Software Testing Models | What it is, Types & How They Work?

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<p>Control flow graph(CFG) in software testing is the key to unlocking the hidden pathways of a program&#8217;s logic, allowing testers to uncover potential pitfalls and ensure robust functionality. Just like an explorer relies on a map to chart their course through unknown territory, a tester leans on the CFG to guide them through the twists and turns of code execution.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Just as a well-drawn map can make a trip more enjoyable and less prone to wrong turns, a well-constructed CFG simplifies the testing process, making it more efficient and effective.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Not just that, CFG has more to do with software testing. This blog will discuss everything about control flow graphs and control flow testing in software testing.</p>



<p>Before we get into how control flow testing works, let&#8217;s see what control flow graph is and how control flow graph plays an important role in software testing.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_a_Control_Flow_Graph"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is a Control Flow Graph?</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_Control_Flow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> What is Control Flow Testing?</a><ul><li><a href="#How_Control_Flow_Testing_Done"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">2.1</span> How Control Flow Testing Done?</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Purpose_of_Control_Flow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> Purpose of Control Flow Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Control_Testing_Example"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Control Testing Example</a></li><li><a href="#Uses_of_Control_Flow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> Uses of Control Flow Testing</a></li><li><a href="#Notation_of_Control_Flow_Testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Notation of Control Flow Testing</a><ul><li><a href="#Node"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.1</span> Node</a></li><li><a href="#Edge"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.2</span> Edge</a></li><li><a href="#Decision_Node"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.3</span> Decision Node</a></li><li><a href="#Junction_Node"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.4</span> Junction Node</a></li><li><a href="#Control_Flow_Testing_Notations_8211_Example"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.5</span> Control Flow Testing Notations &#8211; Example</a></li><li><a href="#Sample_Control_Flow_Graph"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.6</span> Sample Control Flow Graph</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Control_Flow_Testing_Process"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Control Flow Testing Process</a><ul><li><a href="#1_Control_Flow_Graph_Creation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.1</span> 1. Control Flow Graph Creation</a></li><li><a href="#2_Coverage_Target"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.2</span> 2. Coverage Target</a></li><li><a href="#3_Test_Case_Creation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.3</span> 3. Test Case Creation</a></li><li><a href="#4_Test_Case_Execution"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.4</span> 4. Test Case Execution</a></li><li><a href="#5_Analysis"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">7.5</span> 5. Analysis</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Control_Flow_Testing_Advantages"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Control Flow Testing Advantages</a></li><li><a href="#Control_Flow_Testing_Disadvantages"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">9</span> Control Flow Testing Disadvantages</a></li><li><a href="#Summary"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">10</span> Summary</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">11</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_importance_of_a_control_flow_graph"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">11.1</span> What is the importance of a control flow graph?</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-a-control-flow-graph"><span id="What_is_a_Control_Flow_Graph"><strong>What is a Control Flow Graph?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Control Flow Graph is a visual representation of a program&#8217;s control flow, showing how the program progresses through various statements and decision points.</p>



<p>The control flow graph was developed by Frances E. Allen, inspired by Reese T. Prosser&#8217;s use of boolean connectivity matrices for flow analysis.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-is-control-flow-testing"><span id="What_is_Control_Flow_Testing"><strong>What is Control Flow Testing?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Control flow testing is a software testing technique that helps ensure that the different paths a program can take are tested. It is a white-box testing technique. The goal of control flow testing is to verify that all possible execution paths of a program behave as expected.</p>



<p><strong><em>Need more clarity?</em></strong><strong> </strong>Let me explain it in a way that is as easy as ABC.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Imagine you have a computer program with a set of instructions for the computer to follow. Sometimes, the program can go in different ways based on certain conditions (like if-else statements in code).</p>



<p>Now, the testers will test all these different paths to ensure the program works correctly. Simply put, it is like checking that different roads on a map lead to the right destination.</p>



<h3 id="h-how-control-flow-testing-done"><span id="How_Control_Flow_Testing_Done"><strong>How Control Flow Testing Done?</strong></span></h3>



<p>Control flow testing is usually performed using a control flow graph (CFG), which is a graphical representation of the flow of a program.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The CFG shows the different nodes in the program, such as statements, branches, and loops, and the edges between them.</p>



<p>The software tester will start by creating CFG, which will help them identify all the possible execution paths of a program. Then, the tester can create test cases to cover each path.</p>



<h2 id="h-purpose-of-control-flow-testing"><span id="Purpose_of_Control_Flow_Testing"><strong>Purpose of Control Flow Testing</strong></span></h2>



<p>A <a href="https://www.scribd.com/presentation/193784605/Controlflow-Testing">study</a> states that control flow testing helps detect 50% of bugs during unit testing. And that is about 33% of all bugs.</p>



<p>But, control flow testing cannot find all bugs in a program. For example, it can not find interface issues.</p>



<p>Here are some examples of control flow testing,</p>



<ul><li>Testing all branches of an if statement.</li><li>Testing all cases of a switch statement.</li><li>Checking all possible iterations of a loop.</li><li>Testing the error handling.</li><li>Testing the performance of the application for different inputs.</li></ul>



<p>By testing all possible paths through a program, testers can ensure that the program is high quality and meets user requirements.</p>



<h2 id="h-control-testing-example"><span id="Control_Testing_Example"><strong>Control Testing Example</strong></span></h2>



<p>Let&#8217;s look at an example program in Java and see how control flow testing works.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/PL_I_YgR50mqW9Oz7mb6qqUlL8h_gkt7giKLQ_ffROJyAtlmROUVBuzYWxPvEzUTjq9SNDH3xLQAMzot-K8ZOBA6-4DgCZRmKAQcOXNRkm4pQgXUWwgEHb6sN7IHsMLpQDkxxbCq_PJnR-2XKxyl8cE" alt="Control Flow Testing Example"/></figure></div>



<p>Control flow testing will help testers test all the possible paths the above program can take. That way, they can make sure the program works as expected with any path.</p>



<h2 id="h-uses-of-control-flow-testing"><span id="Uses_of_Control_Flow_Testing"><strong>Uses of Control Flow Testing</strong></span></h2>



<p>Control flow testing, a type of white box testing, involves analyzing program code by executing test cases. Another approach involves executing data flow.</p>



<p>Here are the key uses of control flow testing:</p>



<ul><li><strong>Unit Testing &#8211;</strong> Control flow testing is mainly in <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/unit-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unit testing</a>. It aims to identify the different paths of execution in the code. Test cases are then created based on these paths and executed.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>Control Flow Graphs &#8211;</strong> This testing involves creating control flow graphs. These graphs provide a visual representation of how the program flows. By analyzing these paths, testers will be able to write various test cases.</li></ul>



<ul><li><strong>High Test Coverage &#8211;</strong> When testing with CFGs, every node and edge in the graph is covered. Thus, it helps achieve high test coverage.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-notation-of-control-flow-testing"><span id="Notation_of_Control_Flow_Testing"><strong>Notation of Control Flow Testing</strong></span></h2>



<p>Control flow testing consists of four nodes, namely,</p>



<ol><li>Node</li><li>Edge</li><li>Decision Node</li><li>Junction node</li></ol>



<h3 id="h-node"><span id="Node"><strong>Node</strong></span></h3>



<p>A node represents a basic block of code. It is a section of code that runs from start to end. The nodes show the order of procedure in a program. They help testers to identify what step comes next, making it easy to understand the sequence of actions.</p>



<h3 id="h-edge"><span id="Edge"><strong>Edge</strong></span></h3>



<p>An edge represents a possible transition or flow of control from one node to another.</p>



<h3 id="h-decision-node"><span id="Decision_Node"><strong>Decision Node</strong></span></h3>



<p>A decision node, also known as a conditional node, represents a point in the program where a decision is made based on a condition (e.g., an if-else statement).</p>



<h3 id="h-junction-node"><span id="Junction_Node"><strong>Junction Node</strong></span></h3>



<p>A junction node is a point in the program where at least three nodes meet. It is used to represent points where multiple branches merge back into a single path or split into multiple paths. Simply put, junction nodes are where different nodes lead to one node.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/v-yrHnlBdyx8ISC-yIRSQ6eLt3AACyUJmAeuBKcc2eNMjBYatI5KMyLdwOcG9bcmyhyrPe97hiijOa_QrTiFknwQ4GL6dm0Y9E-rPHBt4EtUYkLXVrNooy-jJEcmxU4Sdh6B413cxKgMEn3ggpA9X18" alt="Notations of Control Flow Graph"/></figure></div>



<h3 id="h-control-flow-testing-notations-example"><span id="Control_Flow_Testing_Notations_8211_Example"><strong>Control Flow Testing Notations &#8211; Example</strong></span></h3>



<p>Let&#8217;s understand these notations using a simple program. The below program checks if a person is eligible to vote or not.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/d6nSmiiPu8O-wbsUToHk-qhNnBDd_L3kjkE_Pt8FLrR4j-T4b_ffjNAnO1sVC2gvd0dEXRAoLS5jkvohpD5vkC-ZXnCYEDYR_B4lUbeSiHOGhxWLg3WYInrU7XRtEI7ODNyUj72tU14QVsBaxUrUPxo" alt="Control flow testing in software testing"/></figure></div>



<p><strong>What will this program do?</strong></p>



<p>Simple, it takes two paths, as follows,</p>



<ul><li>If x is greater than or equal to 18, it prints the message &#8220;You are eligible to vote.&#8221;</li><li>Else, when x is less than 18, it prints the message &#8220;You aren&#8217;t eligible to vote.&#8221;</li></ul>



<p><em>Here, the input value &#8216;x&#8217; denotes the age.</em></p>



<h3 id="h-sample-control-flow-graph"><span id="Sample_Control_Flow_Graph"><strong>Sample Control Flow Graph</strong></span></h3>



<p>Now, the control flow graph for the above program will be as follows,</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/SWz4jNIu4yJ-htpSWpHLZZH0rSSnTuBUxh4-c4khbfTawpQ7ND62YCDalnlTGFnWgf5G1Rnfw1xGl-pqANiGZSP2kLYm-kmB8KFHCyAaPAjSorFyBfb2XSlyXU_JYdw2rd0ffboONfDnB08CgWgCing" alt="Control Flow Graph"/></figure></div>



<p>Let&#8217;s see which are what notations.</p>



<ul><li>Nodes &#8211; Start, Age, Eligible, Not Eligible, Stop</li><li>Decision node &#8211; x&gt;=18</li><li>The last node that leads to the stop is the Junction node.</li><li>Edge &#8211; All the direction arrows that connect the nodes</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-control-flow-testing-process"><span id="Control_Flow_Testing_Process"><strong>Control Flow Testing Process</strong></span></h2>



<p>The control flow testing process involves the following steps,</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/aUNjJltNeUEgZUA9wXB-qPxYfkpJfqOLTWHUplWpDdRP8KWjPipNWeVfdBcf0QjPZDsIG22l5PnoovA7y2dyZbI2DBGnNRrPE9qdz4XDwvCMeRPCXyWYJEhofFOOTf85WDaXxDABHpEZRpJjKXObnZo" alt="Control flow testing process"/></figure>



<h3 id="h-1-control-flow-graph-creation"><span id="1_Control_Flow_Graph_Creation">1. Control Flow Graph Creation</span></h3>



<p>Start by creating a control flow graph, a visual representation of how the program runs based on the source code. It can be created manually or with a software.</p>



<h3 id="h-2-coverage-target"><span id="2_Coverage_Target">2. Coverage Target</span></h3>



<p>A coverage target is defined over the CFG, which includes nodes, paths, edges, branches, etc. Here, testers will decide what part of the graph has to be tested.</p>



<h3 id="h-3-test-case-creation"><span id="3_Test_Case_Creation">3. Test Case Creation</span></h3>



<p>Develop specific test scenarios and test cases based on the control flow graph to cover the designed coverage target.</p>



<h3 id="h-4-test-case-execution"><span id="4_Test_Case_Execution">4. Test Case Execution</span></h3>



<p>Now, execute the test cases that were created to target specific parts of the program.</p>



<h3 id="h-5-analysis"><span id="5_Analysis">5. Analysis</span></h3>



<p>Analyze the test results and find out if the program behaves as expected or not.</p>



<h2 id="h-control-flow-testing-advantages"><span id="Control_Flow_Testing_Advantages"><strong>Control Flow Testing</strong> <strong>Advantages</strong></span></h2>



<p>Control flow testing offers several benefits as follows,</p>



<ul><li>It identifies nearly half of the defects found during unit testing.</li><li>It also pinpoints around one-third of the total program defects.</li><li>Control flow testing can be performed manually or using test automation platforms. With <a href="https://testsigma.com/automated-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">automated testing</a>, you can make your testing super fast and efficient.</li></ul>



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<ul><li>It helps detect at least one-third of the defects of the overall program. Thus, it increases the efficiency of testing.</li><li>It helps test every edge and node in a program, thereby helping achieve high test coverage.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-control-flow-testing-disadvantages"><span id="Control_Flow_Testing_Disadvantages"><strong>Control Flow Testing</strong> <strong>Disadvantages</strong></span></h2>



<p>Though it offers advantages, it has other drawbacks as follows,</p>



<ul><li>Identifying missing paths in a large control flow graph can be challenging, mainly when one person handles the program and its model.</li><li>Control flow testing may not detect all errors during the variable&#8217;s instantiation.</li><li>The errors identified during specification may not always be detected during testing.</li><li>Detecting mistakes or discrepancies in the interface is particularly difficult during testing.</li><li>It is not possible to detect flaws in the user interface. So, you will have to do comprehensive <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/automated-gui-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Automated GUI testing</a> to find interface issues.</li></ul>



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<h2 id="h-summary"><span id="Summary"><strong>Summary</strong></span></h2>



<p>Just like following a roadmap on a journey, control flow testing guides us through the intricate pathways of code, helping us to identify potential issues and verify the correctness of the software.</p>



<p>It allows testers to design test cases that cover all possible scenarios, making sure that no stone is left unturned. Whether you manually perform testing or automate it, the control flow testing ensures that the software behaves as expected and handles different inputs.</p>



<h2 id="h-frequently-asked-questions"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Questions"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="h-what-is-the-importance-of-a-control-flow-graph"><span id="What_is_the_importance_of_a_control_flow_graph">What is the importance of a control flow graph?</span></h3>



<p>The control flow graph identifies all possible paths through the code, ensuring comprehensive test coverage. It helps us identify inaccessible areas of the program and is great for identifying loops and other conditional statements in the code.</p>



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<p>Modern software includes a large amount of software components, and it makes the software system complex. As the system gets complicated, it is difficult to understand the product over a period of time, and it introduces a lot of risks. Software Architecture streamlines the process by arranging all components in way that they are easy to understand and execute.</p>



<p>Unlike development, the software testing teams might lack test architects, which will result in poor test planning, design, and strategies. Furthermore, it can increase the chances of the system failing when it is released.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The software testing industry is learning from its mistakes and slowly the testing team has started to appoint software test architects to design powerful test architecture in terms of security, performance, functionality usage, etc.</p>



<div id="toc_container" class="no_bullets"><p class="toc_title">Table Of Contents</p><ul class="toc_list"><li><a href="#What_is_Test_Architecture"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">1</span> What is Test Architecture?</a></li><li><a href="#What_does_Test_Architecture_take"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">2</span> What does Test Architecture take?</a></li><li><a href="#History_of_Test_Architecture"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">3</span> History of Test Architecture</a></li><li><a href="#Why_create_test_architecturenbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">4</span> Why create test architecture?&nbsp;</a></li><li><a href="#What_is_the_role_of_the_test_architect"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">5</span> What is the role of the test architect?</a></li><li><a href="#Test_architecture_explained_with_an_example"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">6</span> Test architecture explained with an example</a><ul><li><a href="#Test_Pyramid"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.1</span> Test Pyramid</a></li><li><a href="#Responsibilities"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.2</span> Responsibilities</a></li><li><a href="#Tools_and_Infrastructure"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.3</span> Tools and Infrastructure</a></li><li><a href="#Testing_process"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">6.4</span> Testing process</a></li></ul></li><li><a href="#Test_Architecture_and_Test_Automation"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">7</span> Test Architecture and Test Automation</a></li><li><a href="#Frequently_Asked_Questions"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_1">8</span> Frequently Asked Questions</a><ul><li><a href="#What_is_the_project_architecture_for_testing"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">8.1</span> What is the project architecture for testing?</a></li><li><a href="#nbspIsn8217t_Test_Architecture_similar_to_Test_Planningnbsp"><span class="toc_number toc_depth_2">8.2</span> &nbsp;Isn&#8217;t Test Architecture similar to Test Planning?&nbsp;</a></li></ul></li></ul></div>
<h2 id="h-what-is-test-architecture"><span id="What_is_Test_Architecture"><strong>What is Test Architecture?</strong></span></h2>



<p>Test architecture is the concrete level of guidelines and recommendations to how and when to test based on the system, complexity, environment, and testing tools focused on the delivery to achieve the best possible outcome.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Test architecture might not be required for all the projects. For example, if a project is very small and doesn’t include many components, you can directly jump into the test strategy document. The small project may last only for a few months, so it makes sense not to have test architecture. However, if you are dealing with a complex project or life-critical project then the test architecture is much required.</p>



<h2 id="h-what-does-test-architecture-take"><span id="What_does_Test_Architecture_take"><strong>What does Test Architecture take?</strong></span></h2>



<p>The test architecture requires in-depth knowledge of your project, domain, organization standards, governance, compliance, technology stacks that the organization is using, and delivery practices followed.</p>



<p>The test architect should have good expertise in testing using both automation and manual. He should clearly understand the requirements and roadmaps. The test architecture should be designed for the future so he should make valid assumptions and risks before the start. Depending on the project the test architecture may be a one-time activity or it may evolve as the project evolves, so the architecture should be flexible and robust.</p>



<h2 id="h-history-of-test-architecture"><span id="History_of_Test_Architecture"><strong>History of Test Architecture</strong></span></h2>



<p>The concept of testing was introduced soon after the first software was evolved. It takes back to 1950 when Tom Kilburn wrote the first piece of software. Around 1958 the first team was formed specifically for testing. Thereafter the software testing started evolving it took various directions to streamline the process.&nbsp;</p>



<p>From 1980 to 2000 a lot of evolution happened. It took testing to a new level. During this era, the testing practices and approaches were defined, and new tools arrived specifically for testing purposes.&nbsp; A separate branch was started and called Software Quality Engineering. Later the test architecture, test strategy, and test plan recommendations started to evolve.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Today, Most companies have a dedicated Quality assurance team which will contain test architects, manual testers, and automation testers. Organizations have learned the importance of testing so significant investment is made in software testing resources, tools, and infrastructure.</p>



<h2 id="h-why-create-test-architecture"><span id="Why_create_test_architecturenbsp"><strong>Why create test architecture?&nbsp;</strong></span></h2>



<p>The test architecture is important, especially when you are dealing with a complex project or expecting the project to grow in the near future. The test architecture helps to reduce the risks and eliminate the assumptions before delivery.&nbsp;</p>



<p>As you are aware, anything you do randomly may not help in a better outcome. The test architecture streamlines the entire process of testing. Unlike other testing activities, it&#8217;s not focused on a single testing activity rather it is focused on the entire testing and the testing team aims to deliver a high-quality product. Some of the reasons why test architecture is important are listed below.</p>



<ul><li>Helps streamline the testing process</li><li>Helps to reduce the risks associated with delivery</li><li>It helps to define the testing ecosystem, such as the testing environment, infrastructure tools for test automation, manual testing, and anything that is part of the system.</li><li>Helps in documenting the gaps in testing and aligning accordingly</li><li>Brings the testing team, testing process, and tools under a single umbrella, irrespective of manual, automation, or <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/non-functional-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">non-functional testing</a>.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-what-is-the-role-of-the-test-architect"><span id="What_is_the_role_of_the_test_architect"><strong>What is the role of the test architect?</strong></span></h2>



<p>The test architect&#8217;s role is as important as development. As companies start adopting automation into their organization, the test architect role becomes more critical. Having said that, not everyone can become a test architect as it requires passion to explore and a deep level of understanding in testing and product; some roles may also demand knowledge of DevOps.</p>



<p>&nbsp;Let’s look at the test architect role at a glanceo</p>



<ul><li>One should have the passion to explore the current technologies in testing and should explore the possibilities of adopting them to the current project</li><li>He/She should be senior enough to make the right decisions with a deep-level understanding of organizational practices and strategies.</li><li>One should understand the product and work with the product managers and stakeholders.</li><li>The architect will be the key person in the testing team; he should guide and mentor the team by defining the strategy, clear goals, and milestones.</li><li>Architects should build, monitor, and adapt the new technologies throughout the product life cycle</li><li>Identify the testing gaps and provide a timely plan to fill them</li><li>He should also concentrate on the documentation</li><li>Though the role doesn’t involve people management, he should ensure the team members are updated with all technical aspects and understand the process correctly</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-test-architecture-explained-with-an-example"><span id="Test_architecture_explained_with_an_example"><strong>Test architecture explained with an example</strong></span></h2>



<p>The test architecture differs from project to project. The test architecture depends on a lot of factors as explained above. Let’s look at the example of test architecture at a glance.</p>



<p>Consider an example of any simple product. Let&#8217;s look at the general way of test architecture.</p>



<h3 id="h-test-pyramid"><span id="Test_Pyramid"><strong>Test Pyramid</strong></span></h3>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/k7EMIwS8rcVpRVEK8hKG_Rj9VMZ_8VpPF9XkSS7shVM8AegnGBvnVJgI4KI1U9bhOy9w-T2WxqbZS4sLUpUIWFws2wAnMbUkz50HkWQRJ92oygDO5t4KPSSPIAfhaNBSZtKZm2pjSUY_mNS_l2C3hQ" alt="Test Pyramid"/></figure></div>



<p>The <a href="https://testsigma.com/blog/testing-pyramid/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test pyramid</a> design is the first step while building the test architecture. The test pyramid is about different types of tests, such as unit tests, API and Integration tests, and end-to-end tests, and their percentage. Additionally, you can also add manual tests or acceptance tests into the test pyramid.</p>



<h3 id="h-responsibilities"><span id="Responsibilities"><strong>Responsibilities</strong></span></h3>



<p>Once you choose the testing types that you are going to adopt for the project, you need to decide who is responsible for what, for example, developers need to write the unit tests, and the QA team is responsible for the end-to-end tests, etc.</p>



<h3 id="h-tools-and-infrastructure"><span id="Tools_and_Infrastructure"><strong>Tools and Infrastructure</strong></span></h3>



<p>The test architecture should clearly define the tools that they are going to use. For example for automation tests, the tool will be Testsigma; for manual test repository it will be in the Testlink, etc. Further you need to decide on the DevOps integration, execution frequency, etc.</p>



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<h3 id="h-testing-process"><span id="Testing_process"><strong>Testing process</strong></span></h3>



<p>The testing process defines when testing is carried out on different environments such as QA, Staging, Production, etc. Additionally, you can also define when the automation scripting will be done &#8211; is it the same sprint or n-1 sprint?</p>



<p>The above are initial tasks, once you complete the initial tasks, the test architecture should further move on to in-depth.<br></p>



<p>The in-depth scenarios are listed below:</p>



<ul><li>Define a clear roadmap for automation, manual testing, and non-functional testing</li><li>Design the robust automation framework</li><li>Write the automation test cases</li><li>Document the manual test cases</li><li>Define the standards for automation</li><li>Set the target for automation</li><li>Define the non-functional testing requirement (NFR)</li><li>Choose the tools and environment for NFR</li><li>Define test strategy document</li><li>Define the test plan</li></ul>



<p>As mentioned earlier, there may be additional activities based on the project and product complexity. Remember that anything which is part of testing is also part of test architecture.</p>



<h2 id="h-test-architecture-and-test-automation"><span id="Test_Architecture_and_Test_Automation"><strong>Test Architecture and Test Automation</strong></span></h2>



<p>The test architect role has gained importance because of automation. Automation is the key area in modern testing. The test architecture of automation depends on the framework type you choose.&nbsp;</p>



<ul><li>Evaluate the requirements against the automation tools, and choose the best tool for the project.</li><li>Create the automation framework based on the industry standard principles and practices.</li></ul>



<p>The framework can be keyword-driven, page object model, hybrid, modular framework, or codeless automation framework</p>



<ul><li>Document the checklist and standards that are necessary to maintain while writing the codes.</li><li>Define the automation execution strategy.</li></ul>



<p>The automation execution strategy is the broader term, it includes a lot of activities such as:</p>



<ul><li>Browser types and browser versions</li><li>Platform or operating system and its version</li><li>Frequency of Sanity, Smoke, and regression tests</li><li>Suite level execution</li><li>Executing different types of tests such as Integration, API, and End to end tests</li><li>Integration with DevOps such as Continuous Integration(CI)/Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines<br></li><li>Test reporting and analysis</li></ul>



<p>Based on the scheduled frequency, the reports will be generated.<br>&#8211; If you find the test case failure, how to analyze and who will do that?<br>&#8211; Before logging the failure as a defect, what are the necessary steps required?<br>&#8211; When and what to share with the stakeholders</p>



<ul><li>Documentation</li></ul>



<p>Documentation is much more important but most of the team lacks. The automation test architecture document should be accurate and simple. For example, if a new joiner comes into your team, he should be able to set up and follow the process without asking anyone. The documentation reduces the knowledge transfer efforts, and it makes onboarding quicker.</p>



<ul><li>Manual vs Automation</li></ul>



<p>The target for automation is set at the beginning however, it is also a known fact that 100% automation is impossible. How to deal with non-automated test cases. How <a href="https://testsigma.com/guides/manual-testing/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manual testing </a>is carried out etc. should be defined in the test architecture.</p>



<ul><li>Communication</li></ul>



<p>The test architect works with multiple teams such as development, DevOps, testing, and business/product team. So the test architect is responsible for communication with stakeholders. If there are any challenges from the development team he should be able to work with them and get them resolved.</p>



<p>The complexity of the test architecture for automation depends on the tool you choose. Because some tools require creating the framework, some come with a framework ready. Not all the tools require coding, so the activities that are involved in defining the coding standards and setup will be reduced. For example, if you choose selenium you need to build the framework from scratch. You need to put a lot of effort into setting up the framework such as building the POM model, writing the base class utilities, configuring the reports, etc. On the other hand, if you choose the <a href="https://testsigma.com/codeless-testing" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">codeless automation framework</a> like Testsigma everything comes as ready to use. No need to write a single line of code. Reporting will be ready, environment configuration also will be ready, no need to write the coding and checklists.</p>



<p>Test architecture is a broader term that includes a lot of activity. The test architecture takes care of the whole testing activity from start to end. This includes designing, implementing, documenting learning, etc.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Test architecture is required to deliver the quality product on time, especially if it is a complex project. Not anyone can become a test architect as it requires passion to learn and adopt the technologies every day. Furthermore, it is a technical role that requires in-depth technical knowledge of the product, infrastructure, testing tools, and testing process.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<p>As the demand for automation is increasing the demand for test architects is also increasing. The complexity of the automation test architecture depends on the automation tools you choose. The codeless automation tool requires less effort to design and maintain.&nbsp;</p>



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<h2 id="h-frequently-asked-questions"><span id="Frequently_Asked_Questions"><strong>Frequently Asked Questions</strong></span></h2>



<h3 id="h-what-is-the-project-architecture-for-testing"><span id="What_is_the_project_architecture_for_testing"><strong>What is the project architecture for testing?</strong></span></h3>



<p>Test architecture is the standard term used in the testing industry. The project architecture for testing is the same as test architecture; these words can be used interchangeably.</p>



<h3 id="h-isn-t-test-architecture-similar-to-test-planning"><span id="nbspIsn8217t_Test_Architecture_similar_to_Test_Planningnbsp"><strong>&nbsp;Isn&#8217;t Test Architecture similar to Test Planning?&nbsp;</strong></span></h3>



<p>The test planning and test architecture are not the same. Test planning is part of the test architecture. It focuses more on the planning by focusing on a certain set of activities however, the test architecture focuses on the entire testing life cycle irrespective of the testing types.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Unlike test planning, the test architecture can be one time, or it might evolve as the project evolves. The <a href="https://www.javatpoint.com/test-plan" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">test planning</a> doesn’t require many technical details however, test architecture requires hands-on experience in different testing areas.</p>


Test Architecture Creating an Architecture for Automated Tests

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