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What is Smoke Testing? When to use it and advantages of Smoke Testing

Smoke testing is explicitly helping many teams in ensuring that the critical and major functionalities of the application are working before it is released for end-users. This method is a functional testing type and also known as the Build verification process. By including smoke testing into the software testing lifecycle (STLC), developers and testers experience several benefits such as saving time and effort, improvement in the effectiveness, etc. Thus, it is essential for the teams to have a clear understanding of smoke testing.


For any software project, the main objective is to deliver a quality and high-performing application at a faster speed with cost savings. Thus, to achieve this, there is a huge need for the teams to perform software testing, make sure that the application is defect-free and all major functionalities are working fine before its release. One of such testing methodology that effectively helps is Smoke testing.


Yes, smoke testing is one type of functional testing that helps in ensuring that the critical and major functionalities of the application are working well. This is a subset of acceptance testing and the test cases are executed on the initial builds of the software. This testing method helps teams in several ways; thus, teams should have the right knowledge and understanding of this method to achieve complete benefits.


What Is Smoke Testing In Software Testing? | Smoke testing, Software  testing, Functional testing


What is Smoke Testing?


Smoke testing is one of the software testing methods that is categorized under functional testing methods. It is also known as Build Verification Process, as it helps in deciding whether a build is appropriate and can be moved for the further testing process. 


As per several theories, it is predicted that the word “smoke testing” has been originated to software testing from hardware testing. 


What are the features of Smoke Testing?


  • The test cases of smoke testing can be performed in either way, i.e., through automated and manual testing practices

  • It is a non-exhaustive testing practice performed with limited test cases

  • The complete process of smoke testing is documented

  • It is also known as the build verification testing process as the initial build is considered for testing the main functionalities of the application and then moved ahead for the further testing process

  • Smoke testing is considered as an integral part of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and aims to verify the working of the crucial functionalities of the application

  • It is performed by considering positive scenarios and valid data



Software Testing Methods - What is Smoke Testing? - VfL TREUCHTLINGEN

When should we perform Smoke Testing?


Smoke testing is generally performed by either developers or testers or by both in some scenarios. Below are certain scenarios where smoke testing is performed:


  • Before testers move into the detailed testing process, smoke testing is performed by testers

  • Before planning to provide the build for testing, developers perform smoke testing

  • It is performed to ensure the major functionalities of the application are working fine or not


What are the advantages of Smoke Testing?


  • Smoke testing benefits in identifying the defects in the application at the earliest

  • This testing practice doesn’t take huge time, it can be performed in a shorter period of time

  • There isn’t any need to prepare more test cases, because smoke testing can be performed with less number of test cases

  • Smoke testing helps in identifying the bugs that are introduced after the integration of the components

  • It helps in saving the time and effort of both testers and developers

  • The testing process is simple and teams can easily improve the efficiency of the application

  • Helps in enhancing the QA teams effectiveness


Conclusion:


Smoke testing has the ability to discover defects and bugs that were not found with other testing practices. But, to achieve such benefits, it is essential for the QA teams to understand what smoke testing when it should be performed, and why it is advantageous. The above-mentioned information helps in understanding about smoke testing and how it saves time and effort of tester and developers. Leverage smoke testing services from next-gen QA testing services provider for ensuring all major functionalities of the application are working well before its release.


About the Author:


I am a technical content writer, interested in writing articles on the latest IT-related and software testing topics. In this article, I have tried to share my views on smoke testing, when it should be performed and how it is advantageous. 


                                                   


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