Morshed Tests are generally designed with the intent to gauge the overall quality, performance, and dependency of various program components. Well-structured test cases can help reveal interesting facts about the program.
Testing is an integral part of the software development phase which helps in earlier diagnosis of any defective or dispensable functionality. Thorough testing of the program modules builds up the client’s confidence and trust in having made the right choice.
“Discovering the unexpected is more important than confirming the known.”—George E. P. Box
Unit testing is one of the software testing mechanisms which work by designing separate unit tests for each application functionality. Unit testing is one of the elementary-level testing methodologies and provides a base for conducting high-level testing.
In this article, we’ll learn more about the unit testing framework and its relevant working model. Let’s take a deep dive.
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10 Promising Aspects of Unit Testing
1) Ease of Refactoring
Refactoring is a process of transforming the structure of code without having any impact on internal functionality. It assists in streamlining the code and preserves the behavior.
The target is on eliminating bad coding practices and improving readability. When applied to unit testing, it restructures the pre-written coding model without any technical code extension.
In unit testing, the code is easy to refactor due to incremental development. The program can be restructured periodically as each component is tested independently by designing individual unit tests.
Making changes to one part of the code during unit testing will not comply with modifying the rest. This can save hours spent on altering the complete code at once.
Unit testing results in an instant response after the code is remodeled. It helps the developers to stay on the right track by following good coding practices.
“Programs must be written for people to read, and only incidentally for machines to execute.”―Harold Abelson, Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
2) Frequent Quality Assurance Checks
Unit testing is responsible for the quality maintenance of the application. Possible software bugs are detected after every test session.
The developers regularly clean the source code based on the feedback of the evaluation series. Hence, unit testing helps in maintaining and preserving the ultimate quality of the program.
“Quality is free, but only to those who are willing to pay heavily for it.”―T. DeMarco and T. Lister
3) Enhances Code Understandability
An understandable code is of great worth to both the programmers and the end-users. Designing vague code constructs that aren’t logical is a highly impractical move. It is a recipe for landing yourself in a disaster in the long run. Fixing or even testing such a wrecked piece of code any time later can prove to be an intensely painful effort.
Unit testing designs test cases for each of the code functionalities. The unit tests improve the understanding of the features and modules. The developers working on the software can refer to these unit tests to gain insights into the entire program layout. Unit testing ensures the production of a highly applicable program.
“Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand.”― Martin Fowler
4) Development of Well Structured Code Design
In the unit testing approach, the testers break down the code methods into appropriate categories. The unit test designed for a particular functionality is set in the form of a proper sequence of steps.
Unit testing extends complete code coverage for all the functional units. The procedure for devising unit tests involves careful attention to preserving connections between the components.
The unit testing process involves feedback from all working modules of the application. The relentless services of the development teams offer a great deal of comfort to the users for the future.
“Testing a product is a learning process”―Brian Marick
5) Earlier Detection of Bugs
The testing teams carefully examine the code in the unit testing phase. The oblivious faulty statements, usage of incorrect syntax, violation of programming principles, and technical misconduct can be detected at a very early stage while designing the unit test cases.
Debugging allows detailed investigation of the detected issues. It ensures error-free source code by eliminating potential errors and removing faulty code snippets.
Lesser efforts would be needed in the later stages if bugs are detected earlier. Unit testing provides a well-suited code for integration testing where the connectivity of components is significant.
Unit testing reduces the cost spent on making changes in the advanced developmental phases. It saves the programmers from ultimate humiliation where errors are caught on time of deployment.
“Don’t fix bugs later; fix them now.”―Steve Maguire
6) Support Towards a Simpler Approach
Designing a separate test for each of the functions in the source code leads to the formation of a simple structure. It is important to review the entire program code and its working before wading into the experimentation.
Likewise, the objectives of every individual test set are clear and well established in the unit testing methodology. The test cases designed in unit testing help uncover the intent of the functionalities.
The simple design in unit testing uplifts efficiency while minimizing the labor involved. Therefore designing unit tests for each function and performing unit testing is a relatively easier process.
“Before software can be reusable it first has to be usable.”―Ralph Johnson
7) Pocket-Friendly Mechanism
The ultimate reward of effectively applying the unit testing strategy is the monetary aspect.
You don’t need to spend loads of cash on getting this unit testing in place. Once each of the unit tests cases has been finalized, no extra resources have to be consumed. Moreover, as the error identification takes place in the initial stages, the overall cost of fixing bugs gets reduced.
The cost of fixing an error in the advanced phases of development would be multiple folds. To test code, you don’t need to invest in any fancy tools as well.
“Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.”—Benjamin Franklin
8) Increases Reliability
Unit test design promotes consistency and practicality. The credibility of any piece of code strongly relies upon the ways it has been integrated and evaluated. The more intensely the application has been tested, the more acceptable it becomes.
As each functional unit is tested separately in unit testing, the probability of missing a working module is minimum. The clients can easily trust an application that has been thoroughly validated.
“Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability.”—Edsger W. Dijkstra
9) Encourages Independent Modular Structure
The test strategy enables explicit units. A module can be tested in any sequence independent of the others using the unit testing frameworks.
Its easier to test a single stand-alone function at a time than to examine a combination of methodologies designed for various tasks. Furthermore, there is no dependency of one test code on the rest of the code components in this way.
This feature saves up the waiting time required by the complete source code to be executed. This kind of test-driven development leads to increased productivity of developers and testers.
“So much complexity in software comes from trying to make one thing do two things.”—Ryan Singer
10) Facilitates Documentation
Documentation is the process of recording the features and functionalities provided by each program component. It is of great value for the developers and serves as a set of guidelines that elaborate how a system should be used or handled.
The unit testing mechanism is an ideal template for securing the functional aspect of a model. A typical unit test is self-explanatory or in other words a live documentation example.
Reviewing these unit test cases can enhance the users’ basic understanding of the system’s performance. These unit tests are also beneficial for both the quality assurance and the development teams.
“Incorrect documentation is often worse than no documentation.”―Bertrand Meyer
We have discussed how unit testing can be important in software development. Now, let’s explore some relevant methods and approaches of software testing that are available for developers and testers. We’ll also discuss the different stages of software testing at the end.
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Methods of Employing Unit Testing
1) Manual Approach
Evaluation of the code, when performed by hand, is simply known as manual testing. This approach is preferred when the unit testing framework requires genuine input from the user.
It can prove to be a time-consuming process if the source code is lengthy. Unit testing can be applied manually but automation is preferred in test-driven development (TDD).
2) Automated Approach
Automation testing is a testing strategy that works without any human interference during the execution process. Automated unit tests are preferred when time management is critical.
In general practice, the program is always tested after a new module is added to the source code. Developers use special software testing tools to perform automated unit testing.
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Software Testing Methodologies
1) Black-Box Testing
Black-box testing is best suited in a scenario where the internal working of the system is not provided in advance to the testers. It is a method of evaluating the software from the perspective of an end-user.
Inputs are provided to the system and outputs are recorded without looking at the internal code structure and design details.
2) White-Box Testing
Also known as Glass-box testing, White-box testing is a technique in which the tester has absolute knowledge and understanding of the entire system.
The inputs and expected outcomes are already known to the tester. The tester not only validates the program functionalities but also analyzes internal data structures, code structures, and design.
3) Gray-Box Testing
In the gray testing approach, the tester has partial or incomplete insights of the application under examination. It can be generalized as a combination of the two testing techniques discussed above.
The tester may not have information about how various modules interact with each other or if the modules have any dependencies. With partial information, testers can identify potential weaknesses in the software and test the system from the end user’s perspective.
4) Random Testing
Random testing or ad-hoc testing is a strategy where testing takes place without any clear goals and defined objectives. Tests are performed in random order with random inputs without focusing on the internal code structure.
5) Agile Testing
Inspired by Agile software development, Agile testing identifies the loopholes in the software earlier. Each phase of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) is tested. Tests are written and executed for data requirements, design architecture, code, and the results are validated.
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Stages of Software Testing
1) Unit Testing
Unit testing can be best defined as a strategy employed often by the software developers to assess individual units of the program separately. Unit testing is the first-level approach for testing any software.
The objective behind unit tests development is to ensure whether the program performs the task that it has been designed for. In unit testing, the segregation of code into smaller and manageable chunks is done based on the individual functionalities.
For instance, to test the popular Gmail application by unit testing approach, one would have to design the test cases by dividing the services offered by the app. To understand, this may include the scenarios of email composition, saving drafts, managing junk mails, etc.
“If you don’t like unit testing your product, most likely your customers won’t like to test it either.”
2) Integration Testing
Integration testing is performed right after the successful design and implementation of the unit testing phase. The central theme of this testing methodology is to join the separately working modules and test them as batches.
File directories, internal code structures, and other interfaces are collectively tested under integration testing. This set of evaluations take place once the development process is done.
The efficiency of the testing process can be measured by integrating the individual units into bigger modules without any errors. The testing methods include top-down, bottom-up, big bang, sandwich, and incremental approaches.
A team comprising of the QA engineers conducts such test suites. The quality of code improved by unit testing can be easily affirmed during integration testing.
3) System Testing
Right after integration testing, the testers work in a self-sufficient manner to perform system testing. It falls under the umbrella of black-box testing. All modules are combined and the system is tested as a whole.
System testing examines the application from the customers’ perspective. It is a series of test cases that are designed to cover the systematic functionalities of the application. These tests include:
- Usability Testing: Checks the system’s ease of use and flexibility in navigation and controls.
- Regression Testing: It ensures that no new errors occur or previous errors re-appear after making changes to the system.
- Migration Testing: Checks if the system’s infrastructure can be updated.
- Load Testing: It checks the amount of traffic or load the system can handle.
- Recovery Testing: It checks whether the system can recover completely after crashes.
- Software/Hardware Testing: Ensures compatibility between hardware and software systems.
4) Acceptance Testing
The last in the testing phase is the quest for the final acceptance check. Acceptance testing is performed to ensure if all business requirements of the software have been incorporated well during the development.
The primary objective of acceptance testing is the identification of missed or non-compliant features. The customers can test the application and assess the system functionalities according to their business needs.
The clients set the entire acceptability criteria before the product delivery. This testing stage includes:
- User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Also known as end-user testing, UAT tests the system from the end user’s point of view. Features that are vital for the end-user are thoroughly tested.
- Business Acceptance Testing (BAT): BAT checks if the system meets the business requirements or not. If the system does not generate the required business revenue, BAT fails.
- Contract Acceptance Testing (CAT): CAT defines the scope of acceptance testing after the system goes live. Any type of acceptance testing is only performed within the pre-defined period. If the system is cleared within the time period, the client pays for the system as per the terms of the CAT.
- Alpha Testing: Specialized testers evaluate the system in a controlled testing or sandbox environment.
- Beta Testing: End-users test the environment without any restrictions while knowing that the system is error-prone. User feedback is incorporated into the system to improve it and provide a rich user experience.
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Concluding Thoughts
The product of your software testing efforts highly depends upon the framework you implement. As much as testing the application is important, going for the right set of tests in the initial stage is an even more critical choice to be made.
The advantages of unit testing discussed in this article are a piece of evidence why it is considered to be a significant testing strategy by testers around the world. Proper protocols and principles must be followed while unit testing to obtain optimal results.
