Smoke Testing Meaning, Example, Types And Scenarios

9 min readJun 28, 2023

Today We will Learn Smoke Testing Meaning, Example, Types, Template, Scenarios, Smoke vs Sanity Testing, Smoke vs Regression Testing, and Entry Exit Criteria.

Smoke testing, also known as build verification testing (BVT), is the first and most basic level of software testing.

Smoke Testing is the first and most basic level of software testing. Its goal is to quickly test if the most important parts of a system work as expected, without doing more in-depth testing.

In short, It is primarily used to see if the build is stable enough for more thorough testing.

Sanity and Smoke Testing Meaning

Sanity testing, also called a sanity check, is a focused and brief software testing technique used to quickly determine whether the major functionalities of a software application are working correctly after making small changes or fixes.

Sanity testing’s main goal is to make sure that the most important parts of the software work as expected and to figure out if more, more thorough testing is needed.

Sanity testing is usually done during the software development lifecycle, usually after a new feature has been added, a bug has been fixed, or a small change has been made to the software.

It serves as a confidence check to make sure that the changes or fixes haven’t made any big problems with the application.

The main goal of sanity testingis to make sure the software works as it should and is easy to use. It entails running a set of targeted test cases that cover the crucial functionalities impacted by the recent changes.

The objective is to determine quickly whether the software is stable enough to move on to more thorough testing.

this testing aims to find show-stopping problems that could stop further testing or cause big problems during testing. It entails running a set of tests that have already been set up. These tests usually cover the software’s most important features or workflows.

Before moving on to more thorough testing, the focus is on making sure the build is stable and has the most basic features. If the software passes the smoke test, it is stable enough to be tested further.

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Smoke Testing Real time Example

Imagine a software development team working on an e-commerce application that lets users look at and buy products online. Before moving on to more comprehensive testing, the team has finished a new build of the application and wants to perform this testing.

A set of predefined test cases that cover the essential features of the e-commerce application would be run as part of the this testing process in this scenario.

An example as follows:

Launch and Login: The smoke test would begin by launching the application and ensuring that the login process is functioning properly. Testers would try to log in with valid credentials to see if the system would let them access the user account.
Product Search: The next step would be to use the search bar to find a product. Testers would enter a specific keyword and see if the application returned relevant search results. They would make sure that the search function worked well and gave correct results.
Product Details: After finding a product, testers would click on it to see more information about it. They would make sure that the product description, price, availability, and images are all displayed correctly.
Add to Cart: The smoke test would also involve adding the product to the cart and making sure it was successfully added without any problems. Testers would make sure that the total in the cart changes correctly and reflects the new item.
Checkout Process: To act out a purchase, testers would go through the checkout process. They would enter the necessary information, like the shipping address and payment information, and make sure the transaction went through without any problems.

As part of this testing, testers would navigate through various sections of the application, including the homepage, product categories, and user account settings. They would make sure that the application is easy to use and that the various parts load properly.

If the e-commerce application passes these critical smoke test scenarios without major defects or issues, it means that the build is fairly stable and can be used for more testing.

The team would need to investigate and fix any significant problems found during this testing process before moving on to more thorough testing.

It allows the team to quickly find show-stopping problems early in the development process, saving time and effort. Before spending money on thorough testing, it serves as a first check to make sure the application is stable and functional.

Types of Smoke Testing

There are different kinds of smoke that can be done, depending on what the project needs. Here are a few examples:

Functional Smoke Testing:

This is all about making sure that the software works as it should. It makes sure that the basic features work right and that the app can do its main jobs without any major problems.

For example, in a web application might entail checking that users can successfully log in, move between pages, and submit forms.

Integration Smoke Testing:

This is used to examine how various parts or modules of a system interact. It checks if the integration points are working as expected and if data is moving between modules correctly.

This kind of testing aids in finding any problems that might come up as a result of combining different parts.

Build Verification Testing:

Also called build acceptance testing, build verification testing checks to see if the newly built or updated software build is stable and ready for more testing.

It checks that the build works in the most basic ways, making sure that it can be deployed and tested without major problems. In order to quickly evaluate the build’s stability, build verification testing typically entails running a predetermined set of tests.

Regression Smoke Testing:

This testing is done when changes or updates are made to an already existing software application. Its goal is to make sure that the changes haven’t hurt the way the system works at its core. This kind of testing helps find bugs or changes that were made during the development process that were not expected.

Smoke Testing Template

Some organizations follows standard smoke testing template to test the application, this template is only for reference you can re-design template based on the requirements.

Smoke-Testing-Template

Smoke Testing vs Sanity Testing

You must check here Smoke Testing vs Sanity Testing

Smoke Testing Scenarios for WhatsApp

Find below few smoke testing scenarios for whatsApp,

Verify that the WhatsApp application launches without any critical errors.
Verify that the user interface of the application is displayed correctly.
Verify that users can create a new account with a valid phone number.
Verify the login process with a registered phone number and correct credentials.
Verify that contacts from the user’s phone book are automatically synced and displayed in the WhatsApp contact list.
Verify that users can send text messages to individual contacts.
Verify that users can receive incoming text messages from other WhatsApp users.
Verify the ability to send and receive multimedia messages, such as photos and videos.
Verify that users can create and manage groups, including adding and removing participants.
Verify that voice and video calls can be initiated and received successfully.
Verify the notification feature to ensure that users receive timely alerts for incoming messages or calls.
Verify the ability to block and unblock contacts within the application.
Verify that users can change their profile picture and update their status.
Verify the functionality of archiving and unarchiving conversations.
Verify that the application supports multiple languages, if applicable.
Verify the integration with the device’s contact list and call log for seamless communication.
Verify that the application functions properly in both online and offline modes.
Verify that users can change their account settings, such as privacy settings and notification preferences.
Verify the functionality of the backup and restore feature for chat history.
Verify the logout process to ensure that users can securely sign out from their accounts.

above are some of scenarios we have mentioned, you can add more smoke scenarios from your end.

How to do smoke testing

The following is a how-to steps to do this testing.

Define Scope

Based on the requirements of the project, the most important features, and the modules that need to be tested, determine the scope of the testing.

Pay attention to the application’s core features to make sure it can do its main jobs without any major problems.

Create Test Cases

Create a set of test cases that cover the most important features of the app.

The test cases should be easy to understand and focus on the most important aspects that need to be verified during this testing process.

Set up the test Environment

By configuring the necessary hardware, software, and network settings.

To get accurate results, make sure the environment is similar to the production environment.

Run the predefined set of test cases to verify the application’s fundamental functionality.

Focusing on one test case at a time, carry out the tests methodically. The tests should be quick and not involve testing each component in detail.

Record Test Results

As each test case is run, note whether it passed, failed, or encountered any problems. Note any significant problems or strange things that come up during the testing process.

This documentation will be crucial for further analysis and debugging.

Analyze Results

Examine the test results and find any critical problems or failures. If a test case fails or a problem comes up, you should let the development team know right away so they can look into it and fix it.

To avoid wasting time on thorough testing with an unstable build, it is important to identify major problems early in the development cycle.

Report and Communicate

Create a summary report of the testing results, including the overall test result, the number of passed and failed test cases, and any major problems that were found.

Share this report with the appropriate stakeholders, such as the project manager, development team, and quality assurance team.

Iterative Process

As new builds or updates are introduced, smoke testing is often performed iteratively.

To make sure that the core functionality stays stable and functional, repeat the this process with each new build.

Smoke Testing vs Regression Testing

You must check Smoke vs Regression Testing

Smoke Testing Entry and Exit Criteria

Entry Criteria:

Availability of the software build or version to be tested.
Test environment readiness, including hardware, software, and network configurations.
Preparation of the smoke testing test plan, outlining objectives, scope, and test cases.
Availability of necessary test data for executing smoke test cases.
Testing infrastructure, including relevant tools and systems, in place.

Exit Criteria:

Completion of executing all defined smoke test cases.
Analysis of smoke testing results to validate basic functionality.
Logging and reporting of any identified defects or issues.
Communication of summary report or update to relevant stakeholders.
Go/No-Go decision based on outcomes of smoke testing.

Smoke Testing Advantages and Disadvantages

In this section we will discuss it’s advantages and disadvanatges as below.

Advantages of Smoke Testing:

Early Issue Identification: This testing helps identify major issues or showstopper defects at an early stage of the testing process, allowing for timely resolution.
Time and Cost Efficiency: It is a quick and cost-effective testing technique that focuses on the core functionality, reducing the time and effort required for comprehensive testing.
Risk Mitigation: By catching major issues early on, this testing mitigates the risk of moving forward with an unstable build, minimizing the impact on subsequent testing phases.
Increased Confidence: Successful testing builds confidence in the stability and basic functionality of the software, providing a solid foundation for further testing.
Quick Feedback Loop: It provides immediate feedback to the development team, enabling them to address critical issues promptly and efficiently.

Disadvantages of Smoke Testing:

Limited Scope: This testing focuses on surface-level testing of key features, potentially missing issues that may arise in deeper functionality or specific scenarios.
False Sense of Security: Passing smoke tests does not guarantee the absence of all defects or issues. It may give a false sense of security if comprehensive testing is not performed.
Inadequate Coverage: Due to its limited scope, it may not cover all areas of the application, potentially leaving some functionality untested.
Lack of Detailed Analysis: It does not provide in-depth analysis of individual components or functionalities, as its primary goal is to identify major issues quickly.
Reliance on Stability of Basic Functionality: This testing assumes that the basic functionality of the software is stable, and any issues encountered are considered critical.

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Final Words

In conclusion, it is an important part of the software testing process because it is a quick and effective way to assess an application’s or system’s basic functionality and stability.

It acts as a first checkpoint to find major problems early on, allowing for quick resolution and reducing the risks of moving forward with an unstable build.

Frequently Asked Questions

Originally published at https://www.softwaretestingsapiens.com on June 28, 2023.