Types of Software Testing (100 Examples)

What is a Software Testing Type?

Software Testing Type is a classification of different testing activities into categories, each having, a defined test objective, test strategy, and test deliverables. The goal of having a testing type is to validate the Application Under Test (AUT) for the defined Test Objective.

For instance, the goal of Accessibility testing is to validate the AUT to be accessible by disabled people. So, if your Software solution must be disabled friendly, you check it against Accessibility Test Cases.

Types of Software Testing

A list of 100 Software Testing Types along with definitions. A must read for any QA professional. Consider this your guide to all Software testing types.

Types of Software Testing

  1. Acceptance Testing: Formal testing conducted to determine whether or not a system satisfies its acceptance criteria and to enable the customer to determine whether or not to accept the system. It is usually performed by the customer. Read More on Acceptance Testing
  2. Accessibility Testing: Type of testing which determines the usability of a product to the people having disabilities (deaf, blind, mentally disabled etc). The evaluation process is conducted by persons having disabilities. Read More on Accessibility Testing
  3. Active Testing: Type of testing consisting in introducing test data and analyzing the execution results. It is usually conducted by the testing team.
  4. Agile Testing: Software testing practice that follows the principles of the agile manifesto, emphasizing testing from the perspective of customers who will utilize the system. It is usually performed by the QA teams. Read More on Agile Testing
  5. Age Testing: Type of testing which evaluates a system’s ability to perform in the future. The evaluation process is conducted by testing teams.
  6. Ad-hoc Testing: Testing performed without planning and documentation – the tester tries to ‘break’ the system by randomly trying the system’s functionality. It is performed by the testing team. Read More on Ad-hoc Testing
  7. Alpha Testing: Type of testing a software product or system conducted at the developer’s site. Usually it is performed by the end users. Read More on Alpha Testing
  8. Assertion Testing: Type of testing consisting in verifying if the conditions confirm the product requirements. It is performed by the testing team.
  9. API Testing: Testing technique similar to Unit Testing in that it targets the code level. Api Testing differs from Unit Testing in that it is typically a QA task and not a developer task. Read More on API Testing
  10. All-pairs Testing: Combinatorial testing method that tests all possible discrete combinations of input parameters. It is performed by the testing teams.
  11. Automated Testing: Testing technique that uses Automation Testing tools to control the environment set-up, test execution and results reporting. It is performed by a computer and is used inside the testing teams. Read More on Automated Testing
  12. Basis Path Testing: A testing mechanism which derives a logical complexity measure of a procedural design and use this as a guide for defining a basic set of execution paths. It is used by testing teams when defining test cases. Read More on Basis Path Testing
  13. Backward Compatibility Testing: Testing method which verifies the behavior of the developed software with older versions of the test environment. It is performed by testing team.
  14. Beta Testing: Final testing before releasing application for commercial purpose. It is typically done by end-users or others.
  15. Benchmark Testing: Testing technique that uses representative sets of programs and data designed to evaluate the performance of computer hardware and software in a given configuration. It is performed by testing teams. Read More on Benchmark Testing
  16. Big Bang Integration Testing: Testing technique which integrates individual program modules only when everything is ready. It is performed by the testing teams.
  17. Binary Portability Testing: Technique that tests an executable application for portability across system platforms and environments, usually for conformation to an ABI specification. It is performed by the testing teams.
  18. Boundary Value Testing: Software testing technique in which tests are designed to include representatives of boundary values. It is performed by the QA testing teams. Read More on Boundary Value Testing
  19. Bottom Up Integration Testing: In bottom-up Integration Testing, module at the lowest level are developed first and other modules which go towards the ‘main’ program are integrated and tested one at a time. It is usually performed by the testing teams.
  20. Branch Testing: Testing technique in which all branches in the program source code are tested at least once. This is done by the developer.
  21. Breadth Testing: A test suite that exercises the full functionality of a product but does not test features in detail. It is performed by testing teams.
  22. Black box Testing: A method of software testing that verifies the functionality of an application without having specific knowledge of the application’s code/internal structure. Tests are based on requirements and functionality. It is performed by QA teams. Read More on Black box Testing
  23. Code-driven Testing: Testing technique that uses testing frameworks (such as xUnit) that allow the execution of unit tests to determine whether various sections of the code are acting as expected under various circumstances. It is performed by the development teams.
  24. Compatibility Testing: Testing technique that validates how well a software performs in a particular hardware/software/operating system/network environment. It is performed by the testing teams. Read More on Compatibility Testing
  25. Comparison Testing: Testing technique which compares the product strengths and weaknesses with previous versions or other similar products. Can be performed by tester, developers, product managers or product owners. Read More on Component Testing
  26. Component Testing: Testing technique similar to unit testing but with a higher level of integration – testing is done in the context of the application instead of just directly testing a specific method. Can be performed by testing or development teams.
  27. Configuration Testing: Testing technique which determines minimal and optimal configuration of hardware and software, and the effect of adding or modifying resources such as memory, disk drives and CPU. Usually it is performed by the Performance Testing engineers. Read More on Configuration Testing
  28. Condition Coverage Testing: Type of software testing where each condition is executed by making it true and false, in each of the ways at least once. It is typically made by the Automation Testing teams.
  29. Compliance Testing: Type of testing which checks whether the system was developed in accordance with standards, procedures and guidelines. It is usually performed by external companies which offer “Certified OGC Compliant” brand.
  30. Concurrency Testing: Multi-user testing geared towards determining the effects of accessing the same application code, module or database records. It it usually done by performance engineers. Read More on Concurrency Testing
  31. Conformance Testing: The process of testing that an implementation conforms to the specification on which it is based. It is usually performed by testing teams. Read More on Conformance Testing
  32. Context Driven Testing: An Agile Testing technique that advocates continuous and creative evaluation of testing opportunities in light of the potential information revealed and the value of that information to the organization at a specific moment. It is usually performed by Agile testing teams.
  33. Conversion Testing: Testing of programs or procedures used to convert data from existing systems for use in replacement systems. It is usually performed by the QA teams.
  34. Decision Coverage Testing: Type of software testing where each condition/decision is executed by setting it on true/false. It is typically made by the automation testing teams.
  35. Destructive Testing: Type of testing in which the tests are carried out to the specimen’s failure, in order to understand a specimen’s structural performance or material behavior under different loads. It is usually performed by QA teams.
    Read More on Destructive Testing
  36. Dependency Testing: Testing type which examines an application’s requirements for pre-existing software, initial states and configuration in order to maintain proper functionality. It is usually performed by testing teams.
  37. Dynamic Testing: Term used in software engineering to describe the testing of the dynamic behavior of code. It is typically performed by testing teams. Read More on Dynamic Testing
  38. Domain Testing: White box testing technique which contains checkings that the program accepts only valid input. It is usually done by software development teams and occasionally by automation testing teams.
  39. Error-Handling Testing: Software testing type which determines the ability of the system to properly process erroneous transactions. It is usually performed by the testing teams.
  40. End-to-end Testing: Similar to system testing, involves testing of a complete application environment in a situation that mimics real-world use, such as interacting with a database, using network communications, or interacting with other hardware, applications, or systems if appropriate. It is performed by QA teams. Read More on End-to-end Testing
  41. Endurance Testing: Type of testing which checks for memory leaks or other problems that may occur with prolonged execution. It is usually performed by performance engineers. Read More on Endurance Testing
  42. Exploratory Testing: Black box testing technique performed without planning and documentation. It is usually performed by manual testers. Read More on Exploratory Testing
  43. Equivalence Partitioning Testing: Software testing technique that divides the input data of a software unit into partitions of data from which test cases can be derived. it is usually performed by the QA teams. Read More on Equivalence Partitioning Testing
  44. Fault injection Testing: Element of a comprehensive test strategy that enables the tester to concentrate on the manner in which the application under test is able to handle exceptions. It is performed by QA teams.
  45. Formal verification Testing: The act of proving or disproving the correctness of intended algorithms underlying a system with respect to a certain formal specification or property, using formal methods of mathematics. It is usually performed by QA teams.
  46. Functional Testing: Type of black box testing that bases its test cases on the specifications of the software component under test. It is performed by testing teams. Read More on Functional Testing
  47. Fuzz Testing: Software testing technique that provides invalid, unexpected, or random data to the inputs of a program – a special area of mutation testing. Fuzz testing is performed by testing teams. Read More on Fuzz Testing
  48. Gorilla Testing: Software testing technique which focuses on heavily testing of one particular module. It is performed by quality assurance teams, usually when running full testing.
  49. Gray Box Testing: A combination of Black Box and White Box testing methodologies: testing a piece of software against its specification but using some knowledge of its internal workings. It can be performed by either development or testing teams.
  50. Glass box Testing: Similar to white box testing, based on knowledge of the internal logic of an application’s code. It is performed by development teams.
  51. GUI software Testing: The process of testing a product that uses a graphical user interface, to ensure it meets its written specifications. This is normally done by the testing teams. Read More on GUI software Testing
  52. Globalization Testing: Testing method that checks proper functionality of the product with any of the culture/locale settings using every type of international input possible. It is performed by the testing team. Read More on Globalization Testing
  53. Hybrid Integration Testing: Testing technique which combines top-down and bottom-up integration techniques in order leverage benefits of these kind of testing. It is usually performed by the testing teams.
  54. Integration Testing: The phase in software testing in which individual software modules are combined and tested as a group. It is usually conducted by testing teams. Read More on Integration Testing
  55. Interface Testing: Testing conducted to evaluate whether systems or components pass data and control correctly to one another. It is usually performed by both testing and development teams. Read More on Interface Testing
  56. Install/uninstall Testing: Quality assurance work that focuses on what customers will need to do to install and set up the new software successfully. It may involve full, partial or upgrades install/uninstall processes and is typically done by the software testing engineer in conjunction with the configuration manager.
  57. Internationalization Testing: The process which ensures that product’s functionality is not broken and all the messages are properly externalized when used in different languages and locale. It is usually performed by the testing teams.
  58. Inter-Systems Testing: Testing technique that focuses on testing the application to ensure that interconnection between application functions correctly. It is usually done by the testing teams.
  59. Keyword-driven Testing: Also known as table-driven testing or action-word testing, is a software testing methodology for automated testing that separates the test creation process into two distinct stages: a Planning Stage and an Implementation Stage. It can be used by either manual or automation testing teams. Read More on Keyword-driven Testing
  60. Load Testing: Testing technique that puts demand on a system or device and measures its response. It is usually conducted by the performance engineers. Read More on Load Testing
  61. Localization Testing: Part of software testing process focused on adapting a globalized application to a particular culture/locale. It is normally done by the testing teams. Read More on Localization Testing
  62. Loop Testing: A white box testing technique that exercises program loops. It is performed by the development teams. Read More on Loop Testing
  63. Manual Scripted Testing: Testing method in which the test cases are designed and reviewed by the team before executing it. It is done by Manual Testing teams.
  64. Manual-Support Testing: Testing technique that involves testing of all the functions performed by the people while preparing the data and using these data from automated system. it is conducted by testing teams.
  65. Model-Based Testing: The application of Model based design for designing and executing the necessary artifacts to perform software testing. It is usually performed by testing teams. Read More on Model-Based Testing
  66. Mutation Testing: Method of software testing which involves modifying programs’ source code or byte code in small ways in order to test sections of the code that are seldom or never accessed during normal tests execution. It is normally conducted by testers. Read More on Mutation Testing
  67. Modularity-driven Testing: Software testing technique which requires the creation of small, independent scripts that represent modules, sections, and functions of the application under test. It is usually performed by the testing team.
  68. Non-functional Testing: Testing technique which focuses on testing of a software application for its non-functional requirements. Can be conducted by the performance engineers or by manual testing teams. Read More on Non-functional Testing
  69. Negative Testing: Also known as “test to fail” – testing method where the tests’ aim is showing that a component or system does not work. It is performed by manual or automation testers. Read More on Negative Testing
  70. Operational Testing: Testing technique conducted to evaluate a system or component in its operational environment. Usually it is performed by testing teams. Read More on Operational Testing
  71. Orthogonal array Testing: Systematic, statistical way of testing which can be applied in user interface testing, system testing, Regression Testing, configuration testing and Performance Testing. It is performed by the testing team. Read More on Orthogonal array Testing
  72. Pair Testing: Software development technique in which two team members work together at one keyboard to test the software application. One does the testing and the other analyzes or reviews the testing. This can be done between one Tester and Developer or Business Analyst or between two testers with both participants taking turns at driving the keyboard.
  73. Passive Testing: Testing technique consisting in monitoring the results of a running system without introducing any special test data. It is performed by the testing team.
  74. Parallel Testing: Testing technique which has the purpose to ensure that a new application which has replaced its older version has been installed and is running correctly. It is conducted by the testing team. Read More on Parallel Testing
  75. Path Testing: Typical white box testing which has the goal to satisfy coverage criteria for each logical path through the program. It is usually performed by the development team. Read More on Path Testing
  76. Penetration Testing: Testing method which evaluates the security of a computer system or network by simulating an attack from a malicious source. Usually they are conducted by specialized penetration testing companies. Read More on Penetration Testing
  77. Performance Testing: Functional testing conducted to evaluate the compliance of a system or component with specified performance requirements. It is usually conducted by the performance engineer. Read More on Performance Testing
  78. Qualification Testing: Testing against the specifications of the previous release, usually conducted by the developer for the consumer, to demonstrate that the software meets its specified requirements.
  79. Ramp Testing: Type of testing consisting in raising an input signal continuously until the system breaks down. It may be conducted by the testing team or the performance engineer.
  80. Regression Testing: Type of software testing that seeks to uncover software errors after changes to the program (e.g. bug fixes or new functionality) have been made, by retesting the program. It is performed by the testing teams. Read More on Regression Testing
  81. Recovery Testing: Testing technique which evaluates how well a system recovers from crashes, hardware failures, or other catastrophic problems. It is performed by the testing teams. Read More on Recovery Testing
  82. Requirements Testing: Testing technique which validates that the requirements are correct, complete, unambiguous, and logically consistent and allows designing a necessary and sufficient set of test cases from those requirements. It is performed by QA teams.
  83. Security Testing: A process to determine that an information system protects data and maintains functionality as intended. It can be performed by testing teams or by specialized security-testing companies. Read More on Security Testing
  84. Sanity Testing: Testing technique which determines if a new software version is performing well enough to accept it for a major testing effort. It is performed by the testing teams. Read More on Sanity Testing
  85. Scenario Testing: Testing activity that uses scenarios based on a hypothetical story to help a person think through a complex problem or system for a testing environment. It is performed by the testing teams. Read More on Scenario Testing
  86. Scalability Testing: Part of the battery of non-functional tests which tests a software application for measuring its capability to scale up – be it the user load supported, the number of transactions, the data volume etc. It is conducted by the performance engineer. Read More on Scalability Testing
  87. Statement Testing: White box testing which satisfies the criterion that each statement in a program is executed at least once during program testing. It is usually performed by the development team.
  88. Static Testing: A form of software testing where the software isn’t actually used it checks mainly for the sanity of the code, algorithm, or document. It is used by the developer who wrote the code. Read More on Static Testing
  89. Stability Testing: Testing technique which attempts to determine if an application will crash. It is usually conducted by the performance engineer. Read More on Stability Testing
  90. Smoke Testing: Testing technique which examines all the basic components of a software system to ensure that they work properly. Typically, smoke testing is conducted by the testing team, immediately after a software build is made. Read More on Smoke Testing
  91. Storage Testing: Testing type that verifies the program under test stores data files in the correct directories and that it reserves sufficient space to prevent unexpected termination resulting from lack of space. It is usually performed by the testing team. Read More on Storage Testing
  92. Stress Testing: Testing technique which evaluates a system or component at or beyond the limits of its specified requirements. It is usually conducted by the performance engineer. Read More on Stress Testing
  93. Structural Testing: White box testing technique which takes into account the internal structure of a system or component and ensures that each program statement performs its intended function. It is usually performed by the software developers.
  94. System Testing: The process of testing an integrated hardware and software system to verify that the system meets its specified requirements. It is conducted by the testing teams in both development and target environment. Read More on System Testing
  95. System integration Testing: Testing process that exercises a software system’s coexistence with others. It is usually performed by the testing teams. Read More on System integration Testing
  96. Top Down Integration Testing: Testing technique that involves starting at the top of a system hierarchy at the user interface and using stubs to test from the top down until the entire system has been implemented. It is conducted by the testing teams.
  1. Thread Testing: A variation of top-down testing technique where the progressive integration of components follows the implementation of subsets of the requirements. It is usually performed by the testing teams. Read More on Thread Testing
  1. Upgrade Testing: Testing technique that verifies if assets created with older versions can be used properly and that user’s learning is not challenged. It is performed by the testing teams.
  2. Unit Testing: Software verification and validation method in which a programmer tests if individual units of source code are fit for use. It is usually conducted by the development team. Read More on Unit Testing
  3. User Interface Testing: Type of testing which is performed to check how user-friendly the application is. It is performed by testing teams. Read More on User Interface Testing

Bonus !!! Its always good to know a few extra

  1. Usability Testing: Testing technique which verifies the ease with which a user can learn to operate, prepare inputs for, and interpret outputs of a system or component. It is usually performed by end users. Read More on Usability Testing
  2. Volume Testing: Testing which confirms that any values that may become large over time (such as accumulated counts, logs, and data files), can be accommodated by the program and will not cause the program to stop working or degrade its operation in any manner. It is usually conducted by the performance engineer. Read More on Volume Testing
  3. Vulnerability Testing: Type of testing which regards application security and has the purpose to prevent problems which may affect the application integrity and stability. It can be performed by the internal testing teams or outsourced to specialized companies. Read More on Vulnerability Testing
  4. White box Testing: Testing technique based on knowledge of the internal logic of an application’s code and includes tests like coverage of code statements, branches, paths, conditions. It is performed by software developers. Read More on White box Testing
  5. Workflow Testing: Scripted end-to-end testing technique which duplicates specific workflows which are expected to be utilized by the end-user. It is usually conducted by testing teams. Read More on Workflow Testing

That concludes the list. Hope You enjoyed reading it. To find the appropriate tools for this type of testing and others, explore this collection of testing tools.