4 types of software tests and their relevance

Acquiring a software system may seem like the most important thing if your company has started a process of technological transformation process. The adoption of new tools is one of the first steps towards improvement in the organizational environment, based on a previous analysis to identify the vulnerabilities and attributes of the environment to be intervened. 

However, the change does not occur only by purchasing a software product. Its optimal performance depends on several factors, from proper planning, training to the staff to use the new technology functionalities, to the implementation of software testing to guarantee its correct functioning.

If you are on your way to transformation, doubts will arise over time about the functionality and impact that the software product's poor or good performance could trigger within your organization. Questions may arise, such as what software tests should you apply, and why are they necessary?

In this article, we will provide you with the essential information to know the different types of software tests and their relevance in the business context.

Why implement software testing?

A software system involves a complex configuration, as it operates through a set of interrelated codes. Its functionality depends on large information blocks that must be constantly updated, based on the users' needs.

The integration of new applications is one of the most common improvements in the Technology sector, which are gradually integrated into software development as they constitute a constantly growing and evolving product.

An example of the foregoing are the mobile apps upgrades, which incorporate new uses into products to improve the customer experience.

Recently, Google launched its latest open-source mobile operating system, Android 12, with new implementations including color customization for the telephone device, a dynamic user interface, and conversation widgets for reading instant messages from the home screen.

However, behind the release of an operating system version, there are thorough software tests that verify and anticipate its correct operation.

These must be applied according to the new implementations or improvements made to the system, to identify the right moment and the types of tests to be executed. Although all the code can be verified, not prioritizing the possible failures to be analyzed, could generate costs and waste of valuable time for the organization.

4 Software Tests You Need to Know

The International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) defines test types as a group of activities intended to test specific features of a software system, or of a part of a system, based on specific test objectives.

Tests are divided into the following 4 types:

• Functional tests
• Non-functional Tests
• White-box or structural tests
• Change-associated tests
  
  

We invite you to learn more about them.

Functional tests

Functional tests help verify the final or output result of an application, and identify any omissions in the system requirements, an improper or incorrect behavior against what is expected.

The ISTQB includes functional testing in its classification, as they are considered as essential because of their functionality, which helps companies achieve their objectives.

Non-functional tests

These evaluate the systems and software's features, such as usability, performance efficiency, or security. They verify:

How well [the system/software] does it?

For example, launching a limited-edition product may trigger a high flow of users on a website, trying to purchase that item before anyone else.

A slow information loading, and the erroneous access into the customers' personal accounts are examples of the issues that can be brought about by the saturation of a web platform that was not previously subjected to a performance test.

These tests are used to determine the software system stability at different load and stress levels to measure whether it will support complex scenarios.

White-box or structural tests

These are tests based on the system internal structure or implementation. The internal structure may include code, architecture, workflows, and/or data flows within the system.

The intensity of the white-box tests can be measured through structural coverage, that is, the extent to which a testing set has tested the coding structure and is expressed as a percentage.

The design and execution of the white-box tests may involve skills or knowledge about how coding is constructed, how data are stored, and how to use coverage tools and correctly interpret their results.

Change-associated tests

They are aimed to test when the software has undergone any changes, either after detecting and correcting a defect or associated with a new functionality. The test types associated with the change are confirmation tests and regression tests.

After identifying the different types of software tests existing to detect failures, you can contact a specialist for guidance during the selection of those tests.

In Testing IT,  we assist you in the process of developing your organization's software system, from planning strategies to the application of mobile tests.