Test Execution

Test Execution is the phase in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) where testers actively run the test cases on the software to observe its behavior and compare the actual results with the expected outcomes. This is the hands-on part of testing, where the team is focused on finding and documenting bugs or defects. The main goal is to verify that the software meets the specified requirements and to identify any deviations.

Test Execution Process

1. Run Test Cases: A tester follows the steps outlined in a pre-written test case.
2. Record Results: The tester documents whether each test case passed or failed.
3. Log Defects: If a test case fails, a detailed defect report is created to describe the issue.
4. Re-Test: After a defect is fixed by a developer, the tester re-runs the specific test case to confirm the fix is working and that no new problems were introduced.

Example:

A quality assurance team is testing a new website with a login feature. During the Test Execution phase, a tester would run a test case titled "Verify login with valid credentials." They would enter a correct username and password, click the "Sign In" button, and then verify that the user is successfully redirected to their dashboard. If the user gets an error message instead, the tester would log a defect report detailing the problem, and the test case would be marked as "Failed."