Understanding Smoke Testing: The Essential Guide for Testers
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Smoke Testing
Hello testers! Do you really grasp the concept of smoke testing? It's always a good idea to reassess your understanding.
When most people think of software testing, they envision exhaustive, detailed assessments that can extend over weeks or even months. However, there exists a testing methodology that is quick and straightforward — smoke testing.
Smoke testing serves as an initial check to ensure that the primary functionalities of a program are operational.
History of Smoke Testing
The term "smoke testing" has three notable origins:
- Early Testing Concept: The notion of evaluating a system "under the cover of smoke," implying testing during its preliminary stages before all specifics are finalized.
- Plumbing Reference: In plumbing, the term is used to identify leaks; plumbers introduce smoke into an empty system and inspect for any escaping smoke.
- Electrical Engineering: In this field, it signifies a preliminary testing phase where a newly connected circuit may produce smoke if there are design or wiring flaws.
Regardless of its origin, smoke testing proves to be a valuable practice.
What Exactly is Smoke Testing for Software?
Smoke testing is a software testing technique that verifies if the critical functions are operational. It is a swift and efficient way to evaluate a program, even when it is in its developmental phases.
This type of testing acts as a preliminary assessment following a software build and prior to its release, determining if the system is stable enough for further testing.
While similar to sanity testing, smoke testing encompasses a broader scope. Sanity testing is more focused on particular functionalities rather than the overall health of the system.
Why is Smoke Testing Important?
The primary purpose of smoke testing is to validate that other testing methods can proceed. If a build fails during installation or if many pages fail to load, continuing with further testing is pointless until these critical issues are resolved.
Keep in mind that any modification to the code can lead to regressions. Therefore, we want the code we are testing to closely resemble what will be deployed in production. A flawed build does not provide a reliable testing environment.
Defects identified in a broken build might not be relevant once the build is fixed (false negatives), while areas thought to be bug-free could introduce new issues with the fix (false positives). Additionally, existing bugs may be concealed by larger defects.
Methods of Smoke Testing
Smoke testing can either be conducted manually or through automation.
- Manual Smoke Testing: This involves going through essential functionalities to check for any apparent failures.
- Automated Smoke Testing: This approach uses scripts to run through key functionalities and detect any breakages.
The specific steps in a smoke test may differ based on the product. To outline a smoke testing approach, consider the following questions:
- What are the primary features utilized by users?
- What are the essential supporting features? (This typically includes login and administrative functions.)
- Is navigation functioning correctly?
- Can data be read and written effectively, as relevant to your product?
In summary, smoke testing should be a brief yet crucial part of the overall testing process.
Now, go ahead and break things!
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Chapter 2: Video Resources
This video, "Smoke Testing Example | Software Testing Tutorial for Beginners | Edureka," provides a practical overview of smoke testing, guiding beginners through the essential concepts and applications.
In this video titled "What is Smoke Testing | Quick Overview | Software Testing Tutorial | Easy Explanation," viewers can gain a concise understanding of smoke testing, its importance, and its execution.