Software Testing life cycle (STLC) consists of various testing stages and levels that occur systematically, one after the other or simultaneously. This harmony of various testing activities ensures the accuracy and effectiveness of the software product and allows the team to effectively test the software product thoroughly. Performed during the later stages of software testing and after the culmination of static testing, dynamic testing or dynamic analysis helps the team to deal with the business end of the product. It validates the stability and performance of the software before and after its implementation.
So, let’s get a further knowledge about this testing technique and enhance our skills adeptly.
What is Dynamic Testing?
Dynamic testing is a software testing process that is performed in an environment where the code is actually executed. This type of testing is used, by the team, to check the functional behavior of the software and to verify its conformance with the user expectations and requirements. Dynamic testing is the validation phase of software verification and validation. This type of testing enables the team to provide answers to questions like, how well the software product will behave in the real world scenario; what will be its performance output and more.
Hence, performed at the later stage of software testing life cycle, dynamic testing is an extremely beneficial testing technique. Dynamic testing involves testing of the program code by analysing the software for its input and output values.
Difference between Dynamic and Static Testing:
To help you better understand the importance of dynamic testing, here is a comparison between dynamic testing and static testing.
Dynamic Testing
Static Testing
1. Validation phase of software testing.
1. Verification phase of software testing.
2. Involves execution of program code.
2. Does not require execution of program code.
3. Ensures the functionality of the product.
3. It is focused on defect prevention.
4. Performed during the later stages of software development.
4. Performed during the early stages of software development.
5. The cost of finding defects is high in this type of software testing.
The importance of the software testing techniques can be attained by understanding its features and various other components. Therefore, listed below are some of the features of dynamic testing.
It helps detect defects in the software.
Determines the quality attributes of the code.
Assists the team in identifying bugs and bottlenecks of the software.
Testing is done by executing the program.
Helps the team in validating the consistency of the software product.
Unlike other testing techniques, dynamic testing is performed directly on the software product.
It is a more formal approach for test case identification, coverage consideration, test execution, and reporting.
It is executed during the validation stage of the software testing.
Unlike static testing, in dynamic testing, the team executes the software’s code to get expected results.
Reasons for Performing Dynamic Testing:
If we consider the features offered by dynamic testing, we can easily comprehend the reasons for executing it during the software testing life cycle (STLC). With the assistance of this testing, the team can validate various crucial aspects of the software, which if left without any evaluation, can impact the performance, functioning, as well as, reliability of the software product.
Therefore, the reasons for performing dynamic testing are:
It is an effective method for measuring the impact of various environmental stresses on the software product, such as hardware, network, and more.
Another major reason for implementing dynamic testing is that it helps the team to find errors and defects in the software.
During this process, the team executes the code to test the performance of the software product in a run-time environment.
It is executed to check the functional behavior of the software.
To ensure the compliance of the software product with the expectations and requirements of the client as well as the end user.
Assists the team in evaluating and validating the output with the expected output.
Most importantly, it helps the team to validate the overall performance of the software.
Techniques of Dynamic Testing:
To execute the process of dynamic testing, software testers use two different techniques- functional and non-functional testing. These help them to efficiently test system while determining its compliance with the stated requirements. Both of these testing techniques play a significant role in validating the performance and quality of the software, and are hence defined below:
Functional Testing: Dynamic tests involving functional testing technique allows the team to verify the compliance of software product’s features and components with the functional specifications, stated before the commencement of the testing process. Moreover, this technique involves execution of functional test cases, which helps them to get accurate and expected results. Functional testing is further performed with the assistance of various testing types, which play an extremely crucial role in determining the performance and functionality of the software. These are:
Non-Functional Testing: Another beneficial dynamic testing technique, non-functional testing is implemented by the team to validate the non-functional requirements of the software product. The focus of this testing technique is to test the non-functional attribute and components of the software, such as robustness of the software system, memory leaks, performance, and more. Additionally, this type of testing is performed at the test level, with the assistance of following testing types:
As per their utility, different techniques of dynamic testing are employed by the team for various scenarios. Few of these techniques are:
Unit Testing: Generally run by software developers, unit testing involves testing of small fragments of the source code such as operational procedures or individual functions, independent of each other. One particular benefit of this approach is that it allows the easy incorporation of changes at a later date.
Integration testing:
Generally run by software developers, unit testing involves testing of small fragments of the source code such as operational procedures or individual functions, independent of each other. One particular benefit of this approach is that it allows the easy incorporation of changes at a later date.
System test:
A form of Black box strategy, system testing is done to evaluate the compliance of the system performance with the specifications mentioned in the owner manual. It includes GUI testing.
Acceptance test:
Acceptance testing is conducted to determine if the requirements of the product specifications are being met as per the contractual obligations at the site. It has variants by the name of Alpha beta tests, Contract and regulation acceptance testing, physical tests, etc.
Process of Dynamic Testing:
Once the strategy as well as the techniques of test execution are decided, the team moves on to performing the activity of testing, which usually follows a set process. This process helps monitor each step of testing and helps the team to identify any deviances from the strategy or plans. The process of dynamic testing is as follows:
Test Case Design: During this initial stage of the process, team works together to design test cases, which are based on the scope of testing as well as the requirements established before the beginning of the project.
Environment Setup: The purpose of the team during this stage of the process is to prepare and setup the test environment. In dynamic testing, the test environment should be similar to the production environment, as the testing is executed directly on the product.
Test Execution: Finally, the test cases prepared during the initial stage of the process are executed by the team here.
Analysis & Evaluation: The results derived from the testing is analysed and evaluated, and then compared with the expected results.
Reporting: At the end of the process any bugs, defects, deviations, or irregularities, between the actual result and expected result, are recorded and reported to the person concerned. It is the responsibility of this individual to rectify the issue and ensure the quality of the product.
Merits and Demerits of Dynamic Testing:
From identifying and assessing various errors and defects in the software, to validating the behavior and performance of the software, dynamic testing offers various advantages/metris to the users as well as the team of testers. However, though these advantages are several, there are few demerits of dynamic testing.
Hence, here is a list of the merits and demerits of dynamic testing:
Merits:
Helps the team in determining the weak areas of run-time environment.
The biggest advantage dynamic testing has over static testing is the comparatively higher number of bugs found.
Verifies the behavior and performance of the software product.
Requires lesser number of meetings at the planning level of testing, as compared to static testing.
Ensures its consistency and stability.
Demerits:
The overall costs incurred in detection and fixing of glitches is pretty high.
As dynamic testing detects errors in the later stages of development or at the end of development cycle, the return on investment is quite low when compared with static testing
It is a very time consuming process
There are number of dynamic testing tools that are used in dynamic testing. Click the link to explore these tools in details.
Dynamic Testing Infographics:
Conclusion:
From the above discussion, we can effortlessly conclude that the importance of dynamic testing is immense in software testing life cycle (STLC). From directly executing the tests on the software, to validating the functional behaviour, performance, reliability, and other important aspects of the software, with the assistance of this testing methodology, the team can verify and validate the quality and effectiveness of the product, without any hassle.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
