Autmation Testing Tools

Test automation is the use of software to control the execution of tests, the comparison of actual outcomes to predicted outcomes, the setting up of test preconditions, and other test control and test reporting functions. Commonly, test automation involves automating a manual process already in place that uses a formalized testing process.

Automated functional testing toolsUsing the correct testing tool at the right time in a project can significantly increase the efficiency of testing by automating processes, increasing communication, promoting best practices and re-use of tests and test data.The leading functional automated testing tools include:
Mercury: QTP and WinRunnerMercury Functional Testing™ combines Mercury’s functional testing products, Mercury QuickTest Professional™ (QTP) and Mercury WinRunner®, to deliver a complete solution for functional test, GUI test, and regression test automation — with support for practically every software application and environment.
Compuware: TestPartner and QARunCompuware offers automated functional and regression testing tools. When testing complex applications based on Microsoft, Java and web-based technologies, TestPartner helps reassure you that testing efforts are complete. For other application types, QARun gives developers and testers the automation capabilities needed to create and execute test scripts, verify tests and analyse test results.
IBM Rational RobotIBM Rational Robot is a general purpose test automation tool for QA teams who want to perform functional testing of client/server applications.These are the leading automated testing tools for functional and regression testing. Its also worth mentioning one other type of testing tool:
Odin Technology - AxeAxe is a new class of business process-oriented tools that allow non-technical users to automate testing. It provides a means to rapidly deploy automated testing systems that can be used by staff without specialist automation skills and minimal training. This reduces the cost of introducing and maintaining test automation by a factor of four. Axe can translate scripts to run with any of the functional testing tools mentioned above.

Software testing assisted with software tools that require no operator input, analysis, or evaluation.

Types of Software Testing :

ACCEPTANCE TESTING. Testing to verify a product meets customer specified requirements. A customer usually does this type of testing on a product that is developed externally.
BLACK BOX TESTING. Testing without knowledge of the internal workings of the item being tested. Tests are usually functional.
COMPATIBILITY TESTING. Testing to ensure compatibility of an application or Web site with different browsers, OSs, and hardware platforms. Compatibility testing can be performed manually or can be driven by an automated functional or regression test suite.
CONFORMANCE TESTING. Verifying implementation conformance to industry standards. Producing tests for the behavior of an implementation to be sure it provides the portability, interoperability, and/or compatibility a standard defines.
FUNCTIONAL TESTING. Validating an application or Web site conforms to its specifications and correctly performs all its required functions. This entails a series of tests which perform a feature by feature validation of behavior, using a wide range of normal and erroneous input data. This can involve testing of the product's user interface, APIs, database management, security, installation, networking, etcF testing can be performed on an automated or manual basis using black box or white box methodologies.
INTEGRATION TESTING. Testing in which modules are combined and tested as a group. Modules are typically code modules, individual applications, client and server applications on a network, etc. Integration Testing follows unit testing and precedes system testing.
LOAD TESTING. Load testing is a generic term covering Performance Testing and Stress Testing.
PERFORMANCE TESTING. Performance testing can be applied to understand your application or WWW site's scalability, or to benchmark the performance in an environment of third party products such as servers and middleware for potential purchase. This sort of testing is particularly useful to identify performance bottlenecks in high use applications. Performance testing generally involves an automated test suite as this allows easy simulation of a variety of normal, peak, and exceptional load conditions.
REGRESSION TESTING. Similar in scope to a functional test, a regression test allows a consistent, repeatable validation of each new release of a product or Web site. Such testing ensures reported product defects have been corrected for each new release and that no new quality problems were introduced in the maintenance process. Though regression testing can be performed manually an automated test suite is often used to reduce the time and resources needed to perform the required testing.
SMOKE TESTING. A quick-and-dirty test that the major functions of a piece of software work without bothering with finer details. Originated in the hardware testing practice of turning on a new piece of hardware for the first time and considering it a success if it does not catch on fire.
STRESS TESTING. Testing conducted to evaluate a system or component at or beyond the limits of its specified requirements to determine the load under which it fails and how. A graceful degradation under load leading to non-catastrophic failure is the desired result. Often Stress Testing is performed using the same process as Performance Testing but employing a very high level of simulated load.
SYSTEM TESTING. Testing conducted on a complete, integrated system to evaluate the system's compliance with its specified requirements. System testing falls within the scope of black box testing, and as such, should require no knowledge of the inner design of the code or logic.
UNIT TESTING. Functional and reliability testing in an Engineering environment. Producing tests for the behavior of components of a product to ensure their correct behavior prior to system integration.
WHITE BOX TESTING. Testing based on an analysis of internal workings and structure of a piece of software. Includes techniques such as Branch Testing and Path Testing. Also known as Structural Testing and Glass Box Testing.