Modern Software Testing Methodologies: How to Pick the Right One

Technologies are so common in our lives that usually, we don’t even notice how much we rely on them. But we definitely do feel it when some app freezes or crashes, preventing us from doing our everyday activities. It can be annoying, especially if it fails you at the most inopportune moment, i.e. when you have an urgent task at work. 

However, the reliance on technology expands beyond individual convenience, as critical infrastructure like power plants, communication systems, or transportation networks depend on it. And if technological failures cause any disruption, then consequences may be far-reaching, impacting societies or even whole nations.

Both scenarios won’t add points to the software developer’s rating. That’s why your product should be properly tested to ensure it’ll deliver a positive user experience. Therefore, testing is not just an option to consider — it’s a crucial part of the development process. The question is which methodology, if any, to use for your project, and this is exactly what we’ll focus on in this article.

How Software Testing Helps Improve the Product

Software testing is the methodological evaluation of the software. This proactive approach helps assess its performance and identify potential issues. Effective testing ensures that a program meets the designed software requirements and end-users will have a smooth experience using it. Let’s look at the benefits testing provides:

• Reduce bugs and errors: Identifying bugs and eliminating defects prevent crashes, freezes, and unexpected behavior, and improve overall functionality.
• Enhance performance: Identifying performance bottlenecks can help optimize the usage of system resources, making software faster and more responsive.
• Better user experience: Testing can improve usability, helping ensure a software meets expectations, it’s user-friendly and functional.
• Improved security: Nobody wants to share personal data with a software product that can’t protect it. Security testing helps safeguard software from vulnerabilities and breaches, minimizing the risk of exploits.
• Cost reduction: Reworks and bug fixes require additional costs, and security breaches may cost the whole fortune. That’s why a product tested thoroughly can prove to be quite cost-effective.

Software testing is a crucial component of the success of the product. It safeguards quality, security, and performance, and minimizes the risk of bugs. This way it ensures a positive user experience, creating trust for your brand.

There are various testing methodologies to ensure a product functions well. Knowing them will help you understand when and why each of them is used, and choose the right one when needed.

Why Are There Different Testing Methodologies?

There are various approaches to choosing the most successful testing methodology and even more ways to measure the effectiveness of your choice. But why exactly do software applications get so many different methodologies to be used in testing? Here are the key factors explaining why software testing can be done using multiple methodologies:

• Varied testing objectives: Each methodology is designed to address specific goals, such as functional correctness (e.g., unit testing), performance (e.g., load testing), security (e.g., penetration testing), or usability (e.g., user acceptance testing).
• Complexity of the software: Different parts of a software system require different types of testing. Unit tests focus on individual components, while system or integration tests check how those components work together.
• Development methodology: Methodologies like Agile or DevOps require faster and more iterative testing cycles (e.g., continuous testing, TDD, and BDD) to align with their fast-paced, collaborative development processes.
• User-centric needs: Some methodologies, like usability and acceptance testing, ensure that the software meets the end user’s expectations and provides a good user experience overall.
• Resource and time constraints: Depending on the availability of resources (time, budget, tools, and expertise), teams may choose manual or automated testing methodologies, or design a hybrid approach to testing.

Testing Types vs. Test Methodologies: What’s the Difference?

The types of software testing and the testing methodologies are two terms that have been coexisting incredibly close to one another for as long as testing has been around. Since software testing types are intertwined with methodologies and are often parts of them, it’s not uncommon for people to confuse the two concepts. However, there are some clear and distinctive differences between the two, and here is the ultimate comparison to help you know software testing methodologies from testing types.

Popular Software Testing Methodologies of Today

Software should work as designed on various devices and different situations. Different testing methodologies are the strategies used to ensure that. This makes the program more reliable for end-users and less expensive to maintain for creators.

At the same time, we should tell you that there is no definitive approach to classifying different testing methodologies. At the end of the way, the choice of the methodology depends on various factors, including the methodology used for developing the product. This is why there are now several different approaches to software QA methodologies. The most popular one is based on the same methodologies used in development, but that is not the only approach worth noting. Here are all the methodologies in software testing you can encounter today.

Traditional Methods of Software Testing

Traditional software QA testing methodologies are the most common ones. They provide a structured approach to ensure quality. Let’s consider the most prominent methodologies from this category.

The Waterfall Model

This model adopts a linear, sequential approach. This means that each stage of the development is completed step by step: requirements gathering, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance go one after another. Testing happens only after the development phase is finalized. QA engineers identify bugs and ensure that software meets the predefined requirements.

Advantages

• Simplicity: The waterfall model is straightforward; it’s easy to understand and implement. Separated phases make it easy for project managers to plan and track progress.
• Suitability: The defined structure of the waterfall model makes it a good choice for software projects with well-defined requirements and limited scope for change.

Disadvantages

• Lack of flexibility: It’s difficult to adapt this model to changing requirements. Once you move from one development stage to another it will be challenging and resource-intensive to go back and modify anything.
• Time-consuming: Since testing is the last stage of the development cycle, it may take time to fix discovered bugs. This can significantly extend the overall project timeline.

V-Model

The V-Model is built upon the waterfall model but has a more comprehensive testing approach by introducing the verification and validation (V&V) focus. Such activities as unit testing and integration testing serve as verification that software functions as designed, while activities like system testing and user acceptance validate that software meets the user’s needs.

Advantages

• Early defect identification: The type of testing uses verification activities alongside the development process. This helps detect issues sooner.
• Clear separation of concerns: A clear distinction between the verification and validation phases ensures a thorough testing process. This helps test both technical functionality and user experience.

Disadvantages

• Upfront planning: Project requirements in this model should be defined and documented upfront. It’s not easy for projects with evolving requirements.
• Unsuitable for agile environments: The V-Model has a rigid structure, which makes it less adaptable to the iterative and incremental nature of Agile development methodologies.

Agile Testing

The development methodologies evolved and so did testing methods. The agile development method caused a shift in testing practices. Agile testing methodologies focus on continuous testing throughout the whole development process. This provides faster feedback loops and helps better adapt to changes.

Advantages

• Fast feedback loop: This methodology allows rapid identification and fixing of bugs, which makes the overall development process more efficient.
• Adaptability: Testing is integrated into the development cycle which makes it easier to adapt to evolving requirements and user feedback.

Disadvantages

• Pro testers are required: Effective Scrum testing requires quickly adapting to changes and cooperating with developers throughout the sprint. That’s why the broad skill set and experience are essential for Scrum testers.
• Challenging large projects: Short sprint timeframes can pose challenges for the testing process in complex projects.

Scrum testing

An example of an agile framework is Scrum testing. This is a popular method that relies on short development sprints, typically from 1 to 4 weeks. Development is followed by continuous testing, and the QA team is involved in sprint planning. This helps ensure that software quality assurance is aligned with sprint goals.

Advantages

• Early bug detection: By spreading testing efforts evenly across the entire sprint, testing teams are able to detect issues faster, communicating their findings to the developers and resolving bugs before they have the chance to escalate.
• Increased collaboration: One of the standout features of Scrum is that it promotes continuous, productive communication between different departments, fostering transparency and accountability throughout the organization.

Disadvantages

• Extensive skills required: Scrum is not the methodology to implement in a team where the members are not used to the fast-paced Agile environment, as they will lack the expertise to deliver high-quality products under fixed sprints.
• Lack of clear roles: In Scrum, testing is part of the development process, and there may not always be distinct roles for testers. This can lead to some confusion about responsibilities, especially in teams where roles were previously clearly defined.

Kanban testing

Kanban is a visual workflow management method used in software testing to improve efficiency and adaptability. In Kanban, tasks are represented on a board, divided into columns like “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done.” This methodology, used both for development and testing, emphasizes continuous delivery and flow without overwhelming the team members, as they can focus on fewer tasks at a time.

Advantages

• Outstanding flexibility: Kanban is perfectly suited for testing projects where the requirements may change over time, making it easy for team members to prioritize tasks as they appear without having to wait until the end of the sprint.
• Focus on reducing Work in Progress: One of the goals of Kanban is to limit the number of tasks in progress, reducing the need to multitask and promoting a more focused approach. This helps improve the quality of testing and minimizes errors.

Disadvantages

• Certain level of unpredictability: With no defined sprints or time limits for iterations, delivery timelines can be hard to predict and progress can be hard to measure, at least compared to Scrum. This makes it difficult to forecast and plan projects.
• Potential for bottlenecks: Without proper management, Kanban boards can become clogged with tasks, leading to bottlenecks in specific areas of testing. If there isn’t a clear strategy for dealing with bottlenecks, there is a risk of the overall progress being delayed.

Exploratory testing

This is the learning-based methodology, which uses an on-the-fly exploration and discovery approach. It’s not a scripted method, which means testers explore the software and learn from this interaction. This method is useful in uncovering unexpected flaws and fostering creative test case design.

Advantages

• Effective for unexpected defects: Issues that could be missed by scripted tests, can be found with exploratory testing. This method is also helpful for identifying and fixing usability problems. 
• Promotes creativity: The flexible nature of exploratory testing motivates testers to think outside the box and create unique test scenarios. 

Disadvantages

• Requires experience: To use this approach, a tester should be well-skilled, think critically, and have a strong understanding of the application domain.
• Difficult to document: Exploratory testing doesn’t have a particular scenario, which makes it difficult to document and replicate.

Iterative Model

The iterative method is something between the waterfall and agile approaches. It uses an incremental development process. This means that functionality is developed, tested, and refined in iterations. This methodology helps gather faster feedback and provide issue corrections before moving to the next iteration.

Advantages

• Flexibility: The iterative model allows adjustments to requirements and functions based on testing, improving the product with each iteration. 
• Early feedback: Just like the agile model, the iterative method enables early bug detection and fixes, leading to a better-quality product.

Disadvantages

• Planning and communication: Thorough planning and efficient communication between all stakeholders is crucial for the iterative model. Otherwise, it may be challenging to ensure a smooth transition between iterations.
• Increased complexity over time: As new iterations build on previous ones, the system can become more complex, making it challenging to test the entire system thoroughly

Prototype Methodology

This type of testing involves creating prototypes, which are working but simplified models of the application. Testers are involved in the development process to identify usability issues, missing functions, and potential performance issues, and provide feedback. 

Advantages

• Early user involvement: Prototyping allows the early involvement of users in testing. This provides a better understanding of the product and allows users to give clearer feedback. It may help improve the product, meet user’s requirements, and build trust with your brand.
• Reduced risk of failure: Prototype testing helps identify potential issues, defects, or gaps early in the development process. Addressing these problems during the prototyping phase reduces the chances of project failure or costly rework later in the development cycle.

Disadvantages

• Misconceptions: Prototypes that are unfinished or not detailed enough may lead to a wrong perspective of how the final product should work.
• Increased development time: It may be time-consuming to go through several cycles of building, testing, and refining prototypes.

Spiral Software Testing

Spiral software testing creates a cyclical approach by combining elements of the waterfall model and iterative development. This method focuses a lot on risk mitigation, and each cycle involves risk detection, evaluation, mitigation, and planning. Testing is performed throughout the software development life cycle, with a focus on high-risk areas.

Advantages

• Risk mitigation: This risk-driven approach prioritizes risk identification, allowing to address critical issues in early development stages.
• Flexibility: Spiral software testing allows adjustments and adaptations based on testing results and risk assessment.

Disadvantages

• Complexity: When dealing with large projects, it may be difficult to manage the continuous risk assessment and iterative nature of the spiral model.
• Reliance on risk assessment: The success of the spiral method hinges on how precise and thorough the initial risk evaluation is.

These traditional testing methodologies can provide a solid groundwork for software quality. Yet, technologies are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and their QA may require newer approaches. 

Other Modern Methodologies of Test Coverage Creation

Modern QA testing approaches offer a wide range of techniques for testers to increase efficiency in identifying and fixing software defects. Unlike traditional methodologies, these approaches can function independently from the development process, which may have both pros and cons for the outcome of the project.

Here are the most common testing methodologies in use today.

Boundary Value Analysis (BVA)

BVA is a testing technique focused on testing software based on the specified input values. The main targets of such an approach are edge cases, like minimum and maximum values, invalid inputs, as well as conditions for error messages. The best case for using this method is to detect logic errors within the code.

Advantages

• Effective for logic errors: As this method targets edge cases, it efficiently uncovers logic mistakes, thus ensuring that software behaves as it should under different input conditions.
• Reduces test cases: Instead of testing every possible input, BVA allows testers to focus on just the boundaries. This reduces the number of test cases, saving time and effort while still maintaining the effectiveness of the tests.

Disadvantages

• Time-consuming for complex systems: BVA may be difficult and time-consuming to implement for sophisticated systems, with numerous input fields and combinations.
• Non-boundary defects may be overlooked: The main focus of BVA is edge cases, that’s why it can miss some defects within the valid input range.

Equivalence Partitioning

Equivalence partitioning is similar to BVA but unlike it, equivalence partitioning divides the input domain into groups (partitions) with similar behavior. Then, QA engineers create test cases to represent each group. This aims to cover the whole input space and avoid unnecessary redundancy.

Advantages

• Streamlining the process: Equivalence partitioning is a structured way to design test cases. This helps streamline the process and reduce the risk of missing crucial functionality.
• Reducing redundancy: Partitioning allows the team to focus on representative testing of each particular group, which minimizes redundant testing.

Disadvantages

• May overlook boundary cases: This method may lead to missing edge cases by overlooking defects outside the defined petitions.
• Requires a strong understanding of requirements: A clear understanding of software’s requirements and functionalities is critical for the effective use of this method. Without this understanding, it’s difficult to define appropriate partitions. 

Black Box Testing

Black box testing is a software testing method where the tester evaluates the functionality of the application without any knowledge of its internal workings or code structure. The focus is on input and output — testers provide inputs and verify that the outputs meet expected results. 

Black box testing commonly used in functional testing, where the goal is to ensure that the system behaves as intended for the end user. Since testers don’t see the internal code, this approach reproduces real-world usage scenarios and emphasizes user experience.

Advantages

• No need for code knowledge: Testers don’t need to understand the inner workings of the system. They can focus on the product’s functionality from a user’s perspective, making this method ideal for functional testing.
• User-centric approach: Since it mimics real-world use cases, it helps ensure the software meets end-user expectations, allowing the company to develop software that end users will actually enjoy operating.

Disadvantages

• Limited test coverage: Since the internal code isn’t examined, critical code paths or edge cases may be overlooked, which can lead the team to potentially miss defects in the logic or structure of the system.
• Inefficient for complex systems: Testing large systems can result in a significant number of test cases, leading to inefficiency and longer testing cycles when black box testing is the main methodology employed on the project.

White Box Testing

White box testing (also known as clear box or glass box testing) involves testing the internal structure, code, and logic of the software. Testers must have access to the application’s source code and typically require programming skills. The goal is to verify the flow of inputs through the code, checking the execution of paths, conditions, loops, and statements.

White box testing is particularly effective for unit testing and ensuring that each code segment operates correctly. This method helps detect security vulnerabilities, code efficiency issues, and logic errors early in the development process.

Advantages

• In-depth test coverage: Testers examine the internal structure and logic, allowing for comprehensive test coverage, especially for paths, loops, and conditions.
• Early bug detection: Since white box testing can start during development, issues related to security vulnerabilities, logic, or structure can be identified early.

Disadvantages

• Requires code knowledge: Testers must have a deep understanding of the code, which requires time and technical expertise, making it more resource-intensive.
• Can be time-consuming: Testing each line of code thoroughly can be time-consuming, especially in large systems.

Gray Box Testing

Gray box testing is a hybrid approach that combines aspects of both black box and white box testing. The tester has partial knowledge of the internal workings of the system, allowing for more targeted test cases than black box, but without the full access that white box provides. Testers use this limited insight to test both the functionality and internal processes of the application.

Gray box testing helps identify defects that may not be visible from an external perspective alone, while still emphasizing the user experience and functionality from the outside.

Advantages

• Balanced approach: Gray box testing combines the strengths of both black and white box testing. Testers have limited knowledge of the internal code, allowing them to test more thoroughly than black box testing while not needing full code access.
• Efficient bug identification: Testers can identify defects related to internal system structure and logic while also ensuring functionality from an external perspective.

Disadvantages

• Requires both technical and functional skills: Testers need a mix of technical and functional knowledge, which can be harder to find or may require specialized training.
• Incomplete security testing: While gray box testing can help find some security issues, a more complete method like white box testing may be required for thorough detection of vulnerabilities.

Test Driven Development

Test driven development (TDD) is a software development process in which developers write tests for a new feature before writing the actual code. The process follows a cycle: write a failing test, write the minimal code needed to pass the test, and then refactor the code for optimization.

This ensures that the code is well-tested from the beginning and adheres to the principle of “test first, code later.” TDD improves code quality by creating clean, modular, and testable code, and it’s often used in Agile environments to support continuous integration and delivery.

Advantages

• Improved code quality: Writing tests first ensures that the code is better structured, maintainable, and more dependable overall.
• Immediate feedback: Developers get instant feedback on whether new code passes or fails the tests.

Disadvantages

• Time-consuming: Writing tests before coding adds time, especially in the short term, as both tests and code need to be written and maintained.
• Not suitable for all projects: TDD is challenging to implement in projects where requirements are unclear or frequently changing.

Behavior Driven Development

Behavior driven development (BDD) is an extension of TDD that focuses on the behavior of the application as described in plain language. BDD encourages collaboration between developers, testers, and non-technical stakeholders, allowing the behavior of the system to be defined through user stories written in a simple syntax. These user stories follow a “Given-When-Then” format, ensuring that all stakeholders have a shared understanding of how the software should behave.

BDD bridges the gap between technical and business teams, emphasizing communication and collaboration in the development process.

Advantages

• Clarity in requirements: User stories written in plain language make requirements clearer and easier to validate, reducing misunderstandings.
• Shared understanding: All team members, including non-technical stakeholders, can contribute to the definition of software behavior.

Disadvantages

• Challenges in writing scenarios: Defining behavior in detail can be time-consuming, and writing “Given-When-Then” scenarios may become difficult on complex projects.
• May be overkill for small projects: For small-scale projects or projects with tight deadlines, BDD’s structured approach may add unnecessary complexity.

How to Choose the Right Software Methodology for Testing

There are various software QA testing methodologies and every testing methodology has its advantages and disadvantages. It’s common to combine multiple methods, this helps to create a test plan, tailored to the specific needs of a project. But even if you decide to choose more than one approach, it’s crucial to know what factors to consider. Here they are.

Project Type

The first thing that impacts the testing methodology is the type of the software being developed. For example, if an application will store sensitive information (like medical or banking software), it needs a rigorous method, like V-Model, while for simple web apps with limited features exploratory and functional testing would be enough.

Resources

Resources like automation tools, skilled testers, and testing infrastructure play a critical role in choosing a testing approach. For example, equivalence partitioning simplifies testing by dividing the domain into groups. This reduces the need for extensive skills, which makes it the preferable method for projects with limited resources. On the other hand, projects with ample resources can consider more sophisticated methodologies.

Timelines

When considering a testing methodology for your project, it’s important to take into account project deadlines. For projects with tight timelines, agile methodology with continuous testing will be the best fit, while projects with longer development cycles may benefit from a phased approach of the waterfall model.

Combining Different Approaches

It’s rare for one methodology or approach to be enough for a comprehensive testing of the entire software application. The most effective way is to strategically combine various methods to create a tailored plan.

For example, a project can use equivalence partitioning to test the core functionality, while leveraging exploratory testing to identify unexpected defects. Or use performance testing to check how fast and stable the app is and regular functional testing to check if it works as it should.

Careful considerations of project requirements, timelines, and available resources help testers select and combine QA testing methodologies that provide well-rounded testing and deliver optimal results. Combining different approaches enables QA engineers to identify and address a wider range of defects, which ultimately helps you deliver quality software.

When a Methodology Helps You Deliver Quality Software and When to Go Without It

The many benefits of QA methodologies make it easy to think that a methodology is a mandatory part of any testing project. However, as the goal of our guide to software testing methodologies is to give you the most informed idea of the role of methodologies in the modern testing landscape, we should tell you that while there are many projects that would benefit from one, there are also projects that can conclude successfully without a methodology in place.

Here is where you definitely need to implement a QA methodology:

• Your project requires structured testing. When projects are complex and have multiple stakeholders or development teams, a structured approach to testing through the right methodology ensures consistency, quality, and accountability across the whole operation.
• You need to improve QA efficiency. When the team invests a lot of effort into the testing process but still frequently encounters missed bugs, unmet deadlines, or poor communication, a methodology will help better organize the testing process for maximum efficiency.
• Regulatory compliance is required. When you’re operating in an industry that is strictly regulated (e.g., healthcare or fintech), a more formalized approach to testing is required. A comprehensive testing methodology will ensure thorough testing, well-defined deliverables, and traceability.
• The project has a long life cycle. With a long development cycle, as well as continuous maintenance and frequent upgrades, you can avoid the risk of testing dropping in quality and consistency with the use of a methodology that focuses on regression testing and automation.

Now, when is a testing methodology unnecessary or even not really a good idea? Here is where you can do without it:

• Small or simple projects. Any methodology model for testing works best for medium and large projects. When you only need to test one feature or test a prototype of proof-of-concept, ad-hoc testing or exploratory testing are both very good options.
• Flexibility over structure. When you are dealing with a highly experimental project where both the requirements and the outcomes can evolve rapidly, a testing methodology may put unnecessary constraints on the whole thing, limiting your options and decisions.
• Time and budget constraints. Operating under time constraints or on a tight budget usually means there are not enough resources to implement an all-encompassing testing methodology, especially when the QA team has no experience with the necessary methodology and there isn’t enough time to master it.

How Companies Leverage Testing Methodologies: Case Studies

With so many different methodologies in software testing, finding the one that would become a perfect fit for your project isn’t always easy. Sometimes, it’s a good idea to look up to the world’s best-known software companies to see which QA methodologies have worked well for them. 

Google and Test-Driven Development

As Google’s number of products and competition in the market were both growing, the company faced the challenge of needing to speed up the development cycles while maintaining the steadily high quality of products. Google’s solution to this challenge was to adopt the test-driven development methodology.

Having the development team write tests before writing actual code helped Google reach an important objective: from that moment on, code changes would not break the existing functionality. As a result, the company has been able to maintain code quality and reliability at scale. With automated unit tests in place, developers could quickly identify and fix bugs during early development stages. TDD also promoted cleaner, more modular code across Google’s extensive codebases.

Facebook and Continuous Testing in a DevOps Environment

Facebook is one of the biggest software companies in the world that operates on an enormous scale as millions of lines of code are being written every day and changes being introduced to the products daily. To tackle the increasing amount and complexity of testing that needed to be done, Facebook introduced Continuous Integration and Continuous Testing as part of their DevOps pipeline. With this approach, automated tests are run continuously as code is integrated, ensuring every code commit is tested before deployment.

The implementation of continuous testing allowed Facebook to quickly roll out changes while maintaining overall system stability. The extensive automation and the use of parallel testing also reduced the need for manual regression testing, causing the team to redirect their efforts to where they mattered the most and improve overall user experience.

Airbnb and Agile Testing and Continuous Deployment

Like many software companies of its caliber, Airbnb constantly had to balance between needing to release updates often and maintaining system reliability and security in the process. To make sure both of these needs were being met, Airbnb leaned into Agile testing practices, pairing them with Continuous Deployment. The company’s development team executes automated tests after each commit. Moreover, Behavior-Driven Testing is used to better align the testing process with the business goals and user stories.

The combination of Agile, Continuous Deployment, and consistent automation has been nothing but beneficial for Airbnb. The company can now regularly roll out new features and improvements without the risk of introducing new bugs or compromising the state of the application. BDD also helps make sure the tests directly correspond to business requirements, allowing Airbnb to release the features users want to see.

Final Word

The selection of the appropriate testing methodology is an integral component of successful testing and, as a result, quality software. The right strategy maximizes defect detection and improves deliverables It acts as a roadmap, helping testers deal with issues before the software application reaches the end-user. 

However development processes and features of the software become more intricate, so testing methods should adapt and improve. Looking toward the future, we can expect even more intertwining of development and testing methodologies. AI-based tools will be used for automation testing, and testing teams need to embrace continuous learning and innovation.

But what will remain the same is the critical role of the software testing process in the creation of exceptional software applications.