Skip to main content

Most of us realize that testing is vital to the software development process. You have to make sure the thing works, right? But what many don’t realize is that software must pass several different types of tests before it can be deemed “ready for production.” This blog post will run through six of the most critical tests all business software must pass.

Who performs the testing?

The responsibility for most tests falls on the developers themselves and occurs throughout the entire development process. End users also play a key role in determining the functional integrity of the software to ensure that the user experience is positive.

Here are the six tests that are crucial for any software development project:

1. UNIT TESTS

Unit testing is a process by which individual units of code are tested to ensure they are functioning as expected. A unit could be a single function or method, or it could be an entire class. The developers typically write unit tests with the objective of discovering any bugs or errors in the code before the software is released to Quality Assurance (QA).

2. PROCESS FLOW TESTS

Once the software has been released to QA, it’s time for process flow testing. Process flow testing helps to catch any errors that may have been missed in unit testing. This type of testing focuses on checking that the software’s functionality works as intended from end-to-end. In other words, testers will step through each process in the software (e.g., creating a new customer account or placing an order) to ensure it works correctly from start to finish.

3. INTEGRATION TESTS

Integration testing is similar to process flow testing but focuses on ensuring that different modules within the software work together correctly — and with external systems. For example, if the software includes a billing module and an inventory module, integration testing would ensure that the two modules communicate with each other correctly and that data is transferred accurately to an external customer relationship management (CRM) system.

4. REGRESSION TESTS

Regression testing is usually performed after changes have been made to the codebase (e.g., after a bug fix has been implemented). The purpose of regression testing is to ensure that system changes haven’t caused any new errors or bugs elsewhere in the code. As its name suggests, regression tests help guard against regressions in the quality and functionality of the software.

5. USER ACCEPTANCE TESTS

User acceptance testing (UAT) is typically carried out by actual users of the software (as opposed to developers or QA testers). The goal of UAT is to ensure that the software meets users’ needs and expectations in terms of functionality and usability. UAT is often conducted using real-world scenarios and data to test how well the software performs under conditions closely resembling those it will encounter in production.

6. CHANGE MANAGEMENT

Last but not least, it’s essential to have a plan to manage codebase changes over time. Change management helps ensure that changes are controlled and safe and that all stakeholders are aware of (and agree with) proposed changes before they are implemented. Following a formal change management process can prevent harmful code changes from being introduced into production and causing unexpected downtime or data loss.

Test For Success

Ensuring that business software passes all necessary tests before being put into production is crucial for preventing costly errors down the road. By understanding the different types of tests involved in the quality assurance process, you’ll be able to better understand the process and be assured that your software has been thoroughly vetted and is ready for use by your employees and customers.

Our design team employs multiple layers of testing on every custom software application we develop so you can confidently hit the ground running as soon as it is deployed. Contact us today to learn more about how Traust can get you on the path to efficiency with software that is designed to meet your specific business requirements.