Why do I need to do software testing? Why am I not able to use the keyword research software that my friend has developed without having the bother of testing the whole thing, especially after he has assured me that is works just fine? These are just two of the many questions that testers are asked all the time.
Most people feel that it is quite unnecessary to test software that has been developed. They are of the opinion that the person who has developed it would have thought of all possible glitches that could arise and so testing is not really necessary.
However, for all those who depend on some sort of software or the other, the pain of using software that has not been tested is so much that they wonder why software testing is not made mandatory. This testing of software needs to be done by a professional who knows what he is doing. There are two stages of testing that you come across.
One is just a kind of testing that is almost superficial. You do not have to be an expert to do this kind of testing which is very often referred to as black-box testing. The idea is that you test software to see whether or not it meets certain requirements or falls within some pre-specified parameters.
White Box testing
The second kind of software testing that is absolutely necessary is called white box testing, which is something that can be done only by a professional. It is not enough if you know a few facts about the software in a reputed software organization. You need to be a person who has studied the software and knows perfectly well how the whole thing works and what applications it is capable of.
This is a kind of testing that unearths all the problems that might arise in any kind of software. This is usually referred to as a process where glitches are removed.
The field of software testing has become so competitive today that there are many people who would be able to test any software that is developed. In a world where IT has taken over every possible field, it is necessary to use tested software for all situations.
For instance, if you were the owner of a multi-specialty hospital where a few hundred patients are admitted and discharged every day, you would certainly require software that could manage this huge movement of people in and out of your hospital. How could you do this, if you did not have software that had already been tested?
Conclusion or Bottom Line
It is therefore practical and safe to ensure that software testing is done at the right time. This is to make sure that you get to use the right software for the needs you have at the present time. A quick browse through the net will bring up details of quite a few people who are good software testers.
