Software Testing - Safety Testing

Software testing is an important phase of the software development process. Inaccurate test cases or delayed testing cause failures in the project. The safety testing is performed to reduce the probability of errors or failures in the later phases of the software development life cycle (SDLC), and to monitor any new issues occurring from the software.

What is Software Safety Testing?

The safety testing is done to optimize the safety parameters during the development, implementation, design, maintenance, and usage of the software. It also verifies the integration of the software with the hardware safety features while it is deployed in the production. This type of testing involves checking every safety related requirement given by the customers.

The safety testing validates if there are any safety loopholes, and it also detects the ways of resolving the dangers occurring due to those loopholes. It confirms that the software works properly, and does not create hazards. Besides, it also verifies the systems that keep track of the working of the software. For example, the back up systems should start functioning from the moment the primary computer stops working.

Importances of Software Safety Testing

The importances of the safety testing are listed below −

• The safety testing carries out evaluation of the complete software along with its architecture, design, data, features, other behaviors which can bring about the errors, or safety threats.
• The safety testing checks whether the software has failed or not able to perform the desired functions.
• The safety testing checks whether the software is running the incorrect functions or methods.
• The safety testing validates if any failures from the software affect the safety features. It also tests whether the fault tolerant mechanisms are working fine.
• The safety testing identifies the timing or sequence issues in the software.
• The safety testing detects problems in the specifications which may impact failures or problems in the software. It involves pointing out the ambiguous, unclear, ill documented, missing requirements or specifications.
• The safety testing identifies the coding, design, and architecture bottlenecks in the software.
• The safety testing recognizes the computer or hardware induced issues in the software.
• The safety testing picks out the documentation problems in the software.
• The safety testing identifies the problems originated from the modifications made in the software.

Software Safety Planning and Management

The software safety planning and management involves the below steps −

• The safety planning and management ensures that the safety features are checked before each phase of the SDLC.
• The safety planning and management involves formulation of a checklist which ensures the safety of the organization, and building of safety teams before the development and testing of the software.
• The safety planning and management identifies the acceptable limits of software risks.
• The safety planning and management identifies the interfaces that exist between the software and the rest of the systems.
• The safety planning and management evaluates all the features of the software to determine whether the dangers or risks are within the limits.
• The safety planning and management analyzes whether any requirements or specifications impact the safety related functions of the software.
• The safety planning and management evaluates the design, and implementation of the software to identify if they impact the safety.
• The safety planning and management also does analysis of the test plans and test strategies.

Best Practices Followed for Software Safety Testing

The best practices followed for the safety testing are listed below −

• The safety test cases should be compliant, and designed as per the software requirements or specifications.
• The safety test cases should cover the behavior of the software both under the normal, and extreme conditions.
• The safety test cases should cover all the requirements given in the software requirements analysis.

What do Safety Assessment Reports Consist of?

The safety assessment report consists of items listed below −

• The safety assessment report consists of the safety basis and methodologies which are used to segregate and prioritize the safety hazards. It also consists of the assumptions made while deciding on those safety bases and methodologies.
• The safety assessment report has the outcomes of the safety analysis and test cases.
• The safety assessment report comprises the safety hazards, and their evaluation.
• The safety assessment report contains safety risks from the dangers, and also suggests the precautionary measures around them.
• The safety assessment report lists down the decision taken from the engineering point of view that eliminates risks at the system level.

Conclusion

This concludes our comprehensive take on the tutorial on Software Safety Testing. Weve started with describing what is software safety testing, what are the importances of the software safety testing, what do you mean by the software safety planning and management, what are the best practices followed for the software safety testing, and what are the safety assessment reports consist of. This equips you with in-depth knowledge of Software Safety Testing. It is wise to keep practicing what youve learned and exploring others relevant to Software Testing to deepen your understanding and expand your horizons.