What is software testing and what are the various types of software testing?
Software Testing is a practice of continuously discovering program errors or flaws that could render software vulnerable. If not corrected timely, these vulnerabilities may create attack surfaces for further exploitation and compromises from threat vectors. We conduct software testing to verify that the software product functions as designed. Moreover, we conduct software testing to improve the design, development and deployment processes of the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
The following are some of the most common software testing techniques:
Static Application Security Testing (SAST): In Static Application Security Testing (SAST), we evaluate the security of the software without actually running it. We simply analyze either the source code or the compiled binary version of the application to detect possible software flaws.
Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST): In Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), we evaluate the security of the software by actually running it to detect software flaws. We specifically employ DAST testing to verify software products without source code which are acquired from other parties.
Black-box Testing: This test examines the program from the user point of view by providing a wide variety of input scenarios. Unlike white-box testing, testers have no access to the source when conducting black-box testing procedures. Moreover, the focus of this test is on verifying the functionality of the program.
White-box Testing: This test examines the internal logical structures of a software program. Moreover, the testing process steps through the source code line by line. This test analyzes the program and looks for possible errors or flaws. Besides, the testers have full access to the program source code to make further analysis.
Gray-box Testing: This type of test is a hybrid of the white-box and black-box testing approaches and we employ it mostly in software validation processes. Further, the testers investigate the software program from a user point of view and analyze it through various inputs and output variables. Additionally, unlike black-box testing, software testers have access to the software source code
Fuzzing Testing: We conduct this testing technique to stress test a software product to its limits through various types of input to find undetected flaws or vulnerabilities. We apply different invalid inputs to the software through randomly or specially generated synthetic data to make the software fail.
Regression Testing: We conduct this testing to make sure that software still works as expected after undergoing various maintenance changes. Besides, we identify unintended consequences, such as loss of functionalities, that may occur as a result of the system changes.
Misuse Case Testing: Validating software code serves the intended functionality as specified in the design is important component of the overall software development process. We conduct misuse case testing to verify whether the software code satisfy its intended purpose or not through employing different use case scenarios.
Unit Testing: We perform this test to check whether a particular piece of source code works as intended.
System Testing: We conduct system level testing to ensure that software provides the required functionalities.
Interface Testing: We conduct this testing when we want to validate the exchange of data among interacting systems. Systems interact with each other and users through interfaces. And validating these user and system interfaces plays crucial role in increasing the usability of the software.
Integration Testing: We conduct this test to ensure that the software behaves as expected when integrated and communicating with the rest of the systems in an environment.
User Acceptance Testing (UAT): This is the final test in the iterations of software testing cycles before moving to production environment. When developers are confident that their software code works properly, they make it ready to finally face the actual users. Moreover, the users verify that the software code meets their requirements and formally accept it to deploy in their production platforms.