What Is Agile Testing?
Agile testing is a collective term that is used to define the testing process which follows the Agile software development principles. It basically includes performing frequent and automated testing of code along with the development process. So that developers can identify and fix defects in real-time. In agile testing, the testing process starts from the very beginning. Therefore it reduces the cost of defects and saves time and money as well
Key Elements/Principles of Agile Methodology?
- Face-to-Face Communication: Agile testing involves consistent, real-time communication, which is the crucial element of agile testing. QA engineers must communicate directly with developers and other decision-makers in the project, which helps understand the expectations and reduces discrepancies.
- Continuous Feedback: Along with the continuous testing in Agile methodology, it also comprises distributing test results to customers and stakeholders and obtaining feedback from them. This continuous feedback helps in building the best possible product.
- The simplicity of the application: An agile testing process is very simple to implement and it’s also very sophisticated. The main focus of testers is to run tests that are necessary and to create a product that’s simple and user-friendly.
- Value for Customers: The most important aspect of the agile methodology is to create value for money for the customers. The main aim of agile testing is to give the customer the best application with the least defects or errors.
- Response to Change: The basic purpose of Agile methodology at its core, is regarding responding to change efficiently. In this process, the test engineers need to be flexible and to be responsive to the incoming feedback from different sources like user stories, customers, and other changes in the industry.
- Continuous Improvement: Agile testing comprises of continuous learning process where the agile testers constantly go through learning new things, which helps them in improving the product. This way the product is refined and it gives a better customer experience.
If we compare the Agile methodology with the conventional method then it will highlight its feature in a better prospect. The tradition which is also known as the traditional waterfall method comprises the following stages:
- Requirements
- Design
- Implementation
- Verification
- Maintenance
The following are some of the drawbacks of Traditional or waterfall testing, which can be overcome by Agile methodology
The drawback to this method is that one step starts only when the previous step is completed. Here the QA team starts the testing process very late in the development cycle. Therefore the product gets many bugs on reaching that stage Hence at that stage fixing these errors from the product is difficult, cost-effective, and time-consuming.
Traditional testing method lacks continuous feedback and real-time communication, which makes the testing process vague. Hence it results in high time to market, increased costs, and low efficiency.
Agile testing methodology replaces this waterfall method where QA Test engineers can begin testing from the very early stages of the product development cycle. They can identify and eliminate bugs as they appear, making the testing process faster and more accurate.