Software Testing - Scenario Testing
Software testing is performed at several stages to ensure that the software quality is maintained. The scenario testing is done to verify how the software responds when it is actually in use by the customers. It is mainly focussed on the business workflows and to identify defects which remain undetected by other testing methodologies. It relies on creation of the test scenarios which replicate the end users interactions.
What is Software Scenario Testing?
The scenario testing is based on the scenarios that guide the testers to perform the complex situations on the software. A scenario is mostly characterized by a reliable, intricate, and potent story which can be replicated on the software. This type of testing is done to verify the end to end functionalities of the software, and to check the business workflows.
At the time of scenario testing, a tester presumes himself as the customer, and executes the real world use cases, and events on the software. He takes feedback from all the project stakeholders, then comes up with the test scenarios. A scenario describes the complete story of how the software is to be used by the end users.
Characteristics of Software Scenario Testing
The characteristics of the software scenario testing are listed below −
1. Story
The scenario testing is defined as stories that illustrate a particular circumstance in which the software is expected to work. The stakeholders can relate more with the testing procedures used to simulate the real-life events.
2. Motivating
The scenario testing should be aligned with the end users. An interesting scenario encourages the project stakeholders to take part, and inspires teamwork. In the process, a good understanding of the requirements is gained.
3. Credible
As the project stakeholders get the confidence that the scenarios are very suitable, and represent the real situations, it brings back their confidence, and trust on the complete testing process.
4. Complex
The scenario testing consists of a range of data, criterias, and interactions which makes it a complicated process. The more complex scenarios confirm an in depth evaluation of the abilities of the software to handle elaborate, and multiple situations.
4. Easy Evaluation
Though the scenario testing includes complicated scenarios, they can be analyzed very easily. Easy assessment assists in the quick decision making for faster issue detection, and problem-solving.
Process of Software Scenario Testing
The process of the software scenario testing are listed below −
Step 1 − A scenario is designed from the use cases which are related to the end users.
Step 2 − The test cases are developed from those scenarios.
Step 3 − The test cases are evaluated to check whether it covers all the use cases.
Methods used in Software Scenario Testing
The methods used in the software scenario testing are listed below −
- System Scenarios − The scenario testing includes real life events that touch different modules of the software.
- Role Based Scenarios − The scenario testing includes real life events that describe how the software is used by the customer in various roles, and environments.
- Recovery Scenarios − The scenario testing includes information backup, recovery, and restoration. Besides, it also verifies how the software responds to server or module failures.
- Positive Scenarios − The scenario testing includes events which occur at normal conditions.
- Negative Scenarios − The scenario testing includes events which deal with the unanticipated data, and conditions.
- Boundary Scenarios − The scenario testing includes events which deal with the boundary values of the inputs, and outputs.
- Error Scenarios − The scenario testing includes events which deal with the errors, and verifies how the software responds in such scenarios.
What are the Risks in Software Scenario Testing?
The risks in the software scenario testing are listed below −
- Lack of scenarios included during the software scenario testing phase may lead to inadequate test coverage.
- Lack of scenarios involving the edge, and extreme use cases may lead to detection of defects in the production.
- Extensive, and elaborate addition of scenarios during the scenario testing may lead to delay, and burden in the project cost.
- The software scenario testing is heavily dependent on various datasets which are not easy to simulate.
- The scenario testing does not guarantee detection of all the defects in the software.
- If negative scenarios are not included during the software scenario testing, it may lead to bugs in the production.
- The complicated scenarios which are included during the scenario testing phase may be difficult to replicate on the software.
Conclusion
This concludes our comprehensive take on the tutorial on Software Scenario Testing. Weve started with describing what is software scenario testing, what are the characteristics of the software scenario testing, what is the process of the software scenario testing, what are the methods used in the software scenario testing, and what are the risks in the software scenario testing. This equips you with in-depth knowledge of the Software Scenario 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.