A “test item” refers to any element, component, or artifact that is subjected to testing as part of the software testing process. Test items can encompass a wide range of objects, including software applications, software components, documents, hardware, data, and more. The primary purpose of testing these items is to evaluate their functionality, quality, and performance to ensure they meet specific criteria and requirements.
Common examples of test items in software testing include:
- Software Applications: This is one of the most common test items. Entire software applications, whether they are web applications, mobile apps, desktop applications, or other types, are tested to verify that they work as expected and meet user requirements.
- Software Modules or Components: Specific software modules, libraries, or components may be tested in isolation to ensure their individual functionality, correctness, and integration with other parts of the system.
- Documentation: Test items may include documents such as test plans, test cases, test scripts, user manuals, and other project documentation to ensure that they are complete, accurate, and effective in supporting the testing process.
- Data Sets: In some cases, test items involve test data or data sets used for testing purposes. This data is tested to verify its correctness, validity, and relevance to specific test scenarios.
- Hardware Devices: In cases where software interacts with hardware components, such as sensors, controllers, or embedded systems, the hardware itself may be a test item.
- Configuration Files: Configuration files that control the behavior and settings of software applications can be considered test items to ensure they function as intended.
- Test Scripts and Automation Code: Scripts and code used to automate testing processes are test items that must be tested to ensure they work correctly and provide accurate test results.
The testing of these items is conducted to discover defects, verify that they meet specified requirements, validate their functionality, and assess their overall quality. Test items are tested under controlled conditions, often following predefined test cases, scenarios, or procedures to evaluate their behavior.
The choice of test items and the extent of testing depend on the testing objectives, the software development context, and the testing strategy. The primary goal of testing is to identify and rectify defects and ensure that the test items, whether they are software components or other artifacts, meet the desired quality standards before they are deployed in production or released to end-users.