The past decade has seen an evolution to Software Testing simply to satisfy the costumers need
The past decade has seen an evolution to Software Testing simply to satisfy the costumers need. Software bugs are any tech-biz and software developer’s worst nightmare. With the rising need for high quality and efficiency, it is becoming gradually more important for organizations to advance their software testing. In the recent times testers have not limited themselves to bugs but have entirely approached the wider scope requiring initiation from the onset of the project. This is the new trend in testing where testing has a systematic and planned approach just like in software development life cycle contrary to the belief that software testing is a single activity. This testing lifecycle is referred to as Software Testing Life cycle (STLC).
Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)
To understand Software Testing Life Cycle one has to understand the meaning of life cycle. A life cycle is the sequence of changes an entity goes through from one form to another. The process is basically from a beginning to an end. Software Testing Life Cycle is the process of testing with specific steps in a definite sequence to ensure that the quality goal of functionality is achieved. The software testing life cycle is simply the process of executing different activities during testing. This planned process has different goals and deliverables in different phases of the testing process to achieve the overall goal in software functionality.
Importance
Testing trends have over time changed to detailed testing. Any business’ goal would be success and by using STLC any tech-biz would achieve success. During the phases of STLC it is important to learn that simple questions can be answered. For instance, what would be the estimation of each process activity? The quality of the code developed would be in question to. How can the underdeveloped code be improved? Software testing Life Cycle helps in avoiding pitfalls such Cost overruns, identifying where the problem has risen and in turn clarifying goals.
From Planning and research to execution, Software testing lifecycle has played an important role to lower the maintenance cost for the software. Stable Software helps keeps clientele. Every business focuses on maintaining its standards and existence in the market for long, thus the systematic approach focusing on each phase of STLC is quiet important.
Phases
The phases of STLC include
- Requirement Analysis
Requirements and analysis of user requirement are done and given priority by brainstorming in this phase.
- Test Planning
In this stage all the planning is done and a test plan/strategy document is required. Also resource planning and determining roles and responsibilities are done. Test strategy of the organization. Risk analysis and Risk Management and mitigation are what influence this phase.
- Test case development
This phase involves the design, authentication and rework of test cases and test scripts. Test data, is identified created and is reviewed and then reworked as well.
4. Test Environment setup
A testing environment is a setup of software and hardware for the testing teams to execute test cases.
5. Test Execution
Test execution is the process of executing the code and comparing the expected and actual results. When test execution begins, the test analysts start executing the test scripts based on test strategy allowed in the project.
6. Test Cycle closure
It involves calling out the testing team member meeting & evaluating cycle completion criteria based on Test coverage, Quality, Cost, Time, Critical Business Objectives, and Software.
CONCLUSION
It is important to note that in STLC errors can be detected early and help in the efficiency of the software and quality of the software thus enhancing customer satisfaction.
