Testing involves operation of a system or application under controlled conditions and evaluating the results (eg, 'if the user is in interface A of the application while using hardware B, and does C, then D should happen'). The controlled conditions should include both normal and abnormal conditions. Testing should intentionally attempt to make things go wrong to determine if things happen when they shouldn't or things don't happen when they should. It is oriented to 'detection'.
Organizations vary considerably in how they assign responsibility for QA and testing. Sometimes they're the combined responsibility of one group or individual. Also common are project teams that include a mix of testers and developers who work closely together, with overall QA processes monitored by project managers. It will depend on what best fits an organization's size and business structure.
Organizations vary considerably in how they assign responsibility for QA and testing. Sometimes they're the combined responsibility of one group or individual. Also common are project teams that include a mix of testers and developers who work closely together, with overall QA processes monitored by project managers. It will depend on what best fits an organization's size and business structure.
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Re: What is Software Testing?
Tue, October 23, 2007 - 12:44 AMUm...in recent decades, many companies have conducted incidental testing in situ; that is, they just ship it and let their end users find all the bugs for them. So, much software testing is also done by consumers and clients, businesses and companies who receive little if any benefit for their troubles.
A controlled condition is not always desirable in testing, especially when one is trying to get statistical information on intermittent problems. Known conditions aid in regression testing and problematic component isolation. Controlled conditions are not the same as having a control.
Planned software testing is hopefully designed to detect problems. Controlled testing is not necessarily always good at detecting problems and depends on the quality, experience, and talents of the person(s) planning and conducting the testing.
