[NOTE: Types are described in-detail further.]

We must undertake several sorts of software-testing if we want to verify that our software is bug-free or stable, because testing is the only way to assure that our application is bug-free.

Software-testing categorization is a part of a variety of testing activities, including test strategy, test deliverables, and a defined test aim, among others. Software-testing, on the other hand, is the process of running software to detect flaws.

To begin testing, we'll need a need, as well as application-ready resources. To maintain accountability, each test engineer should be assigned to a certain module.

The software-testing broadly divided into 2 parts, which are as follows:

• Manual Testing
• Automation Testing

What is Manual Testing?

Manual testing is the process of testing software or applications according to the needs of the client without the use of any automation tools. In other words, we can call it a verification and validation technique.

Classification of Manual Testing

• White Box Testing
• Black Box Testing
• Grey Box Testing

White Box Testing

Before handing over the code to the testing team or the concerned test engineers, the developer will perform white-box testing. As a result, the code is visible to developers during testing, which is why this technique is known as WBT (White Box Testing).

The goal of white box testing is to emphasise the flow of inputs and outputs through software and to improve an application's security.

Open box testing, glass box testing, structural testing, clear box testing, and transparent box testing are all terms used to describe white box testing.

Black Box Testing

Black-box testing is another sort of manual testing. The test engineer will compare the programme to the specifications, find any defects or bugs, and report it back to the development team.

The developers will then correct the flaws, perform a round of White box testing, and send the code to the testing team.

Fixing bugs here refers to resolving a problem and ensuring that a feature meets the specified requirements.

The fundamental goal of black box testing is to define the business requirements or the customer's requirements.

Types of Black-Box Testing

• Functional Testing
• Non-function Testing

Functional Testing

Functional testing is when a test engineer checks all of the components against the requirements in a systematic manner. Component testing is another name for functional testing.

All components are tested in functional testing by providing a value, specifying the output, and comparing the actual output to the expected value.

Black-box testing includes functional testing, which focuses on application requirements rather than actual code. Instead of testing the system, the test engineer must just test the programme.

Types of Functional Testing

• Unit-testing
• Integration-testing
• System-testing

1. Unit-testing

To test any software, unit-testing is the first level of functional testing. Unit-testing is when a test engineer tests a module of an application independently or all of the module's capabilities.

The fundamental goal of unit-testing is to ensure that the unit components are performing as expected. A unit is a single testable function of software or an application in this context. It's also checked during the defined application development phase.

2. Integration-testing

We'll move on to integration-testing once we've successfully implemented unit-testing. Integration-testing is the second level of functional testing, in which we verify the data flow across dependent modules or the interface between two features. The goal of integration-testing is to ensure that the statement is accurate across all modules.

Types of Integration-testing

• Incremental Testing
• Non-Incremental Testing

3. System-testing

After we've completed unit and integration-testing, we may move on to system-testing. The test environment in system-testing is identical to the production environment. End-to-end testing is another name for it.

In this form of testing, we'll look over every aspect of the software and see if the final feature meets the business need. Also, examine the software product as a whole system.

Non-function Testing

Non-functional testing gives thorough information on software product performance and technologies employed.

It will aid us in lowering the software's production risk and associated costs.

Performance, load, stress, usability, and compatibility testing are all part of non-functional testing.

Types of Non-functional Testing

• Performance-testing
• Usability Testing
• Compatibility Testing

Automation Testing

Automation testing is the most important aspect of software development. It use specialised software to automate manual design test cases without involving humans.

Software-testing efficiency, productivity, and coverage can all be improved with automation testing. It's utilised to re-run test scenarios that were previously carried out manually, fast, and repeatedly. Without understanding the programming language, we can't develop test scripts or execute automation testing.

Other types of Software-testing

• Smoke-testing
• Sanity Testing
• Regression Testing
• User Acceptance Testing
• Exploratory Testing
• Adhoc Testing
• Security Testing
• Globalization Testing

There are many ways to perform software testing according to its types. All these types of testing have their own purpose and usefulness. The two main types of Testing are: 

Manual Testing:

Manual testing is the testing of the software manually or without any use of automated testing software. In manual testing, the tester has to create test cases for the application software and try to run them for any errors/bugs. In manual testing, the tester starts the testing of the application just like a user will use the app, and tries to find any bugs/errors. In manual testing, all the test cases are executed manually and results are observed.

To perform this Manual testing, several test cases are formed by keeping in mind the complete working of the application and the results. This testing process is very helpful such that it finds both visible and hidden errors in the software application. The difference between expected and the result that the application gave, is considered as a bug. The bug should be fixed by the tester or the developer for making the application useful.

Manual testing must be done for any newly software application developed before performing any automated testing. Manual testing is hard to achieve and time-consuming, but it really gives better satisfaction of error-free of software application. 

Why Manual Testing is mandatory?

• Whenever a new app comes into the market, it is normal that the app contains some bugs. And these bugs are encountered when the users use the app. So, it is always advised to perform Manual Testing at least once from a perspective of end user, such that the bugs will be encountered and can be removed easily. There’s also one more benefit of Manual Testing which is while testing as a user, we can see the working and the results for creating correct test cases for users.

Stages of Manual Testing:

There are various stages of Manual Testing, such that the manual testing is divided into these phases:

1. Unit Testing: In Unit testing, we perform the testing of a component or a unit of source code of the complete program. This testing is very helpful for big programs which can take more time to test the complete program for any errors. Unit testing is time saving and also gives better results. 
2. Integration Testing: Integration Testing is performed after Unit Testing such that the individual components tested in Unit Testing are combined in integration testing and a group of components are tested for better accuracy and confirmation of error-free software. This testing is very helpful for achieving Quality Assurance in which it is evaluated how several components of an application work together.
3. System Testing: In system testing, the name itself defines its meaning which is testing the application software as a whole component. System Testing is done after Integration Testing. System Testing includes various types of testing which are stress testing, regression testing, and functional testing of the software. 
4. Acceptance Testing: Acceptance Testing is very important as it gives a clarity about the application whether it is ready for deployment or not, for the use in real world. Acceptance testing can be achieved only when the application works as it is required to perform the tasks and give desired results without any faults or errors. Only then the application is ready to deploy as a whole in real world. Acceptance testing consists of two types: internal testing and external testing. Internal testing (also called as alpha testing) is the testing of the application software by members of the organization and can only be done internally in an organization while External Testing (also called as beta testing) is performed by a limited number of people outside from the organization who will test the software just like an end-user.

Automation Testing: 

Automation Testing is the testing of the application software for any bugs or errors using another software whose purpose is to only do the testing of softwares. In some cases, we need to add our custom test cases to the automated testing application, but in other cases the app is designed to specific type of tests such that based on type of our app and its working, we have different testing applications in the market. Automated testing is very helpful for saving time. Automation testing gives accurate results very efficiently and effectively. Automation testing is also called as Test Automation. Automation testing do the same process as manual testing, but the difference is just we don’t need to test every component or complete software manually, the software will test automatically.

But it should be noted that when doing software testing, it is not possible to automate every single component to be tested automatically. For an example, the transaction of a bank using the OTP services cannot be done using automation testing because it needs to be tested manually by an end user or a tester.

Why Automation Testing is helpful?

• Automation testing is very helpful when the source code is really big, because it will consume more time to test every single component of the source code manually. In these cases, Automation testing comes into view. Automation testing also helps for the faster delivery of the software product. Simultaneously, it expands the efficiency. The automation testing software gives more accurate results as compared to testing done manually. Because sometimes, we don’t take much care as it is human nature and ignores some errors or skips some component testing, but the testing software will do its work completely and tests the whole application without giving incorrect results.

Phases of Automation Testing:

To perform automation testing, there are some phases from which the testing software goes through. Here we will discuss those phases:

1. Unit Testing: Unit testing is the testing of an individual component of a software for any bugs/errors manually. But this testing can also be automated for testing individual components of the source code or the software application.
2. API: API stands for Application Programming Interface whose task is to provide smooth integration between all the systems which uses same software application. Automation Testing uses API to test the software in all the systems. It increases the productivity of Automation Testing because in a single run, it tests all the systems for the application.

The phases of Automation Testing are very similar to Manual testing, but the difference is only that in manual testing, the software testing application is tested manually. On the other hand, the application is tested automatically by testing software in automated testing.

Software Testing tools for Automation Testing:

• Selenium
• WATIR
• Test Complete
• Visual Studio Test Professional
• IBM Rational functional Tester
• And many more….