When To Stop Testing In Software Testing?

Software testing is an essential part of the Software Development Life Cycle. Without testing, software deployment in the market is not possible. So we have two criteria to check software in software testing that is – Entry Criteria also called start testing and Exit Criteria called end testing.

In entry criteria, we start testing as soon as possible when development starts and find the bugs in an early stage of development so that they will be easy to fix. In exit criteria, there are some metrics that we follow to decide when to stop testing or how much testing we require.

When Is It Enough Testing?

Deciding how much testing we need to do is a very critical task. As long as continuous development is going on, we require testing also, so that we can say that our product is stable and reliable. But still, there are some factors where we decide whether enough testing has been done or not.

The main aim of testing is not to find many defects in the software but to make sure that the application works as per client expectations without any disturbance. No one can assure us that the software is totally bug-free or testing has been done completely.

Every software is not easy to test, some are complex too so they may have unlimited bugs to detect and hence it’s impractical to test it.

So the fact is that testing is an endless process that continues till the software exists. So we cannot say that we can find all the defects in the software and now stop the testing.

When To Stop Testing:

Some are the points that let us know when to stop testing:

1. When test cases are completed with maximum area coverage.
2. When the defect ratio drops from the calculated ratio.
3. When the budget came to an end.
4. When the release deadlines have been reached.

What Are The Completion Or Exit Criteria?

The exit criteria means it is based on the condition in which the test cycle ends. All the test cases that are passed, failed or skipped are the factors that decide the exit criteria.

What Are The Completion Or Exit Criteria?

The exit criteria are nothing but the conditions or criteria based on which the test cycle ends. All the Coverage (Pass, Defect) and test completion are factors that decide the exit criteria.

Below are the points:

1. Defect closure rate: This criterion is based on the rate of how many defects are found and how many defects are fixed.
2. Test case coverage: This criterion based on the percentage of test cases means how many test cases should be executed and passed successfully before testing can be considered as complete.
3. Time-based criteria: When testing is limited for a specific period such as a certain number of days, weeks, or months at that movement time-based criteria are used to determine when testing must be stopped.

What Should Be Present In The Exit Criteria?

The exit is decided at the beginning of the test cycle means in the Test Planning stage and it also depends on the project and requirements of the projects. Below are the points

Which says when to stop testing.

1. Time and budget constraints
2. Stakeholder approval
3. Risk-based analysis
4. Defect closure rate

Testing can be Stopped When:

1. When all the criteria like pass rate and defect rate should be achieved.
2. The defect rate is minimal and manageable.
3. The Stockholder reviews the satisfactory result and provides a sign-off

Conclusion  

When to stop testing? It is just a question. As we all know “Testing is an unstoppable process”. While using the application a bug is found then again, the testing lifecycle begins.