Discover Key Software Testing Models Today

Software testing is a component of the software development lifecycle that determines how far the software goes to meet the quality standards as defined in the product requirements. Today, users have a very short attention span, so one bad experience can permanently drive customers away. The steep competition only adds to the problem, which makes it even more important for software developers to ensure the application is practically flawless when it is launched into the market.

Software testing or the QA process as it is otherwise referred to as, is conducted to ensure every bug, issues, vulnerabilities, and other possible flaws in the UI as well as the functionality of the software is taken care of before the launch. The aim is to provide the users with an experience that they cherish. Now, testing a software alone is not enough, as it needs to be done real fast, because today releasing frequent versions is the norm and it’s what the users expect. So, the testing needs to be done real fast, yet effectively and this is where leading IT services firms like The Digital Group, Oxagile and QASource, come into the picture. They offer many types of approaches to testing, known as software testing models, each one with its own set of pros and cons. This article looks into this to help readers know the purpose of each, how they differ, and their many benefits.

The first software testing model and perhaps the oldest one, is the Waterfall Model. So, it goes without saying, that it is also the most basic. What makes the waterfall model really popular with QA teams across the globe is its basic structure which allows for easy implementation and maintenance, and also saves time. This one is a software testing model which consists of multiple phases and the developers need to follow a defined sequence of processes, with a pre-defined goal or objective in every phase. The following are the 4 phases:

1. Gathering & analysis of requirements
2. Software design
3. Implementation and QA
4. Maintenance

However, the waterfall model is not very flexible, as there is no provision to alter requirements in the later phases, and also the work on the phases can only be completed one after the another, and never simultaneously.

The next software testing model is the V Model and is more advanced than the waterfall model mentioned above. One of the biggest advantages of the V Model over the waterfall, is that the former allows for development and testing to go hand in hand. Another characterization of this model is that it focuses on completing the planning and test designing before coding. What makes this software testing model so popular is its ease of use and high success rate. Also, it allows identification of defects at an early stage.

After the waterfall and the V models, comes the Agile Model which is the most popular and widely used software testing model in the world today. Focusing on collaboration between cross-functional teams, the model is different from the traditional ones in many ways. The biggest advantage that Agile offers is the flexibility. Also referred to as the incremental model, it is all about continuous testing to bring about continuous improvements in the product. The Agile model is a winner because it results in a faster time to market, and at the same time, makes achievement of the high product quality a reality. However, sometimes it can get difficult to assess the time required for the project beforehand.

The RAD Model is the next software testing model on the list today, and it is similar to Agile. In this model also, the practice is to develop the different components of the software side by side, only to assemble them to get the final product. What makes the RAD Model a favourite is the short development time and also the provision to make use of the different components multiple times in different projects. However, this is one software testing model that is not suitable for every project and also can get really expensive.