What is Smoke Testing in QA?

Smoke testing is a testing method where the stability of an employed build is tested. It gives a sort of approval to the quality assurance team so that they can further move to the next step of testing.

The deployment of software build to the quality assurance environment takes place in order to verify the stability of the application.

This testing method is also known as Build Verification testing. In this article, you will get a basic idea about the importance of smoke testing.

The core functionality of a program is checked through this testing method, to ensure that the program can be further tested. With this, QA teams don’t have to attempt to run a full test of software through which basic function can’t be completed.

Product features are tested within a limited time. If bugs have not been identified or if some of the key features do not work, then testing is ceased, so that time is not wasted on further testing the build. The Programmer’s top priority must be to fix those issues that have been identified.

It is a testing process to ensure that the build that has been received from the development team is testable or not.

It can also run as part of the build process in agreement with a more thorough test when the build is going to be released.

When the database and GUI interface is stable, work gets initiated. When there is a new functionality that is being added to the system, then smoke testing is being performed.

In certain scenarios, when working on a module in order to test a change in detail, a smoke test is not enough, especially when a new code is being used.

When a smoke test is running with each build does not mean that developers need to test their changes before submitting them to the repository. Smoke tests should be run manually by developers before committing a change.

Bad builds are disqualified by smoke tests at low cost, which in turn makes it easy to cope with frequent builds. Smoke tests are standardized right from one build to the next and also are often automated.

Those things that are expected to work are tested and if they don’t, it means there was a wrong file with which the program was built or maybe something basic is broken.

Looking for inadvertent interactions between new and existing functionality is where smoke tests come into perspective.

•Broad coverage should be provided across the system
•It should not be exhaustive, but, should be able to identify errors in a new build
•Developers can easily run it

A tester who is having the ability to test every module of the application can perform smoke testing. Once the smoke testing is performed by the tester, the tester should be able to reject or approve the deployed build.

Conclusion: If you are looking forward to a strategic approach to perform smoke testing for your organization, then do get connected with a premium software testing services company that will provide you a methodical plan of action that can help you in implementing a testing strategy that is in line with your project needs.

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.