Software Test Life Cycle!!!!

Software Testing is an investigation conducted to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the software. It is a process which involves the execution of a software or system to check whether the software is working as expected.

Software Testing mainly focuses whether the developed system meets the customer/stakeholder’s expectations. Software Testing itself has many phases and it is called as STLC. STLC is a part of Software Development Life Cycle. SDLC has many phases and STLC is a part of it.

Below flow diagram shows the different phases of STLC:

Requirements is the input to STLC. Software Testing starts with Requirements, firstly Requirements will be studied by entire team that is called as System Study. After the first two phases, Test Plan will be created to understand the scope of Testing. Once after Test Plan is created, detailed Test cases will be written / created. Traceability Matrix will be created to ensure each requirement is covered with the test cases. Test Execution and Defect Tracking will be done if there are any defects. Once all the test cases are executed and finished. Then Test Execution report will be created and retrospect meeting will be conducted to discuss about what went well and what didn’t go well.

We will see all the phases in detail below:

1.Requirements:

            The very first is Requirements and it is the input for Testing. It is the phase where Software Testing starts. Requirements will be discussed with the entire team.

    2. System Study:

           The requirements given in first phase will be deeply studied and process starts with writing Test Plan. 

3.Write Test Plan:

Test Plan is a document which derives all the Testing activities of the project. All the future Testing activities will be planned and document in this and it is known as Test Plan.

It contains below information usually:

•   Number of Testers needed.

•   Who should Test which module and which feature.

•   Which will be the Defect Tracking tool.

•   Start and End Dates of writing Test Cases and Execution planned dates.

•   Scope of Testing

4.Write Test Cases:

    In this phase, Test Cases will be created. These Test Cases will be reviewed and after all review comments are updated and once the test cases are approved, they will be stored in a Test Case repository.

5.Traceability Matrix:

Traceability matrix is a document which ensures that every requirement has a test case. Test cases are written by referring to the requirements and test cases are executed by using them.

If any requirement is missed and test cases are not created for that particular requirement, then testing will not be done for that module /feature. To make sure that all the requirements are having at least one test case.

6.Defect Tracking:

Bug/ Defect found by QA team is sent to the development team. This should be followed up by QA team until it is fixed and if it is really fixed then need to do Retesting and also Regression Testing based on the need and defect should be closed.

7.Test Execution Report:

It is a report generated once Testing is completed. Usually it is prepared after every Test Cycle and sent to Development team, Testing team, Management team and also sometimes Customer.

The last Test Execution report will be sent to customer and this means that project is over.It contains below information usually:

•        List of Bugs

•        Summary of Test Cases passed and failed.

•        Summary of Deferred Test Cases

8.Retrospect Meeting:

     It is also called as Post Mortem meeting or Project Closure Meeting. It is conducted to discuss the achievements and mistakes in the project. “What went well” and What didn’t go well” will be discussed and document in Quality Management System under Retrospect folder.

These are the various phases of STLC generally.

Thanks for reading my Blog.

Happy Testing!!!!