What is Smoke Testing? How to do with EXAMPLES

Smoke testing ensures that a software product or application is thoroughly verified in order to ascertain its stability and functionality. Almost every software build goes through smoke testing in order to develop a high-quality application that can be considered for release.

Before initiating the smoke testing process, the correct build version of the application under test should be assessed by the QA team. In this article, you will know about smoke testing and the specific steps required to perform it.

What is Smoke testing?

It is a testing method that ascertains whether an employed software build is stable or not. QA team gets the necessary confirmation through the smoke testing process in order to carry on with further rounds of testing.

On each build, a minimal set of tests are run to test software functionalities. It is also known as “Build Verification Testing.” Through this testing method, issues are detected in the early stages of the software development process.

Following are the four steps required to perform a smoke test:

1. Analyze the need for smoke test cases: Before the smoke test is going to get initiated, the number of smoke test cases that are required needs to be taken into consideration. If the number of test cases is not known, then make sure that the testing process is working as expected. The number can be recalculated at the later stages of the development process.

For more clarity, understand how many times each build is being smoke tested that is actually being run through the test. The settings can be adjusted on the specific software or the number of manual testers can be determined before the test is going to begin.

To get the best results, tests should be conducted often. In order to move quickly through the smoke testing process, it would be way better to determine the number of test cases in advance.

2. Develop test cases:The test suites need to be developed that can be used in the third/next step. The test cases and test scripts need to be prepared in this step. The methods need to be adjusted based on the type of tests your team has decided on.

3. Run smoke tests: A certain set of specific guidelines needs to be prepared by the smoke testing team to run smoke tests efficiently. The action plan helps in dealing with eventualities in a better manner. There can be further developments and for this reason, it becomes significant for the testing team to monitor the testing process.

As the smoke tests are being run, ensure that manual or automation testers involved in the testing process should record the test results appropriately. This will in turn streamline the next step.

4. Scrutinize smoke tests: In order to analyze whether the overall result has been passed or failed, it becomes important to scrutinize the smoke test results.

The parameters for failing and passing are based on a lot of factors of which an organization’s standards are a notable factor. The expectations need to be adjusted based on the requirements.

Smoke testing example:

The developer will develop the application and then pass it over to the testing team. The testing team will initiate the functional testing process. For suppose, it takes around four days to complete the functional testing process.

Every day a module is being checked, but on the fourth day a module is checked, and there is a bug that has been found and thus this particular module is passed on to the developer. The developer takes another two days to fix it. This means the release date is being postponed for a few more days.

To avoid such kinds of situations, smoke testing is performed. Through the application of smoke testing, each module is tested for determining the crucial or essential features.

Conclusion: If you are looking forward to implementing smoke testing for your specific project, then do get connected with a professionally acclaimed software testing services company that will provide you a comprehensive testing roadmap that is in line with your project specific requirements.

About the author: I am a technical content writer focused on writing technology specific articles. I strive to provide well-researched information on the leading market savvy technologies.