customer representatives then accept it before the implementation of the software system.</li><li><strong>Analyzing Best Practices: </strong>The last stage involves exploring best practices. This stage is important as it helps to identify lessons learned from the project for future reference. It also helps to determine the changes required for similar projects in the future.</li></ul><br>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/need-for-test-closure-2_3dcf3d419dd0aaacad35c382f3676430_2000.jpg" alt="Stages in Test Closure"/></figure></div>



<br><h2 id="h-what-is-a-test-closure-report"><span id="What_is_a_Test_Closure_Report"><strong>What is a Test Closure Report?</strong></span></h2>



<p>A test closure report is a document with a summary of a project&#8217;s entire testing process and its results. The report gives insights into test executions and software performance in the tests. Anyone from the team can use this report to evaluate the quality of the software and make an informed decision on its release.</p>



<p>Once the testing is complete, the testing team prepares the test closure report. The report consists of various metrics collected during the testing process. The test closure report is prepared to include all the necessary information that can support the completion of the test execution cycle. The report must contain screenshots, query results, recordings, and log files that provide a detailed account of the testing process. The test closure report template typically includes the following sections:</p>



<ul><li><strong>Test Summary Report:</strong> A complete document overviews the testing process, activities, and results.</li><li><strong>Identifier: </strong>A unique reference number set to the test closure report for easy tracking.</li><li><strong>Test Summary: </strong>A summary highlighting the key results, accomplishments, and challenges faced during testing.</li><li><strong>Variances: </strong>Any variations during testing activities and their impact on the project.</li><li><strong>Comprehensive Assessment:</strong> A detailed evaluation (strengths/weaknesses) of the quality of the software.</li><li><strong>Summary of Results: </strong>A brief of the test results, along with the test cases executed, passed, failed, and any outstanding issues.</li><li><strong>Evaluation:</strong> A review of the overall efficiency of the testing process.</li><li><strong>Summary of Activities</strong>: A short summary of testing activities completed, such as test planning, test design, and execution.</li><li><strong>Approval:</strong> Confirmation of completion of test closure report and approval by stakeholders, such as PMs, dev teams, and QAs.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-importance-of-test-closure-report-in-test-automation"><span id="Importance_of_Test_Closure_Report_in_Test_Automation"><strong>Importance of Test Closure Report in Test Automation</strong></span></h2>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:30px">The Test Closure Report is an important document in agile software development. We should prioritize this document as it helps find problems and understand the quality and status of the product before it is released, considers diverse opinions, and gives a transparent view of the testing process. This report helps make data-driven decisions and improve future projects. Automation tools like Testsigma have revolutionized the process of preparing test closure reports. These tools enable the QA team to generate <a href="https://testsigma.com/docs/reports/export-reports/export-report-pdf/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">custom reports</a> effortlessly with just a click. Testsigma&#8217;s amazing features offer flexibility, accuracy, and rich insights, helping teams to make data-driven decisions. Here’s a quick test closure report example demonstrating how to export your run results, as a test report, in Testsigma.</p></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://d37oebn0w9ir6a.cloudfront.net/account_36412/pdfexprep_192ac05f851c6f04da43d0044fae1be3.gif" alt="Reports in Testsigma App"/></figure></div>



<p><p style="padding-top:30px">Testsigma generates an Executive report summarizing the testing process and results so stakeholders can make wise decisions. This report contains a plan report, test case list, test step list, and screenshots which are very helpful for a Test Closure Report. The Plan report shows the changes made and helps to assess the execution of the testing plan. The test case list ensures complete test coverage by analyzing the software&#8217;s functional and non-functional aspects. The Test step list gives a thorough overview of the testing steps. Screenshots provide clear evidence of the issues found and resolved.</p></p>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:15px">Not only this, Testsigma comes with many features that help you achieve ROI sooner and better. Know more about Testsigma here: <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://testsigma.com/</a></p></p>



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<br><h2 id="h-test-closure-activities-when-to-perform-them-and-why"><span id="Test_Closure_Activities_When_to_Perform_them_and_Why"><strong>Test Closure Activities: When to Perform them and Why?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Test Closure Activities play a crucial role in concluding the testing phase of the software. Collecting and analyzing results in test reports, ensuring their accuracy, and facilitating their handover contribute to the overall quality of the software. These activities below provide crucial insights into the software&#8217;s performance.</p>



<h3 id="h-checking-for-completion-of-tests"><span id="Checking_for_Completion_of_Tests"><strong>Checking for Completion of Tests</strong></span></h3>



<p>In this activity, the team lead or manager ensures that all test work, including test cases, plans, and strategies, has been completed without any deletions. They also cross-check the documents to address all known bugs or errors appropriately.</p>



<h3 id="h-handing-over-test-objects"><span id="Handing_Over_Test_Objects"><strong>Handing Over Test Objects</strong></span></h3>



<p>After checking the test work, the relevant test objects and documentation are handed over to the individuals or teams needing them in the future. This transfer of information ensures future maintenance, troubleshooting, or further development.</p>



<h3 id="h-learning-experience"><span id="Learning_Experience"><strong>Learning Experience</strong></span></h3>



<p>The learning experience focuses on gathering insights from the testing process. Here, the QA team analyzes their practices, methodologies, tools, and results to identify best practices for future releases and stop poor practices that lead to unfavorable results.</p>



<h3 id="h-archiving"><span id="Archiving"><strong>Archiving</strong></span></h3>



<p>The testing team should organize and store test data, documents, reports, logs, and configurations generated during the testing phase. This ensures the information is appropriately documented, preserved, and accessible for future reference, enabling traceability, compliance, auditing, and troubleshooting.</p>



<p>Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-reporting-tools/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test Reporting Tools</a></p>



<h2 id="h-benefits-of-test-closure-activities"><span id="Benefits_of_Test_Closure_Activities">Benefits of Test Closure Activities</span></h2>



<ul><li>Test closure activities ensure that planned deliverables are successfully delivered to clients or end users, confirming the completeness and accuracy of the software.</li><li>These activities assess the software&#8217;s compliance with end-user requirements, ensuring a user-friendly product that satisfies their experience.</li><li>Test closure activities resolve bugs and errors, stopping their recurrence and enhancing the reliability of the software.</li><li>By assessing the development and testing process, test closure activities give valuable insights for future projects, enabling continuous improvement.</li><li>Managers can efficiently transfer necessary test cases and data to relevant stakeholders, enabling data-driven decisions.</li><li>Test closure activities evaluate the testing process, allowing the identification of areas for improvement.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-evaluating-exit-criteria-and-reporting"><span id="Evaluating_Exit_Criteria_and_Reporting"><strong>Evaluating Exit Criteria and Reporting</strong></span></h3>



<p>The exit criteria for test closure are the conditions to be fulfilled before concluding the testing phase. This includes providing a Test Closure Report, a complete document summarizing testing activities, results, and observations, and getting official approval from the client.</p>



<p><strong>Additional exit criteria may involve:</strong></p>



<ul><li>Completing all planned test activities.</li><li>Fixing critical errors.</li><li>Adhering to schedules.</li><li>Achieving test coverage goals.</li><li>Fulfilling any needed test documentation.</li></ul>



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



<p>The Test Closure Report plays an important role in ensuring the success of testing projects. It documents the testing process and gives valuable insights into the test executions and performance of the software. The report also helps evaluate the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_quality" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">software&#8217;s quality</a>, make data-driven decisions, and identify areas of improvement for future projects.</p>



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



<h3 id="h-1-what-are-the-contents-of-test-closure-report"><span id="1_What_are_the_contents_of_test_closure_report"><strong>1. What are the contents of test closure report?</strong></span></h3>



<p><strong>Ans: </strong>The test closure report includes all the necessary details that can support the completion of the testing process. The report also has screenshots, query results, recordings, and log files that gives a detailed account of the testing process. The contents of test closure report are as follows:</p>



<ul><li>Test Summary Report</li><li>Identifier</li><li>Test Summary</li><li>Variances</li><li>Comprehensive Assessment</li><li>Summary of Results</li><li>Evaluation</li><li>Summary of Activities</li><li>Approval</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-2-who-will-prepare-the-test-closure-report"><span id="2_Who_will_prepare_the_Test_Closure_Report"><strong>2. Who will prepare the Test Closure Report?</strong></span></h3>



<p><strong>Ans: </strong>A QA engineer will prepare the Test Closure Report and is reviewed by all stakeholders. This report offers a detailed analysis of the testing activities, the methodologies used, the current status of specified bugs, and detailed info regarding any remaining open defects.</p>


Test Closure Report Everything You Need To Know

Test Closure Report: Everything You Need To Know


<p>Regression testing is a software testing process that involves verifying the functionalities of an application or system after modifications have been made that could impact its performance. Unit testing is a software testing process that involves thoroughly testing individual functions or modules of a program using specialized tools. Unit testing helps testers to catch bugs early in the development process when they can be addressed more efficiently. This blog is about Regression Test vs Unit Test.</p>



<p>We know testing has become a necessary part of the software development life cycle. With the rise of Agile and DevOps methodologies, developers must deliver software faster than ever without sacrificing quality. We must do testing more efficiently and with higher precision. Regression testing and unit testing are 2 types of testing that we talk about, in this blog. We&#8217;ll talk about their benefits, main differences, and other important stuff to help you tell them apart easily.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://images.storychief.com/account_36412/image_1dc38f99c0bac33ec8e6dcf48ef1632a_2000.jpeg" alt="Regression Test vs Unit Test" width="600" height="500" /></figure></div>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Regression_Testing_vs_What_is_Unit_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is Regression Testing vs. What is Unit Testing?</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_Unit_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.1</span> What is Unit Testing?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_Regression_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.2</span> What is Regression Testing?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#When_and_Why_Do_You_Need_Both_Testing_Types"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> When and Why Do You Need Both Testing Types?</a><ul><li><a href="#Unit_tests_vs_Regression_tests_the_differences"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.1</span> Unit tests vs. Regression tests – the differences</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Tools_and_Techniques_for_Regression_and_Unit_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Tools and Techniques for Regression and Unit Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Summary"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#Are_regression_tests_unit_tests"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.1</span> Are regression tests unit tests?</a></li><li><a href="#Is_regression_testing_black_box_testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.2</span> Is regression testing black box testing?</a></li><li><a href="#Which_testing_comes_under_unit_testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">5.3</span> Which testing comes under unit testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-regression-testing-vs-what-is-unit-testing"><span id="What_is_Regression_Testing_vs_What_is_Unit_Testing"><strong>What is Regression Testing vs. What is Unit Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>These two types of testing have different objectives. Also, they require different skills, tools, and techniques.</p>



<h3 id="h-what-is-unit-testing"><span id="What_is_Unit_Testing"><strong>What is Unit Testing?</strong></span></h3>



<p>Unit testing isn&#8217;t anything new. It&#8217;s been around since the early days of programming, you know. Testers use unit testing to test individual pieces of code or &#8220;units&#8221; and ensure they function as expected. This approach helps catch errors or bugs early in development, making fixing them easier and less costly.<em>One example of unit testing is testing a function that calculates the sum of two numbers. The test would involve providing two numbers as input and verifying that the output is the correct sum of those numbers. </em>For example, if the input numbers are 4 and 6, the output should be 10. This testing approach helps ensure that each unit works as intended and can be integrated into a larger system without issues.</p>



<h3 id="h-what-is-regression-testing"><span id="What_is_Regression_Testing"><strong>What is Regression Testing?</strong></span></h3>



<p><a href="https://testsigma.com/regression-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Regression testing</a> is a software testing process that involves verifying the functionalities of an application or system after modifications have been made that could potentially impact its performance. We do this to ensure that the modifications or updates have not broken any existing functionality and to confirm that there are no unexpected side effects.</p>



<p>You can conduct regression testing manually or through automation tools. Regression testing plays an essential role in the software development life cycle since developers continuously make new modifications to an application&#8217;s codebase.</p>



<p>For example, a web application has significantly updated its user interface. The testing team would need to verify that all previously functional features, like the home page, login page, cart, checkout, payment etc, still perform as expected and that the new user interface does not introduce any defects. By conducting thorough regression testing, software developers can ensure that their products continue to meet the high standards of quality and functionality that users expect.</p>



<h2 id="h-when-and-why-do-you-need-both-testing-types"><span id="When_and_Why_Do_You_Need_Both_Testing_Types"><strong>When and Why Do You Need Both Testing Types?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Regression Testing and Unit Testing are two important types of software testing. Regression testing is necessary when changes are made in the code base, which might affect other software parts. Unit Tests are essential because they help identify any issues with the functions individually before being integrated into the final product. Below are some reasons why you need regression testing and unit testing:</p>



<p><strong>When do you need regression testing?</strong></p>



<ul><li>Regression testing is testing that makes sure changes or updates to a software system don&#8217;t cause any unintended effects or break anything that used to work.</li><li>You&#8217;ll generally want to do this testing whenever you make any changes, add new features, or bring in new data.</li></ul>



<p><strong>Why do you need unit testing types?</strong></p>



<ul><li>To identify any problems with specific code units at an early stage.</li><li>Help troubleshoot complicated systems by isolating individual components.</li><li>To make it easier to extend, modify, and refactor code over time without breaking anything.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-unit-tests-vs-regression-tests-the-differences"><span id="Unit_tests_vs_Regression_tests_the_differences"><strong>Unit tests vs. Regression tests – the differences</strong></span></h3>



<p>Okay, let&#8217;s break it down! The below table gives you the major differences between these tests.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Unit Test</strong></td><td><strong>Regression Test</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Unit tests are designed to test individual code units, typically at the function or method level.</td><td>Regression testing involves running a suite of tests to ensure that new code changes don&#8217;t adversely affect existing functionality in an application. Read here about &#8211;<a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/regression-test-suite/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Regression test suite</a></td></tr><tr><td>This is a type of white box testing</td><td>This is a type of black box testing</td></tr><tr><td>Testers usually execute them before integrating new code into the larger application.</td><td>Developers generally perform regression testing after integration or deployment.</td></tr><tr><td>This test targets the methods and functions.</td><td>This test targets the end-to-end workflows.</td></tr><tr><td>Run for every build.</td><td>Run every time changes are made</td></tr><tr><td>It can be fully automated.</td><td>It can be manual or automated.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p>Both types of testing are important and work together to ensure our software is working properly.</p>



<h2 id="h-tools-and-techniques-for-regression-and-unit-testing"><span id="Tools_and_Techniques_for_Regression_and_Unit_Testing"><strong>Tools and Techniques for Regression and Unit Testing</strong></span></h2>



<p>To reduce the risk of introducing bugs and errors in your code, regression, and unit testing are two methods you should employ. After introducing new changes, regression testing ensures that previously working features still function correctly. On the other hand, unit testing focuses on verifying individual components of your code work as intended. Many great options offer robust functionality and capabilities when it comes to tools for these methods. Some of the top picks include:</p>



<p><strong>For Unit Testing:</strong></p>



<ol><li><strong>NUnit</strong>: an open-source unit-testing framework for .NET developers with built-in assertions, extensibility support, and parameterized tests.</li><li><strong>J</strong><strong>Unit</strong>: an open-source unit-testing framework for Java developers</li><li><strong>JMockit</strong>-an open-source tool for Unit Testing with the collection of tools and API</li></ol>



<p><strong>F</strong><strong>or Regression Testing:</strong></p>



<ol><li><strong>Testsigma</strong>: an NLP-based <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automation testing</a> platform that lets you automate tests for web, mobile, desktop, and API from the same place. With Testsigma, automating and maintaining tests is as easy as writing sentences in English. Know more about Testsigma here: <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://testsigma.com/</a> <br><p style="padding-bottom:15px"><button class="btn bg-primary cta-btn" style="margin: auto"><a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:#fff">Start automating your regression tests in minutes with Testsigma</a></button>
</p></li><li><strong>Subject7</strong>: a cloud-native, codeless test automation platform that integrates all testing procedures in a unified platform.</li><li><strong>Cerberus</strong> <strong>Testing</strong>: an open-source and low-code test automation platform. It supports Web, Mobile, API, Desktop, and Database testing.</li></ol>



<p><p style="padding-top:15px">These tools provide developers with powerful capabilities to automate their regression or unit tests more effectively while significantly improving the efficiency of their workflow.</p></p>



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



<p>To summarize, regression and unit tests are essential in software testing to ensure quality and prevent errors. Understanding the differences between regression and unit tests is key to implementing an effective testing strategy that improves the overall quality of the software. Yet, using both types of testing in concurrence with each other will help ensure the code is thoroughly tested. If any issues are found, they will be resolved before they can cause problems for end-users.</p>



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



<h3 id="h-are-regression-tests-unit-tests"><span id="Are_regression_tests_unit_tests"><strong>Are regression tests unit tests?</strong></span></h3>



<p>Regression and unit tests are different. Regression tests ensure that existing functionality works correctly after new changes have been done, whereas unit tests verify that individual units of code work properly in isolation. Unit testing is designed to catch bugs early in development, while regression testing is intended to catch issues introduced during later stages.</p>



<h3 id="h-is-regression-testing-black-box-testing"><span id="Is_regression_testing_black_box_testing"><strong>Is regression testing black box testing?</strong></span></h3>



<p>Regression testing means re-executing the tests for features that could get impacted due to any new changes in the code. So it&#8217;s a Black-Box testing technique.</p>



<h3 id="h-which-testing-comes-under-unit-testing"><span id="Which_testing_comes_under_unit_testing"><strong>Which testing comes under unit testing?</strong></span></h3>



<p>Unit tests are very low-level and close to an application&#8217;s source. They test individual methods and functions of your software&#8217;s classes, components, or modules.</p>


Regression Test vs. Unit Test Key Differences

Regression Test vs Unit Test: Key Differences

What is Error Guessing Technique in Software Testing

What is Error Guessing Technique in Software Testing?


<p>Software testing is an essential aspect of software development that ensures that software products are functional, reliable, and meet the required specifications. Testing is crucial to identify software errors and bugs that can lead to system failures, data loss, and other negative impacts. Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) and Equivalence Class Partitioning (ECP) are two widely used testing techniques that help in Software Testing. In this article, we will discuss BVA and ECP, their benefits, real-life examples, and some common pitfalls to avoid.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_are_Boundary_Value_Analysis_and_Equivalence_Class_Partitioning"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What are Boundary Value Analysis and Equivalence Class Partitioning? </a></li><li><a href="#Boundary_Value_Analysis_BVA_and_Equivalence_Class_Partitioning_ECPnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) and Equivalence Class Partitioning (ECP):&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Benefits_of_Using_BVA_ECP_in_Software_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Benefits of Using BVA &amp; ECP in Software Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Applications_of_BVA_ECP_in_Software_Testingnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Applications of BVA &amp; ECP in Software Testing&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Should_you_automate_your_tests_for_BVA_and_ECP_Techniques"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Should you automate your tests for BVA and ECP Techniques?</a></li><li><a href="#Common_Pitfalls_to_Avoid_When_Using_BVA_ECPnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Using BVA &amp; ECP&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Boundary_Value_Analysis_vs_Equivalence_Class_Partitioning"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Boundary Value Analysis vs Equivalence Class Partitioning</a></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Conclusion:</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-are-boundary-value-analysis-and-equivalence-class-partitioning"><span id="What_are_Boundary_Value_Analysis_and_Equivalence_Class_Partitioning"><strong>What are Boundary Value Analysis and Equivalence Class Partitioning? </strong></span></h2>



<p><strong>Boundary Value Analysis (BVA):&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p>BVA is a testing technique that focuses on testing the boundary conditions of a system. The objective of BVA is to identify and test the values at the boundaries, which are often the most vulnerable points in a software application. These boundaries can include input limits, output limits, or any other type of boundary that is relevant to the system being tested.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The concept of BVA is based on the assumption that errors are more likely to occur at the boundaries of input values, rather than within the range of acceptable values. This is because the boundary values are usually handled differently by the software application, and any discrepancies in the handling of these values can result in errors.</p>



<p>For example, let&#8217;s consider a software application that accepts input values in the range of 1 to 100. The boundary values, in this case, would be 1, 100, and values close to them, such as 2, 99, etc. Testing the boundary values would involve checking how the software application behaves when it receives input values at the edge of the acceptable range. This includes testing values such as 0, 101, -1, 102, and so on.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Contrary to the name it’s less of an analysis but more of a heuristic that can be applied while testing, which means that it can fail too. It is important to note that BVA should not be used as the sole testing technique, but rather as a heuristic that can be applied in conjunction with other testing techniques.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Equivalence Class Partitioning (ECP):</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p>ECP is an important technique used in software testing. At its core, ECP is about grouping similar items that have a common property into a set, where each set represents an equivalence class. Doing so, helps testers identify and target specific areas of the software that may have a higher likelihood of containing bugs or errors.&nbsp;</p>



<p>When you&#8217;re driving a car, do you consciously calculate the exact amount of pressure needed to apply on the gas pedal to accelerate to a specific speed? No, you don&#8217;t.&nbsp;</p>



<p>You know that pressing the pedal with a certain amount of force will generally get you to the desired speed. This is because the car&#8217;s engine and transmission are designed to work together to achieve a range of speeds, so there is a range of acceptable inputs for achieving a given output. That&#8217;s ECP! We apply it to anything we use regularly, like appliances, tools, and technology.&nbsp;</p>



<p>In the context of software testing, ECP is used to group tests based on various criteria such as input/output values, user groups, product risks, test environments, etc.&nbsp;</p>



<p>For instance, if you are testing a login page, you could group tests based on different input values such as valid usernames and passwords, invalid usernames, invalid passwords, and so on. Each group would represent an equivalence class that exposes different kinds of bugs or issues that may arise when users attempt to log in.&nbsp;</p>



<p>While ECP is an effective testing technique, it is not foolproof, and it can sometimes fail too. It is a thought process that relies heavily on the tester&#8217;s knowledge and experience.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="boundary-value-analysis-bva-and-equivalence-class-partitioning-ecp"><span id="Boundary_Value_Analysis_BVA_and_Equivalence_Class_Partitioning_ECPnbsp"><strong>Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) and Equivalence Class Partitioning (ECP):</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></h2>



<p>Now that we know about BVA and ECP, it is worth pointing out that they both are usually used together. Let&#8217;s try to understand this with an example. Let’s say you are trying to test a form that accepts age as a number:<br>&#8211; You cannot go on and create 100 test cases for it to test for all 100 inputs from the age of 1 to 100.<br>&#8211; You will also need to test the numbers below 1 and above 100. These are the boundary values.<br>&#8211; To make our testing more effective, let&#8217;s employ ECP. Let’s partition the 1 to 100 into groups of 10, so they would be [1-10];[11-20];[21-30];[31-40];[41-50];[51-60];[61-70];[71-80];[81-90];[91-100];</p>



<p>&#8211; For the created groups, the testing can be done for values on boundaries like: -1;0;1;9;10;11;19;20;21… and so forth</p>



<h2 id="benefits-of-using-bva-ecp-in-software-testing"><span id="Benefits_of_Using_BVA_ECP_in_Software_Testing"><strong>Benefits of Using BVA &amp; ECP in Software Testing</strong></span></h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-115.png" alt="Benefits of Using BVA &amp; ECP in Software Testing" class="wp-image-29919" width="200" height="200" /></figure></div>



<p>While BVA and ECP are widely used, let&#8217;s understand some of the key benefits of applying BVA and ECP</p>



<p>in software testing:&nbsp;</p>



<p>1. <strong>Improved Understanding of the System Under Test: </strong>When we apply BVA and ECP techniques, we try to identify the boundaries of the system and group the input parameters into classes. This helps us to gain a better understanding of the system and its behavior.&nbsp;</p>



<p>2. <strong>Simplified Test Design: </strong>By grouping the tests based on input/output values, user groups, product risks, test environments, etc., testers can better plan their tests. This ensures that each class is tested comprehensively and exposes different kinds of bugs.&nbsp;</p>



<p>3. <strong>Better <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-coverage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test Coverage</a>: </strong>BVA and ECP techniques help to identify critical tests by dividing the input domain into smaller regions, leading to effective test coverage. BVA focuses on testing boundary conditions, which are the most error-prone areas, while ECP divides the input domain into equivalence classes that can be tested as a group. </p>



<p>4. <strong>Better Prioritization: </strong>By using these techniques, we can prioritize the test cases based on their criticality. BVA helps in identifying the values at the boundaries, which are more likely to cause errors, while ECP helps in grouping the tests based on the common properties, which makes it easier to prioritize the tests.&nbsp;</p>



<p>5. <strong>Better Risk Management: </strong>BVA and ECP help to identify and manage risks associated with software testing. By identifying the most critical scenarios, testers can focus on the areas of the software that are most likely to cause problems.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="applications-of-bva-ecp-in-software-testing"><span id="Applications_of_BVA_ECP_in_Software_Testingnbsp"><strong>Applications of BVA &amp; ECP in Software Testing</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></h2>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-116.png" alt="Applications of BVA &amp; ECP in Software Testing" class="wp-image-29921" width="600" height="400" /></figure></div>



<p>The most common use/application of BVA and ECP in Software testing is found to be on the input values for the system under test. Apart from input values, the following are some of the other scenarios where these techniques can be applied:&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Boundary Value Analysis (BVA):</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>



<p>1. <strong><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/database-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Database Testing</a>: </strong>In a database system, BVA can be used to test the boundary conditions of various parameters such as the number of records, data types, field sizes, the minimum and maximum length of character fields, the range of numeric fields, and the maximum number of records that can be stored, etc. </p>



<p>2. <strong>Network Testing: </strong>BVA can be used to analyze the traffic on the network and identify any abnormal conditions or boundary conditions that may cause the network to fail. In network communication protocols, BVA can be applied to test the boundary conditions of data packets,</p>



<p>such as the minimum and maximum packet size, packet header length, and packet content. This technique can help ensure that the protocol will work correctly under a wide range of data transfer scenarios.&nbsp;</p>



<p>3. <strong>Hardware Testing: </strong>BVA can also be applied to hardware components, such as sensors, where boundary conditions like temperature, humidity, and pressure can impact the functionality of the component. By testing these limits, testers can ensure that the hardware component will function correctly under extreme conditions.&nbsp;</p>



<p>4. <strong>Testing of time-based functionality: </strong>BVA can be applied to test the time-based functionality of a system, such as a booking system, to check if it handles the boundaries of time zones, daylight saving time changes, and other related constraints.&nbsp;</p>



<p>5. <strong><a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/ui-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UI Testing</a>: </strong>BVA can be used to test the boundaries of the screen size, font size, color, alignment, and various user interface elements such as text boxes, buttons, drop-down menus, etc. By testing these limits, testers can ensure that the user interface will function correctly when users interact with it in unexpected ways. </p>



<p><strong>Equivalence Class Partitioning (ECP):</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>



<ol><li><strong>Output values: </strong>Equivalence Class Partitioning can also be used to test output values. For example, if a software application is supposed to return a specific set of outputs for certain input values, you can use ECP to partition the expected output values into equivalent classes and test only one value from each class.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>User roles: </strong>In software testing, ECP can be applied to different user roles. Different user roles may have access to different sets of features or functionality in an application. By applying ECP to user roles, you can identify and test the most critical combinations of user roles and features.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Time and date: </strong>ECP can also be used to test software applications that rely on time and date data. For example, if an application requires specific actions to be taken at specific times, ECP can be used to partition the relevant time periods into equivalent classes and test only one time from each class.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Environment: </strong>ECP can also be used to test software applications in different environments. For example, an application may behave differently on different operating systems or with different hardware configurations. By applying ECP to different environments, you can identify and test the most critical combinations of environment and software configurations.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Error Handling: </strong>ECP can also be used to test error messages. By partitioning error messages into equivalent classes, you can test only one message from each class, ensuring that all possible error messages are tested without the need to test every possible input value that might trigger an error.&nbsp;</li></ol>



<h2 id="should-you-automate-your-tests-for-bva-and-ecp-techniques"><span id="Should_you_automate_your_tests_for_BVA_and_ECP_Techniques"><strong>Should you automate your tests for BVA and ECP Techniques?</strong></span></h2>



<p>You may be wondering whether or not to automate the tests for Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) and Equivalence Partitioning (ECP) techniques. In my opinion, both of these techniques involve testing a range of input values systematically, making them ideal candidates for automation.</p>



<p>Automating your tests for BVA and ECP can be a great way to save time and ensure accuracy in your testing. And with tools like Testsigma available, it&#8217;s easier than ever to automate your tests without the need for extensive coding or technical knowledge.</p>



<div class="cta-banner-v2">
<div class="title-with-description ">
<p class="title">Here is a guide that talks in detail about automated testing </p>
</div>
<a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" class="cta-btn-v1" rel="noopener">Learn more</a>
</div>



<p>Automating your BVA and ECP tests with Testsigma can help you catch bugs and issues early on, before they cause major problems down the line. It can also help you achieve better test coverage by allowing you to run tests more frequently and consistently. Plus, Testsigma&#8217;s cloud-based nature means that you can access and run your tests from anywhere, making it easy to collaborate with remote team members or testers.<br>



<p>Automating tests for BVA and ECP can be highly beneficial for improving testing efficiency, consistency, and accuracy. However, it&#8217;s important to recognize that not all tests can be automated and that the decision to automate tests should be made after carefully considering the cost and benefit of automation.</p>



<h2 id="common-pitfalls-to-avoid-when-using-bva-ecp"><span id="Common_Pitfalls_to_Avoid_When_Using_BVA_ECPnbsp"><strong>Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Using BVA &amp; ECP</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong></span></h2>



<p>When using Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) and Equivalence Partitioning (ECP) in software testing, it&#8217;s important to avoid certain pitfalls. Some common pitfalls to avoid include:&nbsp;</p>



<p>1. <strong>Restricting to only input values: </strong>BVA and ECP are not limited to input values alone. Testers must consider all possible factors that could affect the software, such as different user groups, product risks, <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test environments</a>, invisible boundaries, transitions, conversions, time, and more.&nbsp;</p>



<p>2. <strong>Assuming limits and classes: </strong>It&#8217;s important not to make assumptions about the limits and classes that should be used in testing. The actual limits and classes may differ from what was originally assumed, and testing based on incorrect assumptions can result in missing critical bugs.&nbsp;</p>



<p>3. <strong>Ignoring user behavior: </strong>Testers must take into account the different ways in which users interact with the software. Factors such as user expectations, use cases, and workflows can all have an impact on the software&#8217;s behavior.&nbsp;</p>



<p>4. <strong>Over-reliance on BVA and ECP: </strong>While BVA and ECP are useful techniques, they shouldn&#8217;t be the only testing methods used. Other testing methods, such as <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/exploratory-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">exploratory testing</a> and usability testing, can provide valuable insights that may be missed using BVA and ECP alone.&nbsp;</p>



<p>5. <strong>Not considering edge cases: </strong>Finally, it is important to test edge cases that may not be within the expected range of values. These edge cases may include unexpected inputs or user behavior and can help uncover critical bugs that may otherwise go unnoticed.&nbsp;</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-118.png" alt="Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Using BVA &amp; ECP" class="wp-image-29925" width="600" height="400" /></figure></div>



<h2 id="boundary-value-analysis-vs-equivalence-class-partitioning"><span id="Boundary_Value_Analysis_vs_Equivalence_Class_Partitioning"><strong>Boundary Value Analysis vs Equivalence Class Partitioning</strong></span></h2>



<p>Now that we have understood the various aspects of BVA and ECP; and how they can compliment each other. Let’s also throw some light on their differences:</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>BVA</td><td>ECP</td></tr><tr><td>Here, testing is always done on the boundaries of input values.</td><td>Here, the testing will be done according to the classes created. The input values can be taken from the boundary or from the middle region of the class.</td></tr><tr><td>It involves testing for valid inputs as well as invalid inputs.<br><br>For eg. For testing boundaries for an age input form:&nbsp; 0 &amp; 1 will be valid inputs and -1 will be an invalid input<br><br></td><td>The validity and invalidity of the input values depends on the partition. Either all values in the partition will be a valid input or an invalid input.</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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



<p>In summary, BVA and ECP are not just testing techniques but are thought processes and approaches that can help testers to understand the system under test better and prioritize the tests based on the system risks and criticality, thus improving the overall test coverage, test plan, and strategy.</p>


Boundary Value Analysis and Equivalence Class Partitioning

Boundary Value Analysis vs Equivalence Class Partitioning


<p>Did you know software errors cost the US economy an estimated $1.7 trillion annually? Or that software defects are responsible for 25% of total system failures? These statistics highlight the importance of software testing. The software testing life cycle encompasses activities executed during the testing phase. By following these six key testing phases, you can ensure that the final product is free from errors, glitches, and other issues that can hamper its performance.</p>



<p>The 6 phases of testing are Requirement analysis, Test planning, Test case development, Test environment setup, Test execution, and Test reporting. We will examine the best practices and techniques that can ensure the successful completion of each phase in detail and delve into each phase. By the end of this post, you will have a complete understanding of the key phases involved in software testing.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Frame-48095883.png" alt="Phases of Testing" class="wp-image-30354" width="800" height="500" /></figure></div>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#6_Key_Phases_of_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> 6 Key Phases of Testing </a><ul><li><a href="#1_Requirement_analysis"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.1</span> 1. Requirement analysis</a></li><li><a href="#2_Test_planning"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.2</span> 2. Test planning</a></li><li><a href="#3_Test_case_development"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.3</span> 3. Test case development</a></li><li><a href="#4_Test_environment_setup"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.4</span> 4. Test environment setup</a></li><li><a href="#5_Test_execution"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.5</span> 5. Test execution</a></li><li><a href="#6_Test_closure"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.6</span> 6. Test closure</a></li><li><a href="#Test_Automation_as_part_of_Phases_of_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.7</span> Test Automation as part of Phases of Testing</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Phases_of_Testing_in_Agile_SDLC_Models"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Phases of Testing in Agile SDLC Models</a></li><li><a href="#Summary"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_are_the_four_phases_of_testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.1</span> What are the four phases of testing?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-6-key-phases-of-testing"><span id="6_Key_Phases_of_Testing"><strong>6 Key Phases of Testing </strong></span></h2>



<p>Here are the phases of software testing explained in detail.</p>



<h3 id="h-1-requirement-analysis"><span id="1_Requirement_analysis"><strong>1. Requirement analysis</strong></span></h3>



<p>Requirement analysis involves identifying, analyzing, and documenting the requirements of a software system.</p>



<ul><li>During requirement analysis, the software testing team works closely with the stakeholders to gather information about the system&#8217;s functionality, performance, and usability.</li><li>The requirements document serves as a blueprint for the software development team, guiding them in creating the software system.</li><li>It also serves as a reference point for the testing team, helping them design and execute effective test cases to ensure the software meets the requirements.</li></ul>



<p>In summary, by conducting thorough requirement analysis, software testing teams can help ensure the software system&#8217;s success and user satisfaction.</p>



<h3 id="h-2-test-planning"><span id="2_Test_planning"><strong>2. Test planning</strong></span></h3>



<p>During the test planning phase, the team develops a complete plan outlining each testing process step, including identifying requirements, determining the target audience, selecting appropriate testing tools and methods, defining roles and responsibilities, and defining timelines. This phase aims to ensure that all necessary resources are in place and everyone on the team understands their roles and responsibilities. A well-designed test plan minimizes risks by ensuring that potential defects are identified early in the development cycle when they are easier to fix. Also, adhering to the plan throughout the testing process fosters thoroughness and consistency in testing efforts which can save time and cost down the line.</p>



<h3 id="h-3-test-case-development"><span id="3_Test_case_development"><strong>3. Test case development</strong></span></h3>



<p>During the test case development phase, the team thoroughly tests the software and considers all possible scenarios.</p>



<p>This phase involves multiple steps, including test design, test case creation, and test case review:</p>



<ul><li>Test design involves identifying the test scenarios and defining the steps to be followed during testing.</li><li>Writing test cases for each identified scenario, including input data, expected output, and the steps to be followed, involves creating test cases.</li><li>Test case review involves reviewing the test cases to ensure they are complete and cover all possible scenarios.</li></ul>



<p>Also, this is the phase when the involvement of test automation can be started. You can select the test cases for test automation here. And, if automation is already a part of the STLC, and the product is suitable for testing, then the test case automation can be started too.</p>



<h3 id="h-4-test-environment-setup"><span id="4_Test_environment_setup"><strong>4. Test environment setup</strong></span></h3>



<p><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-environment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test environment</a> setup in software testing life refers to creating an environment that simulates the production system where the software application is deployed. A person can ensure efficient and effective testing activities by designing the test environment correctly.</p>



<p>The setup includes</p>



<ul><li>hardware,</li><li>software,</li><li>networks, and</li><li>databases.</li></ul>



<p>When setting up test environments, we consider network bandwidth, server capabilities, and storage capacity. A properly set-up test environment aims to replicate real-world scenarios to identify potential issues before deployment in production systems. Testers can perform functional, performance, or load testing during this phase. Automating your Test environment setup can make your work easier. You can set up automated tests to run on the configured setups here.</p>



<h3 id="h-5-test-execution"><span id="5_Test_execution"><strong>5. Test execution</strong></span></h3>



<p>Test execution refers to the software testing life cycle phase where created test cases are executed on the actual system being tested. At this stage, testers verify whether features, functions, and requirements prescribed in earlier phases perform as expected. The test execution also involves the execution of automated test cases.</p>



<h3 id="h-6-test-closure"><span id="6_Test_closure"><strong>6. Test closure</strong></span></h3>



<p>Test closure is integral to the STLC and includes completing all planned testing activities. It includes</p>



<ul><li>reviewing and analyzing test results,</li><li>reporting defects,</li><li>identifying achieved or failed test objectives,</li><li>assessing test coverage, and</li><li>evaluating exit criteria.</li></ul>



<p>For example, in agile methodology, test closure occurs at the end of each sprint as a formal review meeting with essential stakeholders. The team aims to validate that they have adequately tested all the functionality before release. They generate closure reports detailing the overall product quality and bug statistics, leading to the project&#8217;s successful conclusion.</p>



<p>Effective test closure signifies that the software product is ready for delivery and can move towards launch after addressing all identified defects and weaknesses, ensuring flawless functioning and a positive user experience.</p>



<p>When discussing test automation, the effective generation of test reports and integration with other tools in the test process also plays a big role.</p>



<p>Check here &#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/system-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">System Testing</a></p>



<h3 id="h-test-automation-as-part-of-phases-of-testing"><span id="Test_Automation_as_part_of_Phases_of_Testing">Test Automation as part of Phases of Testing</span></h3>



<p>Thus, to succeed through the 6 phases of STLC,&nbsp;<a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test automation</a>&nbsp;becomes a part too. Some tools are built keeping all of these in mind.</p>



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<p>Tools make the steps easier by</p>



<p> 1. Making test creation easy </p>



<p>2. Enabling test environment setup </p>



<p>3. Quick test execution </p>



<p>4. Insightful test reporting. </p>



<p><strong>For example, <a href="https://testsigma.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Testsigma</a>: </strong></p>



<p>1. It Makes test creation easy as it is a no-code test automation platform. Automating your tests is as easy as writing your sentences in simple English. Similarly, they are super easy to edit and maintain too. </p>



<p>2. Support for configuring the tests to run on the test environment of your choice. </p>



<p>3. Intuitive UI that enables you to create, configure and execute your tests in minutes. </p>



<p>4. Customizable test reporting; make it report according to your needs.</p>



<p><strong><em>A visual representation of creating a Test Plan with Testsigma is depicted below:</em></strong></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://d37oebn0w9ir6a.cloudfront.net/account_36412/e2e-testing-scenario-gif_38fec3c4e754f34a36cdc165adf10c78.gif" alt="Testsigma - Testplan"><figcaption>PC<strong><em>:</em></strong><a href="https://testsigma.com/tutorials/test-plans/cross-platform-end-to-end-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a></figcaption></figure></div>



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<h2 id="h-phases-of-testing-in-agile-sdlc-models"><span id="Phases_of_Testing_in_Agile_SDLC_Models"><strong>Phases of Testing in Agile SDLC Models</strong></span></h2>



<p>Similarly, agile SDLC models also incorporate test phases to ensure the quality of the product being developed. The phases are based on the same principles, just are termed different: There are several key phases to consider when embarking on an agile testing life cycle.</p>



<ol><li>The first phase, Impact Assessment, involves gathering all necessary information from stakeholders to understand the project&#8217;s scope and requirements fully. From there, the Agile Testing Planning phase allows stakeholders to collaborate and schedule the testing process and deliverables.</li><li>The developed feature is thoroughly tested in the Release Readiness phase to ensure it meets client expectations before going live.</li><li>Daily Scrums are conducted to check testing progress and set goals for the next day.</li><li>Finally, the Test Agility Review phase involves meeting stakeholders to review progress against milestones.</li></ol>



<p>Agile testing can be conducted efficiently and effectively by following these key phases.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Read More on <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/sdlc-vs-stlc/">SDLC vs STLC – Key Differences</a></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



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



<p>To identify defects and ensure they are fixed before the product is released, it is important to give equal importance to each phase of STLC. In this blog, we discussed the various phases of STLC and what they entail.</p>



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



<h3 id="h-what-are-the-four-phases-of-testing"><span id="What_are_the_four_phases_of_testing"><strong>What are the four phases of testing?</strong></span></h3>



<p>The Four-Phase Test Pattern is a widely used testing methodology that helps ensure the quality and reliability of software systems.</p>



<ol><li>The first phase, Setup, involves establishing the necessary preconditions for the test.</li><li>The second phase, Exercise, involves acting on the system under test.</li><li>Verify is the third phase, where the testers check whether the expected outcome has been achieved.</li><li>Finally, in the Cleanup phase, testers return the system under test to its initial state after completing all tests.</li></ol>


6 Key Phases of Testing in Software Testing Lifecycle

6 Key Phases of Testing in Software Testing

Test Efficiency How It Differs From Test Effectiveness

Test Efficiency: How It Differs From Test Effectiveness?

Xpath Vs CSS Selector : Key Differences


<p>Engineered with a focus on testing efficiency, our product team has introduced some really cool features this month. Let’s dive right in!</p>



<ol><li>Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for Advanced Text Extraction: The HTML canvas element is used to draw graphics, on the fly, via scripting. But during test automation of such DOM elements, users can neither rely on coordinates-based action nor on visual testing since it varies over screen sizes and does not assert any element inside the canvas image. With Testsigma&#8217;s <a href="https://testsigma.com/docs/addons/ocr-extraction/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OCR-based text extraction </a>via add-ons, you can now extract content from inside the canvas tag. This powerful feature allows you to interact with any text/components inside the canvas image. <em>Read here </em>&#8211; <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/ocr-test/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OCR Test</a>.</li></ol>



<ol start="2"><li>Disable Test Cases in a Test Plan: To address the challenges faced when running known-to-fail test cases, Testsigma now allows users to <a href="https://testsigma.com/docs/test-management/test-plans/disable-test-cases-in-test-plans/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">selectively disable test cases </a>within a test plan. By disabling these cases, you save valuable execution time and achieve a result decoupled from the known failures, ensuring efficient and accurate testing.</li></ol>



<ol start="3"><li>Support for Flutter Apps: Flutter is a crowd favorite for cross-platform app development, and Testsigma now supports recording and execution for apps built using the <a href="https://testsigma.com/tutorials/test-cases/mobile-apps/build-tests-using-recorder/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flutter framework</a>. Seamlessly record and execute tests on your Flutter mobile apps, enabling comprehensive testing for both iOS and Android platforms.</li></ol>



<ol start="4"><li>Support for Shadow DOM Element Capturing and Execution: With <a href="https://testsigma.com/docs/elements/web-apps/shadow-dom/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shadow DOM</a>, hidden DOM trees can be attached to elements in the regular DOM tree, which allows for isolated testing of specific HTML document sections. Testsigma&#8217;s latest release introduces support for capturing and executing test cases on Shadow DOM elements.</li></ol>



<ol start="5"><li>Mailbox Functions for URL Extraction and Verification: This new mailbox function lets you extract and verify URLs from emails. Whether you need to extract and click on specific URLs or validate email URLs, Testsigma provides flexible options such as text matching, partial URL matching, and regular expressions.</li></ol>



<p>With these new feature updates, we’re continuing to make test automation a breeze.</p>



<p>If you’re not already a Testsigma user,</p>



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<p>If you’d like to see the difference that hassle-free automation can make to your release cycles, <a href="https://testsigma.com/request-demo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">let us know</a>.</p>


May ’23 feature spotlight The latest on Testsigma

May ’23 feature spotlight: The latest on Testsigma


<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#Introduction"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> Introduction:</a></li><li><a href="#Set_Clear_Goals_and_Expectations"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Set Clear Goals and Expectations:</a><ul><li><a href="#Goalnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.1</span> Goal:&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Expectationsnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.2</span> Expectations:&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#Foster_a_Culture_of_Collaboration"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.3</span> Foster a Culture of Collaboration:</a></li><li><a href="#Invest_in_Continuous_Learning_and_Development"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.4</span> Invest in Continuous Learning and Development:</a></li><li><a href="#Empower_Your_Team"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.5</span> Empower Your Team:</a></li><li><a href="#Promote_Quality_Advocacy"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.6</span> Promote Quality Advocacy:</a></li><li><a href="#Implement_Effective_Processes_and_Tools"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.7</span> Implement Effective Processes and Tools:</a></li><li><a href="#Lead_by_Example"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.8</span> Lead by Example:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Conclusion:</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-introduction"><span id="Introduction">Introduction:</span></h2>



<p>As the Head of Quality Assurance (QA), you have a crucial role in ensuring the success of your team. Effective leadership can significantly impact the productivity, efficiency, and morale of your QA team. Leading a QA team to success requires more than just technical expertise in quality assurance. It entails effective leadership, strong communication, and the ability to inspire and empower your team members.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As a QA leader, you play a vital role in ensuring the <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/software-quality-assurance-plan/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">quality of software products</a> and driving the team towards excellence. </p>



<p>In this article, we will explore key strategies and best practices that will help you lead your QA team to success. From setting clear goals and fostering a collaborative environment to promoting continuous learning and embracing innovation, we will cover various aspects that contribute to the success of your QA team. So, let&#8217;s delve into the world of QA leadership and discover how you can guide your team to achieve outstanding results in the realm of software quality.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 id="h-set-clear-goals-and-expectations"><span id="Set_Clear_Goals_and_Expectations">Set Clear Goals and Expectations:</span></h2>



<p>A successful QA team needs a clear sense of direction. As the leader, it is your responsibility to define and communicate clear goals and expectations to your team. Establish measurable targets, such as defect reduction rates, test coverage, and customer satisfaction metrics. Ensure that your team understands these objectives and their role in achieving them.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Following example can help you understand how setting up clear goals help in achieving success.</p>



<h3 id="h-goal"><span id="Goalnbsp"><strong>Goal:</strong>&nbsp;</span></h3>



<p>Ensure a high-quality and user-friendly e-commerce platform launch within the specified timeline.</p>



<h3 id="h-expectations"><span id="Expectationsnbsp"><strong>Expectations:&nbsp;</strong></span></h3>



<ul><li><strong><a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/test-coverage/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Test Coverage</a></strong>: Clearly define the areas of the e-commerce platform that need to be thoroughly tested. This includes functionality, performance, security, and usability. Communicate the expected test coverage to your team, specifying the critical features that must be tested extensively.</li><li><strong>Defect Management</strong>: Set expectations regarding defect management. Define the severity levels and prioritize critical issues that need immediate attention. Clearly communicate the bug reporting process, including the required information in bug reports and the expected response time for addressing issues.</li><li><strong>Test Execution</strong>: Establish expectations for test execution, including the test schedule, test environments, and test data requirements.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Test Documentation</strong>: Set guidelines for test documentation, such as test cases, test scripts, and test results reporting.</li><li><strong>Collaboration with Development Team</strong>: Emphasize the importance of collaboration between the QA and development teams. Clearly communicate the expectations for bug triaging, bug fixing timelines, and effective communication channels between the two teams.</li><li><strong>Timelines and Milestones</strong>: Set clear timelines and milestones for the testing phases, including test planning, test execution, and test closure. Clearly communicate the deadlines and deliverables expected from the QA team at each stage.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-foster-a-culture-of-collaboration"><span id="Foster_a_Culture_of_Collaboration"><strong>Foster a Culture of Collaboration:</strong></span></h3>



<p>Collaboration is essential for a high-performing QA team. Encourage open communication, idea-sharing, and teamwork among your team members. Promote a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their opinions and contributing to the team&#8217;s success. Encourage cross-functional collaboration with other teams, such as development and product management, to foster a shared responsibility for quality.</p>



<h3 id="h-invest-in-continuous-learning-and-development"><span id="Invest_in_Continuous_Learning_and_Development"><strong>Invest in Continuous Learning and Development:</strong></span></h3>



<p>The world of software testing and quality assurance is constantly evolving. Encourage your team members to stay updated with the latest industry trends, tools, and best practices. Provide opportunities for professional development, such as&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li>Training programs</li><li>Workshops</li><li>Certifications. Foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement, where team members can enhance their skills and grow both personally and professionally.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-empower-your-team"><span id="Empower_Your_Team"><strong>Empower Your Team:</strong></span></h3>



<p>To achieve success, empower your team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work. Provide them with the autonomy and authority to execute their tasks effectively. Encourage innovation and creativity in problem-solving. When team members feel trusted and empowered, they become more engaged and motivated to excel in their roles.</p>



<h3 id="h-promote-quality-advocacy"><span id="Promote_Quality_Advocacy"><strong>Promote Quality Advocacy:</strong></span></h3>



<p>As the head of QA, it is crucial to instill a strong sense of quality advocacy within your team. Quality should be everyone&#8217;s responsibility, from developers to testers. Encourage proactive quality assurance practices, such as early involvement in the development process, promoting test-driven development, and conducting thorough code reviews. Emphasize the importance of preventing defects rather than just finding them, fostering a proactive and preventive approach to quality.</p>



<h3 id="h-implement-effective-processes-and-tools"><span id="Implement_Effective_Processes_and_Tools"><strong>Implement Effective Processes and Tools:</strong></span></h3>



<p><p style="padding-bottom:15px">Efficient processes and reliable tools are the backbone of a successful QA team. Evaluate your team&#8217;s current processes and identify areas for improvement. Implement streamlined workflows, standardized testing methodologies, and effective test management practices. Explore and adopt suitable testing tools and technologies that can enhance productivity and efficiency. Regularly review and refine these processes to ensure continuous improvement.</p></p>



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



<br><h3 id="h-lead-by-example"><span id="Lead_by_Example"><strong>Lead by Example:</strong></span></h3>



<p>As a leader, your actions speak louder than words. Lead by example and embody the qualities you expect from your team. Demonstrate a strong work ethic, integrity, and a commitment to quality. Be approachable, supportive, and empathetic towards your team members. Celebrate their achievements and recognize their contributions. A positive and inspiring leader can motivate the team to go above and beyond.</p>



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



<p>Leading a QA team to success requires a combination of effective leadership skills, a supportive work environment, and a focus on continuous improvement. By setting clear goals, fostering collaboration, investing in learning and development, empowering team members, promoting quality advocacy, implementing efficient processes, and leading by example, you can guide your team towards achieving exceptional results. Remember, success is not just about delivering defect-free software; it&#8217;s about building a resilient, proactive, and high-performing team that consistently delivers value and exceeds expectations.</p>


Leading Your QA Team to Success: Insights from a Head of QA


<p>Appium is a well-known mobile automation tool for automating native, hybrid, mobile web, and desktop apps. The appium community has come up with a major release in recent years, appium 2.0.0, and has made some considerable changes in making appium a platform where drivers and plugins can coexist independently.</p>



<p><em>In this blog, we will see how we can create an executable file for the appium server.&nbsp;</em></p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_are_executable_files"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What are executable files?</a><ul><li><a href="#Why_do_we_need_executable_files_for_the_appium_server"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">1.1</span> Why do we need executable files for the appium server?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Installing_Appium_2nbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> Installing Appium 2:&nbsp;</a><ul><li><ul><li><a href="#Operating_System"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_3">2.0.1</span> Operating System:</a></li><li><a href="#Pre-requisite"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_3">2.0.2</span> Pre-requisite:</a></li><li><a href="#Installation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_3">2.0.3</span> Installation:</a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Starting_Appium"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Starting Appium:</a><ul><li><a href="#Installing_Drivers"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">3.1</span> Installing Drivers:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Starting_Appium_via_exec_file"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Starting Appium via exec file:</a><ul><li><a href="#Pre-requisite-2"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.1</span> Pre-requisite:</a><ul><li><a href="#Pkg"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_3">4.1.1</span> Pkg:</a></li><li><a href="#Installing_Pkg"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_3">4.1.2</span> Installing Pkg:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Steps_to_create_an_executable_file"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">4.2</span> Steps to create an executable file:</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Conclusion"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Conclusion:</a></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-are-executable-files"><span id="What_are_executable_files">What are executable files?</span></h2>



<ul><li>Executable files contain a set of encoded instructions, which execute sequentially once the user clicks on them.</li><li>Executable files are available in all operating systems but with extensions pertaining to that OS. While .exe is the Windows extension for executable files, the macOs executable file does not have any extension.</li></ul>



<h3 id="h-why-do-we-need-executable-files-for-the-appium-server"><span id="Why_do_we_need_executable_files_for_the_appium_server">Why do we need executable files for the appium server?</span></h3>



<p>The <a href="https://github.com/appium/appium-desktop" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">appium desktop</a>, which is basically a GUI for the appium server was used to start/stop the server in appium 1.x. Moreover, the node runtime comes bundled with Appium Desktop which allowed users to use appium without having to install npm or node. But it is no longer compatible with appium 2.0+. And to overcome this, creating an executable file for the appium server is one of the easiest solutions. Apart from this, below are the benefits of having an executable file for the appium server:</p>



<p><strong><em>Easy distribution:</em></strong></p>



<ul><li>Users do not have to worry about having node or npm as a pre-requisite to install appium.&nbsp;</li><li>Once the executable file is built, the same can be used to start the appium on any machine and on any operating system.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p><strong><em>Easy to start the server:&nbsp;</em></strong></p>



<ul><li>Appium server can be started with just a click on the executable file.&nbsp;</li><li>No need to run commands from the terminal to start the appium server.</li></ul>



<p><strong><em>Easy to deploy:</em></strong></p>



<ul><li>Allows easy deployment on target machines i.e., if you want to install appium on any cloud server, you can simply deploy the exec file.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-installing-appium-2"><span id="Installing_Appium_2nbsp">Installing Appium 2:&nbsp;</span></h2>



<h4 id="h-operating-system"><span id="Operating_System">Operating System:</span></h4>



<ul><li>Mac os</li></ul>



<h4 id="h-pre-requisite"><span id="Pre-requisite">Pre-requisite:</span></h4>



<ul><li>We are going to use the node package manager to install appium, so make sure you have the node set up on your machine. If you do not have the node, please download it from the below link:<ul><li><a href="https://nodejs.org/en/download" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">https://nodejs.org/en/download</a></li></ul></li><li>I am using node version 16.20.0.</li></ul>



<h4 id="h-installation"><span id="Installation">Installation:</span></h4>



<ul><li>To install appium 2, please use the below command:<ul><li>npm i -g appium@next</li></ul></li></ul>



<h2 id="h-starting-appium"><span id="Starting_Appium">Starting Appium:</span></h2>



<ul><li>Once appium is installed, you can start the server by mentioning “appium” in the terminal.&nbsp;</li></ul><br>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1600" height="245" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-112.png" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" class="wp-image-29808"/></figure>



<br><ul><li>As I mentioned before, with appium version 2, we need to install the drivers separately. However, this was not the case with appium 1, i.e.<em> </em><em>When we installed Appium 1. x, all available drivers would be installed at the same time as the main Appium server. This is no longer the case.</em></li></ul>



<h3 id="h-installing-drivers"><span id="Installing_Drivers">Installing Drivers:</span></h3>



<ul><li>To find the list of available drivers, use the following command.&nbsp;<ul><li>appium driver list</li></ul></li></ul><br>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="990" height="316" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-111.png" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" class="wp-image-29806"/></figure>



<br><ul><li>To install a specific driver, use the following command.<ul><li>appium driver install &lt;drivername&gt;&nbsp;</li></ul></li></ul><br>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1298" height="172" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-109.png" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" class="wp-image-29802"/></figure>



<br><ul><li>Now, when you start appium, it starts the server along with the installed drivers.&nbsp;</li></ul><br>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1600" height="292" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-110.png" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" class="wp-image-29804"/></figure>



<br><p><em>Note: </em><em>By default, appium creates a hidden directory called </em><em>.appium</em><em> inside your user home directory. This will be the location of all the appium drivers that we install. In my case, it would be: “/Users/vikramramalingam/.appium”.</em></p>



<h2 id="h-starting-appium-via-exec-file"><span id="Starting_Appium_via_exec_file">Starting Appium via exec file:</span></h2>



<p>In order to create an executable file for the appium server, we need a command line interface called “<a href="https://github.com/vercel/pkg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">pkg</a>”.</p>



<h3 id="h-pre-requisite-1"><span id="Pre-requisite-2">Pre-requisite:</span></h3>



<h4 id="h-pkg"><span id="Pkg">Pkg:</span></h4>



<ul><li>A node.js package that can convert your Node.js app into executable files.</li><li>Another advantage of using pkg is, it creates executable files for several target machines at once.</li></ul>



<h4 id="h-installing-pkg"><span id="Installing_Pkg">Installing Pkg:</span></h4>



<ul><li>You can install pkg using the below command:<ul><li>npm install -g pkg</li></ul></li></ul>



<h3 id="h-steps-to-create-an-executable-file"><span id="Steps_to_create_an_executable_file">Steps to create an executable file:</span></h3>



<ul><li>Create a new node js project using the below command<ul><li>npm init</li></ul></li><li>Add appium and pkg as a dependency<ul><li>npm install &#8211;save appium@2.0.0-beta.71</li><li>npm install &#8211;save pkg@5.8.0</li></ul></li><li>Create an index.js file and add the below code, which will start the appium server:</li></ul>



<pre class="wp-block-code"><code><styled-code>
const {asyncify} = require('asyncbox');
const appium = require('appium');

if (require.main === module) {
  asyncify(appium.main);
}

module.exports = appium;
</styled-code></code></pre>



<ul><li>Pkg looks for an entry point to the application in the package.json file, so add bin and mention index.js.</li><li>Pkg has options such as targets, assets, and outputPath.<ul><li><strong>targets: </strong>Specify the format for which you want to build your output. For example, I am generating an exec file for node version:node16, Os: macOS, and Arch: arm64. If we don&#8217;t specify the target, Pkg generates an exec file for Windows, Linux, and macOS by default.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>assets: </strong>Asset is where we need to add all the required dependencies. For the appium server, we need to add the axios.cjs path as assets Apart from that I have also added files related to the sharp module, as I was getting errors for the same.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>output path: </strong>Path where the exec file should be placed.&nbsp;</li></ul></li></ul>



<p>After doing the above, the package.json file should look like this:</p>



<styled-code>{

 &#8220;name&#8221;: &#8220;appium&#8221;,

 &#8220;version&#8221;: &#8220;1.0.0&#8221;,

 &#8220;description&#8221;: &#8220;Project to create exec file for appium&#8221;,

 &#8220;bin&#8221;: {

   &#8220;appium&#8221;: &#8220;./index.js&#8221;

 },

 &#8220;scripts&#8221;: {

   &#8220;start&#8221;: &#8220;node ./index.js&#8221;,

   &#8220;test&#8221;: &#8220;echo \&#8221;Error: no test specified\&#8221; &amp;&amp; exit 1&#8243;
},

 &#8220;license&#8221;: &#8220;ISC&#8221;,

 &#8220;dependencies&#8221;: {

   &#8220;appium&#8221;: &#8220;^2.0.0-beta.71&#8221;,

   &#8220;pkg&#8221;: &#8220;^5.8.0&#8221;

 },

 &#8220;pkg&#8221;: {

   &#8220;targets&#8221;: [
     &#8220;node16-macos-arm64&#8221;
   ],
   &#8220;assets&#8221;: [
&#8220;./node_modules/axios/dist/node/axios.cjs&#8221;,&#8221;./node_modules/sharp/build/**&#8221;,&#8221;./node_modules/sharp/vendor/**&#8221;
],
   &#8220;outputPath&#8221;: &#8220;dist&#8221;

 }

}</styled-code>



<br><ul><li>Then give the below command to create an exec file for the appium server<ul><li>pkg package.json</li></ul></li><li>You can ignore the warnings on running the above command and once it is over, in the dist folder, you can find the appium server as an exec file. Double-click on it to start the server.</li></ul><br>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1600" height="269" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-113.png" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" class="wp-image-29810"/></figure>



<br><ul><li>One important thing to consider before packaging is that, when we try to start the server, appium by default fetches the npm version on the machine and checks if the npm version is compatible to start the server. Because of that, if you try to start the appium server using the exec file we have just created in a machine that does not have npm, it will throw the below error.&nbsp;</li></ul><br>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" width="1294" height="162" src="https://testsigma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/image-114.png" alt="Testsigma - Test automation platform" class="wp-image-29812"/></figure>



<br><ul><li>To overcome this problem, go inside the appium folder which is present inside the node_modules folder of the project’s working directory, and search for the below methods and comment them out. This will stop appium from looking for the npm version on the target machine.&nbsp;<ul><li>getNpmVersion()</li><li>checkNpmOk()</li></ul></li><li>After doing the above, run the command again to create an executable file, and this time, you will be able to start the server on machines that do not have npm.&nbsp;</li></ul>



<p>It took me some time to figure this out. And having written this article, I hope it will help you get through the process of creating an executable file for the appium server with ease.</p>



<p>All said and done, I would also like to tell you about a <a href="https://testsigma.com/low-code-test-automation" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">low-code test automation platform</a> for web, mobile, APIs, and desktop applications &#8211; Testsigma.&nbsp; I, along with my team, at Testsigma, am working on some interesting innovations in the field of test automation and would definitely like you to check it out here: <a href="https://testsigma.com/signup" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://testsigma.com/signup</a>.&nbsp;</p>



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



<p>Creating an executable file for the appium server not only helps you with starting/stopping the server but also with easy installation and distribution.</p>



<p>Happy Testing!!</p>


Creating an executable file for Appium Server

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