Smoke Testing vs Sanity Testing: Key Differences in QA

 

 

 

 

Software development involves many different types of testing to ensure that the final product is of high quality and meets the desired specifications. Two common types of testing are smoke testing and sanity testing. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between the two and the importance of proper software testing.

 

What is smoke testing?

 

Smoke testing is a type of testing that aims to quickly determine whether the deployed software build is stable enough for further testing. It is usually performed at the beginning of the testing process, focusing on broad but shallow testing of critical functionalities. The purpose of smoke testing is to make an initial assessment of the software’s overall stability and ensure that it is ready for more in-depth testing.

Smoke testing is not exhaustive and is typically done manually or through automated smoke tests. It verifies that the basic functionalities of the software are functioning as expected without delving into detailed testing scenarios. The goal of smoke testing is to identify major issues early on, saving time and resources by avoiding further testing on an unstable build.

 

How testing is done in smoke testing?

 

The smoke test suite is designed using a set of predefined test cases that cover the most critical functions of the application or product. These tests are usually automated, making the testing process faster and more consistent.

 

What are the advantages of smoke testing?

 

The main advantages of smoke testing in software testing are that it is efficient, quick, and catches major problems early in the testing process. It also allows for better allocation of testing resources and reduces the overall cost and time required for software testing. Smoke testing is usually done before other types of functional tests and the purpose of the smoke tests is to determine whether the product is ready for testing and make any further testing.

 

What are the differences between smoke testing and regression testing?

 

The main difference between smoke testing and regression testing is that smoke testing is a subset of regression testing. Regression testing involves running a set of automated or manual test cases to make sure that changes to the software have not introduced new bugs or issues. In contrast, smoke testing is more focused and only verifies the critical functions of the software build.

 

What is sanity testing?

 

Sanity testing, also known as “build verification testing” is performed after the smoke test to further verify the stability of the software. It is a subset of acceptance testing and focuses on specific areas or functionalities that underwent changes or fixes. Sanity testing aims to determine whether the build is sane enough to proceed with more extensive testing.

Unlike smoke testing, sanity testing is usually planned and follows a targeted approach. It is performed to ensure that the recent modifications or fixes have not introduced any critical issues and that the build is ready for more comprehensive testing. Sanity testing can be conducted manually or through automated sanity test suites, depending on the complexity of the software and time availability.

 

How testing is performed in sanity testing?

 

Sanity testing is performed using a set of test cases that cover the most critical functions of the software. The testing can be done using automation, making the testing process faster and more consistent. Sanity testing is the next level of testing and a little more elaborate type of software testing that is done after smoke testing. But sanity testing is done before the full or partial regression testing and both sanity testing and smoke test cases are a subset of the regression testing. Both sanity and smoke tests helps to save a lot of time when the testing is planned well.

 

What are the advantages of sanity testing?

 

The main advantages of sanity testing are that it catches major problems early in the testing process and ensures that the most important functions of the software are working correctly. It also allows for better allocation of testing resources and reduces the overall cost and time required for software testing.

 

 

Smoke testing and sanity testing are two essential types of testing that play distinct roles in the software testing process. While both are used to ensure the stability and functionality of a software build, they serve different purposes and are executed at different stages. Let’s explore the differences and advantages of smoke testing and sanity testing.

 

What is the difference between smoke testing and sanity testing?

 

The main difference between smoke testing and sanity testing is the timing and scope. Smoke testing is done early in the testing process and only covers the critical functions of the software build. It is focused on catching major problems before moving on to more thorough testing. Sanity testing, on the other hand, is done after smoke testing and covers the critical functions of the software build. It is focused on ensuring that the most important functions are working correctly.

When is each type of testing used?

 

Smoke testing is carried out when a new build is released or when major changes are made to the software. Sanity testing is usually performed after smoke testing. Both types of testing are used to catch major problems early in the testing process and ensure that the application is stable enough for more testing.

 

How are automation tests used in smoke and sanity testing?

 

Automation tests are used in smoke and sanity testing to make the testing process faster, more efficient, and more consistent. They also allow for better allocation of testing resources and reduce the overall cost and time required for software testing.

 

What does a smoke test case contain?

Although the specific contents of a smoke test case may vary depending on the application or system being tested, typically, it includes the following components:

 

Test Objective:

Clearly state the purpose and objective of the smoke test case, which is to verify that the critical functionalities of the software or system are functioning properly after a build or deployment.

Test Environment:

Specify the test environment details, such as the hardware, software, operating system, network configuration, and any other prerequisites required for the test.

Preconditions:

Define any necessary preconditions that need to be met before executing the smoke test case, such as the successful completion of the build or deployment process.

Test Steps:

Outline the step-by-step actions or operations to be performed during the smoke test. This typically includes navigating through the critical functionalities of the application or system to verify their basic functionality.

Expected Results:

Describe the expected outcomes or behaviors that should be observed when executing each test step. These results should align with the expected behavior of the critical functionalities being tested.

Actual Results:

Provide a space to record the actual results observed during the execution of each test step. This allows testers to document any deviations or issues encountered during the smoke test.

Pass/Fail Criteria:

Define the criteria to determine whether the smoke test case is deemed a pass or fail. If all the critical functionalities pass the test, the overall smoke test is considered successful. Otherwise, it is considered a failure, indicating that further investigation or testing is necessary.

Notes/Comments:

Include any additional notes or comments that may provide context or clarification regarding the execution or results of the smoke test case.

What are the main things tested in a software build with smoke and sanity testing?

 

The main difference between smoke testing and sanity testing lies in their objectives and depth of testing. Smoke testing aims to do a quick check to ensure overall stability, while sanity testing focuses on specific areas or functionalities. Smoke testing is conducted broadly but shallow, providing a high-level assessment, whereas sanity testing dives deeper into recent modifications.

 

The advantages of smoke testing include identifying major issues early, saving time on further testing if the build is unstable, and ensuring the basic functionalities work as expected. On the other hand, sanity testing helps validate recent changes, reducing the risk of critical issues going unnoticed and ensuring a stable build for subsequent testing phases.

 

Smoke testing and sanity testing are both crucial elements of the software testing process. While smoke testing serves as an initial check to determine stability, sanity testing focuses on recent changes. By incorporating these testing types into the overall testing strategy, software teams can enhance the quality and reliability of their software products.

 

What is regression testing and when the testing is performed?

Regression is a type of testing that is performed after changes are made to the software to ensure that they have not introduced new bugs or issues.

Is regression a subset of acceptance testing?

No, regression is not a subset of acceptance testing. Acceptance testing is performed to ensure that the software meets the desired specifications and is ready for deployment, while regression testing is performed to ensure that changes made to the software have not introduced new bugs or issues.

 

Testing is done at various stages of software development to ensure that the AUT is stable enough for implementation. Smoke testing and sanity testing are performed early in the testing process to catch major problems, while detailed testing and regression testing are performed later to ensure that the final product is of high quality and meets the desired specifications.