What is Sanity Testing? Differences from Smoke Testing

Imagine you’re developing a complex software application. Your team just implemented a crucial bug fix that was affecting a key feature. Now, you need to ensure that this fix works correctly without conducting an exhaustive test of the entire application. This is where Sanity Testing comes into play. It acts as a quick validation method to ensure that specific functionalities are working as expected after minor modifications.

On the other hand, Smoke Testing is like a preliminary health check of the application after a new build to confirm that the core functionalities work before proceeding with deeper testing.

In this article, we’ll explore Sanity Testing, its importance, process, and how it differs from Smoke Testing. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of when to use each approach and their role in software quality assurance.

What is Sanity Testing?

Definition and Purpose

Sanity Testing is a subset of regression testing focused on verifying that a specific section of the application works correctly after changes such as bug fixes, minor code enhancements, or patches. The primary goal is to check whether the introduced changes have resolved the issue without negatively impacting related functionalities.

Key Characteristics of Sanity Testing

• Focused Scope: Only specific modules related to the changes are tested.
• Quick Execution: Conducted rapidly to approve further testing.
• Unscripted Approach: Typically performed without predefined test cases.
• Conducted After Bug Fixes: Ensures that reported defects have been resolved without side effects.

Example of Sanity Testing

Suppose you are working on an e-commerce website, and users reported that the “Add to Cart” button was not functioning correctly. The development team fixes the bug, and now the testers perform Sanity Testing by checking:

• Whether the “Add to Cart” button functions correctly.
• If related features like updating item quantity and removing items still work.
• Ensuring that the bug fix hasn’t introduced new issues.

Importance of Sanity Testing

Sanity Testing plays a crucial role in the software development lifecycle. Here’s why it is indispensable:

Benefits of Sanity Testing

• Saves Time: Instead of running a full regression suite, it quickly validates key functionalities.
• Prevents Bigger Issues: Helps catch critical issues before extensive testing.
• Improves Efficiency: Ensures that testers don’t waste time on a defective build.
• Ensures Stability: Ensures that the core functionality is intact after minor modifications.

When Should You Perform Sanity Testing?

• After bug fixes.
• When a new minor feature is introduced.
• After small code changes that do not require full regression testing.

Sanity Testing Process

Step-by-Step Execution

1. Understand the Changes: Identify what modifications were made.
2. Identify Affected Modules: Determine the features directly or indirectly impacted.
3. Perform Quick Tests: Execute a limited set of test cases.
4. Check for Side Effects: Ensure that new changes do not introduce unintended bugs.
5. Approve or Reject Build: If sanity tests pass, the build proceeds to deeper testing.

Common Tools for Sanity Testing

• Selenium – For automated testing
• JIRA – For tracking defects
• TestRail – For test management

What is Smoke Testing?

Definition and Purpose

Smoke Testing is a high-level test to verify that the most critical functionalities of an application work correctly before moving into detailed testing. It ensures that the build is stable enough for further testing.

Key Characteristics of Smoke Testing

• Broad Scope: Covers the entire application’s basic features.
• Scripted Testing: Often performed using predefined test cases.
• Initial Validation: Conducted before deeper functional or regression testing.
• Performed on New Builds: Ensures that the software is testable.

Example of Smoke Testing

Consider a newly deployed banking application. Testers conduct Smoke Testing by:

• Verifying that the login page loads correctly.
• Checking whether users can transfer money.
• Ensuring that basic account management functionalities work.

Differences Between Sanity Testing and Smoke Testing

Advantages and Disadvantages of Sanity Testing

Advantages:

• Faster than regression testing.
• Detects major issues early.
• Ensures that reported bugs are resolved.

Disadvantages:

• Doesn’t cover the entire application.
• May overlook deeper issues.
• Cannot be automated easily due to its unscripted nature.

When to Use Sanity Testing vs. Smoke Testing?

Choose Sanity Testing When:

• You need to verify bug fixes.
• Small code changes have been made.
• Quick validation is required before deeper testing.

Choose Smoke Testing When:

• A new build is deployed.
• Major functionality needs to be verified.
• You want to check system stability before detailed testing.

8. Best Practices for Sanity Testing

• Identify Impacted Areas: Focus only on modified features.
• Limit Scope: Avoid testing unrelated functionalities.
• Quick Execution: Complete within a short time frame.
• Document Findings: Keep a record for future reference.

WrapUP

Sanity Testing serves as a crucial checkpoint in software testing, ensuring that minor changes do not disrupt core functionalities. Unlike Smoke Testing, which validates the overall stability of a new build, Sanity Testing is more focused and specific.

Understanding the differences between these two testing approaches helps in optimizing testing strategies. By implementing both efficiently, teams can enhance software reliability while maintaining testing speed and efficiency.

Whether you’re dealing with a simple bug fix or a major release, knowing when to use Sanity Testing vs. Smoke Testing can save time, reduce risks, and ensure seamless software performance.

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