What is meant by Gorilla Testing?

February 26, 2020

Each and every software has to go through many big and small tests before it can be released. Achieving the final product is a collusion of intensive work and extensive testing. One part of such exhaustive testing is known as Gorilla Testing.

Definition of Gorilla Testing:

Testing each portion or module of a software to its breaking Point is known as Gorilla Testing. In other words, every minor code of the software is tested until it starts to fall apart or fails to give the desired results. Often due to the brutal nature of this testing technique, it is also known as Torture Testing or Fault Tolerance Testing.

Working of Gorilla Testing:

Each module of the final product is picked one at a time and tested with a range of valid and invalid inputs. These inputs are not always pre-determined, in fact, they are random in nature. They are used until such a time that the results break the acceptable tolerance level. Simply speaking, in Gorilla Testing repetitive manual testing is done progressively to test the robustness and capability of the software application. The idea behind Gorilla Testing is to satisfy even the most erratic software user.

Features of Gorilla Testing:

To get a better understanding of gorilla testing, it is necessary for us to point out its features, which will help us differentiate it from other types of software testing techniques. Therefore, here are some of the features of gorilla testing:

Performed manually by testers & some developers.

It is a repetitive testing process.
Does not require specially made test cases & test data.
It uses random data & test cases.
Performed again & again to test the robustness of the software/application.
It is neither unique nor conducted without preparation.

Pros Of Gorilla Testing:

Gorilla Testing is performed during the last stages of the Software Release Life Cycle to positively conclude that all facets of the product are working within the expected range. To this end, the advantages that Gorilla Testing creates for any software are:

Ensures Functional Capability :A well-tested product from all angles is always more successful. The Client and developer can both breathe easy in knowing its full range of functional capabilities. After all, a fully functional software with no discrepancies will reap more profits than a product that is unable to tolerate even small deviations.
Satisfies The Most Errant User :Human mind tends to work in different ways. As such, even those users who are most doubtful and erratic in feeding inputs will be pleasantly surprised. The purpose behind Gorilla Testing is to ensure and validate the fact that the final product will still perform within an acceptable range even with the data that the most errant user supplies.
Ensures Positive Response :When every aspect of the software is tested to know its tolerance level, it is easy to determine what sought of response or feedback it shall garner. Gorilla Testing is one step forward in collecting a positive feedback for the final product.

Cons Of Gorilla Testing:

Too much testing makes for its own set of disadvantages. The most obvious disadvantages of Gorilla Testing are:

Time Consuming :Testing is always a time-consuming task as it cannot be carried out at a frantic pace. This tends to cause delays in the software release date and sometimes by the time a new and well-tested software enters the market, there is something new brewing on the horizon.
Expensive :When it comes to technology, time is money. Any delays mean more cost.
Tools Not Readily Available:The biggest drawback of Gorilla Testing is that there is no one comprehensive tool that can be used to perform this task. It is best conducted manually, but in doing so one can easily overlook little things.

Gorilla Testing: Infographics

Difference Between Gorilla Testing & Monkey Testing:

Due to the similarities between gorilla & monkey testing, they are usually considered the same by numerous people all over the globe. These, though use random valid & invalid inputs, the purpose of their testing is different from each other in various aspects. To elaborate these differences, provided here is a comparison of gorilla testing & monkey testing.

Gorilla Testing	Monkey Testing
1. A type of manual testing, which is usually termed as repetitive & rigorous.	1. A type of random testing, which does not require test cases.
2. It checks one module thoroughly by testing is again and again under huge load & stress.	2. Checks the software using random inputs.
3. The main objective here is to examine the capacity of single module functionality.	3. It prevents system failure after the implementation.
4. Testers & some developers collaborate together to perform gorilla testing.	4. Can be conducted by a developer, tester or automated tool.
5. It is not conducted without preparation.	5. Requires no planning or preparation.
6. Requires minimum to no software knowledge.	6. Knowledge of the software is not required.

Conclusion:

It is always wise to know how far a software can be stretched before it gives way under pressure. Gorilla Testing accommodates this need of the developers by providing an insight into its breaking point. This gives a chance to the developers to tighten the loopholes in case they are unacceptable. Ultimately, Gorilla Testing is a play of strength.

You may also like our next article on monkey testing.