Do you know almost 90% of users stop using an application if it delivers poor-quality performance? 86% of them prefer uninstalling the application in just a few days. So, if you want to ignore such situations, you must perform Software QA Testing properly!
“Quality Assurance (QA) is an integral part of Software Testing that evaluates application functionalities based on real-world use cases.”
The process of Quality Assurance Testing not only reveals the weak points of the applications but also helps developers fix them before their public release! You can use this testing approach to enhance your application quality and demand longevity among your customers.
So, what’s the process of QA Automation testing? What are the different types? We will explain everything!
Decoding Quality Assurance Testing Process
The testing process for Quality Assurance verifies the software quality and performance metrics before releasing it for public use. The following areas highlight the ultimate purpose of performing Quality Assurance tests:
- Confirming logical flow of functionalities
- Finding potential errors or redundancies
- Anticipating the unexpected failures
- Ensuring the software delivers as per customer expectations
- Providing a seamless User Interface experience
Most of today’s QA automation companies conduct this testing to cross-verify the expected software performance and functionalities based on customer requirements. The general process to accomplish this is the same:
- Analysis of requirements to finalize the specific product requirements
- Planning to start the test case execution as per the project scope
- Test case development based on the software functionalities
- Test execution based on the prepared test case definitions
- Results verification in the test execution stage after issue resolution
- Documentation and reporting of the testing process
Even though the process of Quality Assurance testing is the same, there are different testing methods that you must know! So, let’s move on to the next section.
Categorizing Different Types Of QA Testing
The primary methods for performing Quality Assurance testing are manual and automation testing. Most QS tests run based on these two methods. However, we can differentiate the types of testing in either functional or non-functional categories. Here are the most in-use Quality Assurance Testing types of today:
1. Unit Testing
QA engineers perform Unit Testing on small components of each software part to check their functionalities. It tests different modules, functions, and methods used in the application code. A QA automation company conducts Unit Testing for the following use cases:
- Test Fixture: It aims to execute testing in a specific environment without external interferences.
- Test Case: It is a script to cross-check the functional behavior of the software unit.
- Test Runner: It is an orchestration framework to conduct multiple unit tests simultaneously.
- Test Data: It contains a list of testing data that simulate real-user inputs into testing.
Unit Testing is ideal for applications with multiple functionalities. As it checks individual component functionalities, it becomes easier to identify poor performance areas and make necessary improvements.
2. Integration Testing
This QA Testing type evaluates how individually tested components function as a whole. QS testers verify the combined performance for the intended task. Integration testing ensures that all software components function as expected after integration. Here are a few common strategies:
- Incremental Approach: It logically groups one component with another.
- Bottom-Up Approach: It tests the smaller modules and then the larger ones.
- Big Bang Approach: It tests all at once after integrating all components.
- Sandwich approach: It combines incremental and big-bang approaches.
The test automation company generally performs Integration Testing after finishing Unit Testing. It helps uncover defects that can affect the software afterward.
3. Functional Testing
QA engineers do Functional Testing to confirm the application features and their functionalities. It’s an ideal testing approach to confirm if the application functions according to the user-specified requirements. It can be manual or automated, but the main use cases for functional testing are:
- Verify product search functionality
- Confirm user login with valid credentials
- Analyze system behaviors with invalid requests
- Verify backend data flow
4. Performance Testing
This QA Testing type assesses the software performance in terms of its responsiveness under various conditions. Performance Testing is a bit different than functional testing, as it performs the following testing:
- Load Testing: It assesses the system’s performance under expected/unexpected load conditions.
- Stress Testing: It puts extra workload on the application to evaluate the overall impact.
- Scalability Testing: It examines how well the application can scale based on the workload.
Further, developers can use performance testing insights to improve overall application performance.
5. Accessibility Testing
QA Testers perform Accessibility Testing to evaluate the software accessibility across different web browsers, platforms, and devices. For example, if it is a web app, you will check if it opens from Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
This testing type finds accessibility issues based on different devices and user access levels. Based on the testing outcomes, developers can validate the application’s accessibility for external/internal users.
6. Regression Testing
This QA software testing type happens only when the developer updates an existing software codebase or creates a new product feature. Regression Testing follows the below approaches:
- Automated Regression Testing: It executes a suite of automated test cases to check the critical functionalities of the application.
- Version Control Integration: It checks if the new code commits don’t have faulty code or bugs.
- Test Impact Analysis: It only runs a subset of test cases that are enough to check the recent code changes.
In addition to functional aspects, Performance Testing focuses on detecting any degradation in the application’s performance after code changes.
7. Black Box Testing
QA Automation engineers often follow the Black Box Testing approach to inspect application behavior. Black Box Testing focuses on validating the output based on specific conditions. Here are the best use cases:
- Usability Testing: Black Box Testing extends beyond functional validation to include Usability Testing for confirming the overall user experience.
- Integration Testing: Many QA engineers follow the Black Box testing approach to assess the interactions between different application modules.
Black Box Testing is valuable for uncovering defects arising from incorrect logic or usability issues.
8. White Box Testing
This QA Testing type is the opposite of the Black Box testing. Often called Structural Testing, White Box Testing examines the internal application structure and logic. It ensures that the code functions precisely.
Unlike Black Box testing, White Box focuses mainly on identifying existing bugs or errors in the software code. It’s an ideal approach to improve the overall code reliability and quality.
9. Acceptance Testing
Most testing automation companies conduct Acceptance Testing at the end. It allows the business clients or users to assess the software in beta to confirm if it satisfies their expectations. Acceptance Testing mainly follows the below approaches:
- UAT Testing: It demonstrates if the software fits its intended user usage.
- Alpha and Beta Testing: It tests the application behavior in a controlled environment.
- Business Process Testing: It evaluates how the software coordinates with the existing processes.
By conducting Acceptance Testing, organizations can gain confidence that the software meets technical specifications and fulfills the intended business objectives.
10. Automation Testing
Finally, let’s discuss Automated QA Testing. This unique type focuses on automating various manual testing approaches using automation frameworks. You can automate the following testing types using automation tools:
- Regression Testing: You can automate the entire testing execution process.
- API Testing: You can use automation to validate the reliability of APIs.
- Cross-Browser Testing: You can automate user experience testing across web browsers and devices.
Most automation testing tools perform a suite of test cases automatically. The entire process happens without human intervention.
Ready To Take Quality Assurance Testing To The Next Level?
Indeed, software QA Testing is an essential process for establishing a successful product release. It’s a good practice to use most of these testing types. However, which testing solutions you should consider entirely depends on your software and its features. If unsure about the process, you can hire a QA automation company for future assistance.
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