What is smoke testing and why is it done?

Debugging And Testing Questions Medium



80 Short 70 Medium 49 Long Answer Questions Question Index

What is smoke testing and why is it done?

Smoke testing is a type of software testing that is performed to ensure that the critical functionalities of an application or system are working as expected before conducting more comprehensive testing. It is typically executed after the initial build or deployment of the software.

The main purpose of smoke testing is to identify any major issues or defects that could potentially hinder the further testing process. It aims to verify that the essential features of the software are functioning correctly and that there are no critical errors or failures that would prevent further testing.

Smoke testing involves running a set of predefined test cases that cover the core functionalities of the application. These test cases are designed to be quick and simple, focusing on the most critical aspects of the software. The tests are executed with minimal or no configuration, ensuring that the basic functionalities are working as expected.

By conducting smoke testing, software development teams can quickly identify any major issues or showstoppers early in the testing phase. If any critical failures are detected during smoke testing, further testing is halted until the issues are resolved. This helps save time and effort by preventing the execution of more comprehensive tests on a faulty system.

In summary, smoke testing is performed to ensure that the essential features of an application are working properly before proceeding with more extensive testing. It helps identify major issues early on, allowing for timely resolution and efficient testing processes.