SOFTWARE TESTING
CO3015 / CO5252
§ The role and the importance of software testing
§ Testing levels
§ Testcases
§ Basic principles of software testing
§ Testing process and plan
§ Test automation
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 2
§ Software is with us!
§ Is it safe?
§ Fault vs. Failure vs. Error
§ Fault : It is a condition that causes the software to fail to perform its required
function.
§ Error : Refers to difference between Actual Output and Expected output.
§ Failure : It is the inability of a system or component to perform required
function according to its specification.
https://softwaretestingtimes.com/2010/04/fault-error-failure.html
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 3
§ Software Testing is a method to check whether the actual
software product matches expected requirements and to ensure
that software product is defect free.
§ Itinvolves execution of software/system components using manual or
automated tools to evaluate one or more properties of interest.
§ The purpose of software testing is to identify errors, gaps or missing
requirements in contrast to actual
§ [2] Testing is the process of executing a program with the intent of
finding errors.
https://www.guru99.com/software-testing-introduction-importance.html
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 4
§ The role of testing in software development begins with improved
reliability, quality and performance of the software.
§ It assists a developer to check out whether
§ the software isperforming the right way
§ and to assure that software is not performing what it is not supposed to do.
https://www.testbytes.net/blog/role-of-software-testing-in-software-development/
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 5
§ A test case is a specification of the inputs, execution conditions,
testing procedure, and expected results that define a single test
to be executed to achieve a particular software testing objective,
such as to exercise a particular program path or to verify
compliance with a specific requirement
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Test_case
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 6
§ A Test case is a set of actions executed to verify a particular feature or functionality of your software
application.
§ A Test Case contains test steps, test data, precondition, postcondition developed for specific test scenario to
verify any requirement. The test case includes specific variables or conditions, using which a testing engineer can
compare expected and actual results to determine whether a software product is functioning as per the
requirements of the customer.
§ A Test Scenario is defined as any functionality that can be tested.
It is a collective set of test cases which helps the testing team to
determine the positive and negative characteristics of the project.
https://www.guru99.com/test-case-vs-test-scenario.html
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 7
§ Principle 1: Testing shows the presence of defects, not their
absence.
§ Principle 2: Exhaustive testing is impossible.
§ Principle 3: Testing activities should start as early as possible.
§ Principle 4: Defect clustering.
§ Principle 5: The pesticide paradox.
§ Principle 6: Testing is context dependent.
§ Principle 7: No failures means the system is useful is a fallacy.
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 8
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 9
A MODEL OF THE SOFTWARE TESTING PROCESS
Test Test Test Test
cases data results reports
Design test Prepare test Run program Compare results
cases data with test data to test cases
Sep 2019 CHAPTER 8. SOFTWARE TESTING 8
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 10
https://www.seguetech.com/the-four-levels-of-software-testing/
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 11
§ A Test Plan is a detailed document that describes the test strategy,
objectives, schedule, estimation, deliverables, and resources
required to perform testing for a software product.
§ Helps us determine the effort needed to validate the quality of the application
under test.
§ Serves as a blueprint to conduct software testing activities as a defined
process, which is minutely monitored and controlled by the test manager.
§ As per ISTQB definition:
§ “Test Plan is a document describing the scope, approach, resources, and
schedule of intended test activities.”
https://www.guru99.com/what-everybody-ought-to-know-about-test-planing.html
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 12
§ A Test Plan is a detailed document that describes the test strategy,
objectives, schedule, estimation, deliverables, and resources
required to perform testing for a software product.
§ Helps us determine the effort needed to validate the quality of the application
under test.
§ Serves as a blueprint to conduct software testing activities as a defined
process, which is minutely monitored and controlled by the test manager.
§ As per ISTQB definition:
§ “Test Plan is a document describing the scope, approach, resources, and
schedule of intended test activities.”
https://www.guru99.com/what-everybody-ought-to-know-about-test-planing.html
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 13
§ The use of software to control the execution of tests, the
comparison of actual outcomes to predicted outcomes, the setting
up of test preconditions, and other test control and test reporting
functions
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 14
§ Software testing is important
§ What is software testing vs. testing purposes/goals
§ Satisfy the requirements vs. finding defects
§ Testing levels
§ Unit/Component -> Integration -> System -> Acceptance
§ Testcases vs. Test scenarios
§ 7 basic principles of software testing
§ Testing process and plan
§ The V-model
§ The plan
§ Test automation
Software Testing - Introduction Jan 2026 15
