The Basics of Sanity Testing and Smoke Testing

Introduction

In the world of software quality assurance (QA), testing is crucial to ensure the functionality, reliability, and performance of an application. Among the various types of testing, sanity testing and smoke testing are two essential techniques that play a significant role in the software development lifecycle (SDLC). These two types of testing serve as the initial checks to ensure that the build is stable and functional enough to proceed with more in-depth testing.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the basics of sanity testing and smoke testing, examine the key differences between them, and discuss their importance in the QA process. Whether you’re undergoing Training for testers or preparing for qa software testing certification, understanding these testing methods is vital for any software tester.

There are instances where both are compared to “Build Validation Test” but they are executed at different stages during a software testing circle. However, they are quite different from each other because they are applied in different forms.  

The Main Purpose of Carrying Out Sanity Testing and Smoke Testing

• It helps to avoid time and energy wasted in passing an application through a rigorous test. It determines if an app can cross to the next testing stage. 
• It is important to carry out both testing technique during a software build as it ensures a more effective functionality. 
• These testing techniques are used to speed up further testing procedures and software testing executions in later stages.
• It is an industry standard to execute Sanity Testing and Smoke Testing during a software build or while working on a software project. 

Now that you’ve been introduced to the reason why these testing procedures are important, I will like to explain the meaning of each of these testing techniques.

The first step in this tutorial is to explain the meaning of these different Software Testing techniques. This will give you a better understanding of the topic. 

What is Smoke Testing?

Smoke testing is a high-level, preliminary test to check whether the most critical functions of an application are working. This test is not exhaustive; rather, it’s designed to identify basic issues that could prevent further testing. In essence, smoke testing is a Build verification test that confirms whether the build is stable enough for more detailed testing.

Smoke testing aims to verify that the application is stable enough to be tested further. It’s like checking if a computer turns on before diving into the complexity of its features.

Key Features of Smoke Testing

• Basic Functionality Check: It focuses on the critical functionality of the application, such as launching the application, login functionality, main menu navigation, etc.
• Quick Feedback: Smoke tests are quick and executed early in the development cycle to ensure that the build is functional enough for detailed testing.
• Verification of Core Features: Smoke testing verifies that the basic features work as expected. If the core features fail, testers will halt the testing process and inform the developers of the issues.

Examples of Smoke Testing

Consider a web application that has just been deployed for testing. Smoke tests may include:

• Checking if the homepage loads correctly.
• Testing if the login page opens and allows successful logins.
• Verifying that the registration page is working.
• Ensuring basic navigation through the application is functional.

If any of these critical features fail during smoke testing, the build is considered unstable, and further testing is halted until the issue is resolved.

What is Sanity Testing?

Sanity testing is a focused and narrow testing process aimed at verifying specific functionalities of an application. It typically follows after smoke testing, and its purpose is to determine whether a particular function or bug fix works as intended. While smoke testing is broader in scope, sanity testing zeroes in on specific areas of functionality.

Sanity testing is used when there’s a need to test a specific functionality that has undergone a recent code change or fix. This type of testing is a bit more focused and checks whether the changes made to the software are working as expected without introducing new bugs.

Key Features of Sanity Testing

• Focused Testing: Sanity testing is focused on specific functionalities or features that have been modified, fixed, or newly added.
• Limited Scope: It tests only the areas affected by recent changes and doesn’t go into the entire application.
• Performed After Smoke Testing: Sanity testing is usually conducted after smoke testing to ensure that the build is stable and that the fixes or changes do not break existing functionality.

Examples of Sanity Testing

Imagine a bug in the login page of a web application was fixed by the development team. In this case, sanity testing will focus on testing only the login functionality, ensuring that it works correctly after the fix. The tester may:

• Ensure that the login screen displays properly.
• Test the login functionality with valid and invalid credentials.
• Check whether the application redirects the user to the correct page after successful login.

If the login page works as expected and no other issues arise, the tester would mark the feature as passing sanity testing. If the login function doesn’t work, further investigation will be needed.

Let’s take a closer look at the basic features of these software testing techniques.

Basic Features of Sanity Testing:

• Sanity Testing is usually unscripted which means they are not planned.
• Sanity testing involves verification of system rules and functionality.
• It is deep and narrow which means if focuses on specific functionalities.
• This testing is carried out at random to ensure functionalities are working.
• This test helps to determine if a developer applied certain rationality when building the software.
• It is executed to determine if a section of application is working after certain changes and fix.

Basic Features of Smoke Testing:

• Smoke Testing can be automated or executed manually.
• It involves designing the basic functionality of an application.
• Smoke Testing helps to identify critical functionalities of components.
• Every build stage is passed through smoke testing before further testing.
• It is used to discover bugs and errors so as to prevent stressing test teams.
• It ensures that the fundamentals of software builds are very effective.
• Smoke Testing is designed to be shallow and wide which means it cuts across all parts of the software application. 

These basic features listed above will give you a clear view of both Software testing techniques. Ensure you study it so as to understand the difference between the two testing procedures. However, the next step will spell out these differences in form of a table. So, ensure you keep reading the article.

Major Differences between Sanity Testing and Smoke Testing 

Sanity Testing is quite similar to Smoke Testing and as discussed earlier, it can be a bit confusing. Therefore, I will show you a detailed breakdown of key features of both Software Testing techniques. This will be explained by using a table for better understanding. 

The table above shows differences between Sanity Testing and Smoke Testing.

Why Smoke and Sanity Testing Matter in QA

The testing process in software development is not just about finding bugs and ensuring that the final product is ready for release. It is about building a stable foundation before deeper testing can commence. Sanity testing and smoke testing are the first lines of defense against basic functionality failures. Without these tests, software testers may waste time on an unstable build, which could result in errors down the line.

To give you a clearer picture, think of smoke testing as turning on a car engine to make sure it runs, while sanity testing is checking if the car can drive a few meters down the road without breaking down.

Let’s explore these techniques in detail and see how they can benefit you in your role as a QA tester.

Conclusion

In the world of software testing, smoke testing and sanity testing are foundational practices that help streamline the QA process by identifying major issues early and ensuring that specific changes work as intended. These testing methods are crucial for verifying that the software build is stable enough for more comprehensive testing, which helps save time, resources, and effort in the long run.

As a QA software testing certification holder, mastering both smoke and sanity testing will significantly enhance your ability to contribute to software projects. These techniques not only ensure that the build is functional but also maintain the overall quality of the software, preventing costly bugs from reaching production. By practicing these testing strategies, you’ll become an indispensable member of any development team, driving software quality from the very first stage of the testing process.

Start your learning journey today with H2K Infosys, and ensure that you’re prepared to tackle the challenges of modern software testing!