What is Smoke Testing? How To Perform It?
In this article, we will see what is Smoke Testing, how to peform it and the following.
What is Smoke Testing?
Smoke Testing is a software testing process that focuses on verifying the deployed software build is stable or not and functional enough to proceed with further testing.
Smoke tests are typically used as a first step in a testing process, and are designed to give developers and testers (QA team) an initial indication of whether an application is likely to function correctly.
This process usually consists of small set of tests run on each build.
Smoke tests can be performed manually or automatically, and usually involve running a series of simple tests on an application to ensure that it responds as expected.
Smoke testing is often used to assess the stability of an application before more comprehensive testing is conducted.
While smoke testing does not guarantee that an application is free of defects, it can be an effective way to quickly identify potential issues.
Must read: Smoke Testing vs Sanity Testing
Smoke testing is sometimes also referred to as “Build Verification Testing” or “Confidence Testing”.
In simple words, it shows the application is ready to test. Smoke testing shows the main features are working and that there are no showstoppers in the build beingtesting. It is also known as quick regression test of major functionality that helps us determine if further testing is necessary.
If the build is flawed, this helps us determine if any further testing would be a waste of time and resources.
Characteristics of Smoke Testing
Some of the characterisitics of Smoke Testing are as follows
- Smoke tests are typically short and concise, and only test the most basic functionality of an application.
- Smoke tests are not designed to find all defects in an application, but rather to identify major problems that could prevent the application from functioning correctly.
- Smoke tests can be performed manually or automatically.
- Smoke testing is usually done by QA team.
- Smoke testing is often used as a first step in the software testing process.
- Smoke tests are typically used to assess the stability of an application before more comprehensive testing is conducted.
- Smoke testing is a mini and quick regression testing.
- Smoke testing is a documented process.
- Smoke testing can be scripted.
How Smoke Testing is Performed
Smoke tests can be performed manually or automatically.
#1. Manual Smoke Testing
Most of the organizations perform smoke testing manually.
Manual smoke tests typically involve running a series of simple tests on an application to ensure that it responds as expected.
Firstly, Once the QA teams received the build, they check the version of build to verify whether the build is latest one or not.
Once the build version is correct. QA team will proceed to test the major functionality of the application to find any significant issues in the system or not.
If the test passes, QAs continue the functional testing.
If the test fails, QAs reject the build and send it back to the Dev team for a new build.
#2. Automated Smoke Testing
Smoke tests can also be conducted automatically, using a tool or script to perform the tests.
Usually organizations use automation testing tools to perform regression testing. As we already said earlier, smoke testing is a mini and quick regression testing.
Some organizations use test automation tools to perform smoke testing.
QA teams pick some set of automated test scripts to perform smoke testing. It saves more time and let the developer know the status of the build immediately. Whenever the new build is deployed, recorded smoke test scripts are executed against the build. If the test fails, they they immediately correct the build and release the new build.
#3. Hybrid Smoke Testing
Hybrid smoke testing is the combination of both manual and automated smoke testing. Depends on the build QAs will decide which tests they want to run either manual or automated. It varies from team to team and build to build.
Smoke Testing Cycle
The Smoke Testing Cycle typically consists of the following steps:
- Verify the build
- Execute Smoke Tests
- Smoke tests passed, proceed functional testing.
- Smoke tests failed, report it and wait for the next build
Advantages of Smoke Testing
Smoke testing has a number of advantages, including:
- Typically quick and easy to conduct.
- It can be performed manually or automatically.
- Good way to quickly identify potential issues.
- Can be used to assess the stability of an application in the early stages.
- It reduces the risk of failures.
- It saves time and efforts of QAs.
- Minimizes integration risks.
- Improves the quality of the application under test.
Disadvantages of Smoke Testing
Smoke testing also has some disadvantages, including:
- Smoke tests only cover the most basic functionality of an application.
- Errors can still occur, despite implementing various smoke tests.
- Smoke tests do not guarantee that an application is free of defects.
- Smoke testing can miss some defects.
- It might take a long time to perform smoke testing for big projects in the case of manual smoke testing.
Smoke Testing Tools
Smoke testing tools can be used to test a variety of applications, including web applications, mobile applications, and desktop applications. These tools can also be used to generate reports.
Some of the most popular smoke testing tools include: Selenium, Katalon etc.,
Also check out other Software Testing Tools
- Best Automation Testing Tools
- Best Unit Testing Tools
- Best Functional Testing Tools
- Best Regression Testing Tools
- Best Performance Testing Tools
- Best Penetration Testing Tools
Sample Smoke Test Cases Example
| TC ID | TEST SCENARIO | TEST CASE DESCRIPTION | TEST STEPS | EXPECTED RESULT | ACTUAL RESULT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verfiy the login functionality | Enter valid username and password to verify whether the registered user is able to login or not | 1. Launch the application 2. Navigate to the login page 3. Enter valid username and password 4. Click on login button | Successful login | As expected | Pass |
| 2 | Verfiy the logout functionality | To check the functionality of the logout. | Click on the logout button | User should be able to logout and redirect to the homepage. | User is not redirecting to homepage. | Fail |
Conclusion
Smoke testing is done after the build is released to QA. QAs perform smoke test on each build which they receive from development team. Smoke testing plays an important role in software development as it ensures whether there are defects or not in early stages.
Related posts:
- Smoke Testing vs Sanity Testing
- Verification vs Validation
- Static Testing vs Dynamic Testing
- STLC vs SDLC
