Integration Testing

Integration Testing involves ensuring the correct working of components or modules of software application to produce combined output. To do this testing, we first write the test cases. A test case is the scenario which consists of two or more steps. After writing test case we need to execute it in our application. This falls under the both Black box testing(by tester) and White Box testing(by developer while coding).

Integration Testing is performed each time when a new module is bind to our software system. It is the testing interface between the modules.
              

For example, we can consider a system having two nodes/stations from which we can send and receive the messages.  say two nodes are A and B.

We can make following table mentioning test case steps and other field details in it.

Test Case No	Test Case Steps	Date Tested	Expected Result	Actual Result	pass/fail	comments
01	1. Open Application. 2. Log in with Node A. 3. Open Message Component. 4. Compose a message. 5. Enter Receiver id(Node B id) and subject of message. 6. Send it to Node B. Logout the Node A. 7. Login with Node B in application. 8. Go to Receive box or inbox. 9. Check the message.	02/03/2013	Message sent by node A should be received in the inbox of Node B with its proper subject and contents.	---	---	---

After this we can execute the test case and record the actual result. Now, we can compare it with our expected result, if it is so mark it as pass otherwise fail. Comments may have the details of failure.

Load Testing

Load Testing of software application is performed to identify maximum operating capability of the software. This determines system's behavior in both under the normal and intense conditions. It is a type of non-functional testing. To know the maximum capacity, specific load is given to application. This can be done by sending several requests to the server.

For example, if there is an online application to which you need to find the load on which it gets failed. several requests are needed to be sent simultaneously. For it we would need large no. of computer systems that may not be possible but there are some kind of Load tools which provide this functionality of sending requests simultaneously. Some online tools are paid and some are free. You can search and download them. For instance a free load tool is LoadUI. After downloading tool you can set request meter to the specific number eg; 50,100, 500 etc.

Suppose request meter is set to 50. It means application will consider that 50 users have sent the requests to it simultaneously. We can continuously increase the request to check maximum operating state of software application. Another example of load testing may include downloading or uploading large size data files from the software application.

This testing is performed constantly and steadily until the limit is known on which software gets failed or not responds.

Software Testing

Software Testing is the process used to find and remove the bugs of a software application. There are different kind of testings like unit, system, load, security, alpha, beta, performance testing etc.

In order to fix the bugs, a test plan is written which contains summary, introduction, objective, tasks, scope, test cases, procedures, requirements, schedules etc. Test Cases are prepared by considering all possible scenarios. Plenty of test cases means possibility of more precise software application.

Below are the phases of testing:

   Requirement Analysis
   Test Planning
   Test Case Development
   Test Case Execution
   Test Results Reporting
   Defects Re-testing
   Regression Testing
   Test Closure.

Black Box Testing

     It is a method to test the functionality of software application without considering its internal structure or coding. In this, a tester considers a set of input values and uses them for input into software application. Then he checks generated outputs whether they are the same as expected. Tester may not know about programming code and further even not need program's knowledge.

     In black box, testing method of Tester can be non-technical. Test cases are written from perspective of a user. In this, different approaches are perceived like Boundary based value Analysis, Value type analysis etc.

 In boundary value analysis, one puts the possible limitations for a value of a field as required. Value type analysis defines which type of value is needed. Error guessing is one more technique which becomes very valuable as experience gained by one. Experienced  tester may think of different situations in which application has to be tested

White Box Testing

White Box Testing is a Code-Based Testing. In this, internal code or structure or design of the component being tested is modified by developer and required inputs and outputs are determined by the tester. This testing is also called Transparent testing, Glass fish testing because in each steps of this testing Tester is involved with developer.

System Testing

System Testing is performed to ensure the working of software system in different environments(eg; Operating system) before actual implementation. It is done  with full implementation of system and environment. It comes under the Black box testing. It is conducted at the final stage before completion of the software application.

In this, Tester needs to ensure whether correct product with its correct operating components is being delivered.

Unit Testing

Unit testing involves checking of the different components of a software application. In this, each part of software system is validated to ensure its operation. For example, consider a simple HTML login form; In this form you have a login id and password fields. To validate it you may check following conditions:

Leave both fields blank and click on submit button.

Leave user id blank and fill password. Click on submit button.

Fill user id and leave password blank. Click on submit button.

Enter Wrong information in both fields and submit form.

Enter correct user id but wrong password and submit form.

Enter correct password but wrong user id and submit form.

Enter user id and password correct and submit form.

Above are some conditions to validate a login form. Write your expected result for all conditions and then test. Finally after getting actual results You mark tests Pass or Fail.