What is system testing. Discuss about different types of system testing techniques.

Q.) What is system testing. Discuss about different types of system testing techniques.

 Subject: Software Engineering

System Testing

System testing is a type of software testing that aims to evaluate the overall functionality of a system by testing its components as a whole. This testing is performed to ensure that the system meets the requirements and specifications set by the stakeholders. It is conducted after unit testing and integration testing have been completed.

System testing is crucial as it helps in identifying any defects or issues that may arise when different system components are integrated and functioning together. This testing ensures that the system performs as intended, meets all the business objectives, and is ready to be deployed into production.

Types of System Testing Techniques:

  1. Functional Testing:

    • This testing verifies the system's functionality against its functional requirements.
    • Aims to detect deviations from the expected behavior of the system.
    • Common techniques include:
      • Black-box testing: System is tested as a whole without knowledge of its internal workings.
      • White-box testing: System is tested with internal knowledge of its structure and implementation.
      • Gray-box testing: Combination of black-box and white-box testing, where limited knowledge of the system is available.

  2. Non-functional Testing:

    • Also known as performance testing, aims to evaluate the system's performance attributes.
    • Determines if the system meets the non-functional requirements.
    • Common techniques include:
      • Load testing: Evaluates the system's behavior under various load conditions.
      • Stress testing: Pushes the system beyond its normal limits to identify breaking points.
      • Volume testing: Evaluates the system's performance under different data volumes.
      • Performance testing: Assesses the system's speed, capacity, and scalability.

  3. Usability Testing:

    • Conducted to assess the user-friendliness, ease of use, and overall user experience of a system.
    • Aims to determine if the system meets the user's needs and expectations.
    • Common techniques include:
      • User acceptance testing (UAT): Involves end-users testing the system to provide feedback on its usability.
      • Think-aloud testing: Users verbalize their thoughts while interacting with the system, providing insight into their thought process.
      • Heuristic evaluation: Evaluators use a set of usability heuristics to assess the system's compliance.

  4. Security Testing:

    • Involves evaluating the system's security features and its ability to protect against vulnerabilities and attacks.
    • Aims to identify potential entry points for unauthorized access and protect sensitive data.
    • Common techniques include:
      • Penetration testing (pen testing): Ethical hacking to identify security weaknesses and potential exploits.
      • Vulnerability scanning: Automated tools that scan for known vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
      • Security configuration review: Ensures that the system is configured securely in accordance with security best practices.

  5. Compatibility Testing:

    • Conducted to ensure that the system can be integrated with other systems or components.
    • Evaluates the system's ability to operate seamlessly in various environments and configurations.
    • Common techniques include:
      • Interoperability testing: Ensures that the system can communicate and exchange data with other systems effectively.
      • Hardware compatibility testing: Verifies that the system functions correctly on different hardware platforms.
      • Software compatibility testing: Confirms that the system works properly with various software applications and operating systems.

  6. Recovery Testing:

    • Aims to assess the system's ability to recover from failures, errors, and unexpected events.
    • Determines if the system can restore its functionality and data integrity after a disruption.
    • Common techniques include:
      • Fault tolerance testing: Evaluates the system's capability to continue operating in the presence of faults or hardware failures.
      • Disaster recovery testing: Simulates a disaster scenario to assess the system's ability to recover critical data and services.
      • Backup and restore testing: Verifies that the system can be restored from a backup in case of data loss or system failure.

These system testing techniques play a crucial role in ensuring that the overall system meets its intended objectives and satisfies the requirements of its users. By thoroughly testing the system's functionality, performance, usability, security, compatibility, and recovery capabilities, organizations can enhance the quality and reliability of their systems.