Smoke testing is an important testing technique that helps in making sure that the software build is not only stable and as expected, but also bug-free. QA teams get an assurance from the smoke testing process for furthering the testing process and thus taking on the software to the next phases of testing.
To scale the smoke test method and make it more effective, automated smoke testing can also be applied based on the project requirements. In this article, you will get a detailed overview of smoke testing along with comparing it with regression testing and sanity testing.
What is smoke testing?
It is a testing method wherein the core functionality of a software build is quickly validated. It makes sure that the deployed software build is stable.
It is conducted in the early stages of software development and testing process to verify whether the key features of an application are functioning as expected or not.
Smoke testing meaning should be clearly understood by the team to conduct testing efficiently. It is also called build verification testing.
What is automated smoke testing?
Automated smoke testing helps reduce testing time to quite an extent, thereby saving time and other key resources. In a manual testing scenario, it may take hours or days depending upon the number of smoke tests that have been involved. But, once the smoke tests are automated, the same testing work can be done in a matter of minutes.
If developers implement continuous testing or develop builds frequently, then automated smoke testing can be considered to be a great platform, as it helps the QA team obtain quick feedback on test builds.
Some of the popular tools for conducting automation are PhantomJS and Selenium. Through PhantomJS, automation and integration can be done with continuous integration tools, such as TeamCity and Jenkins.
Smoke testing vs regression testing:
Understanding the key differences between smoke testing vs regression testing helps in conducting smoke testing more efficiently. Following is a point-by-point comparison that will help you understand the key differences between smoke testing and regression testing:
Smoke testing:
1.Key points to be covered for conducting smoke test: Key aspects of an application, such as crucial pathways and core functionalities should be tested. However, smoke testing does not focus on assessing every component or feature or carrying out in-depth testing. The overall stability of the software build is determined by carrying out surface-level validation.
2.The objective of implementing smoke test: The software build should be stable enough so that further testing activities can be carried out properly. The reliability and stability of the software can be quickly validated by the testing teams so that quick feedback can be provided and the testing process is taken to the next level.
3.The time factor: Smoke tests are carried out quickly and efficiently and thus help testing execution to be carried out at a faster pace. Software’s stability can be properly validated due to the quick turnaround time.
Regression testing:
1.Key points to be covered for conducting regression test: Extensive coverage is done. A significant part of almost all the existing test cases are executed to make sure that the entire application is functioning as expected. By validating various scenarios and functionalities, regression testing aims to identify any deviations from expected behavior that may be caused by recent additions or changes.
2.The objective of implementing regression test: To identify and prevent the introduction of issues or bugs after new features have been implemented or during the software maintenance phase.
3.The time factor: It is considered to be quite a time-consuming process, as a huge number of test cases are being run to assess the entire application thoroughly. Factors such as the complexity and size of the software are also taken into consideration for computing time.
The above-mentioned information provides a brief overview of smoke testing vs regression testing. Knowing the differences will make the team more knowledgeable and competent.
Smoke testing vs Sanity testing:
Knowing the differences between smoke testing vs sanity testing will help the team to conduct smoke and sanity testing more efficiently. Smoke testing meaning will further help in obtaining a clear outlook of sanity testing.
Following are a few key points that will give you a clear idea of understanding the differences between smoke testing vs sanity testing:
Smoke testing:
1.The purpose of conducting smoke testing: Smoke testing is conducted to assess whether the key functionalities of a software build are functioning as expected or not. It ensures that the key features of the application are working as per the set expectations.
2.The strategic role of smoke testing in software development: A predefined set of test cases that represent core functionalities are executed. Any integration issues or show-stopping defects are highlighted.
3.Key characteristics to ponder and work upon: A predefined and small test suite is employed through which core features are covered, which, in turn, helps in assessing the stability of the build quickly. As smoke tests are carried out rapidly without consuming a huge amount of time, immediate feedback is provided to development teams.
Sanity testing:
1.The purpose of conducting sanity testing: It is a testing method wherein specific areas or functionalities of the application are verified after minor changes have been done, features have been added or a bug has been fixed.
2.The strategic role of sanity testing in software development: A sanity test is performed to determine whether the application’s key functionalities are still working as expected, despite going through changes or modifications. Through this approach, any unintended consequences or regressions that might have resulted from the recent changes are identified.
3.Key characteristics to ponder and work upon: Specific functionalities are focused and worked upon. Some of the scenarios for sanity testing include key user interactions or testing critical pathways that are affected by recent changes.
Learning and analyzing the differences between smoke testing vs smoke testing will only help the team to perform both these testing methods productively.
Conclusion: The smoke testing team should be open to not only have a keen interest in understanding the various facets of smoke testing from an implementation perspective but should also have an inclination towards learning and understanding other testing methods.
If the team requires an in-depth understanding of smoke tests from a project implementation stand point, then they can connect with a leading software testing services company that can provide pragmatic testing solutions.
About the author: I am a technical content writer focused on writing technology specific articles. I strive to provide well-researched information on the leading market savvy technologies.
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