Software Testing is a crucial aspect of software development that ensures that the software meets the required quality standards. The primary objective of software testing is to identify defects or errors in the software system and ensure that it performs as expected. Software testing principles provide a set of guidelines that help testers to develop effective testing strategies and approaches to ensure that software meets the required quality standards. These principles are based on years of experience and best practices in the software industry. In this context, let’s explore the seven software testing principles that form the basis of effective software testing.

1. Testing shows the presence of defects: The first principle of software testing is that testing is a process to identify defects or errors in the software. Testing helps to identify issues in the software and helps to determine the quality of the software.
2. Exhaustive testing is impossible: It is not possible to test all possible combinations and permutations of input data for any complex software system. It is important to prioritize and select a subset of test cases that are critical to the system’s functionality and performance.
3. Early testing: Testing should be conducted as early as possible in the software development life cycle. Early testing helps to identify defects and issues early in the development process, which can save time and cost of fixing defects later in the cycle.
4. Defects clustering: Defects clustering principle states that a small number of modules or areas in the software system are responsible for the majority of defects. This is the Principle known as ‘ 80% of the issues come from 20% of features.’ It is important to focus testing on these critical areas .
5. Pesticide paradox: The pesticide paradox principle states that no new defects will discover if you run the same test cases again and again after a certain period. So need to keep reviewing and updating your test suites to ensure that they are effective in detecting new defects.
6. Testing is context-dependent: Testing is context-dependent and should be developed according to the software’s requirements, complexity, and dependency. The testing strategy and approach should be tailored to meet the specific needs of the software system.
7. Absence of errors fallacy: Absence of errors fallacy principle states that testing can never prove the absence of defects in the software system. Testing only helps to identify defects and errors in the system. Therefore, it is important to continue testing the system throughout its life cycle to ensure that it meets the required quality standards.

Myth: “Principles are just for reference. No need to use them in practice .”

This is not true. Test Principles will help you create an effective Test Strategy.