Introduction
Software testing is an important aspect of software development that ensures the quality and reliability of a software product. Two important types of testing that are commonly used in software development are sanity testing and smoke testing. These two terms are often used interchangeably, but they are different from each other. This article will discuss the differences between sanity testing and smoke testing.
What is Smoke Testing?
Smoke testing is a type of testing that is performed to verify whether the build is stable enough for further testing. This testing is usually performed after a new build is released, and it helps the testers to identify whether there are any major issues or not. Smoke testing is a quick and easy test that is performed to check the basic functionality of the software. This testing is usually performed by the testers themselves.
Why is Smoke Testing Important?
Smoke testing is important because it helps to identify major issues in the software at an early stage. If there are any major issues, the testers can report them to the development team immediately, and the team can take corrective action. This saves a lot of time and effort that would be required to fix the issues later in the development cycle.
How is Smoke Testing Performed?
Smoke testing is performed by executing a predefined set of test cases that cover the basic functionality of the software. The test cases are usually simple and easy to execute. The testers execute these test cases on the new build, and if all the test cases pass, the build is considered stable enough for further testing. If any test case fails, the testers report it to the development team.
What is Sanity Testing?
Sanity testing is a type of testing that is performed to verify whether the new changes made to the software are working as expected. This testing is usually performed after the software has undergone major changes or enhancements. Sanity testing is a focused test that is performed to check whether the new changes have impacted the existing functionality of the software.
Why is Sanity Testing Important?
Sanity testing is important because it helps to identify whether the new changes have introduced any issues in the existing functionality of the software. If there are any issues, the testers can report them to the development team immediately, and the team can take corrective action. This ensures that the software remains stable and reliable.
How is Sanity Testing Performed?
Sanity testing is performed by executing a predefined set of test cases that cover the new changes made to the software. The test cases are usually more complex than the test cases used in smoke testing. The testers execute these test cases on the new build, and if all the test cases pass, the new changes are considered to be working as expected. If any test case fails, the testers report it to the development team.
Differences Between Sanity Testing and Smoke Testing
| Criteria | Sanity Testing | Smoke Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | To verify if the major functionalities of the application work after making minor changes or fixes. | To verify if the critical functionalities of the application work before moving to further testing. |
| Time taken | Takes more time to execute as it involves testing of specific features. | Takes less time to execute as it involves testing of critical features. |
| Focus areas | Tests specific functionalities or modules after a bug fix or small change. | Tests the overall stability of the application before initiating further testing. |
| Scope | Narrow scope, focused on specific functionalities or modules. | Broad scope, focused on the critical and important features of the application. |
| Test case selection | Selects only a subset of test cases for testing. | Selects a comprehensive set of test cases for testing. |
| Execution | Executed after regression testing or build verification testing. | Executed during the initial stages of testing. |
| Objective | To ensure that the bug fixes or changes made did not impact the existing functionality of the application. | To ensure that the critical functionalities of the application are working as expected. |
| Type of Testing | A subset of Regression Testing. | A subset of Acceptance Testing. |
| Outcome | The outcome of the test will determine whether the application is ready for further testing. | The outcome of the test will determine whether the build is stable enough for further testing. |
Conclusion
smoke testing and sanity testing are two different types of testing that are performed during the software development cycle. Smoke testing is a quick and easy test that is performed to check the basic functionality of the software, while sanity testing is a focused test that is performed to check whether the new changes made to the software are working as expected. Both types of testing are important for ensuring the quality and reliability of the software. By understanding the differences between these two types of testing, software developers and testers can ensure that they are using the right type of testing at the right time.
FAQs
- What is the purpose of smoke testing? The purpose of smoke testing is to check the basic functionality of the software after a new build is released.
- What is the purpose of sanity testing? The purpose of sanity testing is to check whether the new changes made to the software are working as expected.
- Who performs smoke testing? Smoke testing is usually performed by the testers themselves.
- Who performs sanity testing? Sanity testing is usually performed by the developers or a dedicated testing team.
- Why is testing important in software development? Testing is important in software development because it ensures the quality and reliability of the software, and helps to identify and fix issues at an early stage.