Software Testing Course Syllabus Basic To Advanced – 2024
Software testing is all about ensuring that applications run smoothly and meet user expectations. If you’re new to the field or want to go from basic to advanced, this detailed syllabus will walk you through everything you need to know ,from simple manual testing to advanced automation, API, and security testing. Plus, we’ll dive into the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) models and show you how testing fits into the bigger picture.
1. Introduction to Software Testing Course Syllabus
- What is Software Testing : It’s all about checking if software works the way it’s supposed to.
- Why is Testing Important : Helps catch bugs and errors early, saving time and money down the road.
- Basic Terms You’ll Use: Learn about defects, bugs, errors, and failures.
- Goals of Testing: Make sure the software is reliable, meets requirements, and performs well for users.
- Manual vs. Automation Testing: Discover the difference between testing by hand and using automation tools to do the work for you.
2. Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
What is SDLC : SDLC is the entire process of building software, from start to finish.
- Phases of SDLC:
- Requirement Gathering: Understanding what the software needs to do.
- System Design: Planning out the architecture and features.
- Development (Coding): Writing the actual code.
- Testing: Making sure it works as intended.
- Deployment: Releasing the software to users.
- Maintenance: Fixing bugs and adding improvements after release.
3. SDLC Models
1. Waterfall Model: Each phase happens one after the other in a straight line.
- Pros: Simple and easy to manage.
- Cons: Doesn’t handle changes well once development starts.
2. V-Model: Testing is done in parallel with development, with each phase having its own corresponding test plan.
- Pros: Helps catch issues early.
- Cons: Still not flexible if requirements change.
3. Iterative and Incremental Model: Software is developed in small parts (iterations) and improved over time.
- Pros: Feedback is collected after every phase, so improvements are made quickly.
- Cons: Needs careful planning and communication.
4. Agile Model: Development is broken into short cycles called sprints, where work is done in small, manageable pieces.
- Pros: Very flexible, quick feedback from users.
- Cons: Requires constant collaboration with teams and customers.
5. DevOps Model: Focuses on continuous testing, integration, and delivery by automating as much as possible.
- Pros: Faster software releases and quicker bug fixes.
- Cons: Needs a well-coordinated team with good communication.
# SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE MODELS
4. Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)
What is STLC : It’s the series of steps testers follow to ensure software works correctly.
Phases of STLC : Software testing life cycle
- Requirement Analysis: Figuring out what to test.
- Test Planning: Creating a strategy for how testing will be done.
- Test Case Design: Writing the actual test cases.
- Test Environment Setup: Preparing the system or environment for testing.
- Test Execution: Running the tests.
- Test Closure: Wrapping up the testing phase, reviewing, and preparing final reports.
# SOFTWARE TESTING LIFE CYCLE
5. Basics of Manual Testing
- What is Manual Testing?: This is when you manually check the software without using automated tools.
- Types of Manual Testing:
- Functional Testing: Does the software do what it’s supposed to?
- Regression Testing: Have new updates broken existing features?
- Smoke Testing: Are the critical features working?
- Sanity Testing: Does a specific function or fix work as expected?
- Writing Test Cases: Learn to write simple, clear, and effective test cases.
- Defect Life Cycle: How bugs move from discovery to fixing and retesting.
- Bug Reporting Tools: Tools like JIRA, Bugzilla, and Mantis help track issues.
6. Levels of Testing
- Unit Testing: Testing individual functions or pieces of code.
- Integration Testing: Checking if different modules work well together.
- System Testing: Testing the entire system to ensure everything is working as expected.
- Acceptance Testing: Checking if the software meets business requirements and is ready for release.
Also read : Software Testing Companies in Bangalore
7. Black Box and White Box Testing Techniques
- Black Box Testing: You don’t need to know the code inside , just focus on inputs and outputs.- Techniques: Equivalence Partitioning (grouping similar inputs), Boundary Value Analysis (testing at the edges of valid inputs).
- White Box Testing: You look at the code and test how it’s structured inside.- Techniques: Statement Coverage (ensuring every line is tested), Branch Coverage (checking all possible code paths).
- Grey Box Testing: A mix of black and white box testing. You understand the structure but still focus on functionality.
# TEST DESIGN TECHNIQUES
8. Test Management and Documentation
- Test Planning: How to create a clear and effective plan for testing.
- Test Estimation: Learn to estimate how long testing will take.
- Traceability Matrix: A document that tracks requirements and makes sure every requirement has a corresponding test.
- Reporting: Document results through test execution reports and test summary reports.
9. Introduction to Automation Testing
- What is Automation Testing?: Using tools to run tests automatically, saving time and effort.
- Why Use Automation?: It’s faster, more accurate, and allows for repetitive tests.
- Popular Automation Tools:
- Selenium: Widely used for automating web applications.
- JUnit/TestNG: Used for organizing and running tests.
- Appium: Automating mobile app testing.
- Types of Automation Testing: Functional testing, regression testing, and smoke testing.
10. Setting Up Automation Testing
- Selenium WebDriver: Learn how to install Selenium and run basic automated tests.
- Writing and Running Scripts: Create simple test scripts and execute them.
- Locating Elements: How to find elements on a web page using XPath or CSS Selectors.
- Synchronization: Dealing with timing issues in automated tests (for instance, waiting for pages to load).
Also read : Software Testing Jobs in Bangalore & Pune
11. Advanced Automation Topics
- Continuous Integration (CI): Tools like Jenkins allow you to automatically run tests every time code changes.
- Version Control with Git: Learn how to track and manage code using GitHub or GitLab.
- Parallel Test Execution: Run tests on multiple browsers at once using Selenium Grid.
- Data-Driven Testing: Running tests with different sets of data to ensure flexibility.
# HOW TO BECOME A AUTOMATION TESTER IN 2024
12. Performance Testing
- What is Performance Testing?: Ensuring that the software performs well under pressure.
- Types of Performance Testing:
- Load Testing: Simulating lots of users to see how the system performs.
- Stress Testing: Pushing the software to its limits to see where it breaks.
- Endurance Testing: Checking how the software holds up over a long period.
- Tools for Performance Testing:
- JMeter: Open-source load testing tool.
- LoadRunner: For large-scale performance testing.
13. Mobile Testing
- Introduction to Mobile Testing: Testing mobile apps on different devices (Android, iOS).
- Types of Mobile Testing:
- Functionality Testing: Ensuring the app works as expected.
- Usability Testing: Checking if it’s easy to use.
- Compatibility Testing: Testing on different devices and operating systems.
- Appium: A tool for automating mobile app tests on Android and iOS.
14. API Testing
- What is API Testing?: Testing how different software systems communicate with each other.
- Common API Testing Tools:
- Postman: A popular tool for testing REST APIs.
- SoapUI: For testing both SOAP and REST APIs.
- API Testing Process: Checking if APIs work correctly and return expected results.
15. Security Testing
- Why is Security Testing Important?: Protects the software from hackers and data breaches.
- Key Security Tests:
- Vulnerability Scanning: Searching for weaknesses in the system.
- Penetration Testing: Simulating attacks to find security flaws.
- OWASP Top 10: The most common security risks in web apps.
- Security Testing Tools:
- OWASP ZAP: A tool for finding vulnerabilities in web apps.
- Burp Suite: Advanced web security testing tool.
16. Database Testing
- What is Database Testing?: Ensuring that the data stored in the database is correct, secure, and consistent.
- SQL Basics for Testers: Writing simple SQL queries to check data.
- Database Testing Tools: Tools like SQL Developer and DbFit can help automate database testing.
17. Continuous Testing in DevOps
- What is Continuous Testing?: Testing throughout the development process to catch bugs early.
- How Testing Fits in DevOps: It’s integrated into the entire development process, not just at the end.
- CI/CD: Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment ensures that tests run automatically with every code change.
- Tools for Continuous Testing:
- Jenkins: Automates testing and deployment.
- GitHub Actions: Automatically run tests on each code update.
18. Test Metrics and Reporting
- Test Coverage: Tracking how much of the software has been tested.
- Defect Density: Monitoring how many bugs are found in each module.
- Test Execution Reports: Documenting which tests passed and which failed.
19. Agile Testing
- Agile Testing Basics: Testing happens throughout short cycles called sprints.
- Role of QA in Agile: Testers work closely with developers and stakeholders.
- Test-Driven Development (TDD): Writing tests before the code.
- Behavior-Driven Development (BDD): Writing tests based on expected behavior.
20. Career Path and Interview Preparation
- Preparing for Interviews: Common software testing interview questions and how to answer them.
- Certifications to Boost Your Career:
- ISTQB: International certification for software testers.
- CSTE: Certified Software Tester certification.
- Career Paths in Testing: Explore roles in manual testing, automation testing, or performance testing.
FAQs : Software Testing Syllabus
1. How long does it take to complete a software testing syllabus ?
- Basic Syllabus: Around 1 to 3 months.
- Advanced Syllabus: An additional 2 to 4 months. The exact timeline depends on the depth of the topics and whether you’re learning at a beginner, intermediate, or advanced level.
2. Is programming required to learn software testing?
- Manual Testing: No programming knowledge is needed. You’ll mostly focus on writing test cases and finding bugs.
- Automation Testing: Yes, you’ll need basic knowledge of programming languages like Java, Python, or JavaScript to write test scripts in tools like Selenium or JUnit.
- API Testing: Knowing how to write simple scripts (like JavaScript in Postman) can be helpful, but not always mandatory.
3. What tools will I learn to use in software testing?
- Manual Testing Tools : JIRA, Bugzilla (for tracking and managing bugs).
- Automation Tools : Selenium, Appium (for mobile testing), JUnit, and TestNG.
- API Testing Tools : Postman or SoapUI.
- Performance Testing Tools : JMeter, LoadRunner.
- Security Testing Tools : OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite.
4. What career opportunities will open up after I complete the syllabus?
- Manual Tester: Focus on manual testing for software and apps.
- Automation Engineer: Use tools to automate the testing process.
- API Tester: Specialize in testing the back-end APIs that power apps.
- Performance Tester: Ensure software performs well under stress.
- Security Tester: Focus on making sure software is safe from hackers.
5. Should I get certified after completing the syllabus?
Certifications can boost your career and show you have the knowledge. Popular certifications include:
- ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board): A globally recognized certification for software testers.
- CSTE (Certified Software Tester): A certification focused on manual testing.
- Selenium Certifications: If you specialize in automation, Selenium certifications can prove your expertise.
Also Check : Software Testing Syllabus
This software testing syllabus provides a clear learning path from beginner to advanced topics. By following this guide, you’ll gain the skills you need to master manual testing, automation, performance, security, and API testing, positioning yourself for a successful career in software testing.