Software development is the last milestone before releasing a product into the market and software testing is a really important phase of this life cycle. It allows you to make sure that after the software is prepared the tasks are performed accurately, and it meets the requirements demanded. 

Whether it's software testing methods for the initial development phases or the ones employed for verification and validation during the final stage, this blog will explore all testing methods suitable for use when developing the final product.

Understanding Software Testing

The process of software testing encompasses checking the program’s functionality in terms of the customer’s requirements set out earlier. It is the only way to guarantee that your application works out properly and its bugs are removed just to mention a few. Let’s delve into the common types of software testing:

1. Manual Testing

The fact that the Manual testing is the most common inspecting software for errors without using automation tools is the most customary process. In this type, a tester is supposed to act as the final user and use every single feature of the application to make sure everything works properly.

Types of Manual Testing:

- White Box Testing:It is also called source code scanning by many experts because they open the source code and test the application by going through it. This is typically the job of the community developers.

- Black Box Testing: Using this technique, the testers analyze the software without having knowledge about the internals of the application. They help to ensure the software is functioning as intended by testing the implementation of the specified requirements.

- Grey Box Testing: This method is a blended or collaborative approach that mixes both white and black box testing. The knowledge of the tester about the application working is limited from the inside, which assists in the designing of the test cases.

2. Automation Testing

With automation testing, programs with specialized features create passing programs automatically and perform same tests with the help of pre-scripted tools. It is useful in helping programs accomplish repetitive tasks and acting as a bridge between consecutive integration and delivery stages.

3. Functional Testing

Distribution testing defines functional concepts and establishes a crucial feedback mechanism for identifying any possible defects. It makes it certain that every operation is successful. It includes:

- Unit Testing: It tests a smaller chunk of code and ensures that it works properly per requirement.

- Integration Testing: Listens if individual services or modules cope well together when being integrated.

- System Testing: It concerns examining the functionality of the software via testing, detailed inspection, and confirmation that it complies with the stated preconditions.

4. Non-functional Testing

Non-functional testing is used to test all a software’s portions that might not be related to a specific function or an action of the user, but it relates to the software’s abilities to run smoothly, including scalability and performance. Types include:

- Performance Testing: Budgets what the program allocation is, given the given task.

- Usability Testing: Evaluate usability of interface in addition to its easy to understand the application.

- Compatibility Testing: Ensures that the software is cross-platform (supports different devices and operating systems).

5. Specialized Testing Techniques

- Smoke Testing: Also known as “Quick System Test” or “Build verification testing,” this preliminary unit test with the main objective of checking the proper functioning of software application operations at the highest level without going deep in the details during testing.

- Regression Testing: Ensures that the changes that have been made recently to the code or to the program have not put any of the existing features of the program into jeopardy.

- Exploratory Testing: The strategy where testers will be investigating the software to overcome the defects that were not covered by automated tests. As it is being performed by the main tester it requires a great experience, in addition, creativity.

- Security Testing: It pinpoints the application's vulnerabilities, threats, and risks and ensures that the software is secure and impenetrable from future attacks.

Conclusion

Every test engineering technique plays an individual part, providing specific support to the process of software development. Manual testing forms a bridge with the human element, yet the process is slow, but on the other hand, automation offers a speedy and fitting option for regression and other types of repetitive testing. The important thing about the functional testing is that the software does all that it was intended to do, and non-functional testing is aimed at how the program behaves under stress and if users welcome it.

With the diversity of the various software testing instruments developers and testers can ensure that the products not only perform as intended but they drive a smooth, secure, and efficient user experience. With the development of technology, testing techniques have improved. Hence, it becomes the need of software testing professionals to be updated about the current techniques to provide quality software and meet the expectations in software development.