Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Cheat Sheet
Software Quality Assurance (SQA) is a crucial part of the software development process, ensuring that applications meet specified requirements and maintain high quality standards. It involves various testing methodologies, best practices, and tools to detect defects and enhance software reliability. This article serves as a comprehensive cheat sheet for SQA professionals.
Understanding Software Quality Assurance
SQA encompasses activities that monitor and improve software development processes, ensuring quality standards are met. It includes verification, validation, and defect management.
- Verification vs. Validation:
- Verification (“Are we building the product right?”) – Ensures that software conforms to its specifications through reviews and inspections.
- Validation (“Are we building the right product?”) – Ensures that the final product meets user needs through different types of testing.
Types of Software Testing
Functional Testing (What the system should do)
- Unit Testing: Tests individual components of the software.
- Integration Testing: Ensures multiple modules work together as expected.
- System Testing: Evaluates the complete system for compliance with requirements.
- Acceptance Testing: Confirms that the software meets business and user needs.
Non-Functional Testing (How the system performs)
- Performance Testing: Measures system speed and responsiveness.
- Load Testing: Assesses performance under expected workloads.
- Stress Testing: Evaluates system behavior under extreme conditions.
- Security Testing: Identifies potential vulnerabilities.
- Usability Testing: Ensures user-friendliness and accessibility.
Learn Types of Software Testing in detail from our blog.
Levels of Testing
- White Box Testing: Examines internal code structure and logic.
- Black Box Testing: Focuses on system functionality without considering internal code.
- Gray Box Testing: A hybrid approach combining elements of white-box and black-box testing.
Test Design Techniques
To optimize test case creation, the following techniques are widely used:
- Equivalence Partitioning: Divides input data into valid and invalid groups.
- Boundary Value Analysis: Focuses on edge cases near limit values.
- Decision Table Testing: Uses business rules to define test cases.
- State Transition Testing: Tests system behavior based on state changes.
- Use Case Testing: Validates real-world user scenarios.
Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)
STLC outlines a structured approach to testing in software development:
- Requirement Analysis: Understand testing needs and objectives.
- Test Planning: Define test scope, risks, and resource allocation.
- Test Case Development: Create test cases and automation scripts.
- Test Environment Setup: Prepare the necessary test infrastructure.
- Test Execution: Run tests, log defects, and document results.
- Test Closure: Summarize testing efforts, report findings, and improve processes.
Learn Software Testing Life Cycle to explore more.
Defect Life Cycle
Defects follow a structured lifecycle to ensure proper tracking and resolution:
- New: A defect is identified.
- Assigned: Assigned to a developer for resolution.
- Open: Developer investigates and starts fixing.
- Fixed: Issue is resolved by the developer.
- Retest: Testers verify the fix.
- Verified: The defect is confirmed as fixed.
- Closed/Reopened: If fixed, the defect is closed; otherwise, it is reopened for further work.
Essential Testing Tools
Different tools support SQA activities, including:
- Test Management: Jira, TestRail, HP ALM
- Automation Testing: Selenium, Cypress, TestNG
- Performance Testing: JMeter, LoadRunner
- Security Testing: OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite
Agile & DevOps Testing
With evolving software development methodologies, testing approaches have been adopted:
- Agile Testing: Focuses on continuous testing, aligned with sprint-based development.
- DevOps Testing: Incorporates automated testing within CI/CD pipelines for faster and more reliable deployments.
Learn differences in detail from Agile vs Scrum vs Kanban in SQA.
Software Quality Assurance is a vital discipline that ensures the reliability, performance, and security of software applications. By implementing robust testing methodologies, utilizing the right tools, and integrating testing within Agile and DevOps workflows, organizations can achieve high-quality software products. This cheat sheet serves as a quick reference for SQA professionals aiming to streamline their testing strategies.
