The test summary report outlines the summation of software testing activities and final testing results. Software testers are required to communicate testing results and findings to project stakeholders on the completion of a testing cycle. The content of the test summary report drives decisions for the release of the software. Revision history, distribution list, document review, project description, testing scope, functionalities and features tested in a cycle, test execution details, test coverage, and results, defect matrix, and outstanding results represent the content in a test summary report.
When to Create a Test Summary Report
The report would be created at the close of software testing cycles. In certain cases, testing engineers working on behalf of a QA company can perform a single round of testing before generating a report. Freelance testers can generate and submit the report to spotlight defects in the ‘open’ statuses. The report serves as a guide to help clients with information on the overall ‘health’ of a software application and enable the planning of corrective measures. For instance, a report may convey certain defects repeatedly occurring through several testing cycles. The recommendation from the tester may include the allocation of a higher number of resources to track and analyze the defects, and also a note for the software development team.
What to Include in the Test Summary Report
Precision and relevance form the basis of an informative test summary report. Testing engineers working on behalf of the top software testing companies must aim to custom design the content to match the nature of the testing project and the work assignment. The following points elucidate the inclusions necessary for a test summary report:
The Objective of the Test This section should outline the purpose and general scope of the testing exercise. This portion must reflect the understanding of the tester on the expectations and requirements of a software testing exercise. Additionally, testers should include notes about whether the results meet the business and user requirements. Conformity with business and system requirement specifications and the confidence in providing a quality product to the end customer are quintessential objectives of a testing exercise.
Testing ApproachThis section provides the mechanisms that power the testing approach in a particular testing cycle. Testing engineers must include details of the measures and the types of testing undertaken to achieve the task. A test approach also defines the implementation of the test strategy of a software testing project through two techniques. The first being proactive, in which the test design process is initiated as early as possible to detect and remediate the defects before the build is created. The second is reactive, in which testing follows the completion of design and coding activities. Further, the approach may outline various approaches – dynamic and heuristic, consultative approaches, and a model-based one that would deploy statistical information on failure rates.
Areas Tested and Untested
All the features and functionalities tested would form this section. Testing engineers working on behalf of a QA company are expected to include high-level information in addition to recommendations (for the development team) on the possible new functionalities. Similarly, untested areas of functionality would also form part of this section. The logic and rationale for excluding certain features from testing should be listed in this section for the benefit of reviewers and clients.
Platform DetailsThis section of the test summary report would cover the various versions of a software application, the use of different browsers, and multiple devices. An application must be tested on each of these platforms and the test results collated for the reviewers and clients. This approach is important in modern times given the varied number of platforms, devices, operating systems, and browsing programs.
Defect ReportTesters must report all defects in the interest of saving time and effort for all those involved in the project. This section would be comprehensive and would mention the significant volumes of information, and facts, and would generate a clear view of the technical opinion of the testers. Testing Metrics can include total defects with an information breakup focused on defect severity and additional metrics regarding test cases.
In Conclusion
A test summary report, therefore, is a necessary document and marks the conclusion of a software testing exercise. Test engineers must invest time and effort to complete such reports to maintain clarity and transparency of their efforts and provide clients with a clear summation of the project. This report requires the attention and time of experts and experienced personnel because of the critical nature of the content – connect with us to work with the best in the realm and more.
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