Sanity Testing in Software Testing
Sanity testing is a type of software testing that is used to determine whether a small change to a system, such as a bug fix or a new feature, has caused any unintended side effects. This is called “sanity testing” because it is meant to quickly verify that the system is functioning as expected and has not become too unstable or unusable after the change.
It is typically done after a small change to the system has been made and before more extensive testing is done. It is intended to be a quick check to ensure that the system is still functioning correctly and that the change has not caused any major issues.
Sanity testing is similar to smoke testing, but it is typically focused on a smaller area of the system and is done in response to a specific change rather than as a general check of the system’s most important functions.
Overall, sanity testing is a useful technique for quickly verifying that a small change to a system has not caused any major issues and that the system is still functioning as expected.
Definition:
Sanity testing means a type of software testing that is used to determine whether a small change to a system, such as a bug fix or a new feature, has caused any unintended side effects. It is called “sanity testing” because it is meant to quickly verify that the system is functioning as expected and has not become too unstable or unusable after the change.
The Objective of Sanity Testing
To verify that the critical functionalities of the software system are working as expected:
This is performed to ensure that the critical functionalities of the software system are functioning correctly after minor changes or fixes are made. The focus is on verifying the essential features of the software system rather than testing the system comprehensively.
To detect defects early in the testing process:
This is performed early in the testing cycle to identify any critical issues or defects before proceeding with further testing. By identifying defects early, the development team can address them promptly, saving time and resources in the long run.
To save time and resources:
This is a quick and straightforward process that helps save time and resources by identifying critical issues early in the testing cycle. This allows testers to focus on more complex areas of the software system and avoid unnecessary testing of features that are unlikely to be affected by the recent changes.
To build confidence in the software system:
This helps build confidence in the software system by ensuring that the critical functionalities are working correctly. This is particularly important when changes or fixes are made to the software system, as it helps ensure that the system remains stable and reliable.
Advantages of Sanity Testing :
Quick identification of issues: Sanity testing is a quick way to determine whether a small change to a system has caused any unintended side effects.
Cost-effective: Sanity testing is a relatively simple and quick process, making it a cost-effective way to ensure the quality of a system.
Reduced risk of failure: By identifying and fixing issues early on, sanity testing can reduce the risk of the system failing after the change has been made.
Improved customer satisfaction: By identifying and fixing issues early on, sanity testing can help ensure that the system is of high quality after the change has been made, leading to improved customer satisfaction.
Increased confidence in the system: By finding and fixing issues early on, sanity testing can increase the confidence of the development team in the quality of the system.
Disadvantages of Sanity Testing :
Limited scope: It is a relatively high-level test that is designed to quickly identify major issues caused by a specific change. As such, it may not catch all issues with the system, and more extensive testing may be needed to identify and fix more subtle issues.
False negatives: In some cases, sanity testing may not identify an issue that exists in the system. This is known as a false negative and can lead to the issue being missed until a later stage of testing.
Limited usefulness for large systems: This is generally more useful for smaller systems, as it may be difficult to determine which areas of a large system have been affected by a specific change.
Potential for human error: Like any testing process, sanity testing is subject to human error. Test cases may be written incorrectly, or the tests may be executed incorrectly, leading to incorrect results.
Time-consuming to set up: While sanity testing itself is relatively quick, setting up the test cases and determining which areas of the system are most likely to be affected by the change can be time-consuming.
Example:
Imagine you are working on a team that is responsible for maintaining a web application. The application has a feature that allows users to search for products and view their details.
A new bug fix has been released that is supposed to fix an issue with the product search feature. You are responsible for testing the fix to make sure it has not caused any unintended side effects.
You decide to do some sanity testing to verify that the fix has not caused any major issues. If you create a list of test cases that exercise the search feature then verify that it is working as expected.
You run the test cases and see that the search feature is working correctly and that the fix has not caused any major issues. You conclude that the fix can be safely deployed to the production environment.
Overall, this is an example of how sanity testing can be used to quickly verify that a small change to a system has not caused any major issues and that the system is still functioning as expected.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, sanity testing is a type of software testing that is used to quickly verify that a small change to a system, such as a bug fix or a new feature, has not caused any unintended side effects. It is a quick and relatively simple process that is designed to ensure the quality of a system by identifying and fixing any major issues that may have been introduced by the change.
Sanity testing is similar to smoke testing, but it is typically focused on a smaller area of the system and is done in response to a specific change rather than as a general check of the system’s most important functions.
Overall, sanity testing is a useful technique for ensuring the quality of a system and reducing the risk of failure after a change has been made.
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