Software Testing Tutorial #7 - Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

Software Testing Mentor

5 Nov 202017:40

Summary

TLDRThis tutorial introduces the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC), explaining its role in software development. It walks through each phase of STLC, including requirements analysis, test planning, test case design, test environment setup, test execution, and reporting. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding these phases for those aiming to work in software testing, highlighting how STLC fits into both waterfall and agile methodologies. The presenter also touches on differences in documentation and reporting between agile and waterfall approaches, offering tips for interviews and practical project work.

Takeaways

🛠️ Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a key process that fits within the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to test any application or software.
🔍 The first phase of STLC is Requirements Analysis, where the testing team understands and analyzes the software requirements to create potential test cases.
📝 Test Planning follows the analysis phase, where the team creates a test plan, detailing the scope, test timelines, resources, and strategies.
📄 In the Test Case Design and Development phase, testers develop test cases using design techniques like equivalence partitioning and boundary value analysis.
🔧 Test Environment Setup is the fourth phase, where a testing environment is prepared to execute test cases. This could involve setting up test data and ensuring proper deployment of the code.
🚀 Test Execution involves running the test cases in the test environment and verifying if the software meets the expected results.
📊 Test Reporting follows test execution, where a summary of the testing process, including passed and failed test cases, is documented and shared with the team.
🗃️ Test Closure is the final phase, where all testing activities are summarized and documents are handed over to the relevant teams for future reference.
🌀 In Agile methodologies, the testing cycle is shorter and more iterative, but the same core phases of STLC apply with quick sprint planning, test case development, and automated reporting.
🏁 Understanding STLC thoroughly is essential for testers to quickly adapt and work efficiently in any organization, ensuring proper software testing and quality assurance.

Q & A

What is the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?
-The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a series of phases or processes within the software development life cycle that is used to test a software application or product. It defines the various stages involved in testing, starting from the requirement analysis phase to the test closure phase.
What is the importance of understanding STLC for a software testing job?
-Understanding STLC is crucial for a software testing job because it provides a clear structure of the testing process, helping testers to understand what activities are expected at each stage. This knowledge enables them to collaborate effectively with the development team and ensure thorough testing of the product.
What is the first phase of the Software Testing Life Cycle, and what activities are involved in it?
-The first phase of the Software Testing Life Cycle is 'Requirement Analysis'. In this phase, the testing team analyzes the requirements to understand what needs to be tested. The team identifies any gaps or ambiguities in the requirements and provides feedback to the development team or the product owner.
What is the purpose of the Test Planning phase?
-The purpose of the Test Planning phase is to create a test plan based on the analyzed requirements. This includes determining the scope of testing, resources needed, test schedule, risk assessment, and defining the overall testing strategy.
What does the Test Case Design and Development phase involve?
-The Test Case Design and Development phase involves designing and creating test cases based on the analyzed requirements. Techniques like equivalence partitioning and boundary value analysis are applied to ensure comprehensive coverage of all scenarios.
What is Test Environment Setup, and why is it necessary?
-Test Environment Setup involves configuring the hardware and software environment where testing will be conducted. It is necessary to ensure that the testing team has a stable and suitable environment to execute the test cases and validate the software functionality.
What activities are performed during the Test Execution phase?
-During the Test Execution phase, the testers run the test cases that were developed in the previous phase and record the results. They verify whether each test case passes or fails based on the expected outcomes and report any defects found during testing.
What is the Test Reporting phase, and what information is included in a test report?
-The Test Reporting phase involves documenting the results of the testing process. The test report includes details like which test cases passed or failed, any open defects, the overall testing status, and the level of confidence in the software's stability.
What happens during the Test Closure phase?
-During the Test Closure phase, the testing team finalizes the testing process by preparing closure documents that include all testing-related artifacts, test cases, and summary reports. These documents are handed over to the maintenance team or relevant stakeholders.
How does the STLC differ in Waterfall and Agile methodologies?
-The core phases of STLC remain the same in both Waterfall and Agile methodologies. The primary difference lies in the timing and documentation process. In Waterfall, each phase is completed sequentially, often over a longer period, whereas in Agile, the phases are repeated in short iterations or sprints, and documentation is less formal and more collaborative.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Introduction to Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

In this paragraph, the concept of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is introduced. It explains that STLC is a structured process that is integrated into the broader Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). The importance of understanding STLC before entering a software testing role is emphasized, as it prepares testers to work effectively within a team. The paragraph briefly outlines that STLC consists of several phases and starts with requirements analysis.

05:02

📋 Requirements Analysis in STLC

This paragraph focuses on the first phase of STLC: requirements analysis. The example of an e-commerce project is used to illustrate how a customer (organization) provides detailed requirements to the development company. The role of testers in this phase is to analyze the requirements thoroughly, identify potential test cases, and ensure all necessary details are captured. Testers communicate with development or product teams to clarify any gaps in the requirements.

10:03

📝 Test Planning Phase

The test planning phase is detailed here. Once the requirements are understood, the testing team creates a test plan, outlining the testing scope, timeline, and criteria for success. The process differs slightly between the Waterfall and Agile approaches, but both require careful planning to ensure thorough testing. The paragraph highlights the importance of this phase, where responsibilities are assigned, and the testing strategy is formed.

15:03

🛠 Test Case Design and Development

In this phase, the focus shifts to designing and developing test cases. Testers use various techniques like equivalence partitioning and boundary value analysis to create detailed test cases based on the requirements. These test cases are structured in a test management tool, categorized by features or requirements. The development of test cases ensures that each functionality of the software is tested systematically.

🖥 Test Environment Setup

This paragraph explains the importance of setting up the test environment. The test environment must be prepared before executing test cases, and depending on the complexity of the project, a separate team may be responsible for this setup. Testers ensure the environment is ready and includes the necessary test data to conduct tests effectively. This phase is crucial for validating the software under real-world conditions.

🚀 Test Execution

Test execution is where testers run the prepared test cases in the test environment. This phase verifies whether the software functions correctly by checking if the test cases pass or fail. Each functionality, such as adding or removing items from a cart in an e-commerce app, is tested. Testers record the outcomes, noting any issues or bugs that arise during execution.

📊 Test Reporting and Exit Criteria

After test execution, the results are compiled into a test report. This report outlines which test cases passed, which failed, and any defects that need to be resolved by the developers. If there are unresolved defects, the team may decide to accept them for future fixes. The test report is essential for evaluating the overall quality and readiness of the software for production.

🔒 Test Closure Activities

The final phase of the STLC is test closure. After testing is complete, all necessary documentation is prepared and shared, including test plans, summary reports, and artifacts. This documentation is vital for the ongoing maintenance of the software, providing a clear record of what was tested and the outcomes. The test closure phase ensures that the testing process is fully documented and any relevant information is preserved for future reference.

📅 Agile vs. Waterfall in STLC

This paragraph contrasts how STLC operates in Agile versus Waterfall models. While the phases remain the same, Agile projects involve shorter cycles, meaning testing and reporting happen more frequently (e.g., after each sprint). Waterfall projects tend to run longer, with test closure activities occurring at the end of the project. The Agile approach promotes more collaboration and faster feedback during each sprint.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a process that is followed during the software development life cycle to ensure a software or application is tested for quality. It includes various phases like requirement analysis, test planning, test execution, and reporting. The video emphasizes that understanding STLC is crucial for anyone pursuing a career in software testing, as it helps in ensuring the software functions as expected.

💡Requirement Analysis

Requirement analysis is the first phase in STLC, where the testing team reviews and analyzes the software's requirements provided by the customer. It involves understanding what needs to be tested and identifying potential gaps in requirements. In the video, an e-commerce website is used as an example where testers analyze features such as login functionality and cart operations.

💡Test Planning

Test planning is the phase where the testing team develops a strategy on how to conduct the tests. This includes creating a test plan that outlines the scope, objectives, timeline, resources, and testing approach. The video mentions how in agile environments, test planning happens more frequently in shorter iterations, while in waterfall models, a comprehensive master test plan is developed.

💡Test Case Design and Development

Test case design and development involves creating detailed test cases that specify the steps and conditions to verify each functionality of the software. Testers use techniques like equivalence partitioning and boundary value analysis to ensure thorough testing. In the video, this phase focuses on developing test cases for features such as adding items to the cart or logging in using social media accounts.

💡Test Environment Setup

Test environment setup refers to preparing the system or environment where the test execution will take place. This phase ensures that all necessary hardware, software, and configurations are in place. The video highlights that in some cases, a separate team manages the test environment, especially in industries like banking or telecom where integration is complex.

💡Test Execution

Test execution is the phase where the actual testing is performed by executing the developed test cases in the prepared environment. Testers check whether the software behaves as expected and report any defects. The video explains that in this phase, for example, testers verify if adding and removing items from the cart works correctly.

💡Defect Reporting

Defect reporting occurs when testers find issues or bugs during test execution. These defects are reported to the development team for fixes. In the video, it is mentioned that after identifying defects during execution, they are re-assigned to the developer for correction and then retested by the testing team.

💡Test Reporting

Test reporting involves summarizing the results of the test execution, including details about passed and failed test cases, any defects found, and the overall quality of the software. In the video, test reporting helps the stakeholders decide whether the software is ready for production deployment or needs further improvements.

💡Test Closure

Test closure is the final phase in STLC where all testing activities are formally closed. It includes preparing documentation, finalizing reports, and handing over testing artifacts. The video describes test closure as ensuring all relevant documents like test cases, plans, and reports are archived for future reference.

💡Agile vs. Waterfall

Agile and Waterfall are two different approaches to software development and testing. Agile focuses on iterative development with frequent releases, whereas Waterfall follows a linear, sequential approach. The video contrasts the two by explaining that Agile testing involves short planning and reporting cycles for each sprint, while Waterfall requires extensive planning and documentation.

Highlights

Introduction to Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) and its importance in the software development process.

STLC is a process that fits within the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to ensure thorough testing of any software.

The first phase of STLC is Requirements Analysis, where testers review and understand customer needs and project requirements.

Requirement analysis includes understanding features such as browser compatibility, login functionality, and adding/removing items from a cart in an e-commerce example.

Test Planning is the second phase, where the team decides how the requirements will be tested and develops a test plan.

In Agile, test planning is done in iterations or sprints, and the plan may be shorter compared to Waterfall methodology.

The third phase is Test Case Design and Development, where test cases are created based on design techniques such as equivalence partitioning and boundary value analysis.

Test Environment Setup, the fourth phase, involves preparing the environment where the test cases will be executed, which may require collaboration with a separate team.

Test Execution, the fifth phase, where test cases are executed to verify whether functionalities like adding and removing items work as expected.

Test Reporting, the sixth phase, involves summarizing the test execution results and providing a report on overall testing status, including defects.

In the Test Closure phase, documentation is prepared for the final release, summarizing all test artifacts, plans, and results for future maintenance teams.

STLC applies to both Waterfall and Agile methodologies, but timelines and documentation expectations differ between the two approaches.

In Agile, STLC phases such as reporting and closure are often automated and focus on shorter cycles like sprints, whereas Waterfall typically involves longer cycles.

Agile testing emphasizes collaboration among business analysts, developers, and testers, ensuring that everyone stays aligned during testing.

STLC knowledge is critical for both job interviews and practical work in software testing teams, regardless of the development methodology used.