Get Started with Software Testing

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:

• Explain what software quality is.
• Describe software testing.
• Explain the importance of testing.

This module was produced in collaboration with Provar. Learn more about partner content on Trailhead.

Start Your Journey to Quality

Quality can be a subjective term, depending on whom you ask and what the situation is. When it comes to software, quality is value to a user. Check out this short video from Provar to learn more about what quality software is and how quality software should perform.

What Is Testing?

Testing is the most important part of your quality journey. Let’s take a moment to discover what testing is, and maybe just as importantly, what testing is not. Check out these three basic definitions of testing, then click through the flashcards to expand your testing knowledge.

1. Testing is the process of executing a program with the intent of finding errors as quickly as possible.
2. Testing is the process used to identify the correction, completion, and quality of developed software.
3. Testing helps in verifying and evaluating if the software is working as it is intended to be working.

“Testing is an infinite process of comparing the invisible to the ambiguous in order to avoid the unthinkable happening to the anonymous” —James Bach, Software Tester

The Goal of Testing

The goal of testing is to learn and uncover information about the product so that you can deliver with confidence. The challenge can be figuring out how to complete the tasks that ensure quality. Check out the video for more about the goal of testing and an example.

Why Test?

It’s been said that even if you’re not testing, your customers are! Testing is crucial for several reasons. 

1. Testing contributes to the delivery of a higher-quality software product.
2. Testing keeps costs low for the customer. Although testing itself is expensive, the cost of not testing is potentially much higher.
3. Testing removes the possibility for navigational errors in modern apps that can be very complex and have multiple goals.

If the goal of testing is to uncover any issues before delivering a product, it makes sense that testing should take place in all industries. Check out what can happen if a chef decides not to test her dishes.

You’ve learned what testing is and why it is necessary to achieve a quality product. Now let's discover when you should carry out this testing.