Did you not know, software bugs cost the world economy more than $300 billion annually? This is the reason why businesses depend on a quality assurance cycle that helps to identify the problems at their initial stage. The reliability, security, and user experience is enhanced by a properly designed quality assurance cycle. It is a gradual approach which makes sure that software is of superior quality prior to its launching.
This blog will describe the process of a quality assurance cycle. By the end of this blog, you will understand why following each step of the quality assurance cycle is crucial to reliable and bug-free software.
What is the Quality Assurance Cycle?
Quality assurance cycle is a systematic approach in the software testing process. It consists of structured activities such as requirement analysis, test planning, implementation, and reporting. The aim of the cycle is to find out the errors as early as possible and enhance the end product. Adherence to the quality assurance cycle assists teams to produce quality software on a regular basis.
Importance of the Quality Assurance Cycle in Software Development
Quality assurance cycle is an important part of software development life cycle. It minimizes the chance of bugs by discovering bugs before launch. It is also less costly as it avoids significant problems in later stages. Most importantly, it guarantees that software fits the needs of clients and industry requirements.
Furthermore, it enhances efficiency since a tested system is smooth and does not crash. Lastly, QA enhances customer satisfaction, since individuals have confidence and like to use software that does not crash.
7 Key Steps in a Quality Assurance Cycle
Step 1: Requirement Analysis in the QA Cycle
The first step of the QA test cycle is requirement analysis. The QA team collaborates with the clients and developers in this step. The aim is to know what the software is going to do, and the manner in which it will act.
There are two types of requirements:
Functional requirements
These are features and actions of the software. For example, a login page can receive valid credentials.
Non-functional requirements
These requirements focus on performance, security, and usability. For example, the system is expected to cope with 1,000 simultaneous users.
Clear requirements minimizes confusion in the future. They also enhance the quality assurance life cycle. Indeed, research indicates that unclear requirements are the cause of more than 50% of failures in software projects. That is why this is one of the most important steps in the software development life cycle quality assurance process.
Step 2: Test Planning
The planning is the next step in the QA test cycle after requirements have been defined. A test plan is a guide to the QA team. It outlines the method of carrying out testing and resources required.
A test plan usually includes:
- Scope of testing: What is and is not to be tested.
- Objectives: Aims of the testing.
- Resources: Necessary resources, staff and funds.
- Timeline: Time plan of every testing stage.
Manual testing or automation must be determined by teams. Manual testing is more suitable to exploratory examination, whereas automation saves time in repeated tests. An effective plan establishes the tone of the software QA life cycle. It is essential as without it the software quality assurance life cycle is chaotic and less reliable.
Step 3: Test Case Design
In this phase, testers create elaborate test cases. Every test case describes how to test a feature, what input to provide, and what the result has to be. This guarantees total system coverage.
There are three types of test cases:
- Positive cases: Testing whether the system accepts the right inputs.
- Negative cases: Testing system responses to invalid inputs.
- Edge cases: Test the boundaries, such as a 100 character password.
Good quality test cases ensure that the QA test cycle is smooth and predictable. They are also related directly to the requirement identified in the above stage. This is the core of software quality assurance in life cycle techniques. Professionally, this is also known as part of the SQA life cycle, where quality is added in a step by step manner.
Step 4: Test Environment Setup
Without the proper environment, no testing can start. Hardware, software, databases, and networks are part of the test environment setup. For example, a banking application should be tested in a safe and stable environment that is like real world use.
Following are the important environment setup items:
- Hardware configuration: servers, gadgets, or virtual machines.
- Software installation: operating systems, applications and drivers.
- Tools set-up: QA tools such as JIRA, selenium or TestRail.
A constant environment guarantees consistent and repeatable test results. When the environment is dynamic, bugs might be seen as irregular. This is why setup is a critical step in the quality assurance life cycle as well as the software QA life cycle.
Step 5: Test Execution
After preparing the test environment, the QA team starts with the test execution. All the intended test cases are executed here. Depending on the project, tests may be either manual or automated.
- Manual testing assists in discovering problems by human observation and actual interactions.
- Automated tests repeat scripts and save time in big projects.
Each of the outcomes is recorded. When there is a discrepancy between anticipated and actual results, it is indicated as a defect. This step is the core of QA testing as it demonstrates the performance of the software in the real situation. It becomes easier to correct issues on time with proper bug tracking of this step.
Step 6: Defect Reporting & Tracking
Errors are an inseparable aspect of development. In this phase, testers document every problem in a bug tracker. They use popular tools such as JIRA, Bugzilla, and Mantis.
The defect report typically includes:
- Steps to reproduce the bug.
- Extent and importance of the problem.
- Clarity through screenshots or logs.
Testers work with developers to correct the bugs after reporting. The fixes are re-tested to confirm the solution. QA defect management requires this cycle of defect reporting and tracking. It ensures that no significant problem is unaddressed prior to release.
Step 7: Test Closure & Reporting
Test closure is the final phase of the cycle. In this case, all test activities and results are analyzed by the QA team. They verify test coverage, quantity of defects discovered, and system quality as a whole.
A stakeholder QA report is developed. This report includes:
- Overview of completed test cases.
- List of bugs resolved and unresolved.
- Lessons to be considered in future projects.
This is the completion of the quality assurance cycle. The report does not only serve to identify the success of the project but also serves to enhance the process in the future.
Best Practices in a Quality Assurance Cycle
Following are few best practices in quality assurance cycle:
- Continuous testing should be initiated at the earliest stage of development to ensure that the problems are detected early enough.
- Enforce repetitive tasks with automated QA to save time and enhance accuracy.
- Maintain close cooperation between the QA and development teams to resolve issues quicker.
- Periodically revise and refresh the test cases to suit the evolving needs.
- Measure and monitor QA measures in order to enhance future project efficiency.
Why Choose Red Star Technologies for QA Services
At Red Star Technologies, we have a well-organized quality assurance cycle to provide high performance and reliable software. Our QA specialists use both manual and automated testing to provide End-to-end QA quality assurance services and to ensure that everything is covered.
- Our team is talented and has expertise in QA test cycle and defect management.
- Our operations are consistent with the quality assurance criteria of the software development life cycle.
- Our automation, bug tracking, and reporting tools are modern.
- We offer customized QA solutions that suit the needs of each customer.
With Red Star Technologies, companies are able to experience quicker releases, reduced defects, and better customer satisfaction. We ensure that there is no compromise on quality.
FAQs
1. How long does a quality assurance cycle usually take?
The duration varies according to the size and complexity of the project. Small apps can require weeks, and enterprise systems can require several months.
2. Who is involved in the QA cycle?
Testers, project managers, developers, and even end users are usually involved in a QA cycle to provide feedback.
3. Can automation replace manual testing completely?
No. We still have to test manually to check usability, design, and real-world tests, which are faster with automation.
4. What industries benefit most from QA cycles?
All industries are improved although industries such as banking, healthcare, and e-commerce need high-quality QA to be safe and reliable.
5. How does QA add value for businesses?
QA minimizes the risk of expensive failures, fosters customer confidence, and enhances the reputation of a company in general.
