This component testing tutorial delves deeper into its importance, techniques, phases, and how to perform component testing with examples.
Component testing is a subset of software testing that involves validating every component of software applications independently without merging them. In the context of architecture, it often relates to module testing. A software application usually consists of several parts or components, and component testing addresses each of these components independently. Component testing is one of the most common forms of black-box testing performed by the testing team.
Each component of the software or application will be tested individually in accordance with a test strategy and test plan. For each of these components, a test scenario is defined, which is further subdivided into high-level test cases to low-level detailed test cases.
This detailed tutorial on component testing delves deeper into its importance, techniques, phases, and how to perform component testing with examples.What Is Component Testing?
Component testing involves testing the usability of each component of the software application. The behavior of each component is also evaluated along with the usability test. Testing of this type requires each component to be in an independent state and controllable.
It calls for a test strategy and plan where we consider every software component separately. Here, the testers perform the component testing instead of the developers, who typically perform unit testing. However, before component testing, the development team completes the unit testing process.
Let’s say that a software application consists of three components. Before integration testing is performed, each component is tested independently by the tester as part of the development cycle. In the early stages of the development cycle, bugs can be found very early, saving time.
In component testing, programmers use a test structure or debugging tools to test the code they have written with the support of integrated development environments (IDEs). Component testing detects defects immediately and fixes them without maintaining records.
Testing the entire system is challenging due to the magnitude of the software applications. There may be several test coverage gaps as well. Therefore, it is recommended to do component testing first and then integrate or perform functional testing later.Why Perform Component Testing?
Since now we have covered the fundamentals of component testing, let’s dive into the facts about why you should opt for it.
To deal with component customization, it provides us with a tool that can update and modify an existing model and produce a new one.
The second strategy uses operational scripts and tests stubs to emulate a component’s particular functional behavior from a black-box perspective.
The flexibility to modify and reuse test stubs throughout the component evolution process greatly benefits this approach.
After acquiring all components, you can perform detailed testing by validating all potential issues on live web servers. However, this is impossible for unit testing, where you can’t test each unit on live servers.
Component testing helps identify and fix issues faster, avoiding costly setbacks, effort, and time. It also allows the development team to test the software components for any avoidable bugs before passing them on to the QA team. Advantages of Component Testing
Verifying the test object’s input/output behavior is the primary goal of component testing. It ensures that the functionality of the test object precisely corresponds with the given specification.
Component testing helps find and solve defects in the software code and verifies each component of the product, lowering risks.
Discovering bugs in the component testing aids in finding errors in the software’s source code. Additionally, it verifies the application’s usage of control flow, functions, data structures, etc.
It evaluates the component’s performance, both functionally and non-functionally. Component testing guarantees that the system design and requirements are aligned with the user’s expectations and needs.
Component testing is crucial for building and sustaining confidence in the components; fewer bug traces are available through additional testing, which raises the quality of the product.
Developers can find the coding issues and fix them to stop defects from advancing to higher testing tiers. Errors are therefore less likely to occur at higher testing levels. Scope of Component Testing
All testing and development activities that fall under the purview of a component-based development project refer to component testing. It includes all tests and testing activities performed during component development by the organization and all testing activities carried out by its user.
An organization aims to deliver a high-quality reusable product that meets its functional and behavioral specifications.
A tester may compare the tested component’s various elements, classes, or subcomponents to evaluate the interactions.
It focuses on assessing the component’s underlying logic, data, and application structure and the proper operation of its internal algorithms.
The component tester will often do a second test to determine whether the module functions effectively inside the context of other application components.Common Defects and Failures in Component Testing
Software component tests evaluate the correctness of a specific unit of source code produced during the software coding process. The following are typical defects found in it:
Poor functionality: Running component tests often results in the identification of incorrect functionality. For example, when a user needs a discount coupon on a shopping website, a component doesn’t return the discount value.
Data flow issues: When an integrating component provides data to another component, the data flow typically causes errors. For example, when customers enter a discount code, the discount component only takes alphanumeric characters. Creating discount codes with special characters is the component that generates these discounts. However, if the discount component uses these discount codes, it will cause data flow issues.
Incorrect code logic: The component test identifies any issues with the code logic. For example, an offer — buy one get one free logic on a shopping site — works when one item is in the cart. However, it doesn’t work when three items are in the cart. What Do You Verify in Component Testing?
Component testing may include checking for functional or non-functional features of system components. It can consist of resource behavior testing (e.g., finding memory leaks), performance testing, structural testing, and so on.
It examines all of the modules’ core functionality. There are entry and exit requirements as mentioned below:
Entry requirements for component testing: The smallest possible amount of components should be built and put through unit testing.
Exit requirements for component testing: All components and module features must be operational. Additionally, no critical, high, or medium severity issues and priorities are listed in the defect record.
