How to Test Software: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Software testing is essential for building applications that are reliable, functional, and adored by customers. Without effective software testing, a new, highly marketed product can easily fail in the field.
Testing helps detect bugs sooner in the development cycle and allows you to confirm that your software application meets all the required needs to launch it effectively. The modern software development lifecycle demands a structure of software testing approaches that yield quality.
If you are developing mobile apps, web, or enterprise software, knowing how to test software well serves to protect your reputation. This guide serves as a blueprint for beginners discovering the concept of testing.
What is Software testing?
Software testing checks to see if the software application meets its goals. Essentially, it helps you get confirmation in some fashion that your software application performs. In addition to user performance, it helps protect a user from any related issues and security concerns.
The software testing process includes planning, design, execution and review, which apply structure to the development cycle and support quality assurance.
Testing enhances software quality at all stages. It identifies mistakes and helps to mitigate failures. It also allows teams to safely release their products.
Why Software Testing Matters?
- Assists in Delivering Reliable Software
Software testing ensures that your product operates in the expected way a user would expect. Furthermore, validating that issues do not make it to the end user protects the brand from potentially negative customer experiences. Building reliability creates brand trusts which increases user satisfaction.
- Time and Money-Efficient
Finding bugs before release is cheaper than after you’ve launched. Good testing minimizes rework for developers and avoids expensive failures in production. Testing saves your business money in the long run.
- User Experience Optimization
Good testing will verify the software’s performance in a real series of actions (use cases). To ensure features and bug fixes are working consistently and smoothly. Users are more likely to stay loyal and recommend a stable app they enjoy using.
- Supports all phases of Delivery
Testing is part of the software delivery life cycle. Testers and developers engage with each other to expose issues early on the delivery side. Engaged teams produce faster updates and more stable releases of products.
Types of Software Testing
Functional Testing
Functional testing verifies that each feature of your software application operates according to requirements. This testing evaluates what the software does versus how the software does it. Testers validate inputs, outputs, and user interactions to confirm that everything operates as intended.
Unit testing
Unit testing tests standalone components or functions independently from all other functions to validate their most basic functionality. Each unit is tested independently before being joined or integrated with other system components.
Integration testing
Integration testing examines how all the different modules, after having been individually unit tested, work together. This test, in the realm of functional testing, will verify that each component is communicating properly with the system as a whole while also isolating any interface issues with the integrated modules.
System Testing
System testing involves the total, integrated software system being tested and validated against defined requirements, as well as against design specifications. During this phase, testers will check end-to-end workflows to test the whole functioning application as a working system.
Acceptance Testing
Acceptance testing assesses if the software meets business requirements and is ready for delivery. User acceptance testing (UAT) asks actual end users or clients to test the application in real-world environments.
With UAT, the final testing phase of the testing cycle confirms that the software is solving stated problems and aligns with user expectations.
Beta testing
Beta testing expands acceptance testing by providing the software to a pool of limited external users. The application is tested in use to provide real users with feedback on functionality, usability, and performance in actual settings.
Non-Functional Testing Types
Performance testing
Performance testing looks at how the software performs against a variety of load and stress conditions.
Load testing
Load testing examines multiple users using the application at the same time to identify system response times and stability.
Stress testing
Stress testing measures how the system performs under load constraints past normal capability, identifying breaking points and resource limits.
Security testing
Security testing looks for possible vulnerabilities that may be exploited to gain unauthorised access to or expose data in your software system.
Testing teams will simulate attack scenarios, probing through authentication, encryption, and access control for weaknesses. Security testing achieves two main goals – keeping user information private/sensitive and maintaining trusted user sentiments about your application’s protection methods.
Usability testing
Usability testing measures the effectiveness of users completing task flows within your application. Usability testing is about understanding user experience, user interface design, and general satisfaction with the software overall.
Testing teams observe actual users in action with the application in order to evaluate points of confusion and areas of improvement.
White Box Testing
White Box Testing investigates the internal structure, code, and logic of the software application under test.
Testers who understand programming will verify that logical code paths, conditions, and looping behaviour of the software application are all functioning correctly. This style of testing involves understanding implementation details and source code architecture.
Black Box Testing
Black Box Testing considers the software as a closed system with no knowledge of the inner workings of the application.
In black box testing, the tester only looks at inputs and outputs to verify functionality meets known requirements and so-called “use cases” from the user’s perspective of the application.
Grey Box Testing
Grey Box Testing has elements of both white box testing and black box testing in testing approaches.
In grey box testing, testers have only limited knowledge of internal structures related to the application being tested, with external layout and functionality as primary testing guidelines.
Steps in the Software Testing Process
The following are the steps involved in the software testing process-
Step 1 – Test Planning
Test Planning is when you define goals and the scope of testing. It defines “who” will test “what” and “how” testing will be performed. This provides clarity to the testing team.
Preparation involves risk mitigation tools and the test environment. It captures the testing strategies that will be followed. It also drives decision-making throughout development.
A well-thought-out plan means a much more efficient execution phase. It lowers the chances of human error. It keeps the project moving along.
Step 2 – Test Analysis and Test Design
The overall goal of this stage is to review and study the requirements to understand what you expected the outcome to be. Test design involves using the analysis to write test cases, and to prepare for the testing process.
Test design involves writing clear test cases and gathering your testing data. It also includes any test scripts for automated testing, if applicable. All of these items support the test execution in the near future.
The design phase also makes sure your test coverage improves. You eliminate gaps and make sure you are as thorough in your testing as allowed.
Step 3 – Establishing the Test Environment
A test environment is where you conduct tests. It encompasses the hardware, browsers and operating systems you use, alongside the networks and tools available.
The environment should resemble the real user context as closely as possible. This will guarantee the greatest accuracy in the test you will be performing, as well as demonstrate actual software behaviour in terms of performance.
The environment accommodates manual testing, automated testing, api testing, and performance testing. The environment is a stable foundation for your testing effort.
Step 4 – Test Execution
Test execution is where you perform the tests. You will follow the test cases and check for the expected results. Any differences will showcase defects in the software.
The testing team logs the pass/fail results to show it meets the defined specifications outlined for the software. Careful logging will help the developers identify what needs to be fixed to correct issues.
Once changes are made, further rounds of testing might be performed to assure nothing new has adversely affected the existing functionality in the software. This keeps the quality of the software intact.
Step 5 – Reporting and Tracking Defects
Once a test fails, you will report a defect. The defect report will document the steps and screenshots you experienced on your testing journey. This will help the developers review, document the situation and understand the issue you experienced.
Tracking defects helps ensure all bugs are fixed and assists team members in avoiding missing defects. This aids in the testing effort.
Once defects are fixed, the software is retested to ensure the software is working again, which will increase your confidence in the finished software product.
Manual Testing Overview
Manual testing employs human effort with no automated tools. The tester assumes the role of a real user. It detects issues that can not be detected by automated tests.
It is beneficial for usability testing. It can be valuable for exploratory testing. It provides simply valuable insights.
Manual testing can be valuable during the initial phases. It tests the basic functionality. It will definitely improve the software application.
Automated Testing Overview
Automated testing employs automation tools to execute tests. It will be beneficial when there are long, repeated test cases or ones that can’t be easily automated and will speed up delivering the test results to stakeholders.
Automated testing practices can help eliminate human errors. It helps achieve continuous testing and ultimately improves the quality of software deliverables.
Automated tests can include functional unit testing, regression testing, and API testing. Automated tests will run quickly and provide the test results with respect to the context of the software development lifecycle or process.
4 Key Software Testing Techniques
Equivalence Partitioning
Equivalence Partitioning groups input values into sets of valid and invalid values so that testers can check that the logic of the application is correctly working without having to test every value. Then you simply select any of the values from the particular set to be the test case which you will execute and be responsible for the validation of the application logic.
For example, if an age field of an application has an input for numeric values from 1 to 100, you will have three equivalence groups:
1. Valid: 1 to 100
2. Invalid below the range: less than 1
3. Invalid above the range: greater than 100
Verifying one value in each group can reassure that the software is functioning correctly in all categories. This approach gives you good coverage, saves time, and minimizes retesting. These tests are particularly useful for input validation and form validation.
Boundary Value Analysis
Boundary value analysis is focused on values at the boundaries of input categories or ranges. These boundary values are where many defects occur due to conditions or comparisons that are incorrect.
In our previous age example (1 to 100), you test the values of 0, 1, 100, and 101. These values will catch off-by-one errors or when a correct boundary check is not implemented.
This technique will only be impactful when an input has a required minimum and maximum. It is often combined with equivalence partitioning to increase defect detection with fewer test cases.
Decision Table Testing
Decision table testing assists testers in developing a wide range of specifications in which features depend on several input components and conditions. A tester will create a table with all input combinations “compared with the expected output”. Each row in the table becomes a test case.
An example is one for discounts, which could change based on customer type or purchase amount. In this example, it may be crucial to establish a decision table with all combinations to ensure no scenario is missed.
This approach can be very useful for complex business rules. It provides visibility into any missing combinations and helps ensure complete levels of test coverage.
State Transition Testing
State transition testing involves testing how the system will switch state. State transition testing is useful in situations where the output will depend on the current state and user actions.
Testers will create a simple state diagram that shows valid and invalid transitions, then will travel down each path to ensure the system functions as expected.
For example, a login system can be in states like logged out, logged in, or locked. A tester will discover all possible actions and test them to make sure the application responds as expected, no matter how outlandish or edge-case the action is.
State transition testing is particularly valuable for workflows, authentication systems, submissions of forms, and any process that has changed due to a user action.
Essential Testing Tools for Beginners
Test Management Tools
Test management tools help you organize and manage all your testing work within one tool. With a test management tool, you can save test cases, view what tests were executed, and see progress reports. Commonly used tools are TestRail, Zephyr, and qTest.
Test management tools increase the overall collaborative nature of testing by keeping all testing documentation and testing results together. Wherever the development happens, you will always be up-to-date.
Automation Tools and Frameworks
Automation tools allow you to generate scripts to perform tests automatically. Selenium is one of the most popular tools for web testing, while tools such as Playwright, Cypress, and Appium are great for working with more contemporary web and mobile apps.
These tools complement CI pipelines nicely and deliver rapid feedback during development. They often support multiple programming languages and reporting features and facilitate test preparation via parallel execution.
If you are new to automation testing, get started by learning a basic programming language, as well as the basics of your tool and chosen automation framework. Using good automation practices will save you time and improve accuracy over time.
API Testing Tools
API testing tools allow you to assess how systems communicate with one another. Postman, SoapUI, and REST Assured are examples of API testing tools used to send requests, assess the responses, or automate tests via an API.
APIs are expected to read back the correct data, manage errors, and remain secure. API testing often occurs early in the SDLC, which assists teams in assessing when they have an issue more rapidly.
5 Best Practices for Effective Software Testing
Begin Testing Early
By testing earlier in the development cycle, you can identify bugs while fixes are still cheap and easy. Also, it allows you to minimize surprises at the last minute.
Developers routinely run unit tests while they write code, the primary purpose being to prevent larger issues further down in the development process. One way QA testers can assist is to join requirement and design meetings to avoid discussing unclear or untestable ideas.
Produce Independent Test Cases
Independent test cases check just one feature without any dependence on any other test cases. This enables them to be reusable, maintainable, and simple to run.
Dependent test situations can produce numerous false failures from one failure alone. Independent testing limits this and makes debugging easier.
Focus on Test Coverage
Test coverage really tells you how much of your application has actually been tested. Known features and user flows should be prioritized, along with identifying risky scenarios.
Utilise coverage tools to find untested code or missing conditional statements. Aim for meaningful coverage, not just a positive high number.
Commit to Regression Testing
Regression testing ensures that your existing features remain functional due to new changes. This is important to keep in mind as the software becomes more complex.
Automate your regression suite so it runs quickly and often. Update it regularly to reflect new functionality and remove tests that are no longer relevant.
Merging Testing Techniques
By utilizing a variety of approaches, you will attain 100% coverage. Merge both functional testing and non-functional testing. Apply manual testing for exploratory testing and automated checking for repeated checks.
Implement black box, white box, and grey box techniques, as needed. Include unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing so that every level is validated.
You can augment your strategy on a per-project basis; a blend results in superior outcomes and appropriate leverage for speedier releases with more confidence.
Conclusion
Knowing how to test software allows you to create dependable applications. Following a simple testing process will improve the quality of your software and provide good confidence for your users.
It is helpful to use both manual and automated methods. Test early and test often, improving the stability and usability of your software on time.
FAQs
- What are the 7 steps of software testing?
The 7 steps of software testing are planning, analysis, test design, testing environment setup, execution, defect tracking, and closure.
- How is software being tested?
Software is tested by executing test cases, comparing results with expectations, and reporting issues.
- How to test software as a beginner?
Start by testing a few manual test cases, following test cases, and checking that each feature works as expected.
- What are the steps of software testing?
Key steps of software testing include planning, designing tests, executing tests, identifying bugs, and closing.
- What is the process of testing software?
Some methods include manual testing, automated testing, black box testing, white box testing, and exploratory testing.
- How to do software testing for beginners?
You can follow simple test cases, test features verified one at a time, and document anything that does not look like the expectation.
- How is software testing done?
Testing is performed by executing planned tests in a controlled environment and verifying that the software behaves correctly.
- Can I learn software testing on my own?
Yes! There are many resources, tutorials and tools online that help you learn software testing step-by-step all on your own!
- How to test a software application?
The tester will review software requirements, then design test cases, run each test, and document any defects found during the test. The tester will then file a defect report.
