Confirmation testing, also known as retesting, is a software testing technique performed to verify that a previously reported defect or issue has been fixed or resolved successfully. It is conducted after the development team claims to have addressed a reported bug or implemented a requested change.
The primary goal of confirmation testing is to ensure that the fixes or modifications made to the software have effectively resolved the identified problem without introducing any new issues or regressions. By retesting the specific areas affected by the bug, confirmation testing aims to validate that the software behaves as expected after the fix.
Here’s an overview of the confirmation testing process:
- Understanding the reported issue: The tester reviews the original defect report or change request to gain a thorough understanding of the problem and the expected resolution.
- Preparing the test environment: The tester sets up the necessary test environment, including the required hardware, software, and test data, to recreate the conditions under which the issue occurred.
- Designing test cases: Test cases are designed to specifically target the area of the software that was impacted by the bug. These test cases are focused on validating the successful resolution of the issue and checking for any potential side effects or regression defects.
- Executing test cases: The identified test cases are executed to verify the expected behavior. The software is tested to ensure that the fix has addressed the issue and that other parts of the system remain unaffected.
- Analyzing test results: The tester compares the actual results obtained during confirmation testing with the expected results to determine whether the issue has been resolved correctly. Any discrepancies or new defects discovered during the retesting process are reported for further investigation and resolution.
- Reporting the confirmation test results: The confirmation test results, along with any new defects found, are documented and shared with the development team for review and necessary action.
Confirmation testing is a critical step in the software development lifecycle as it helps ensure the quality and stability of the software by validating bug fixes and changes. By performing thorough retesting, organizations can minimize the risk of reintroducing known issues into the software and deliver a reliable product to end-users.