The Ultimate Guide to Sanity Testing
Software applications constantly evolve, with frequent updates, bug fixes, and new feature additions. However, these changes can introduce new issues or disrupt existing functionalities.
According to the Systems Sciences Institute at IBM, in addition to potential damage to your brand’s reputation, the cost of fixing a bug post-release can be up to 100 times more than during the design phase.
This is where sanity testing comes into play. Sanity testing is a quick, focused testing process designed to verify that specific functionalities work as expected after minor changes or bug fixes.
In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of sanity testing, compare it with other testing methods, outline its key functionalities, and provide practical examples to illustrate its importance.
What is Sanity Testing
Sanity testing is a type of software testing that quickly determines if the core functionality of software works as intended after changes are made to the code. It is often performed after small modifications or bug fixes to confirm that the changes have not negatively impacted existing features and functionality.
This type of testing is sometimes referred to as surface-level testing since it focuses on checking the system’s logic without diving into the complexities. Sanity testing is important because it helps detect critical problems early in development.
It saves time and costs by discovering serious concerns before moving forward with more intensive testing. This testing guarantees the software is stable enough for further testing, saving wasted time on a non-functional build.
The main objectives of sanity testing include:
- Verifying Existing Functionality: Checking that new code changes, including ones that stem from bug fixes, don’t impact exciting features.
- Saving Time and Resources: Reducing complexity and expenses by identifying problems early.
- Ensuring Stability: Assessing whether specific functionality impacted by code changes is stable enough for further testing.
- Validating New Features: Verifying the accuracy and value of newly introduced features.
Sanity testing should be carried out under the following scenarios:
- Following small adjustments to the code.
- Following the completion of bug fixes.
- Before deploying the software to production.
As the development process progresses, developers can conduct sanity tests at various stages to ensure that the program remains stable and functional.
Sanity Testing vs Smoke Testing
Sanity and smoke testing are essential in the software testing life cycle but serve different purposes. Smoke testing is a preliminary test to check the critical functionality and stability of a new build, ensuring it is stable enough for further testing. It covers the entire system broadly.
Sanity testing, on the other hand, is a narrow and deep approach. It focuses on specific functionalities after changes or bug fixes to ensure they work as expected.
For a more detailed comparison, you can read our dedicated article on Sanity vs Smoke Testing.
Sanity Testing vs Regression Testing
Sanity and regression testing are crucial in software quality assurance but serve different purposes. Sanity testing is a quick, focused check to ensure that specific functionalities work after code changes or bug fixes.
In contrast, regression testing is a thorough review of the entire application to ensure that no recent changes have introduced new issues.
Functionality of Sanity Testing
Sanity testing is integral to the software development lifecycle for several reasons. Here’s a breakdown of its key functionalities:
Integration Check
A sanity test ensures that new code is compatible with an existing system and that recent changes or bug fixes have not negatively affected the integration of different modules or components.
It is important in complicated systems where multiple components must operate together efficiently.
Confirming Bug Fixes
Sanity testing verifies that recent bug fixes work as intended and do not introduce new issues. As a result, the specific defects addressed are fixed without introducing any new bugs.
Resource Optimization
Sanity testing saves time and resources by immediately assessing if a build or specific software functionality is stable enough for further testing after introducing code changes. Identifying key problems early on eliminates unnecessary expanded testing on unstable builds, maximizing the utilization of testing resources.
Check for Regression
While sanity testing is not as comprehensive as complete regression testing, it does contain a preliminary check for regressions to confirm that recent modifications have not negatively impacted existing functionality. This helps ensure the program’s general stability.
Iterative Procedure
Sanity testing is often done iteratively, particularly in Agile and Continuous Integration environments. This means it is done regularly to verify each incremental build, providing stability throughout development.
What are the Crucial Aspects of Sanity Testing?
Sanity testing has several key characteristics that separate it from other types of testing:
- Narrow and Deep: Sanity testing focuses on a limited set of functionalities but tests them in depth. By doing this, we make sure we’re checking specific application areas thoroughly.
- A Subset of Regression Testing: It is considered a subset of regression testing, primarily focusing on verifying that recent changes or bug fixes have not adversely affected the existing functionality.
- Unscripted: Sanity tests are usually unscripted, meaning they do not follow a predefined set of test cases. This allows testers to quickly analyze the software’s functionality based on their understanding and experience.
- Not Documented: Typically, sanity testing is not formally documented. The focus is on quick validation rather than detailed reporting.
- Performed by Testers: Sanity testing is usually performed by testers who understand the application well. Their expertise helps them identify critical issues quickly.
What is the Sanity Testing Process?
Sanity testing is a quick, high-level check to ensure the application is stable enough for more detailed testing. It’s a crucial step in the software development lifecycle to catch any major issues early on.
Here’s a step-by-step overview of the sanity testing process:
Identify
In this initial phase, testers identify the new functionalities, features, or bug fixes that have been added to the software. This step involves understanding the scope of changes and determining which parts of the application need to be tested.
Evaluate
Next, testers evaluate the impact of the identified changes on the existing system. This involves assessing the areas that might be affected by the new code and prioritizing the critical functionalities that need immediate attention.
Test
Finally, testers perform the actual sanity tests. This involves executing focused tests on the identified areas to verify that the new changes work as expected and do not introduce new issues.
The goal is to quickly validate the stability of the build before proceeding with more extensive testing.
Examples of Sanity Testing
Example #1: E-commerce Application
Scenario: An e-commerce platform recently fixed a bug in the checkout process that prevented users from applying discount codes.
Sanity Test:
- Identify: The tester identifies the checkout process and discount code application as the areas affected by the bug fix.
- Evaluate: The tester checks the potential impact on related functionalities, such as cart updates and payment processing.
- Test: The tester performs sanity tests by adding items to the cart, applying various discount codes, and proceeding to checkout. They verify that the discount is correctly applied, the total amount is updated, and the payment gateway functions as expected.
Outcome: The sanity test confirms that the bug fix works and that the checkout process is stable, allowing further detailed testing.
Example #2: Social Media Platform
Scenario: A social media platform has introduced a new feature allowing users to create and share “Stories.”
Sanity Test:
- Identify: The tester identifies the new “Stories” feature as the primary focus.
- Evaluate: The tester evaluates the integration of this feature with existing functionalities, such as user profiles and news feeds.
- Test: The tester performs sanity tests by creating, viewing, and deleting stories. They check if the stories appear correctly in the user’s profile and news feed and if interactions (likes, comments) work as expected.
Outcome: The sanity test ensures that the new “Stories” feature is functioning correctly and does not disrupt other parts of the platform.
Example #3: Banking Software
Scenario: A banking application has updated its interest calculation algorithm.
Sanity Test:
- Identify: The tester identifies the interest calculation module and related functionalities, such as account balance updates.
- Evaluate: The tester evaluates the impact of the new algorithm on other financial calculations and reports.
- Test: The tester performs sanity tests by checking the accuracy of interest calculations for various account types and balances. They also verify that the updated balances are reflected correctly in user accounts and financial reports.
Outcome: The sanity test confirms that the new algorithm calculates interest accurately and that the update does not affect other financial operations.
Advantages of Sanity Tests
Time and Effort Saving
Since sanity testing focuses on a limited set of functionalities, it can be performed quickly, saving time and effort. This is particularly useful when there are tight deadlines or limited resources.
No Documentation Required
Sanity tests are usually unscripted and do not require extensive documentation. This allows testers to perform quick checks without needing detailed test plans or reports.
Early Detection of Defects
A sanity test identifies core functionality issues quickly by focusing on recent changes and bug fixes. The early detection of defects prevents them from spreading later in the development process.
Cost-Effective
Sanity testing is less expensive than other testing types because it requires fewer resources and less time. As a result, it is an economical method for verifying minor changes.
Quick Validation
The sanity test verifies that the build is stable enough to go through more extensive testing. It helps maintain the quality of the software.
Prevents Regression
Sanity testing is not as comprehensive as regression testing, but it helps identify potential regressions caused by recent changes. As a result, new updates will not negatively affect existing functionality.
Drawbacks of Sanity Testing
Limited Scope
Since sanity testing focuses on just a few application functions, it may overlook problems in other system components. This restricted focus may result in issues being unnoticed in places that the sanity tests do not cover.
Unscripted Nature
Sanity tests are usually unscripted and lack documentation. This makes it challenging to repeat tests or use them as a future reference, and variations in testing might also result from the lack of clear test cases.
Not Comprehensive
Certain faults may go unnoticed because sanity testing may not account for all potential test cases or situations. It may miss less evident issues since it is meant to be a rapid check rather than a thorough analysis.
Focus on Functions
It primarily focuses on the software’s functions and commands, potentially overlooking other important aspects like performance, security, and user experience. This can result in a false sense of security about the software’s overall quality.
Issues in Unchecked Functionalities
Problems in functionalities outside the sanity test scope may go unnoticed, leading to potential risks in the software. This can be particularly problematic in complex systems where changes in one area might affect other application parts.
Best Practices for Effective Sanity Testing
Define the Scope
Clearly identify the functionalities and areas of the application that need to be tested. This allows the testing effort to focus on the most critical parts of the software, ensuring that the changes or bug fixes are validated thoroughly.
Use Automated Testing
Test automation can be implemented to simplify recurring sanity testing for complex applications and features. Automation can speed up testing, increase accuracy, and allow for parallel test execution, which is particularly useful in continuous integration and delivery environments.
Review the Results
After conducting sanity tests, carefully review the results to ensure all identified issues are addressed. This step involves analyzing the test outcomes, verifying that the fixes work as intended, and ensuring that no new issues have been introduced.
Final Thoughts
Sanity testing is a quick check to make sure that certain functions of a software work correctly after some small changes or fixes have been made. It helps catch problems early, making sure the software stays stable and saves time in the long run.
As you’ve learned the ins and outs of sanity testing, compared it with other testing methods, and understood its critical role, it’s important to integrate this process with comprehensive testing strategies.
Testlio offers extensive expertise in integrating sanity tests into broader quality assurance frameworks. We offer comprehensive testing solutions tailored to your needs. Our expert testers ensure that your software remains stable and functional through rigorous sanity testing.
Contact Testlio today to learn more about our sanity testing services and how we can help you achieve your quality assurance goals.