What is Smoke Testing?

Smoke testing and sanity testing are two essential types of testing that play distinct roles in the software testing process. While both are used to ensure the stability and functionality of a software build, they serve different purposes and are executed at different stages. Let's explore the differences and advantages of smoke testing and sanity testing.

 

Smoke Testing:

Smoke testing is a type of testing that aims to quickly determine whether the deployed software build is stable enough for further testing. It is usually performed at the beginning of the testing process, focusing on broad but shallow testing of critical functionalities. The purpose of smoke testing is to make an initial assessment of the software's overall stability and ensure that it is ready for more in-depth testing.

 

Smoke testing is not exhaustive and is typically done manually or through automated smoke tests. It verifies that the basic functionalities of the software are functioning as expected without delving into detailed testing scenarios. The goal of smoke testing is to identify major issues early on, saving time and resources by avoiding further testing on an unstable build.

 

Sanity Testing:

Sanity testing, also known as "build verification testing," is performed after the smoke test to further verify the stability of the software. It is a subset of acceptance testing and focuses on specific areas or functionalities that underwent changes or fixes. Sanity testing aims to determine whether the build is sane enough to proceed with more extensive testing.

 

Unlike smoke testing, sanity testing is usually planned and follows a targeted approach. It is performed to ensure that the recent modifications or fixes have not introduced any critical issues and that the build is ready for more comprehensive testing. Sanity testing can be conducted manually or through automated sanity test suites, depending on the complexity of the software and time availability.

 

Key Differences and Advantages:

The main difference between smoke testing and sanity testing lies in their objectives and depth of testing. Smoke testing is a quick check to ensure overall stability, while sanity testing focuses on specific areas or functionalities. Smoke testing is broad but shallow, providing a high-level assessment, whereas sanity testing dives deeper into recent modifications.

 

The advantages of smoke testing include identifying major issues early, saving time on further testing if the build is unstable, and ensuring the basic functionalities work as expected. On the other hand, sanity testing helps validate recent changes, reducing the risk of critical issues going unnoticed and ensuring a stable build for subsequent testing phases.

 

In conclusion, smoke testing and sanity testing are both crucial elements of the software testing process. While smoke testing serves as an initial check to determine stability, sanity testing focuses on recent changes. By incorporating these testing types into the overall testing strategy, software teams can enhance the quality and reliability of their software products.