Have you ever thought why do you need to categorize software testing into different types? What is the benefits of dividing software testing in different types? One of the main purpose of software testing is to identify defects in the software. Defects in software testing can be defined as variance from requirement or user expectation. Based on this simple definition, it is very easy to categorize defects. For example:

• If system is not functioning properly, its a functional defect.
• If system is not performing well, its a performance defect.
• If system is not usable, its a usability defect
• If system is not secure, its a security defect
• and so on..

Identify these different defects require different skill set, different techniques and different type of test cases. Testing is divided into different types to reflect, what kind of defects can be uncovered by those activities. This division also helps management in managing these activities effectively. Also, it is very rare to have someone with skills in all the types of testing and this division helps in getting proper resources for team.

Hope you understand importance of this categorization and also how important it is to have understanding of different types. This understanding will enable you to spot more defects which in turn will improve quality and make you more effective software tester.

There are many ways in which software testing can be categorized. Some of them are described as follows.