Software Testing

Software testing is an indispensable step in the software development lifecycle intended to ascertain the quality and efficiency of a software product or system before its implementation. It is a structured procedure that involves running the software or application under controlled conditions to verify that it functions as expected and to uncover any discrepancies or faults.

The primary objective of software testing is to examine and validate the software's functionality, performance, usability, security, and compatibility (Pressman & Maxim, 2015). It contributes to eliminating the possibility of any unknown issue or anomaly that might hinder the software's operational ability or cause it to behave unpredictably. Software testing thereby assures end-users of a reliable and robust software application or system.

There are various types of software testing, each with a specific purpose and outcome. For instance, functional testing focuses on verifying the functionalities of a software application, while non-functional testing, including performance and security testing, validates elements like software speed, scalability, and security features. Some other forms of testing include integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing, each serving a distinct role in the overall testing lifecycle.

Software testing can be executed manually or through automated frameworks. In manual testing, a tester manually executes test cases without the assistance of tools. However, automated testing uses software tools to execute predefined testing procedures, thereby reducing the time and effort spent on testing and increasing efficiency (Fewster & Graham, 1999).

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