Mastering the testing fundamentals: 15 Common Terms Every Tester Should Know
most commonly used software testing terms
If you're new to software testing, it can be overwhelming to learn all the terminology used in the field. But fear not! I've prepared this handy list of 15 common terms you need to know to ace your next software testing interview.
From test cases and test plans to regression testing and performance testing, these terms will help you communicate effectively with your team and understand the testing process better.
Test Case: A set of instructions or steps that are designed to verify a particular aspect of a system or application.
Test Suite: A collection of test cases that are designed to test a specific feature or functionality of a system or application.
Test Plan: A document that outlines the testing strategy, scope, and objectives for a particular project or release.
Test Strategy: a test strategy is a higher-level document that defines the overall testing approach and methods to be used throughout the project.
Defect: a defect refers to any deviation from the expected behavior or requirements of the software, regardless of whether it has been discovered by testing or not. A defect can be a coding error, design flaw, or any other issue that prevents the software from functioning correctly
Bug: Bug specifically refers to a defect that has been discovered and logged during testing. A bug typically includes specific information, such as steps to reproduce, severity, priority, and any supporting files or logs
Test Environment: The setup of hardware, software, and other resources required to perform testing.
Test Coverage: A metric that measures the percentage of code or functionality that has been tested.
Test Report: A document that summarizes the results of testing, including defects, bugs, and other issues.
Test Data: The input data used to execute test cases.
Test Execution: The process of running test cases and reporting results.
Test Automation: The use of tools and scripts to automate the testing process, reduce testing time, and improve testing efficiency.
Regression Testing: Testing performed to ensure that changes or updates to a system or application do not introduce new defects or issues.
Acceptance Testing: Testing performed to verify that a system or application meets the requirements and expectations of the end-users.
Performance Testing: Testing performed to evaluate the performance and scalability of a system or application under various load conditions.
These are terms that we use to describe various aspects of software testing, from the process of evaluating software to the techniques used to test it.