Smoke Testing

Smoke Testing definition, example

DEFINITION
Smoke testing is a type of application testing that comprises of a non-exhaustive set of tests that aim at ensuring that the most important functions work. The testing covers most of the functions of the application but none of them in depth. The result of this check is used to pick whether to proceed with further testing or not. If the smoke check passes, go ahead with further testing. If it fails, halt further tests & ask for a new build with the required fixes. If an application is badly broken, detailed testing might be a waste of time & effort.

Smoke testing can be conducted on both newly created application & enhanced application.
Smoke check helps in exposing integration & major problems early in the cycle.
Smoke check is performed physically or with the help of automation tools/scripts.

Smoke Testing-
The term ‘smoke testing’, it is said, came to application testing from a similar type of hardware testing, in which the device passed the check if it did not catch fire (or smoked) the first time it was turned on.

As & when an application becomes mature, with addition of more functionalities etc, the smoke check needs to be made more expansive. Sometimes, it takes three incorrect characters in the code to render an entire application useless.

EXAMPLE
The accumulation is generated for a desktop application with revisions 1, 2 and 3. The smoke test is run, including the following:
1. Basic Installation
2. Function 1 and 2 of Module A
3. Function 1 of Module B
4. Function 5 Module D

The above functions and modules are selected on the basis of criticality.
If any of these points does not, construction is rejected. Verification of revisions 1, 2 and 3, and regression testing is done only after passing the smoke test.

Levels applicable to-
Smoke testing is commonly used in system integration and acceptance testing levels. Tests can be run by developers and testers or customers. For example, developers can perform a smoke test before giving rise to testers. Or, the evaluators can perform a smoke test before accepting an increase of more evidence.
Smoke testing evaluates the degree of stability. :-)