A process of breaking down the system into different modules, so that it can be tested or evaluated easily, is known as Isolation Testing. This type of software testing is mainly performed when bug is difficult to locate and resolve in a software product. With the assistance of isolation testing, software testers can effortlessly find defect by repeating a test execution that resulted in a system problem.
Isolation or Isolated testing can be performed by a team of testers during various software testing procedures, such as performance testing , unit testing , and more. This is a beneficial form of testing, which allows one to find undetected defects, as well as other bugs in the system.
Characteristics of Isolation Testing:
An integral part of software testing, Isolation Testing can be categorized into three categories, which define its basic process as well as its importance in Software Testing Life Cycle. Hence, the characteristics of isolation testing are:
Time-Consuming – The main objective of isolation testing is to test various modules of a software product to find undetected and unresolved defects and errors, which can be a time-consuming process and might require extra time than usual testing.
Expensive – The process of isolation testing is an expensive one, as it requires all the items to be broken into pieces to make it atomic in nature, as well as to make it bug-free.
Highly Effective – Even though isolation testing is time-consuming and expensive, this process of software testing provides accurate outputs and helps in verifying the output of each interface and subsystems precisely.
Prerequisites of Isolation Testing:
It is crucial for software testers to validate all the necessary documents and steps that ought to be completed before the commencement of isolation testing. This ensures smooth and hassle-free testing and allows testers to get appropriate results. Therefore, to help you with the process, here are the prerequisites of isolation testing:
The software product should be divided into smaller and different modules, which can be easily tested by the testing team.
There should be stubs and drives available to retest each of the modules individually.
To confirm the fault domain the testing should be executed in isolation.
All the other necessary reports and documents related to the software under test should be present with the testing team to avoid any confusion and delay in testing.
The team should be allotted their respective tasks.
The process of testing should be monitored regularly to validate its accuracy and compatibility.
Team lead or manager should prepare a proper testing plan or process before the commencement of testing.
When to Perform Isolation Testing:
As stated above, isolation testing is mainly performed to locate undetected as well as unresolved bugs, which are usually hidden in the inner structure or code of the software. Therefore, it is a software testing method that can be implemented anywhere and anytime during the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Moreover, isolation testing is an integral part of Performance and Unit testing, wherein it plays a crucial role in finding defects and other discrepancies
Isolation Testing in Performance testing: Though isolation testing is not unique or limited to performance testing, it is usually performed by a testing team to verify the performance of a software product. In performance testing, isolation testing involves repeating a test execution that resulted in a systems problem. This is usually performed in isolation and confirms the fault domain.
Isolation Testing in Unit Testing: Isolation testing is extremely crucial for Unit Testing, which itself tests individual units and components of the software. With the assistance of isolation testing, unit testers can validate a large number of smaller abstractions. Moreover, it allows testers to break dependencies on other areas of code outside of the unit being tested.
Advantage Of Isolation Testing:
Isolated tests drive better designs.
If done earlier in STLC, it exposes design and performance mistakes before they are made.
Allows testers to break dependencies on other areas of code outside the unit being tested.
It is an effective way of locating and resolving defects and bugs from a software product or system.
Can provide accurate results.
Offers precise verification of outputs of each interface and subsystems.
Disadvantages of Isolation Testing
There is little or no flexibility in the test structure.
An isolated test for a large, complicated component requires much more effort than a test for a small one.
Isolating testing is expensive as well as time-consuming process of testing.
An amalgamation of several software testing techniques and methodologies, Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), is truly a diverse and complicated process. Isolation Testing, which is one such software testing technique is performed by software testers to locate and resolve defects and bugs from as software. With this testing technique, one can easily find hidden and undetectable defects and improve the functionality as well as the performance of software. Hence, if you want to get precise output verification, isolation testing is the best option for you.