Software testing methodologies have evolved over time. In this article, we'll go through the most common methodologies that QA teams around the world follow
The Waterfall model is a linear and sequential software development approach, where progress flows downward like a waterfall through distinct, predefined phases. Testing is treated as a separate phase that occurs after development is complete.
Phases of the Waterfall Model:
Testing in Waterfall:
The Agile model is an iterative and incremental approach that emphasizes continuous feedback, flexibility, and customer collaboration. Testing is an integral part of the entire development cycle, rather than a final phase.
Phases of Agile Development:
Testing in Agile:
Read More: Agile vs Waterfall Methodology
For different software testing methodologies, there are corresponding models.
In the past, QA teams had to wait until the final development stage to start testing. Test quality was usually poor, and developers could not troubleshoot in time for product release.
The V-model solves that problem by engaging testers in every phase of development. Each development phase is assigned a corresponding testing phase. This model works well with the nearly obsolete Waterfall testing method.
On one side, there is “Verification”. On the other side, there is “Validation”.
As technology advances, the Waterfall model gradually gives way to the widely used Agile testing. Consequently, the V-model also evolved to the Test Pyramid model, which visually represents a 3-part testing strategy.
Most of the tests are unit tests, aiming to validate only the individual components. Next, testers group those components and test them as a unified entity to see how they interact. Automation testing can be leveraged at these stages for optimal efficiency.
The Honeycomb model is a modern approach to software testing in which Integration testing is a primary focus, while Unit Testing (Implementation Details) and UI Testing (Integrated) receive less attention. This software testing model reflects an API-focused system architecture as organizations move towards cloud infrastructure.
Software testing can also be broken down into functional testing vs non-functional testing.
Functional testing focuses on verifying what the system does by testing specific functionalities against defined requirements. It ensures that the application behaves as expected and meets business needs.
Key characteristics:
✔ Tests features and user interactions with the software.
✔ Ensures correct input-output behavior based on requirements.
✔ Black-box testing approach – the tester doesn’t need to know the internal code structure.
Types of Functional Testing:
Non-functional testing focuses on how the system performs rather than what it does. It evaluates performance, security, usability, and scalability to ensure a smooth user experience.
Key characteristics:
✔ Tests the quality and behavior of the software under different conditions.
✔ Helps identify bottlenecks, vulnerabilities, and UX issues.
✔ Requires specialized tools (e.g., JMeter for performance, OWASP ZAP for security).
Types of Non-functional Testing:
Software testing can also be classified by its approach: whether testers choose to do it manually with the help of automation technologies.
Thanks to automation testing, testers don’t have to manually interact with the system over and over, which is a time-consuming process. All they have to do is click the “Run” button, sit back, and let the script do the work.
Katalon accompanies your QA team throughout the entire software testing life cycle.
With Katalon, you can write tests in 3 modes (no-code, low-code, full-code), manage tests in a centralized dashboard, schedule test runs, execute tests across environments, and generate detailed reports.
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Feature highlights:
Automatic test maintenance
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