Software Testing Knowledge

When working on a piece of software, testing is one of the most crucial elements of the production process. It allows the development team to find out what works and what doesn’t, and doing it in a proper, standardized manner will give your entire work crew a better sense of communication. With proper testing practices, you can ensure your product stays at its highest quality, minimizing the number of bugs and flaws the users may experience and speeding up the development process.

Functional testing is one of the general software testing categories, meant to verify the functionality of an app or a website. Testing isn’t something done only at the very end of development – in fact, in the early planning stages of the project, you should create a list of functional specifications. Simply put, make a list of what your software is supposed to accomplish.

Implementing a proper functional testing phase can be very beneficial to your development process. How exactly to implement it properly? Let’s see what functional testing is all about with some examples to make it easier to understand.
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## Who can perform functional testing?

Since functional testing is a black-box software testing technique, the tester doesn’t need any knowledge about the inner workings of your software. In fact, the tester doesn’t even need to know anything about programming – functional testing is all about user experience, so the tester shouldn’t need any more knowledge than an average user is privy to. In fact, functional tests are most effective when performed by someone without deeper knowledge of the system they are testing.

With functional testing, you can easily check the main functionality of your software, confirming whether all required features work as intended. It also gives you the ability to see how accessible the app is to standard users – as a developer and (most probably) a programming specialist, your knowledge allows you to instinctively use an app or a system in a way that a standard user wouldn’t be able to. Functional testing lets you see exactly how usable the software is for such users, letting you see whether the end-user can use the software comfortably and what exactly happens when an error occurs.

## What are the types of Functional Testing?

Since functional testing is more of a category of software tests than an individual testing methodology, there are a variety of types of functional tests. The most common types of functional testing are:

- Sanity Testing
- Smoke Testing
- Integration Testing
- System Testing
- Component Testing
- Unit Testing
- User Acceptance Testing

**Sanity Testing** is performed whenever your software gets updated with new bug fixes and changes. It verifies all of the newly introduced functionalities, making sure they work as intended. Most often, sanity testing is considered as a type of regression testing, and many programmers get it confused with smoke testing – let’s see why.

**Smoke Testing** is very similar to sanity testing, but there is a definitive difference. Smoke testing is performed on initial builds of the software, verifying that basic functionality works. This type of testing isn’t exhaustive – and it isn’t supposed to be. It aims to go over only the most fundamental components of your software. 

**Integration Testing** gives you the ability to confirm whether individual functionalities and components of your software perform well together. It is performed after all of the individual modules have been confirmed to work without flaws and is one of the most popular types of functional testing. Integration testing can be easily automated, and often is, making it a simple step in the QA process.

Once you are sure that all functionalities operate fine individually and when integrated together, it’s time for **System Testing**. System testing is performed not to confirm whether something works, but whether your software complies with specific requirements. These are most often requirements given to you by your client, and system testing gives you the ability to easily measure how well you have achieved what your client wanted of you.

**Component Testing** is performed before integration testing to verify the individual performance of every component of your software. Keep in mind that these components aren’t simply consisting of a single functionality. For example, a component test for the login component of a website might include testing the visibility of the UI, page loading, SQL performance, and end-user experience.Finally, **Unit Testing** is a very thorough test that directly examines the code of your software’s components to make sure it is doing exactly what it is supposed to do. Unit testing can provide valuable documentation of your code development as you progress with the software’s production, which can be extremely useful to communicate between teams and speed up the work. Without unit testing, failed tests can be much harder to explain, and finding error sources will take much more time.
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## Conclusion – how to understand Functional Testing?

Since there are so many types of functional testing tests, it’s impossible to provide an example that would fit all of them. Instead, we want to demonstrate to you first a simple functional testing framework. In its simplest form, functional testing can be said to have three steps.

1. Prepare input values and categorize them into test cases
2. Verify your test cases
3. Compare the results to the software requirements and expected results

However, functional tests can have varying degrees of complexity. Let’s consider the example of a login functionality test. Unit testing would require dozens of test cases and many scenarios, including every part of the login process. In turn, a simple smoke test would require much fewer cases, only verifying the functionalities critical for the end-user to log in.

As you can see, functional testing is a fascinating and very comprehensive subject, with many software testing types that will surely be useful to any software developer. With proper testing practices, your software can achieve better quality much faster, fostering communication and cooperation between different teams working on the same project.

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What is Functional Testing? Types and Examples

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Before you release your product into the market, it is extremely important to properly test whether it’s functioning as intended. To do that, software developers utilize a variety of testing techniques that verify the software’s integrity. The IT industry makes use of dozens of various test suites – there are over 40 different testing methods, counting only the most popular ones! To thoroughly check their software, developers implement **End-to-End testing**, often simply called **E2E** testing – an elaborate technique that mimics end user experience. 

There are many layers to End to End testing, as it is one of the most complex testing methods. Testing involves requiring you to check every part of your software that the end-user interacts with in any imaginable way. 

With this guide, we want to show you the importance of E2E tests, as well as tell you precisely what they are, including a few specific examples.

**Also see:** if you're new to software automation, take a look at this [beginner's guide to automation with step-by-step screenshots](https://docs.bugbug.io/in-depth-guides/beginners-tutorial-to-automation-testing).

[TABLE_OF_CONTENTS]

## What exactly is End-to-End testing?

**End-to-End testing** is one of the most useful and informative techniques for software testing, providing valuable data about the inner workings of the program from the end-user perspective. With E2E testing, developers can thoroughly verify the behavior of their software. During the test, you will be trying to replicate key user behavior scenarios when using your software. The actual list of things to do varies, depending on the type of software you’re testing – but in all cases, it is rather extensive.

When performing a software testing method, like an End-to-End test on a web application, you would start with opening your browser and navigating to the proper URL, and then proceeding to use the software as intended for the end-user.

Similarly, in the case of a regular desktop application or mobile application, you would open the app just like a user would, checking out every bit of functionality that is intended for the users to work with. Keep in mind that during E2E testing you won’t need to check developer-specific aspects of the software, only the end-user perspective if it is important to you.

## End to End test goals

During an E2E test, your goal is to verify all of the dependencies and data integrity that directly or indirectly influence the reception of the software by the end-user. This usually includes any external services, as well as databases used by the software and metrics, as well as any other system dependencies. E2E tests will ideally be performed in the production environment, but this isn’t always possible. The tests can, of course, be performed in an independent End-to-End testing environment, but you should make sure it is as close to the production environment as possible.

Within the SDLC process, E2E tests are performed in the Testing phase, which is situated after Coding and before Deployment. 
->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-
## Why is End-to-End testing so useful?

Is End-to-End testing necessary? It is true that more and more developers make sure to implement an E2E testing phase before the final deployment of their software. There are many benefits to E2E tests, but the most crucial ones are:

- The ability to verify software performance from the end-user perspective
- Testing verifies not only the software itself but also any interrelated sub systems, increasing test coverage
- Validation of back-end systems
- Immediate end-user-like feedback on test failing

While tests such as unit testing or integration testing are very useful, allowing you to verify the working of each component and providing quick results, they don’t give you the whole picture. By not performing E2E tests, you won’t know how the experience of using your software will look like from the end-user perspective.

For example, individual component testing (integration tests) might show promising results and full functionality. However, when combined, something goes wrong and produces a bug. By only checking individual components, you wouldn’t be able to find out about the bug. With a proper End-to-End test, you can verify whether everything works correctly together as it should. Even integration testing doesn’t cover all of the system components of your software, and you might never know whether every aspect of your app clicks together.

E2E testing doesn’t necessarily have to discover bugs – it can also give you useful insight into the user scenario of your product. Overall, all types of tests play their respective roles in the whole vertical testing process (differently to horizontal end-to-end tests). Just because E2E tests give you a more complex understanding of your software as a whole doesn’t mean that other test types are less valuable. Before releasing your app, always make sure to proceed with a thought-through testing strategy. However, while they’re certainly extremely useful, keep in mind that E2E tests occupy the top of the testing pyramid, making them the most expensive and most difficult to perform.

End-to-End testing is also one of the few functional types of tests that can be performed manually, as well as automated - which is done especially often in Continuous Integration. In such a scenario, a chosen set of tests can be run automatically each time a new iteration is uploaded to the testing server.
->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-
## End-to-End Testing Framework

Alright, so now you know what End-to-End testing is – but how to exactly implement it? There is a wide variety of checks and individual tests that must be covered by your end-to-end testing plan, some of which include:

- Establishing test requirements in the preparation phase (including software and hardware requirements)
- Creating proper documentation
- Deciding what type of test environment will be used (production environment or independent test environment)
- Preparation of test cases and general E2E design
- Tracking of data input and output
- Test execution and evaluation

When executing E2E testing methods, developers usually follow an established E2E testing framework that guides you throughout the process, enumerating various tasks and responsibilities. The framework is relatively simple and consists of only three elements:

### Establish user functions

The User Functions relates to listing the features of your software, as well as all of its interconnected software systems. To properly measure and test software functionality, you need to first think about what you’re going to test. After you’re finished with listing user functions, remember to record everything relevant to each of them, including both the input and output data. Since E2E testing can be considered holistic, you also need to pay attention to all of the relations between every individual function – how they work together and whether there are any clashes.

### Come up with specific conditions

Now that you have established the user functions you’re going to test, you need to think about the testing conditions. Try to come up with as many quantifiable indicators that can be measured for each of the functions. These can range from response time to consistency of data flow, to simple convenience of use. Remember – you’re trying to imagine yourself as an end-user, so try to keep track of anything that might be an issue for a non-developer.

### Create individual test cases

Finally, before the E2E testing can commence, you need to prepare specific test cases for each of the conditions. At this point, you have prepared a list of user functions to test, as well as data conditions that will be measured during the test. Now, you need to create at least one test case for each of the conditions. By test cases, we mean user scenarios during which specific indicators will be able to be measured. 

And by test case preparation status, we mean the precise location of the test instances being developed, as compared to intended test cases.
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## Examples of E2E tests

Congratulations, you’ve almost reached the end! At this point, you should pretty much be a walking fountain of knowledge about End-to-End tests. However, the raw theory is one thing, and implementing those types of tests for system testing in reality is another. To make the process a bit more digestible, consider this End-to-End testing example for a website with shopping functionality:

- Go to the specified URL
- Open a list of products
- Check whether the information on the list correlates with specific product pages
- Try to add the product to the cart and look for visible confirmation
- Navigate to the cart and check whether the product has been successfully added
- Double-check all of the relevant information (price, product info, etc.)
- Proceed with the check-out and verify payment options integration

See how simple it is in the end? Now you can implement E2E testing methodology in your software to ensure better end-user reception, increase your product quality, and build a positive brand image.

## Frequently Asked Questions

1. **What is automated testing?** \
Automated testing in software development is a form of software testing that uses the execution of predefined sets of operations to probe and validate the software system. The fundamental purpose of test automation in software development is to generate objective feedback about the quality of the product. One such testing tool is Selenium. It can run UI tests.
The ideal situation is to run E2E tests with both manual testing and automated testing approaches. If your application has a lot of complicated user interfaces, you'll need more end-to-end testing.

2. **What is software development lifecycle?** \
Software development lifecycle (SDLC) is the process used by developers to create, deploy and maintain software. This process includes several steps that are all closely connected with one another. These steps include requirements gathering, analysis and design, coding and testing.

3. **What is a testing pyramid?** \
In software development projects, we have limited time and resources. This is why it's important to consider our test efforts carefully and find the right balance between different types of testing.
Basically, there are 3 layers in the testing pyramid: Unit Tests, Integration Tests,  and E2E Tests.

3. **What is a selector?** \
A selector is a small piece of code that describes a specific button in your app. It allows you to clearly define what should be clicked in automated end-to-end tests. You can learn more about selectors using [this interactive XPath learning tool](https://bugbug.io/xpath-selector-builder/?ref=blogarticle)


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What is End-to-End (E2E) Testing?

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**Nowadays, the profession of a software tester has become a symbol of entering the IT world without elbow grease. Why can some people pull it off and some cannot? Is there a golden rule for securing a job as a tester? Let’s find out.**

A good software tester has not only undergone special training crowned by a respective diploma. If you want to do this job successfully, you will appreciate natural predispositions and skills that you can acquire single-handedly. You may wonder if pure skills will suffice. Well, it depends …

## Who can work as a software tester?

Speaking in most general terms: anyone. There are no age or “trade” limitations; for many people who want to branch out the profession of a tester marks the first step in a career in IT. Many candidates fall prey to a stereotype, thinking that this is a simple, easy and pleasant profession that anyone can practise. Here come the details that you need to be aware of if you are  contemplating the job of a tester. As it is the case with other professions, some predispositions are also welcome, not only personality-related. These predispositions include:

### Analytical thinking 
A good tester needs to be able to combine facts, view an application and its possible uses in the context of its product environment and to draw conclusions;

### Inquisitiveness


When, surfing the Internet, you ask questions like “why does it work this way?”, “I wonder why they used this solution”, you are on the right path. Even if people around you sometimes find your inquisitiveness irritating,  it will prove priceless in a tester’s work;

### Resilience to boredom

It comes in handy especially at the beginning of work as a manual tester, when you check how an application works and simply “click your way” through some software an unlimited number of times. A certain degree of repeatability is an inherent part of a tester’s job; 

### Openness to people 

Another stereotype worth debunking before stepping onto the path of software testing is an introvert hiding in his cubbyhole, a dead ringer of  a character from “IT Crowd”, avoiding people at all cost. The situation is quite the opposite! Yes, you spend some time on the testing itself but you need to communicate the results of your work to a developer, a project manager or an entire team. Sometimes you need to explain what is not working. Sometimes you need to ask why something is working the way it is ☺   This is not a job for people who would rather have their arm chopped off than talk to someone on the team.

### Creativity

It will come in handy on a higher level of advancement when you are responsible for creating testing scenarios. In some companies, testers cooperate closely with the entire project team and contribute to developing the assumptions behind a product which provides plenty of room for creativity.

The stereotype of a software tester has one “benefit”: people think that testers do not need to know programming. Yes and no – it all depends on your aspirations. 
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## Do you want to be a manual tester?

At this stage,  you are typically in charge of “clicking your way” through an application and reporting possible errors. After several or over a dozen months of working as a tester you can also start to write scenarios and test cases. At this stage, in order to acquire new skills, you can also learn to make use of automation tools  or tools supporting manual testers. However, if you do not want to grow or learn the basis of a programming language – you hit the wall.   The same holds true for financial promotion – among testers, the manual ones are at the bottom of the pay brackets. 

## Do you want to be an automatic tester?

Knowing the basis of programming is imperative because in this job you write your own test-automatizing scripts and you fix possible operating errors. All the time, you supervise also the programmes’ operations and you enhance them, for example with new requirements that occurred in the process of creating a product. There is a reason why burnt-out developers or people who want to have a break in programming are good candidates for automatic testers. If you are literate in even one programming language (of course the more the better) you are good to go.

## How to start working as a programming tester

Ok, let’s assume that you remain firm in your decision to become a tester. You have all the predispositions and you want to grow in IT. Where do you start? Regular broadening of your horizons and self-learning are a must; it does not matter whether you  already know the job or are contemplating it. The Internet is a mine of knowledge; we recommend publications both in Polish and English  (there are many more materials in English). If you know some basis, you can apply right away for a manual testing internship programme. Junior positions are also within your reach – they are particularly attractive to people who branch out and cannot afford an unpaid or poorly paid internship. At the same time, you can try to take on single jobs on platforms like uTest – they will ensure an inflow of cash as well as experience, so valuable at the dawn of a professional career.

Read also: [A manual tester: 10 reasons that make this job interesting](https://bugbug.io/blog/software-testing/a-manual-tester-10-reasons-that-make-this-job-interesting/)
->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-
## Working as a software tester – with or without training?

As working in IT has become fashionable, training companies are flourishing. They offer not only trainings for developers but also testers. On the one hand, this is an interesting and developing option because a course poses an opportunity to acquire knowledge in a user-friendly way.  This is also a guarantee of regularity in learning which is of importance to less systematic people or ones having difficulties with self-motivation. On the other hand, a training is usually costly. Before you choose the school, take a good look of the market because some participants complain about the small number of practical classes and poor care on the part of the mentors. Whether you decide to embark on a  course or not, it is a good idea to find a mentor: a person who already works as a tester and who may lend a guiding hand in your search, recommend literature on the subject  or give you feedback on your work. Last but not least: even if you have the best teachers/mentors, without your determination and own work they will not be of great help. Acquisition of testing skills is, first and foremost,  a considerable effort and ensures regular enrichment of knowledge – a lot depends on you and your commitment.

## How to be an IT tester with a certificate

The schools mentioned here frequently offer their own diplomas but the market honours certificates issued by the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB). While you can obtain certificates at any stage of professional development, a document on the basic level should be the first step to becoming a Certified Tester. If you are new to the industry, this item on your CV is bound to be welcome. On the other hand, some people are critical about the certificates and say that all you need to know as a tester can be learnt single-handedly.

## How to be a tester and earn real money 

This is a very important issue; after all, the time of poorly paid internship must come to an end. Big companies typically have a natural development and promotion path that you may follow after having worked for some time as an intern or an IT junior. However, continued development is key to promotion – if you are contemplating the position of an automatic tester, do not put off learning  programming. The more you know about testing and the industry the better your chances of becoming a QA (quality assurance) team member. It stands for a tester with considerable experience who is in charge of entire projects, also related to people management, writing testing scenarios, writing automatic tests and monitoring work within a project. Irrespective of the position you assume, when you work in IT you should know the methods of project management while words like “agile” and “waterfall” should definitely ring the bell. 

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How You Can Become a Software Tester

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**It turns out that following the “golden rules” of testing does not always  bring about the desirable effects. Disregarding the rules can be equally disastrous as exemplified by companies and institutions that have become household names. One thing is for certain: software defects are expensive. Fortunately, there are ways to mitigate the damage.**

Imagine that, as a result of an defect in the medical care system,  the patients’ medical records which are the basis for writing out prescriptions, are not updated. As a result, physicians prescribe medications unsuitable for the reported ailments which may pose a threat to some people’s health or even lives. This is not a script of a science fiction film. This situation took place in 2018 in Europe’s second largest economy. What caused it? A bug in the system operating in National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom. Back then, more than 10 thousand people received wrong prescriptions. Fortunately, adverse consequences for the health were not involved. It is difficult to evaluate the losses incurred by this type of defects because, on top of purely economic costs of rectifying these mistakes, the reputation-related consequences may be even more damaging (especially for companies from outside the public sector). **In the United States alone, the damage resulting from launching to the market poor quality  software was estimated in 2018 at $2.8 billion.**
->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## The results of testing defects

The trade experts are far from disregarding the importance of defects generated in the process of designing software. Following a survey carried out in 2019 by Micro Focus in the US,  it was possible to define how the three areas of software written by means of the Agile/DevOps methodologies: functional, performance- and security-related, affect the specific areas of a company’s operations. It was agreed that defects on all the three levels impact most a company’s revenues, brand reputation and have legal consequences.

![elements-contributing-to-negative-business-impacts.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/elements_contributing_to_negative_business_impacts_9e27ba5281.png)

Allegedly, the situation can be improved by the rapidly growing automatic testing market which (and this comes as a surprise) is also an area which poses considerable challenges to companies, as indicated in the latest “World Quality Report 2019-2020″:

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The most typical challenges indicated in the survey included:

1. Lack of appropriate test environment and data.
2. Inability to apply test automation at appropriate levels.
3. Difficulty in identifying the right areas on which tests should focus.

Interestingly, testing was indicated as the biggest challenge accompanying actions aimed at preventing new defects in software:

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Why is testing perceived as such a difficult task? This may stem either from lack of knowledge or inability to apply it. One solution is to audit the activities instigated in the company; the list below may prove useful.
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## Poor testing strategies or how extra costs can be generated

**1. Underestimated testing scenarios.**

Testing scenarios should result from consultations held within the testing team working on the scenarios aligned with the previously collected business requirements. At the very early stage of talking with product owners, project managers and developers, detailed product documentation should be compiled. Together with other things, it will provide the basis for creating detailed action scenarios (the testers’ skills and experience play an important role, too). Ironically, a firm plan, implemented since the beginning of work on designing software in accordance with the shift-left testing idea (i.e. starting tests at the earliest stage of development) facilitates flexible adjustments to changes typical of the Agile approach. It is easier for testers to modify an existing plan than to work in chaos aggravated by subsequent sprints. A case in point is a small software company, described in a scientific work entitled  “’Good’ Organisational Reasons for ‘Bad’ Software Testing: An Ethnographic Study of Testing in a Small Software Company” by D. Martin, J. Rooksby, M. Rouncefield and I. Sommerville. For the benefit of the study, a company from the United Kingdom is referred to as W1REsys. It creates development environments which make it possible for customers to design mobile applications. W1REsys employs seven people including four software developers. Due to the lack of a dedicated team of testers, the requirements for new products or functionalities are laid down either with respect to the clients’ needs or ideas for the elements which potential new clients can find attractive. These ideas are provided by representatives of the marketing and sales departments while the scientists surveying the company decided that testing was based on suggestions of what needs to be tested rather than how to do it. Therefore, the automatic tests created in W1REsys are not a part of a structured plan and as such, they allow only selected functionalities to be developed. The ideas for enhancing them are originated also in the process of developers’ work; they result from discussions about the way the system is working. This approach incurs the risk of grave defects in production and, as the survey’s authors admit, these defects do occur  yet they are maintained on a level acceptable by the company.

**2. The testing process is not aligned with the way in which an organization operates.**

The example of W1REsys shows how important it is to adjust the principles of effective testing to an organisation’s capabilities. In larger companies which are in charge of complex projects, following the good practices guarantees success. In smaller companies, oftentimes coping with staff shortages, these rules need to be tailored to the employees’ actual capabilities. Otherwise, they will work under enormous pressure of time and frustration that they cannot accomplish all the goals towards which they have been working. As the Micro Focus research from 2019 suggests, the defects detected at the last stage of designing software (production) tend to be the most costly. This stems from research into both projects managed in Waterfall, now a less popular methodology, and Agile, a methodology enjoying great interest:

![effect-on-cost-by-development-stage-1024x523.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/effect_on_cost_by_development_stage_1024x523_09c6c9266d.png)

[According to Eric Elliot who has written an article on production defects for Medium.com](https://medium.com/javascript-scene/the-outrageous-cost-of-skipping-tdd-code-reviews-57887064c412), the cost of remedying a production defect can be 100 times higher than the cost of correcting it at the design stage, and 15 times higher that the cost of repair at the level of implementation.

Smaller companies, which cannot afford extended testing scenarios, should arrange their tasks from the most to the least important to a project. The mentioned software company W1REsys from the United Kingdom set a goal of testing the functionalities most frequently used by the clients. As a result, it can properly manage defects identified at the production stage. This is a good example of approaching  testing not like a way of excellent testing of the entire code which, in many cases, is simply impossible but rather, as a way of managing risk that can be mitigated when specific testing tasks are given priorities.

**3. Ignoring the importance of tests in the speed and efficiency of  mobile applications.**

As a result of focusing on functionality tests (working/not working), some teams ignore the importance of speed and efficiency tests. A survey conducted by Dimensional Research in 2015 informs about the actual costs of adopting this attitude. Users of mobile applications were asked for their opinions on the response time. As the diagram below shows, their expectations are very high with 2 seconds required for the optimum response time:

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80% of the respondents admitted that in the case of problems with an application, they give it not more than three chances before they abandon it for the benefit of competitive solutions. Interestingly, in the process of choosing an application, the functionalities promised by the producers are as important as the reviews published by other users:

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In 2017, Pinterest found out about the business benefits of rebuilding an application to make a faster and more responsive one; following its implementation, Pinterest enjoyed bigger revenues and traffic:

![comparing-old-mobile-web-to-new-mobile-web-1024x528.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/comparing_old_mobile_web_to_new_mobile_web_1024x528_6332cda00b.png)
->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

**4. Giving up on Test Driven Development.**

This approach assumes designing automatic testing before works on writing the right code even commence. Of course, at the beginning the tests are failed; over time, as the subsequent lines of the code are written, at a certain stage they all end positive. As a result, the “trouble-free” section of the code grows; you can also think over and plan how the entire application works. Eric Elliot presented the following calculations as evidence of the  effectiveness of the method which daunts many IT managers due to the high costs involved at the initial stage of a project:

![source-medium.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/source_medium_e8b7b31c22.png)

In the fictitious example provided by Elliot, development without TDD was to cost 1,000 hours (the cost of maintaining the system excluded). TDD allowed to save 623 hours which is equivalent to a month of work of a team of four.

**5. Under- or overestimating automatic testing.**

The success of any testing team is based both on qualified employees and skilfully selected tools. Automatic testing significantly speeds up and fosters work thus releasing the testers who can focus on exploratory testing or a product analysis with respect to the users’ requirements or experience. Teams distrustful of automation tools or disappointed with older generation programmes may prefer manual tests. Frequently, this results in overloading the employees with work. They are also frustrated because they need to handle repetitive, mundane tasks. On the other hand, automatic testing cannot replace an employee who may come up with the right testing scenarios aligned with the business guidelines or even supplement them with suggestions of new and interesting functionalities. An optimum testing strategy helps to design the testers’ responsibilities to ensure that they can make the most of their automatic testing tools, at the same time taking advantage of the specific workers’ competence in carrying out manual exploratory testing.





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Bad Software Testing Strategies

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The work of a manual tester is not always as appreciated as it should be. Often, words like “testing” boil it down to (seemingly) boring activities following a scenario. This is a superficial opinion; check the 10 reasons why this profession can be recognised as surprisingly interesting:

**1. The job of a manual tester=creativity that many marketing guys could dream of.**

As a manual tester you get to know the product and create testing scenarios. This is the part of the work where you can unleash your creativity: you come up with the biggest possible number of ways in which the user can make use of your product and where an error can be detected. Even if you are a natural when it comes to looking for “weak points” in an application, you go beyond it and foresee the user’s behaviour and the operation of the entire software. Looking at the scenarios you have created, many people could say “there is no way this will happen!”. How about you? When your scenario shows an unexpected error, you simply flick an invisible speck of dust off your shoulder.
->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

**2. Manual testing is heaven for an analytical mind.**

Analytical thinking and drawing conclusions will come in handy at every stage of your work: since the moment you get acquainted with the technical specification and the product’s application up to writing the mentioned scenarios. A good tester has the skill of inductive thinking i.e. drawing conclusions on the basis of pieces of information coupled with deductive thinking (from the general to the detailed). A tester’s role is not limited to checking how specific functionalities work; a tester also places them in a broader context – the product and its trade environment. Questions like “Is this the best solution? Does the design meet the standard? Can you simplify it?” are elements of daily work. A manual tester is not a person who follows the instructions blindly but rather, he/she creates them respecting the latest standards and sometimes even challenging them.

**3. A manual tester criticises as much as he/she likes.**

Did you dream as a child of being a literary, theatrical or film critic? Even if you did not, as a manual tester you have an opportunity to show the part of your personality that enjoys pinpointing mistakes and highlighting imperfections. There is more: in this job it will be more than welcome (with reference to the tested application, not your team mates, that is )!

**4. A manual tester stands for a “great communicator”.**

Did you know why Ronald Reagan was dubbed “the great communicator”? For his rhetoric skills in general and one talent in particular. It actually helped him to be elected president. In 1980, during a TV debate with Jimmy Carter, Reagan addressed all Americans directly and during his air time he looked straight into the camera, making an impression that he was speaking to each and every viewer individually. How does this connect with a tester’s responsibilities? As part of your work, you will also have many opportunities to look someone in the eye and say something  harsh, e.g. to show a code error to a developer or to ask a project manager for extra time for testing if the situation requires it. Rest assured that these will not always be nice conversations… It is good to know because many people perceive a tester as an individual who is knowledgeable about logs and only produces reports. However, this job requires a lot of interaction with people at various levels (especially when your company uses the scrum methodology) and here communication skills are much coveted. Assertiveness (ability to present your opinion without hurting other people’s feelings) is worth its weight in gold.
->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

**5. Testing and… empathising.**

I do not mean only empathy with a developer who, following your remarks, needs to repair the bugs ;). As a tester, you empathise mainly with the user who will ultimately make use of the product you are testing. You try to best understand the user’s needs and train of thoughts. Your aim is to make the application as easy to handle as possible. This is yet another soft skill that you can use in your work.

**6. People keen on accuracy make good testers.**

If you are applying for a job of a manual tester, perfectionism will certainly be perceived as your strength during the job interview. Accuracy and care for the detail are prerequisites for being a tester; otherwise you might miss an important aspect of an application’s functioning. As a result of this omission, the company could lose its good reputation and considerable amounts of money. 

**7. As a manual tester you use your organisational skills.**

You do not have unlimited time for testing; in many cases, there is less time than you hope. Your planning skills and effective use of time come in handy. Time pressure is visible not only in Jira; it also affects the people managing a project.

**8. A manual tester’s continued growth.**

As a tester you need to keep up with the changing trends and technologies, also as part of your specialisation. There is no room for stoppages or boredom because every day, new information is disseminated, new courses and ideas originated. When implemented, sometimes they challenge the assumptions about reality. Every tester needs to know the product he/she handles and this is no mean feat: you need to know the rules of operation and find out the solutions offered by the competitors plus analyse in depth the technical documentation, trace the logs etc. A tester’s work requires regular updates.

**9. As a tester you are responsible for the product’s quality.**

By clicking on “Test passed” in Jira, you confirm that a specific functionality and, by extension, the entire product, meets the requirements. You are some sort of a quality controller and this is more than just checking if an application works as planned. As a result of your work, a product wins market trust while its effectiveness improves the corporate owner’s reliability.

**10. The position of a manual tester is the first step; there is always more**

Later on, you can branch out into automatic testing, QA or even programming. The more testing tools, technologies and programming languages you know the better. Consequently,  you strengthen your position on the job market. Your opportunities for growing, learning and enhancing your skills  are limitless.

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A Manual Tester: 10 reasons That Make This Job Interesting

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Analysts agree that in 2021 and the subsequent years, the software testing services market will flourish. How will that affect the entire IT industry? Which business areas will be most impacted by this growth? Will the effects be always positive?

The optimistic forecasts for the software testing services market are coming true as we speak. According to Marketsandmarkets research company which has produced its forecast on the basis of indicators from 2016, in 2017-2022 the value of this specific market will grow to $50.14 billion with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) amounting to 13.5%.

In 2020, Technavio published its report on “Software testing services market by product, geography and end-user. Forecast and analysis 2020–2024”. According to the report, in the four years the market value of the software testing services market will grow by $ 81.73 million with the CAGR amounting to 12.62%:

![bb-8-1.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/bb_8_1_1929945956.png)

The two above mentioned research companies also agree that North America will be the region with the biggest growth potential on the software testing services market. The related division of power has been illustrated by Marketsandmarkets in the following manner:

![bb-8-2.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/bb_8_2_4f2997f99d.png)
->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## The software testing services market

In an article for Medium.com, Astasia Myers published a diagram which shows the major dividing lines on the software testing services market. It also provides a picture of the growth potential of the market’s specific parts:

![bb-8-3.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/bb_8_3_d3540021a4.png)

The fastest growing areas of the software testing services market include test automation (17%CAGR) and API testing (19%CAGR). Testing services have the smallest annual growth rate (13%CAGR) but enjoys the biggest value ($50 million).

## The possible business outcome of the processes

In order to foresee the outcome, the growing shares of the specific parts of the market need to be viewed from the perspective of the trends in software production. Here, the ever so popular DevOps and Agile methodologies play a significant role. The latter methodology was indicated in the latest report “State of the Agile 2019” as the most frequently applied in unit testing. Both methodologies enforce a quick rate of code development, at the same time placing strong emphasis on its quality and reliability. In order to ensure the best possible processes of monitoring quality and detecting errors in the resulting solutions, more and more often managers decide to automatize the work of testers and QA. This has been confirmed by the results of a survey carried out by Capgemini and published in “World Quality Report 2019-2020”:

![bb-8-4.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/bb_8_4_80ce264d0a.png)

The report’s authors draw attention to the fact that the need to increase work automation will involve increasingly advanced technologies for creating the right tools. Here, solutions based on AI and machine learning will have an important role to play.

Which solutions are the most popular among managers who want to streamline and accelerate tests in the DevOps and Agile environment? In a questionnaire developed by Capgemini, tools for automated tests were indicated most frequently. They were followed by the BDD (behaviour-driven development) which should not come as a surprise in the light of its benefits in solving complicated business problems and making decisions about the types of tests which are best for a specific situation:

![bb-8-5.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/bb_8_5_07c6a7ea65.png)

The above chart shows also a third trend which has lately gained in popularity as the Agile – CI/CD methodology is developing. In the testing context it is continuous testing i.e. continued exchange of feedback between teams of developers and testers. It is possible on condition that a majority of the software testing processes are automatized. Only then the code quality can be effectively and sufficiently quickly checked.

These benefits have been appreciated in the IT industry for several years as presented below in a cross-cutting summary of the biggest benefits of automatizing the process of software testing. Every year, their value grows. Interestingly, in 2019 managers indicated better control and transparency of the supervised processes as the most appreciated value added resulting from automation:

![bb-8-6.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/bb_8_6_8c99e341b6.png)
->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## The financial outcomes of the changes in the software testing services market

The development of automation tools has also decreased the costs of testing as evidenced by the summary below:

![bb-8-7.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/bb_8_7_cbccf44ab1.png)

How was it possible to substantially decrease testing-related costs? The report provides information about employing:

- solutions for cloud testing which lower the costs, at the same time increasing the effectiveness and flexibility of the teams involved
- virtualization,
- Agile and DevOps methodologies,
- automation,
- shift-right testing i.e. testing is performed shortly before a solution goes live. Of course this does not exclude agile methodologies or code review in sprints, preferred by Agile.



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The Software Testing Market & The Business Outcomes of Its Growth in 2021

the-software-testing-services-market-and-the-business-outcomes-of-its-growth-in-2021

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[TABLE_OF_CONTENTS]

Compatibility testing is non-functional testing, which means it focuses on such aspects as the reliability and usability of software applications. Thanks to focusing on the compatibility of the software, you can make sure that your app will work as expected on different hardware and software configurations.

You can say that there’s software compatibility when various modules and components of software work together and exchange information to produce expected results that satisfy the user of the software. In other words, if an app works with other apps, systems, and hardware doing what it was created for, it’s compatible with them.

## Software compatibility testing is important, but what is its purpose?

As a part of non-functional software testing, compatibility testing is a method that allows you to check if an application or software works correctly with different software and on various hardware configurations. The goal of compatibility testing is to ensure that there will be no problems when your app runs on a specific device, platform, or together with other apps. An incompatibility issues will result in bugs and problems that you can detect thanks to testing and fix early in the process.

## Key objectives of compatibility testing process

- The key objectives of performing a successful compatibility testing process are:

- Checking if the software is compatible across various platforms, devices, operating systems, or hardware configurations.

- Finding problems and fixing them before the software is released.

- Improving user experience since more users with different configurations can use an app that has good compatibility.


->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## Types of compatibility testing

There are two main kinds of compatibility testing: backward and forward compatibility testing.

### Backward compatibility testing

It's when you check if your app works on older hardware or previous versions of operating systems (the latter is often referred to as operating system compatibility).

### Forward compatibility testing

It’s the process opposite to that of backward compatibility testing as it consists in ensuring that your app works correctly on new platforms and hardware.

Also, we can distinguish more specific subtypes of compatibility testing like the ones discussed below.

**1. Browser compatibility testing**

Making sure that your website or web app works correctly on various browsers is highly important given how many browsers there are. It usually involves checking the layout and features on such popular web browsers as Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox.

**2. Network compatibility testing**

Most apps today use networks and connectivity to function properly. Even if your software doesn’t require an internet connection to run, some features, such as updates may be unavailable if the app isn’t connected to the internet. For this reason, it’s essential to check if your app is compatible with different network configurations and different conditions, for example, low download/upload speeds or latency issues.

**3. Device compatibility testing**

People will use your app on such devices as phones, tablets, and notebooks. Different devices have different operating systems, hardware configurations, and screens. If you offer your app for many types of devices, it’s vital to make sure that you have dedicated versions of your app that have been thoroughly tested on each platform.

**4. Mobile compatibility testing**

This kind of compatibility testing concentrates on mobile devices. As mobility is highly important for modern users, you should make it a priority too.

**5. Software compatibility testing**

Software interactions are not uncommon. For example, two different antivirus applications won’t get along too well. You should check if your software is compatible with other popular apps that people may regularly use.

**6. Version compatibility testing**

Apps get updated frequently these days. It’s important to know that after an update, all the features of your app will still be working. You’ll need to check, for example, libraries, app components, and other elements that might be affected by updates.

**7. Database compatibility testing**

As applications often store their data in databases, you’ll have to make sure that your software works well with various databases. The testing focuses on checking how your app handles queries and how it interacts with different databases.

->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## Key components of compatibility testing

### Test environment setup

It’s important to make your test environment mimic that of production. To do that, you have to make sure that your hardware, software, and data are identical or at least similar to those used in the production environment.

### Test case design and execution

You’ll need to prepare a set of tests to check the compatibility of your software. First of all, you will need to list elements that you’ll have to test. Secondly, you’ll need to establish what the prerequisites for testing are. In other words, you’ll have to determine such conditions as hardware and software configurations. Finally, you’ll prepare the test cases for each defined testing condition. Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re ready for test execution which involves reporting, tracking, and managing the detected bugs as well as retesting and reporting after you’ve finalized the test execution stage.

### Test coverage considerations

Determining what test coverage should be is vital as it helps to make sure that you can identify all the compatibility problems and find solutions for them. It involves establishing what the target configuration will be (including hardware and software), specifying the requirements that need to be met, and understanding the software architecture and its implementation (because the way software was designed and implemented may lead to compatibility issues).

### Compatibility test automation

You can (and should!) use automation tools that will allow you to create, schedule, and run automated test tasks for you. Such an approach will give you:

- greater speed of testing since you can have tests running on many platforms at the same time.

- higher efficiency and accuracy because taking out the human factor allows for consistent and comprehensive execution of test cases.

- generating savings as not having to rely on manual testers can significantly reduce costs.

## Steps to follow if you want to perform compatibility testing

Once you've decided to perform compatibility testing, you can follow these steps:

1. Determine what the designated platform for your app is. 
2. Get your hands on the required hardware, operating system, and any software related to the designated platform that will be needed for testing your app.
3. Set up your app and configure it.
4. Run it on the designated platform and test how the app works.
5. Find, record, and report any issues with compatibility that you encounter.


## Example of compatibility testing

Imagine that a software company has built a Windows app. They will need to find out how their app behaves on different versions of Windows, for example Windows 11 or Windows 10, as well as on Windows computers with different configurations. That’s why they’ll have to test the app for compatibility. Also, the company will need to test the app under various conditions which includes compatibility testing in multiple network configurations or with different amounts of data that the app will have to handle.

->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## Benefits of compatibility testing for QA teams

### Ensuring software functionality across multiple platforms and environments

The main goal of compatibility testing is to make sure that your applications works on various platforms, configurations, and under different conditions. The rule here is simple: the better the compatibility of your app, the more users will be using it.

### Mitigating risks associated with incompatibilities

Compatibility testing can help reduce risks of compatibility-related issues. Thanks to such testing, you can identify risks early before they turn into real issues for your users.

### Enhancing user experience and customer satisfaction

High compatibility of your product improves the satisfaction of your customers. Given how many users with different configurations there are, software that has a high compatibility level will satisfy more people and positively affect the image of your software development team and company.

### Supporting product scalability and market reach

Quality Assurance specialists can use compatibility testing to ensure that their software works correctly on various platforms and under different usage. And if the app can handle more data, bigger workloads, and a growing user base, it means that their product shows good scalability. It also results in a better market reach as more compatible products appeal to users of different devices and platforms so the company can reach a wider audience.



## Best practices to follow when compatibility testing is performed

### Comprehensive test planning and strategy development

By focusing on test planning and strategy, QA teams can effectively test their software for various compatibility issues. A good test strategy goes a long way and will help you avoid dealing with frustrated users who experience compatibility problems.

### Testing early and often

The sooner you start testing, the more compatibility issues you’re likely to identify and address. Test early and test often as it increases your chances of finding compatibility issues in the most bizarre configurations and scenarios that your creative users can come up with.

### Prioritizing most critical issues

First things first. Make the compatibility issues that are the most common and affect the greatest number of your users your top priority. You won’t be able to fix every tiny problem, that’s why it’s important to focus on compatibility scenarios that really matter. If you find some time after fixing your top compatibility priorities, you can always move on to other issues.

### Continuous monitoring and reporting of compatibility issues

Be vigilant and be on the lookout for any compatibility problems by establishing a good monitoring process. Monitor and report issues as soon as you spot them. Sometimes such a process will help you catch an issue before it’s noticed during regular testing.

## Tools for compatibility testing

When choosing a good compatibility testing tool, you should focus on what devices and browsers a specific solution supports as well as features that it offers, including testing methods or report generation.

### Overview of popular compatibility testing tools

When it comes to compatibility testing, you have a plenty of great tools at your disposal. Some good examples include:

**BrowserStack** - a cloud-based solution that offers cross-browser testing capabilities.

**LambdaTest** - another cloud-based platform that provides parallel testing and mobile testing features.

**TestComplete** - a commercial solution that you can use to test web apps as well as mobile and desktop applications.

->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## Conclusion

Testers should dedicate their time to compatibility testing because that way, they can make sure that their software will work seamlessly on multiple different devices and platforms. Early detection of compatibility issues can help fix them before the new release hits the production environment and users start submitting support tickets. In other words, in the long run, compatibility testing can positively affect the company’s image and user experience.

## Key takeaways and recommendations for effective compatibility testing

The most important things that QA specialists and testers should remember about compatibility testing is that testing should be done often and early in the development process. Always test on multiple different configurations and platforms to detect as many compatibility issues as possible. Document and report all problems and keep on monitoring for compatibility problems all the time.

## Stay updated with emerging technologies in the field

New software versions and devices enter the market every day. As a tester, you should keep up with all tech novelties and approach from the compatibility standpoint. It’s important because many of your users may be early adopters of new technologies. They will also be the first ones to point out any compatibility issues, so create a good compatibility testing strategy, test the application that your team's been developing, and stay ahead of any compatibility problems!



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What is Compatibility Testing?

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Software developer currently working as a tech writer and PM.  
[linkedin.com/in/marcin-%C5%82ojewski-a4191518/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcin-%C5%82ojewski-a4191518/)

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Marcin Łojewski

[TABLE_OF_CONTENTS]

Recently we have covered the test plan and we did quite a good job doing it. The document itself covers the testing process quite thoroughly. We agreed that the core of the test plan are the test cases and test suites. Now let’s shift our focus a bit more on the test cases and test scenarios and as a bonus we will come back to the test suites for a moment or two. 

Both test cases and test scenarios are crucial components of the testing process. Unfortunately it is not uncommon that they are not defined and understood properly.  Also it happens that they are confused with each other. The ability to set them apart is very important for proper test execution. Each tester, QA, test manager should have this knowledge. We think a high-level understanding would be beneficial even for the business people as well. We will try to be professional but not too technical in this article so hop on board.

## Test scenario

Test scenario shows a specific use case of a given functionality. It can be written in a non technical way as it describes an expected (positive and negative) result of a high level action. What is also significant for a test scenario, is that it might touch multiple layers of your software. If we were to create a smooth definition, we would aim for something like the following.

**A test scenario is a described pattern of a positive or negative action performed by the software’s user.**

Remember our article on [test plans](https://bugbug.io/blog/software-testing/how-to-create-a-test-plan/)? Let’s use the same example app to create an example of a test scenario. 

*“Only an authenticated user can see the salary on a job posting subpage”.* 

This is a great example, because one simple sentence describes triggering multiple functionalities. This test scenario contains a basic action that the user may perform on the web application. There are multiple processes and actions involved. 

What does the user see instead of the salary? If the user is not logged in, does he/she see the login button or link? Does the authentication work properly? Finally, when the user does log in after moving from the job posting subpage, is he/she redirected back to the same subpage after authentication? 

We can go on and on about that one, but hopefully you get the point now. 

There is a few additional key information here. 

- Test scenarios can not be automated and are not really reusable. They cover multiple aspects of your software and may include many variables. 

- A test scenario may be prepared by a technical as well as non-technical person. Usually the business people will tell what the app should do, and then the developers will have to know how to achieve it. It is the same in testing.

- Test scenario covers the end to end functionality of the software that needs to be tested.

- Remember that test scenarios may come from outside your testing team, it is common that some scenarios are derived from use cases that happen after the app is complete. The final users are great in finding ways of "breaking" your app. Ways that you would have never thought of. Best practice alert! If it is sound from the business perspective - foresee a beta test period for your app.


Can you perform software testing just based on a test scenario? No, you need to be more thorough. That is why you need something more detailed. You need a...

## Test case

A test case lets the tester know how to test a given feature of your app. We have to emphasise the singular here. The rule of thumb is one feature - one test case. Test cases are derived from test scenarios. It will usually include some input and expected result. Most test cases are written by and for a technical person, so expect more programmers’ vocabulary than it was in the test scenario. Our definition of a test case follows:

**A test case is a set of instructions, inputs and expected outcomes that is needed to validate the proper functionality of one software feature.**

Some technical knowledge and understanding the subject matter of your software are necessary to write test cases. As stated in the definition, we do not only need to describe what needs to be tested. We also need to know what is the data we want to use and what is the expected outcome.

Let’s jump right in and try to produce a test case from the test scenario above.

*Test case #1 - verify if the salary is hidden in a job post*

*Actions:*

*- Go to “/ads/job/2” url*

*- Scroll to div with id = “salary”*

*- Expected outcome is “Please log in to see full details” with “log in” being a link to “/login” url*

*- Failure condition is “$100 per week”*

*- Report any different outcome*

As you can see there are a few different elements that make a test case. The case ID - just for clarity. The case name or title if you will - a brief description of what is being tested. Last, but not least there are the test steps for the test engineer.  

Such test cases are easy to reflect in test automation tools. Some of them, like BugBug, will even enable you to create many test cases with using little to no code with their drag and drop functionalities. 

->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## The difference between Test case and Test scenario in software application testing

Trying to compare a test case and a test scenario is like trying to compare a book and a page. One could exist without the other but you have to agree that one page will never give you the whole context, right? It is the same for test scenario vs test case recognition.  

In software testing it is quite tricky to find actual similarities between scenarios and cases. They both serve a testing purpose, have a designed scope and purpose. The key is not to confuse them. A testing scenario describes user behaviour and may (should actually) be transformed into a list of technically defined single test cases.

Let's focus on the key differences to have a better understanding what a test scenario and test case is.

|                                            **Test scenario**                                           |                                    **Test case**                                    |
|:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:|:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------:|
| Everyone related to the project can write test scenarios                                               | Technical personnel is responsible for creating test cases  and performing the test |
| A test scenario covers end-to-end behaviour of the user  what can go across multiple functionalities   | Test case contains one single functionality to be tested                            |
| Is created with no possibility of reuse or automation;  includes many variables and is not a procedure | Is reusable and easily adaptable for test automation                                |
| Informs what needs to be tested                                                                        | Informs how to perform every test                                                   |
| Strategically overviews how the users will be using  the software                                      | Gives some structure to the testing process                                         |



If we were to simplify the matter as much as we can, remember this. A test scenario is basically a set of test cases. There can be one or many test cases for a single test scenario. 

![Test scenario 1.png](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Test_scenario_1_94473c7c69.png)

->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## How to write Test cases and Test scenarios?

After the first few paragraphs we are sure that you are a person clearly understanding what a test case and a test scenario is. Creating test scenarios is easy for people with a high level overview of the software whereas test cases are easier for people with more experience in the software testing field. Whichever description suits you more, it is crucial to stick to the how / what division. 

You should not overthink while creating a test scenario. Take the easiest approach possible and become the user for a moment. Think of what you would like to do in your app and then write it down. It should be that easy. Try not to consider (and describe) what different functionalities would your scenario trigger. This is for the test cases to check.

When you are creating test cases for each scenario, your job will be a lot more thorough. We suggest the "from the general to the particular" approach. 

Once you have the test scenario, try thinking about what functionalities it triggers and list them down. Afterwards analyze how those functionalities should and should not behave under the circumstances given in the scenario. Then provide or mock the data that need to be used in the testing effort. Last but not least, define the positive and negative outcome of each test. 

For starters try using our template from this article. We do encourage you to experiment and adapt such templates for your testing environment. Remember that creating test cases is a one-time job, an investment if you will. They are the core of test automation and are easily reusable throughout the testing process. 

->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## Test case vs Test scenario - summary

At the very beginning we promised adding the test suite into the equation. Thanks for sticking around for that one. In our last article we described the test suite as a set of test cases. Here we do the same for a test scenario. There is a key difference though. 

A test suite is a set of test cases relevant to each functionality and is an artificial entity that helps to manage the testing process. 
Whereas a test scenario can cover multiple functionalities and is an effect of natural user actions performed in the app. 

They both cover multiple test cases, but a test suite can be automated whereas test scenario can not.

We hope we were able to convince you that test scenario and test case are two completely different beings used during the testing of an application. The scenario focuses more on the "what" and the case focuses on the "how". Remember that test cases are derived from test scenarios and not the other way around. From the good practice perspective it is wise to encourage your users to beta test as they have much more creative ideas on how to break your app. 




small_Test plan template (4).png

thumbnail_Test plan template (4).png

Test plan template (4).png

Test Case vs Test Scenario: Compare, Contrast and How to 

test-case-vs-test-scenario

[TABLE_OF_CONTENTS]

We recently went through the whole theory on the purpose of such document. We hopefully proved to each tester that such a document is more than a list of features to be tested. A good plan vastly reduces the risks associated with the whole process. It is time to present you with our sample test plan document. In the following article you can read our test plan example as well as get a sample template so you can write a similar one on your own. 

Before we do that, we need an example app, so welcome do BestAdPortal! (disclaimer - I found no such portal so I'm calling "dibs" on the name). 

From software development standpoint it is a most basic app, that does the following:

- user account functionalities (create, store, password reset, authentication, limiting access to given pages)
- ad related functionalities (CRUD)
- internal message system with email notifications
- billing functionalities 

The list is just an example, we can focus our tests on.




## Sample test plan

### Test scope and objectives

This is the place where you put the comprehensiveness of the testing effort. In our case the test approach might be as follows.


*In a few sentences we were able to describe what we are going to test, and why we limit the testing efforts. On top of that let's move to the identification of the major testing goals.*

*We would consider the test deliverables as complete if all of the below occur:*

*- All CRUD operations on the User can be performed flawlessly*

*- The User authentication process is functional*

*- All user access levels are functional*

*- All CRUD operations on the Ad can be performed flawlessly*

*- The internal message system is functional*

*- The message system cooperates with external email tool*

*- The billing is done properly (i.e. no double billing occurs during the testing effort)*

->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-



### Test environment

As you might remember from the last article - [how to create a test plan](https://bugbug.io/blog/software-testing/how-to-create-a-test-plan/), this is the place to describe the resources that will be used to test the designated app. We first describe the general info in bullets and then present the selected tool as well as other information on how and where does the testing activity take place.

*To perform testing activities the requirements are as follows:*

*- A test automation tool*

*- Designated communication channels: email address and Slack channel plus access to Jira and GIT*

*- Implementing the testing tool to our CD/CI pipeline*

*- Separate server space and a test environment setup accordingly to the CD/CI pipeline so the latest released app version is in place*

*- Dummy data creation functionality in place, at least 10 users (2 admins and 8 clients) and at least 50 ads created*

*The decision was made to use a low-code or no-code test automation tool. As we have no tester per say in the team, this is the best decision from the business perspective. After thorough research we decided to choose BugBug as it has low entry requirements, is easily integrated with communication clients as well as CD/CI pipelines.*

Providing the test environment allows a full understanding on what testing resource is needed to perform each part of testing services.  


### Test strategy and approach

We have already described the testing scope, objective and the necessary tools. It is time to let the recipients know what human resources are we going to utilize and what would be the high-level approach to their work.  Remember that it is not yet the time to define the schedule of testing. This chapter is also a good place to describe a high level situation of the app if it was not stated before. You can never foresee the changes in the team and what could be missed in the onboarding process. 

*In order to successfully complete the testing goals listed above, we need to consider our situation first. Given the agile approach to software delivery and MVP status we have decided that the testing efforts should be first and foremost iterative and highly automated. Each test milestone will cover the functionality provided in the latest development sprint.*

*The testing team will consist of the following:*

*- John Doe - test manager - major testing tasks and estimation*

*- Jane Doe - tester 1 - test execution, collecting reports for bugs encountered during the testing process*

*- Jeremy Doe - tester 2 - test execution and updating test scenarios*

*- Julia Doe - communication between the testing and the development team, assistant test project manager.*

*All of the above will be involved in testing for 20 hours per week.*

Remember that the business and finances people also must approve this plan. This is why the example covers also information that helps with the estimation of the time required. 

->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-



### Test cases and test suites

The core of the document. This is where you write the test scripts that will be executed. The software backlog is something that will support the test suites and cases for you. Given that we have chosen the iterative approach it will be relatively easy to pull the functionalities from the milestones identified in the software planning. The following also allows you to define any additional test milestones. 

| ID | Test suite          | Test case                           | Description                                                                                                                                      |
|----|---------------------|-------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1  | User creation       | Proper data in user creation form   | Insert proper and valid dummy data into the registration form. Check if the user was created correctly.                                          |
| 2  |                     | Invalid data in user creation form  | Insert invalid dummy data into each field of the registration form. Check if the user is prompted about the mistake and if the user was created. |
| 3  |                     | Post creation behaviour             | Check if the user is redirected to the profile page after successful creation                                                                    |
| 4  | User authentication | Proper data in the user login form  | Insert proper and valid dummy data into the login form. Check if the user was authenticated correctly.                                           |
| 5  |                     | Invalid data in the user login form | Insert invalid dummy data into each field of the login form. Check if the user is prompted about the mistake and if the user was created.        |
| 6  |                     | Check credentials for a new user.   | Check if a new user without admin rights can access the admin panel page.                                                                        |




This is just a brief, high level example to make it easier to create a test plan. Test cases and suites might not be put into a table for instance. The crucial part is - it has to reflect your needs and requirements. Maybe you need to place a column for test data, or just an "additional information" column will do just fine? Be creative in using this example. 




### Test execution schedule

This part of the test management has to consider the software project schedule as well. One thing you might reduce your effort with, is supplementing the table above with a "sprint number" column. That way you end up with a highly readable to do list. If you choose the more descriptive approach, try something like the following.

*The testing will be performed on a similar schedule to the one the application is being designed. After each iteration is released to the relevant environment (at the end of each sprint), the test team will test the designated groups of features. As each of the people involved in the test phase is available part time, test items might require increased managerial attention. As of now there is little possibility to estimate the time required for each case to be conducted. This is mostly because the team is not yet onboarded to the chosen tool.*

Remember that a good test plan foresees changes. Also note there is some flexibility in the schedule for each testing task, since you will deliver those on sprint basis. There is no need to plan the actions in high detail.


->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-


### Defect reporting and tracking

As we have already planned the whole testing process, the final touch would be to take care of the “what if..” scenarios. Yes, the final purpose of the test plan is to find actual bugs in your software. The final part of the document should then outline the course of action after a bug is found. Remember, that proper setting up automated processes here is an investment that will easily and quickly pay off. Imagine sending out a hundred emails weekly just to initiate the fixing process.

*Thanks to multiple integration opportunities from the chosen tool we are able to notify the key people from both development and testing teams. To reduce unnecessary email communication, the reports on started and passed tests will be sent only via the designated Slack channel.*

*If a bug occurs, the following actions will be automatically undertaken:*

*- A message will be sent via the designated Slack channel*

*- An email will be sent to the Test manager and to the development teams’ PM*

*- A Jira ticket will be created with the description of the test case and error log*

*- A GIT branch will be created. It will be linked in the Jira ticket mentioned above*

*Such a flow will be efficient for the bug fixing process.*

Do note that not every test management tool allows you to easily integrate such functionalities, so choose wisely. In the test plan template you will be able to download, you can also find a flow chart for defect reporting.




## Sample test plan document

Here is one especially for you. After clicking the link below you can download sample test plan. If you are not the test manager, send it to someone responsible for providing the test documentation.  It contains the cases described above but put into one easy to read document. 


[Test Plan Example](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Bug_Bug_TEST_PLAN_example_20b66d9113.pdf)




## Software test plan template 

We are not yet tired of giving away gifts. A sample test plan template will enable you to document the procedures for your app and meet the delivery date. And at the end of the day, what does it do? After reading the last article you should already know. It saves you money! Successful delivery of test items might and will reduce the man hours spent on bug fixing. Our template is universal so it will cover every field of software testing. 

[Test Plan Template](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Bug_Bug_TEST_PLAN_template_3f4dd12d86.docx)




If you feel that this article does not consist enough information on how to create a test plan on your own, you are right. We created a separate article that includes much more knowledge. Check it out [here](https://bugbug.io/blog/software-testing/how-to-create-a-test-plan/).




small_Test plan template.png

thumbnail_Test plan template.png

Test plan template.png

Test Plan Template For Test Automation Process

test-plan-template

For many software development teams creating any sort of plan sounds dull and boring. Creating a plan for the testing process sounds.. Well… Pretty much Hermione Granger-ish. That is definitely not the case. Remember that the whole effort that you put into testing is there for a very important business reason - to save you time and money. Creating a test plan is the first step to achieve this goal.

**But how do you prepare a test plan for software testing?**



## What is a test plan document?

Stating the obvious - a test plan is a document describing the testing process of your web application. There is more into that though. This is a crucial document. It outlines the approach, objectives, scope, and resources required for testing a web application. It serves as a roadmap, guiding the entire testing effort and ensuring that all necessary activities are executed.

Creating it, is like answering to the “wh- questions” about the process:

- What will be tested 
- Why it will be tested
- When it will be tested 
- And how it will be tested (I always wondered why “how” is on the “wh- questions” list, but anyway)

A well-crafted test plan includes details such as the test objectives, tools, schedule, and roles and responsibilities of the testing team. It would be beneficial if It also identifies the test levels, entry and exit criteria, and the types of testing to be performed.

There are two important features of a good test plan. First - keep it a live document. Don’t set it in stone from the very beginning of the process. We all know that the only constant thing in software development is change. The test plan needs to react to those changes. Second - use the test plan. It is there for a reason. It will make the web application testing easier and more efficient. The worst thing you can do about it is to complete it and put it in a drawer. By doing so, you just wasted a lot of time and effort.




## What is the importance of a test plan anyway?

Well imagine going for a long hike without a map (optional North American sport parallel - imagine playing football without a playbook) - will work somehow, but do you really foresee success by doing so? Not really, huh?

It is crucial for web application testing that all team members to understand the key aspects of it. Especially now, when we live in times of fast software and business development, IT teams often spread geographically across different languages and timezones and flat company structures when a startup CEO may also work as the PM or tech lead. We all need to be on the same page. Even literally. 

This map (or playbook if you will) is vital for everyone involved to know what will be expected of them during testing and what should the pass/fail test criteria be for the application. 

->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## When to create a test plan in software testing process?

Given what we have stated above, on the web app test plan being a live document, the answer would be - create and improve it constantly. When to start creating it, is a bit of a different topic.

The planning process depends on your situation and web development approach. Of course the test plan needs to be created prior to the first testing activity. You have the waterfall vs agile decision to make, which implicates not only the testing but the development as well. 

![Phases of Waterfall methodology](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/96588c07_0308_4689_915f_111b5eef1f14_1ee85a8819.png)

Waterfall gives you a bit more time to create the test plan, because the person who will actually create it may work parallelly to the development process. On the other hand there will not be much time left for modifying the plan after the tests start.

![Phases of Agile methodology](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/e8034c88_f92f_4f97_8f92_fa65b85594d2_5752e83cc8.png)

Agile approach is based on iteration which is also reflected in test planning. A few core parts of the plan need to be done right after the completion of the functional specification of the app. Those would be test plan objectives and scope, test environment and test strategy and approach. The rest (test case, test suite and test schedule) can be done in an iterative manner, basically side by side with the scrum masters’ backlog planning. For example if the first sprint of your web application creation aims to create the user authentication process, your test cases will include… yes, you are right - testing the user authentication process. 



## What are the crucial components of a test plan? 

You might get different answers to that question all over the web. If your team is experienced enough, the list of components may vary especially from project to project. The following list comes from our expertise and will be described more thoroughly below. 

In our opinion a good test plan has to include:

- Objectives and Scope
- Test Environment
- Test Strategy and Approach
- Test Cases and Test Suites
- Test Execution Schedule
- Defect Reporting and Tracking

 
## What should be placed in the test plan template?

**Objectives and scope** 


In this paragraph the creator needs to outline the specific goals the testing effort needs to fulfil plus the range of the tests themselves. It is wise to do a rather thorough description followed by a bullet point summary for readability. Also we recommend doing the positive / negative approach, meaning that first think and describe what you want to achieve, then reset and do the complete opposite - what are the limitations and boundaries and describe them as well. 

This should answer the “what” and “why”. Are we just testing the functional aspect of the app? If so, why are we not doing the security testing or the performance testing? There might be business reasoning behind that decision, for example we might have an external team being responsible for the security. 




**Test environment**

Remember our article on [the best testing tools in 2023](https://bugbug.io/blog/guides/testing-tools-for-web-application/)? This is where it comes in handy. In this chapter you need to describe all assets that will be used in the process. How many man-hours do you foresee using? Do you need any specific server / network / devices or maybe some fancy settings on those? And finally how are the tests going to be performed? Will your team code them by themselves? Or maybe you will use some no-code solution like BugBug?

This might sound less important from the testers’ standpoint, but trust me - it’s a must have from the business perspective since it enables “the money people” to do some cost estimations on the test process. 




**Test strategy and approach**

We have addressed the “what” and the “why”, it is time to address the “how” we need to test. The strategy part needs to take care of describing the overall approach and principles that will be followed during the tests. The key here is to make sure that all information is relevant to your specific project.

The test approach on the other hand describes the actual activities that will be done within the process. There are different testing methodologies and a brief description of the one(s) chosen needs to be fit here. Are you going [end-to-end](https://bugbug.io/blog/software-testing/what-is-end-to-end-testing/)? Do you require data-driven approach? Make sure you let all the team members know. Speaking of team members - it is wise to place the responsibilities description here, bringing us to a conclusion that we have another “wh-” question - who? 


->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

**Test cases and test suites**

This is the most crucial part of writing a test plan, because it covers the actual scope of testing. Single test case answers the question “what do I want to test?”, and the reply needs to be in singular. One test case covers one topic, but do note that it may be divided into a few separate scripts. For example one test case will cover the user login functionality, but separate scripts will cover logging in by using different web browsers. 

A test suite is a collection of test cases grouped for test execution purposes. Moving along with the example from above a test suite would cover the whole user authentication process, and logging in, password reset, logging out etc. would be separate test cases.




**Test execution schedule**

The schedule has to cover both the high-level and low-level planning of the test phase. The first defining moment comes with the decision on waterfall vs agile that gives you a basic idea on when the testing will happen. Is it going to be post-development or mid-development?  Remember that creating a schedule is not only putting the test procedure into a calendar, the harder part sometimes is to figure out in what order the testing will take place. 

For waterfall it is relatively easy since your whole test procedure takes place after the coding is done. You might consider what the testers are going to be doing during the development phase. For agile you have a bit more decisions to make, for example is there going to be a delay in testing? If so, how many sprints of a delay would you like to have. [Testing in agile environments](https://bugbug.io/blog/software-testing/agile-testing-organized-chaos-or-a-planned-way-of-improving-your-software/) deserves a completely different article since this is truly a different software testing life cycle.




**Defect reporting and tracking**

First of all do have a bug reporting and tracking system implemented, this is the foundation of your communication within the process. If you don’t have one yet, create one. Even if it is writing a post-it with a bug description and smacking it at someone’s desk. Fortunately we have more sophisticated methods of monitoring software defects.

There are multiple project management and ticketing systems available. BugBug enables integration with the most popular ones via Zapier. This will make life easy for the test manager, since the majority of communication will be automated and whenever a bug occurs, a ticket will be created, an e-mail sent or whatever you require.

![BugBug integration with Zapier](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/2d90e3ab_2727_4a1a_9eae_52d74916c8fc_79aac10fc3.png)


## How to write a good test plan?


**Define Test Plan Objectives and Scope**

The author needs to start creating a test plan by writing the objectives and scope. In majority of cases the objectives included in the test plan are basically stating the obvious - that we want to make sure that all our functionalities work, the app is secure and will withhold increased traffic if our business is a tremendous success.

The scope on the other hand requires a tad more attention. As an exercise try writing the scope as you would for a person, who does not work for you yet and has no clue whatsoever about your software. The scope of your testing needs to be relevant for your app from the business perspective but from the subject matter point of view as well. For example you will not require too much UI testing for a console application do you?

 ->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

**Identify the test environment**

After carefully analysing the market and choosing the best tool that suits your needs, you now need to reach out to people who take care of your network and servers. If there are any special requirements such as server structure, traffic limitations etc. those need to be put here since the test management strongly depends on those. 

One thing that is commonly missing in this chapter is the test data. Those need to be either prepared beforehand or you may end up using data automatically faked by some external solutions. Whichever route you would like to take, make sure you let the readers’ know. Remember that each software product will require different types and quantities data to start the test so make sure you plan it both time- and money-wise. 




 **Choose a Test Strategy and Approach**

A good place to start is choosing your goals. Those need to be relevant to the objectives and scope you defined earlier. Remember, that a good goal is a SMART goal. Then you move to the team and responsibilities. Define specific members of your team, or profiles if you need to hire some additional testers. After that just “drag and drop” different pieces of the testing cake to those people.

One of the most important strategic decisions comes next - what tests would you like to automate. Is the test automation tool relevant to your needs in that matter? The high level listing of “to be automated” aspects would be a good place to do some self-compliance. Last but not least comes the answer to the crucial question - when do we do [functional testing](https://bugbug.io/blog/software-testing/what-is-functional-testing-types-and-examples/). There is little point to define the test plan on security, UI etc if our app just does not do what it is supposed to.




**Develop Test Cases and Test Suites**

In theory the applications functional requirements are your best friend if you want to write a software test plan. Keep your fingers crossed that the requirements were created correctly and thoroughly. In such a case your work here is relatively easy even though it will be quite monotonous. Basically you create test cases by checking and adapting the whole list of functionalities, user actions, security and whatever falls into your test scope. Then after creating such a list, you divide it into test suites that cover different areas and groups of functionalities. 

Worse case scenario - your functional requirements are described on a very high level. In such case the test plan is typically a much more "live document" as one would desire. The test management process might be a bit harder, but this does not mean that it is not an effective test plan. You just have to come back to this part in a more iterative manner and implement changes to the test plan as soon as the development team completes a functionality. 




**Create test execution schedule** 

That is another part of the test plan that might be partially covered from a different source. If your team does agile development, you should have a backlog created in sprints. Nothing prevents you from using this backlog to your needs, there is no need to reinvent the wheel there. You end up having functional test deliverables just like that.

Other test scopes need to be covered here as well. Remember that a test plan is a detailed document that requires not only your knowledge and expertise, but lots and lots of inter- and intra-team communication. You have to understand for example if starting performance testing may happen only after completing the whole app, or are there any circumstances that will allow doing it sooner. There is no universal truth here, only project relevant stuff. Those are data, you have to collect and process on your own. If you never tried to create a test plan, you would have to learn how to write it. The first version of the test plan might be similar to a first pancake. It will be thrown away. Trust us, expertise, especially in scheduling the test plan comes with repetitions. 




**Define defect reporting and tracking mechanisms**

The main goal of a testing project is to report every test result. The dream is to have as few negative results as possible, but a comprehensive test plan (like the one we are describing here) needs to consider the “what if?” scenario.

In this final part you need to describe two things. First - which tools and integrations are needed for a proper bug reporting path. The idea if bugs are the only things worth reporting is also something to think about. Maybe it is a good thing to report the completion of a test phase as well. Next you write down who the information recipients should be. Use as much automation as possible. Thanks to multiple integrations a detected bug might immediately trigger an email to a bunch of recipients, a ticket or a task and even a creating a git branch for the issue to be resolved.


->[Automate your tests for free](https://app.bugbug.io/sign-up/){.markdown-cta}<-

## Executing a software test plan. How to work with changes to the test plan?

Ok, you have created a detailed document that outlines your plan for testing. It contains the success criteria for testing, describes many test cases and includes all steps to report bugs. And now what? Well, the testing obviously, but this is not the point here.  The key importance of a test plan in software testing is not to hide in the drawer. The test plan helps in all phases of software development process and all aspects of testing only if you use it properly. 

First things first. From the very beginning understand that even the best plan will need some changes and updates eventually. Every test plan is created with no possibility to foresee how many bugs the tests will uncover. Creating your test plan has to assume some time flexibility, both ways actually. Your test estimation will rarely be 100 percent accurate. Of course if your development team did a splendid job and there are virtually no bugs whatsoever, you need to make sure that your updated test plan contains it too. 

In addition to that, remember that the most important soft criteria for a test plan is readability. You need to make it easy to understand to all audiences. You are probably wondering why we put this into the “how to execute” part of our article. That's simple - all team members have to be aware that the test plan exists and how far we have progressed. Remember, they are the ones actually working with the plan, you have created. Without them, the test plan becomes just another document.  




-----------------------------------


We hope, that with this article we were able to emphasise the importance of test plan creation. There many types of test plans out there for you to check. If we were to suggest you one crucial thing it would be just to create one and do so as a team effort.

Make sure you check the next article, that will cover how do we at BugBug write the test plan. What are our steps to create a plan. It will include a template and an example as well! A good test project plan will make as happy as John Hannibal Smith always was.

![I love it when a plan comes together meme](https://bugbug-homepage.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/7db975a4_659f_4a4a_9a0d_9b063aee1b40_e5f73ae706.png)



