Software Testing Life Cycle, Major Steps And Benefits

The process of monitoring the actual behavior of software if it's capable of meeting and matching the expectations is software testing. The performance of the tests depends on the needs of the customers documented.

·         What is the software testing life cycle?

·         What about the looks of the software testing life cycle?

·         What's the benefit of software testing for both the team and the customer?

Answers to the above questions besides getting the occurred issues may let you prevent software bugs that are the outcome of the utilization of the wrong approaches.

Software Testing - Role In SDLC

Firstly, the roots of software testing lies in the software development process. Software development life cycle (SDLC) holds the below steps:

·         Requirements analysis

·         Design process

·         Development

·         Testing process and debugging

·         Operation and maintenance

As listed above, the required testing is performed in the fourth phase of the life cycle. But with the normal goal of high-quality software along with the minimized bug-fixing cost, tests may be applied during the phase of requirement analysis.

Benefits Of Testing

We will sit together today to check out the benefits of performing tests in every stage of SDLC.

Phase 1 - Requirements Analysis

The requirements of the product are generally outlined by the project manager or customer. Be functional or non-functional, these requirements are formed during the communication process with the customer or while normative or standard documents undergo analysis.

Now, just think of the need for software QA testing in the first phase of the life cycle and also its benefits.

Just imagine a situation without tested requirements being used during the stages of design and development of the life cycle. After the completion of the development, the QA team is given the requirements with the product. As mentioned earlier, while executing software testing, the actual attitude of the product is checked that meets the needs.

That's why the bugs are found by QA team not only in the product but also in the documentation of the project. You can just assume the cost of bug fixing as compared to the strategy that includes the tests in the starting phases of the software life cycle such as the phase of requirement analysis. From the very first day only, you can improve the process of work by gathering the information through the requirement analysis.

As a rule, during the first phase of the development life cycle, requirement testing is implemented. The checks are implied by this activity depending upon characteristics like unambiguousness, consistency, completeness, etc.

The chief target of such strategy is to assure the correct interpretation of the requirements of customer that should remain accurate, consistent, and coherent later also. You should also take into note that precise and clear documentation assists to mark the apt targets for the process of testing.

Phase 2: Design Process

Next comes, the design process. Similar to this during the first phase of requirement analysis, this stage indicates the checking of previously created mock-up and prototypes regarding their accuracy and meeting the customers' prospects.

Additionally, during this phase, the usability audit should also be held. Here, documentation of project testing gets initiated. It is actually, the creation of a test plan, use cases, test cases, and other documentation as demanded by customers.

At this stage, the process of software testing aids to offer penetration into the product and trace its similarity to the needs. During the software development life cycle, there is a clear image of activities that should be handled by members of the QA team for the same product.

Phase 3: Development Phase

In this phase, it becomes important to hold all, module, integration, and system testing. At the starting of this particular stage, module testing is carried out, which involves the process of checking the functionality or integrated system module. 

When several modules are tied together and perform together as an isolated section of the application, implementation of integration testing takes place.

Ahead in the process of software development, modules are bought together. After the accomplishment of development, no time is left for carrying out system tests. 

During this phase, checking the entire system takes place in the name of the interaction of its components. This actually states that if distinct modules are held by the system we should monitor the working of each, whether it's bad or good. Additionally, at this stage, GUI testing should be implemented necessarily.

Phase 4: Testing Process And Debugging Phase

Regardless of the status of performing tests in the earlier stage, tests are performed in this stage. Full GUI and functional testing should be executed, and the defects that are encountered should be mentioned in a system of bug-tracking. Along with that, the regression tests are performed, and quality assessment is offered after the completion of debugging. In the last, after the attainment of the conclusion of the tests, the software process gets ended.

Phase 5: Operation & Maintenance

Even after the life cycle's product release phase is reached, there is still an obligation in testing that is carried out during this phase of the operation and maintenance. Absolutely, the discrete environment will be there on the way for the users. 

So, it can happen with the occurrence of some new bugs that left undetected earlier during the product management. Furthermore, in some unexpected way, the application can be used by the users. This may end up with some unforeseen defects and again the requirement of a QA may arise to review such.

Summary

Undoubtedly, the management process of software testing runs all through the entire stages of the software development life cycle. It designates a contrast between the exact product state and the one that was thought and documented in the plan of the project test. Developing the deliverables and interim documentation is also here in this process only. The testing, analysis, and monitoring assist to change and plan properly further activities.