Software Testing: Goals, Methods, and Importance of the Process

1. Identifying defects – detecting errors and inconsistencies in software before they are found by end users.

2. Evaluating product quality – obtaining up-to-date information about the current state of the software.

3. Ensuring compliance with requirements – confirming that the product meets all stated specifications.

4. Reducing risks – preventing possible failures and critical errors that may lead to financial and reputational losses.

5. Optimizing system performance – improving efficiency and ease of use.

Software testing can be divided into several key areas:

• Functional Testing – checking whether the system meets the stated functional requirements.

• Non-functional Testing – analyzing characteristics such as performance, security, and usability.

• Automated Testing – using specialized tools to execute tests without human intervention.

• Manual Testing – verifying the system manually, simulating real user actions.

• Regression Testing – checking the performance of previously tested functions after changes have been made.

• Load Testing – analyzing system performance under increased load conditions.