4 Main Types of Software Testing Models
Model based software testing can be divided into four main types, they are:
- Traditional Waterfall Development Model
- Agile Development Model
- V Model
- Spiral Model
Traditional Waterfall Development Model
One of the oldest models being used today, the waterfall development model was first introduced by Winston Royce in 1970. This model tends to follow a sequence because of which all stages of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) are pre-defined.
According to the Traditional Waterfall Development Model:
- There is a separate group of testers that have been appointed for the sole purpose of testing.
- As this model follows a sequence, different stages cannot overlap each other.
- Testing takes place only after the development of all the functional requirements
- It is important to complete one stage for the next stage to start.
The Waterfall Development model is not used a lot these days when compared to its earlier days of launch. Although it helps in producing comprehensive documentation at every step, Waterfall Development Model also comes with a few disadvantages that reduce its attractiveness for current day use cases
- Once the testing stage is completed it’s impossible to fix bugs
- The time taken to complete documentation is too long.
- This kind of approach is unappealing for complicated projects
- Time is not spent understanding the client’s feedback during the development phase.
- New errors that start popping up after the software development process is completed results in a lot of other issues.
- In the Waterfall Development model, the testing stage takes place very late in the SDLC
Agile Model
The Agile Model is unfolding as the best approach in terms of Software Development. It does not have any kind of long term plan and focuses mainly on simplifying complicated tasks into simpler and smaller iterations. The software engineers help in designing unit tests at each stage. Every time it fails to comply, the coders are made to write code again with the intention of making it pass. These tests happen on a continuous basis and every time a new bug gets detected, it gets updated. The aim or goal of this model is to reduce the overall defect rates and help in continuous integration.
Few benefits of using the Agile Development Model are:
- This model helps in producing efficient designs
- Helps in providing frequent or regular deliveries
- It is possible to make changes anytime.
- Complete execution of the requirements
- Offers or allows for uninterrupted communication with clients
V Model
With this model it is possible to conduct the test execution operations parallelly along with the development process. It is a solid model in which the process of software testing is divided into five different stages, namely:
- Acceptance Testing
- Unit Testing
- System Testing
- Regression Testing
- Integration Testing
This model is basic and not difficult to understand, making it easy to use as the stages of designing and planning are completed before the process of coding begins. It provides more opportunity to succeed, hence in a way is more time effective.
Spiral Model
The Spiral Model is something that works like the Agile model. Nonetheless, the focus of this model is for the most part is around risk analysis. The gathering of risk and needs analysis is completed at the upper and base spirals that develop above it. This model increases chances of avoiding risks as the model mainly revolves around risk analysis. With the possibility of adding in new functionalities later, this model is considered while using complex software. However, a few setbacks that come along with it are that it costs more and there is a need for experts in order to perform the task of risk analysis.
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