Smoke Testing: The Essential Guide to Understanding and Implementing It

In the world of software testing, various testing methodologies ensure the functionality, stability, and quality of software. Among them, *smoke testing* stands out as a vital first step in the software testing process. It serves as an initial check to verify whether the basic functions of the software are working after a new build or version is released. If you're not familiar with the term, or you wish to dive deeper into its significance, this article will provide you with everything you need to know about *smoke testing*, including examples, its importance, and when it’s done.

### What is Smoke Testing?

*Smoke testing*, also known as "build verification testing," is a quick and basic test conducted to determine whether the most critical functions of a software application are working properly. It is often referred to as a "sanity check," and it involves running the most essential functionalities of an application to ensure that the software build is stable enough for further testing.

The term *smoke testing* originated from hardware testing. In the old days, engineers would power up a new device, and if it didn't catch fire or emit smoke, it would be considered functional for the next round of testing. In software, the concept is similar: if the core functionality doesn't break, the build is considered stable enough to move to more thorough testing.

### Why is Smoke Testing Important?

1. **Early Detection of Issues**: One of the main reasons for performing smoke testing is to identify any critical issues or bugs early in the development cycle. By running smoke tests immediately after receiving a new build, testers can ensure that the software is functional enough to proceed with more extensive testing.

2. **Saves Time and Resources**: Smoke testing helps save time by catching significant problems early. Instead of investing time in detailed testing of a broken application, the team can immediately focus on fixing the most pressing issues before proceeding to other tests, like functional or regression testing.

3. **Improves Test Efficiency**: With a smoke test, you verify the primary functionalities of the software, allowing other test phases to be more efficient and targeted. This initial step ensures that you’re testing a build that has the minimum stability required.

4. **Reduces Risk**: By identifying critical defects early, *smoke testing* minimizes the risk of undetected issues slipping through the cracks. This is crucial for maintaining product quality and preventing delays down the line.

### When is Smoke Testing Done?

Typically, *smoke testing* is done at the beginning of the testing cycle, right after a new software build or version is created. It ensures that the build is stable enough for further testing, especially during the integration or acceptance testing phase. However, it may also be performed in other scenarios, such as:

- **After a new code commit**: Every time the code base is updated, smoke tests can help verify that the changes haven’t broken existing functionality.

- **Before functional testing**: Smoke testing ensures the build is ready for more detailed, comprehensive testing.

- **During continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD)**: When automated builds are frequently deployed, smoke tests are integrated into the pipeline to ensure that the software is always in a deployable state.

Smoke testing can also be automated, which is a great advantage in modern DevOps environments where software updates are frequent. Automated smoke tests save time, reduce human error, and ensure consistency across test cycles.

### Example of Smoke Testing in Action

Imagine you're testing a new mobile app. In the initial smoke test, you might check if the app launches successfully, if the main navigation works, and if key features like login, data entry, and submission functions are operational. If any of these functions fail during the smoke test, the build is immediately discarded, and developers are notified of the issues.

If the smoke test passes, it indicates that the critical features work and the build is stable enough for deeper testing. Detailed testing might include checking specific functions, handling error scenarios, performing performance tests, and ensuring security compliance.

### How to Perform Smoke Testing

The approach to smoke testing is generally simple:

1. **Identify Critical Functions**: Focus on the most important features that, if broken, would render the software unusable. These typically include core functionalities like login systems, data input and output, navigation, and integration with other systems.

2. **Execute Simple Tests**: The smoke test doesn’t require complex test cases. Instead, perform basic validation of the identified features. For example, you might check if a login page loads correctly or if a user can submit a form without errors.

3. **Report Results**: Once the smoke tests are completed, if any issues are found, report them to the development team. If no issues are found, the build is cleared for further testing.

### Tools for Smoke Testing

There are several tools available that can help with automating and streamlining smoke testing. Below is a list of useful tools to consider:

1. **Testomat.io**: Testomat.io is an excellent tool for integrating smoke testing into your CI/CD pipelines. It helps automate and manage the test processes, ensuring that smoke tests are executed efficiently with every new build.

2. **Selenium**: A widely used automation testing tool, Selenium is effective for web application testing and can be used for smoke testing by automating the verification of basic functionalities in browsers.

3. **Jenkins**: Jenkins can be integrated with smoke testing scripts and act as a continuous integration server that automatically runs the tests each time new code is deployed.

4. **JUnit**: JUnit is a popular testing framework for Java applications. It can be used to write simple smoke tests to validate critical features of your application.

5. **Appium**: Appium is a powerful tool for mobile app automation and is ideal for conducting smoke testing on mobile apps, ensuring that core functionalities work after every new release.

### Conclusion: Embrace Smoke Testing for Quality Software

*Smoke testing* is an essential practice in software development and testing. It serves as an early checkpoint to ensure that critical functions of the software are working properly before more detailed testing begins. By integrating smoke testing into your development pipeline, you can save time, catch issues early, and ensure that only stable builds move forward to further testing.

For more detailed examples of *smoke testing* and its importance, make sure to check out [Testomat.io’s blog](https://testomat.io/blog/what-is-smoke-testing-in-examples-and-when-is-it-done/) for in-depth insights and practical tips. By using tools like Testomat.io, you can further streamline your smoke testing process, ensuring that your software is always in top form and ready for the next phase of development.