Sanity testing, also known as a smoke test, is a quick and focused software testing technique performed to determine if a software build or release is stable enough for further testing or deployment. It aims to identify major functionality issues or defects that would prevent further testing from being productive.
Here are the key characteristics and objectives of sanity testing:
Limited Scope: Sanity testing focuses on a subset of the software's functionality, covering the most critical and commonly used features. It does not aim to achieve comprehensive coverage but rather to ensure that the essential functions of the software are working as expected.
Quick Evaluation: Sanity testing is a brief and shallow form of testing that can be performed in a short period, usually right after a software build is available. Its purpose is to provide a rapid evaluation of the software's overall health.
Decision-Making: Based on the results of sanity testing, stakeholders can make informed decisions about whether to proceed with more comprehensive testing, such as regression testing or functional testing, or whether further investigation or fixes are required before additional testing can be conducted.
Defect Identification: Sanity testing helps identify critical defects or showstopper issues that would severely impact the software's usability or stability. Examples of such defects include crashes on startup, major functionality failures, or incorrect data processing.
Regression Prevention: Sanity testing also serves as a preventive measure to ensure that recent changes or additions to the software have not introduced any glaring issues or broken existing functionality. It helps catch regression issues early in the development or testing process.
Relevance to Test Environment: Sanity testing focuses on verifying the software build in a specific test environment that closely resembles the target production environment. It helps ensure that the build can function properly in the intended deployment environment.
It's important to note that sanity testing is not meant to be a substitute for comprehensive testing. It is a high-level evaluation to quickly assess the overall stability and readiness of the software for further testing or deployment. If sanity testing raises concerns or reveals critical defects, further investigation, bug fixes, or more comprehensive testing should be performed to address the identified issues.
Overall, sanity testing provides a rapid feedback loop to stakeholders, allowing them to make informed decisions about the software's readiness for the next phase of testing or deployment.
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