Software testing is a critical factor in the software development process.

It is fundamental to producing applications that work correctly, meet users’ requirements, and deliver a high-quality service. With the increase in the complexity of software systems, more importance is given to the use of comprehensive testing strategies.

In this guide, we will explore common types of software testing and when and how to use each type of testing for developers and quality assurance professionals looking to understand better how it works.

Common Types Of Software Testing

Functional testing

Functional testing is one of the most popular types of software testing. The main notion here is to verify that an application has each feature according to the specified requirements. This type of testing includes:

• Unit testing: Taking it or its components apart to see it or its functions individually.
• Integration testing: The thing to consider is that different modules of the program must work together seamlessly.
• System testing: Looking at the application as a single entity.
• Acceptance testing: Checking that the software is in keeping with the user’s expectations and business needs.

Non-Functional Testing

Functional testing verifies what the system does, whereas nonfunctional testing determines how good it can work. Key areas include:

• Performance testing: Tests under different load conditions.
• Security testing: Discovering vulnerabilities and protecting the data.
• Compatibility testing: Identifying version and test cases to check software functionality across different devices, operating systems, and browsers.

Static vs. Dynamic Testing

A kind of testing called static testing is performed wherein code, requirements, and design documents are reviewed, and this occurs without executing the program. That comes down to code review and static code analysis. In dynamic testing, you run the software and see what happens to it. Dynamic typically refers to most types of software testing.

White Box testing, Black Box testing, Gray Box testing

These terms refer to the tester’s knowledge of the internal workings of the system:

• White Box testing: In the case of testers, they are very familiar with internal structure and code.
• Black Box testing: The tester does not know what happens inside and only cares about what goes in and what comes out.
• Gray Box testing: One between the white and black box approaches with the tester having partial knowledge of internal structure.

Manual vs. Automated Testing

Human testers run test cases themselves without the use of any automation tool; this is called manual testing. Scripts and software automated testing is especially useful for repetitive tasks and regression testing.

Agile And DevOps Testing

In Agile DevOps environments, testing is integrated into the development process. This includes:

• Continuous testing: Running tests frequently is to automate as the code changes.
• Shift-left testing: Moving testing earlier in the development lifecycle and earlier at the risk of catching problems such issues earlier.
• Exploratory testing: Optimizing all three simultaneously, one for learning, one for test design, and the third for test execution, to find unexpected issues.

Conclusion

Conducting different types of software testing efficiently is equally significant in the development of top-notch applications. Everything from functional and non-functional testing, static and dynamic testing, and manual and automated testing are all important in making the software reliable and user-friendly.

Opkey comes out as a viable tool to consolidate these varied tests’ endeavors. Opkey has been designed to support Agile and DevOps with continuous testing capabilities for any type of testing there is, backed by its AI features.

Opkey can help organizations reduce costs, time, and effort by incorporating a powerful testing strategy that identifies problems and confirms the functional and performance reliability of software. This results in enhanced user satisfaction and higher-quality software solutions.