Customer expectations for the depth and breadth of software are constantly evolving, posing new challenges for the software testing industry and building on the pressure to get products to market faster.
Trends like these make quality assurance (QA) testing even more valuable in software development and testing.
That’s why the experts at TestMonitor wanted to weigh in on some of the top software QA testing questions we hear in development circles across the country.
What is QA testing?
At the broadest level, quality assurance is the process of evaluating software on its ability to meet performance and functionality criteria. These criteria come in the form of requirements, which are organized into test cases and given to testers to execute.
More specifically, quality assurance establishes a structured process for recording feedback, remediating issues, and obtaining sign-off from testers. Quality assurance testing should also include standards for evaluating the security and reliability of software.
The end goal of these efforts is to produce software that not only increases customer satisfaction, but also builds trust and prevents costly and time-consuming reworks or patches.
What are the main types of QA testing?
Although the ultimate end user may only interact with a piece of software from one perspective, there are many moving parts and dependencies that go into making a product successful and secure.
This is why there are many sub-disciplines of QA testing that help software developers add the rigor, standardization, and perspective required to validate performance.
The main types of QA testing include:
- Unit testing: Evaluating software in individual, isolated units to determine if that segment works properly.
- Integration testing: Grouping of related components that are tested for their ability to work together.
- Functional system testing: Evaluating the system from end to end to confirm the required outcomes are met.
- User acceptance testing: Using actual or sample users to evaluate the performance of the software against technical and functional requirements.
- Performance testing: Evaluating if the software can meet the required responsiveness, stability, reliability, and speed standards.
- Security Testing: Searching for vulnerabilities in the software to avoid potential exploitation.
- Usability Testing: Testing how intuitive the software is for end users.
- Compatibility Testing: Evaluating the software’s ability to integrate with other applications, platforms, and systems.
What are the features of top QA testing tools?
Given the essential role QA testing plays in delivering sound, secure, and reliable software, many have enlisted the help of QA testing tools (i.e., test management tools) to streamline the establishment and management of various testing processes.
Some test management tools are designed by software testers for software testers, and therefore are constantly evolving. If your team is looking for a new test management tool, ensure that it can at least deliver these essential features:
- End-to-end requirements traceability, from design through sign-off
- Simple, intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to communicate, collaborate, and understand their tasks
- Built-in reporting tools, native integrations with other software development platforms, and customizable user dashboards
- Easy storage and use of project and test case templates for consistent testing
- Flexible, secure, and accessible platform, no matter when and where your testers need it
How can QA testing tools take testing to the next level?
It can be tempting to bypass or limit QA testing in your software development lifecycle to save time and effort. But with the right test management tool to make the process easier, your team can make QA testing a priority in every project.
That’s why TestMonitor is such a great option for software testers; it is designed for software testers and constantly updated to integrate the latest best practices into your existing technology ecosystem and workflows.
If you are ready to enhance your QA testing capabilities, get a free trial of our industry-leading test management platform. Our team of experts would also welcome a chance to speak with you.
While you are at it, be sure to check out TestMonitor’s one-stop guide for all things QA. Download it here.
