What is Software Testing? Meaning, Purpose, Salary, and Types
Irhan Hisyam
Content Writer
What is software testing? Software testing is an important process to ensure that software runs as needed and is free from bugs. In the world of software development, testing is a crucial step to ensure quality and user satisfaction.
This article will help you understand the meaning, purpose, and types of software testing that are commonly used. Let's read more to find out why software testing is so important in software development!
What is Software Testing?
Software testing is the process of evaluating software to ensure that the system works according to the needs and specifications that have been determined.
This process aims to detect and fix bugs or errors that can affect its function, performance, or security.
Software testing involves various methods, both manual and automated, to test all aspects of the software.
With proper testing, developers can ensure the quality of the software before it is used by users.
Goals of Software Testing
Software testing is an important step in software development to ensure its quality and performance. Here are the five main goals of software testing:
1. Detecting and Fixing Bugs
The main goal of software testing is to find bugs or errors in the software before it is released to the users.
By detecting bugs early, developers can prevent major issues that can affect the performance of the software. This process ensures that the software functions properly without any glitches.
2. Ensuring Software Quality
Software testing helps ensure that the software meets the set quality standards. Testing is done to check aspects such as functionality, security, and reliability. With high-quality software, user confidence in the product also increases.
3. Ensuring Conformity to User Needs
One of the goals of testing is to ensure that the software meets the user's needs or desired specifications. This process involves validation and verification to check whether all features are working as expected. In this way, the software can provide maximum value to the users.
4. Reducing the Risk of Failure
Software testing is done to minimize the risk of software failure after it is released. With thorough testing, potential future problems can be anticipated and prevented. This ensures that the software remains stable and reliable under various conditions.
5. Improving User Experience
Testing helps ensure that the software provides a smooth and satisfying experience for users.
Testing aspects such as performance and user interface ensures that the software is easy to use. With a positive user experience, the software has a greater potential for success in the market.
Types of Software Testing
What is software testing if it doesn't include various types of testing to ensure quality software? Here are the types of software testing that you need to know:
1. Manual Testing
Manual testing is done directly by the tester without the help of automation tools. The tester checks the software by running various usage scenarios to find bugs or errors.
This type of testing is more suitable for evaluating aspects that require human judgment, such as user interface and user experience.
2. Automated Testing
Automated testing uses special tools or software, such as Selenium or JMeter, to run automated tests.
This type of testing is very useful for repetitive or complex tests that require high consistency. With automated testing, the development team can save time and effort in the testing process.
3. Functional Testing
Functional testing aims to check whether the software features function according to predetermined specifications.
This test covers all functional aspects, such as input and output, to ensure the software works as expected. As a result, users can enjoy features that work properly without any disruption.
4. Non-Functional Testing
Non-functional testing tests other aspects of the software, such as performance, scalability, and security.
An example is load testing to see if the software can handle multiple users at once. This testing ensures that the software not only functions but is also reliable under various conditions.
5. Regression Testing
Regression testing is done to ensure that changes or updates to the software do not cause new problems.
This testing involves repeating previous tests to check for compatibility. With regression testing, the software remains stable even though there are updates or new features added.
Salary of a Software Tester 2025
The profession of Software Tester is now one of the promising careers in the world of technology. In addition to having an important role in ensuring software quality, this profession also offers a competitive salary.
Based on data from Glassdoor, the salary of a Software Tester varies depending on experience and responsibilities. Here are the details of the salary that is usually received by a Software Tester in Indonesia:"
- Total Monthly Salary
The total salary range of a Software Tester is IDR 5.6 million to IDR 26 million per month, with an average or median salary of around IDR 8.5 million per month.
- Base Pay
The basic salary component is in the range of IDR 5.1 million to IDR 11.9 million per month, which includes basic income without taking into account additional incentives or bonuses.
- Additional Pay
Additional salary in the form of incentives or bonuses usually ranges from IDR 469 thousand to IDR 14.1 million per month, depending on work performance or project success.
The Software Tester salary above shows variations based on experience and seniority level. The higher the experience, the higher the salary received, both from basic salary and additional bonuses.
How Software Testing Works
Software testing is an essential process to ensure that software functions according to specifications. Here are the main steps of how software testing works:
1. Test Planning
The first step is to plan the test by determining the scope, strategy, and tools to be used.
At this stage, the team creates a test plan document that serves as a guide throughout the testing process. Thorough planning ensures that testing is carried out efficiently and in a targeted manner.
2. Test Case Design
After planning, the team creates test cases that detail scenarios to test each function of the software.
Test cases include specific steps, input data, and expected results. This stage ensures that all features are thoroughly tested to detect potential problems.
3. Test Execution
At this stage, testing is carried out according to the test cases that have been created. Testers can use manual testing or automation tools to verify the functionality of the software. Test results are recorded for analysis in the next stage.
4. Analysis and Reporting
After testing is complete, the results are analyzed to identify bugs or non-conformances to specifications.
The team prepares a test report that lists the test results, bugs found, and recommendations for improvement. This report becomes the basis for refining the software.
5. Regression Testing
After improvements are made, the software is retested to ensure that the bugs found have been fixed without causing new problems. This retesting ensures that the software remains stable and meets user needs.
Conclusion:
Do you know what software testing is? Software testing is an important process to ensure that software functions as needed, is bug-free, and is of high quality. With steps such as planning, testing, and analysis, testing helps identify and fix problems early on.
This process not only improves software performance but also provides the best user experience. Software testing is an essential step in successful and reliable software development.
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