Unit Testing: Testing The Source Code Piece By PieceWhen software is developed, whether it's for business or pleasure, the final most important step is the testing. Software testing ensures that all aspects of the program work correctly and the software performs and functions in the manner expected and desired. One very important part of the testing is unit testing, a procedure where each individual unit of the source code is validated as working correctly. Software consists of many different applications or parts, with each of them needing to be tested for performance, function, security among many other things. The unit is the smallest part of the application. Each module of the application software is made of many individual units, so it's apparent that the software consists of many units. Some tests are done as a whole and others are broke down into each individual units. Often the software is tested as a whole group and if there is a problem, the testing is redone and more refined as it will test each unit to pinpoint the problem. Once the problem is corrected and the software functions as it should, the units are once again tested individually and as a whole. Often this is where a regression test comes in. unit testing is usually performed by the developers of the software. There are many advantages of unit testing. One advantage is the programmer is able to change or improve the way the program is read without changing the overall performance of the program. Test cases are written for all the functions of the program so if changes are made that cause a problem, they can be easily identified and corrected. Unit testing allows the units to be tested first to eliminate any possible problems there before they test the entire program, thus making integration testing quicker, easier and more efficient. Unit testing is also very handy as it gives the programmers almost like a written report of the system. If they want to know what functionality each unit provides, they only have to look at the documentation report. Unit testing consists of many unit test cases being performed, which are critical to the unit's overall success. The test cases show characteristics that will indicate negative behavior in the software or inappropriate functions. In the same way that software testing can't catch every error, neither can unit testing, although unit testing will test the functionality of the units. It may miss integration or performance problems. Unit testing is more effective when it is used with other software testing procedures. Although unit testing is usually an automated test, it is done manually as well. The main object of unit testing is to be able to pinpoint a problem in software as to which unit it is, isolate that unit and correct it. |