Test completion criteria are predefined conditions or benchmarks that determine when testing activities can be considered complete for a specific test level, test phase, or the overall testing process. These criteria help testing teams and project stakeholders assess whether the testing objectives have been achieved and if the software is ready for the next phase or release. Test completion criteria are established during the test planning phase and are based on factors such as test coverage, defect resolution, and overall quality goals.
Key components of test completion criteria include:
- Test Coverage:
- Criteria related to test coverage specify the percentage or level of coverage required for different aspects of the software, such as code coverage, requirements coverage, or functionality coverage. It ensures that a sufficient portion of the software has been tested.
- Defect Closure:
- Test completion criteria often include conditions related to defect closure. This may involve specifying that a certain percentage of high-priority defects or all critical defects must be resolved before testing is considered complete.
- Requirements Validation:
- Criteria related to requirements validation ensure that all specified requirements have been tested and validated. This involves confirming that each requirement has associated test cases and has been successfully verified.
- Test Execution Status:
- Test completion criteria include criteria related to the status of test execution. This may involve achieving a predefined level of test case execution, including both successful and unsuccessful test cases.
- Resource Utilization:
- Criteria related to resource utilization ensure that testing resources, including personnel, tools, and environments, have been used effectively and efficiently during the testing process.
- Exit Criteria for Test Levels or Phases:
- Test completion criteria may include specific exit criteria for different test levels or phases. For example, the completion criteria for unit testing may differ from those for system testing or acceptance testing.
- Test Documentation:
- Criteria related to test documentation ensure that all necessary documentation, including test plans, test cases, and test results, has been prepared and is up-to-date.
- Defect Trends:
- Criteria related to defect trends involve monitoring the rate at which new defects are being identified. A decreasing trend may indicate that the software is stabilizing, while an increasing trend may signal ongoing issues.
- Stakeholder Approval:
- In some cases, test completion criteria may include obtaining approval from relevant stakeholders, such as project managers, product owners, or business representatives, signifying their confidence in the testing results.
- Regression Testing:
- Criteria related to regression testing ensure that regression testing has been performed to verify that changes or fixes have not introduced new defects or negatively impacted existing functionality.
The establishment and fulfillment of test completion criteria are essential for making informed decisions about the readiness of the software for release. These criteria provide a clear and objective basis for determining when testing activities can be concluded and when the software is considered sufficiently tested and validated.