Software testing

What is testing?
Testing is the process of executing a Program / system with the intent of finding errors.

Testing
· Testing should systematically uncover different classes of errors in minimum amount of time and with a minimum amount of effort.
· Testing demonstrates that the software appears to be working as stated in the specifications.
· The data collected through testing can also provide an indication of the software’s reliability and quality.
· Testing cannot show the absence of defect but it can only show the software defects are present.

More about testing
· Testing is an activity that must be performed during the software development cycle prior to release into production.
· Testing is the process of demonstrating that defects are not present.
· Testing is the process of showing that a program/system performs all intended functions correctly before being released into production.
· Testing is the process of establishing confidence that a program/system does what it is supposed to do.
· During the maintenance cycle of software, testing is still extremely important and needs to be performed every time the software is modified.

What is Quality Assurance?
Quality Assurance refers to the set of planned & systematic set of activities that ensure processes in the organization meet certain standards like ISO 9000 or SEI CMM that give a certain degree of confidence in the quality of software being released.

QA Activities vs. Testing Activities
· Setting & Maintaining guidelines for processes in line with International Standards, Performing internal audits to ensure adherence to procedures etc. are some of the QA activities
· Studying software specifications, developing test plans, test cases, executing tests, creating automated test scripts, reporting defects are some of the testing activities

In testing what does Verification mean?
• Verification refers to the set of activities that ensure that software correctly implements a specific function, imposed at the start of that phase.
• Verification activities are performed at each and every stage of the software development cycle through requirements analysis, design, coding etc.

What does Validation mean?
• Validation refers to a different set of activities that ensure that the software that has been built is traceable to customer requirements.
• Validation activities are typically activities performed once coding has been completed to verify software adheres to functional requirements