In this tutorial, we will learn about test activities and tasks, and for that, a defined process must be followed.
What is the test process?
The expensive, well-ordered, and settled process is a key to smoothly and systematically carrying out any task to achieve success. In the software development life cycle, the job of testing is also not just limited to execute test cases on the software product. The examination also consists of an extensive process that completes its cycle after going through several phases, just like the process of software development.
The test process is an essential part of the software development life cycle and consists of various activities that are carried out to improve the equality of the software product. From planning to execution, each stage of the process is designed systematically and needs the discipline to act upon them. These steps and stages are necessary and have their criteria and deliverable, which are combined and evaluated to get expected results.
What is the importance of the Test Process?
The test process is vital to gain most of the testing activities, and a defined process must be followed. To start with, any testing activity produces a good test plan. Let us have a look at the importance of the test process. The test process helps us to maintain the product quickly in the future.
- It helps in planning and managing the testing activities.
- Following a proper testing process will result in a better product.
- A systematic and well-planned process enables the team to detect defects more rapidly.
- It streamlines the work that is being performed by the team members.
- Five fundamental test activities and tasks
- As the software development has the life cycle in the same way that software testing has the life cycle, it is Software Testing Life Cycle, which includes the series of activities that initiate, start, and terminate the testing process successfully. The testing consists of five phases:
Test Planning and Control –
The first stage of the process is test planning and control, which is an essential part of the Software Testing Life Cycle where the manager or test leader describes the efforts and cost of the entire project. The whole team works together to define test objectives, prepare test plans, and build up a test strategy to implement test plans at various software levels systematically.
Analysis and Design –
After the planning stage, the next step is analysis, and design test cases are designed with the help of the information and output from the planning and controlling stage. In this stage, the objectives are transformed into test cases.
Test implementation and Execution –
In this phase of testing, the test scripts and procedures are defined by integrating the test cases in a particular order, testing environment, and executing the test cases. We can divide this phase into two categories:
Test Implementation:
The designed test cases and test suites are finally implemented in this stage with the help of the following steps:
1. Finalize Implementation & Test Cases
2. Create Test Data
3. Check environment
4. Check test suites
5. Develop & prioritize test procedures
Test Execution:
The test is finally executed on the software program while
following the steps:
1. Execute the test procedure as planned
2. Record the result
3. Compare the actual and expected result
4. Report discrepancy as an incident
5. Analyze incident for cause, and then retest
Evaluating exit criteria and reporting –
In this stage the evaluation of outcomes of the test implementation and execution stage to further decide the ways of testing as well as its closure and based on risk assessment the exit criteria are prepared, which work as a metric to determine the amount of testing needed in the product or project.
Some points to remember:
- Check logs against Exit Criteria and compare them.
- The team works together and decides if more tests needed or exit criteria need to be changed or not.
- A test summary report is prepared after this stage which includes details about the whole testing process.
Test Closure –
The test closure is the last stage of any testing process and is initiated after the delivery of the software product. This stage of testing can also be started because of various other reasons like termination of the testing process due to cancellation of the project, targets not achieved, etc.