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This article explains the distinction between testing & debugging. These terminologies are essential components of SDLC since they are employed at various stages of the Software Development Life Cycle & provide different sorts of results.
Testing & Debugging play an essential part in detecting and removing errors throughout the creation and after the conclusion of any app or software product developed in any computer language. They serve the same purpose, yet they differ in design, needs, benefits, & performance.
As a result, we must correctly comprehend the distinctions between debugging and testing to get better software development results. Before you look at the differences between testing & debugging, we’ll go through an in-depth essential of testing & debugging to assist us in differentiating between the two.
Testing - What Is It?
The primary testing objective is to determine whether the system performs correctly or in a traditional way by the expectations. A software test is primarily used to find out the software’s shortcomings. After testing has been completed, the testing team will assign the issue to the developer team for debugging.
A tester can use manual methods and automated methods at the same time when performing a test. Any stage in the software development process can have defects, which should be identified as soon as possible and should not be left until the program has been tested. If each phase is tested separately and the degree is complete, the flaws will be identified early, thus reducing the overall cost. An on-time and well-planned testing process increases the chances that the product or service will meet the client’s needs.
Debugging - What Is It?
Debugging is the process by which the developers fix the system bug. The developer investigates the underlying cause of the problem to make the software completely bug-free. It is up to the developers to look at the code and fix it if the expected result does not match the actual result. As a result of the details included in the error, Developers can check the precise code area for loopholes and determine which steps need to be carried out. They can use another tool for debugging. Once the developer has fixed the defect, they send it back to the tester for retesting.
To debug an application, it’s important to consider the user experience first. In other words, if your software is not performing well, your users will start to leave. By prioritising the bug, you can determine the most important to fix first, based on how much it affects your users. Prioritise the bug based on a risk assessment matrix if possible. The people involved in debugging must confirm that each cause of the errors has been checked before starting the process.
In other words, software/products should be thoroughly tested. Ensure that the updated code in the program is accurate and correct. It is necessary to perform regression testing to accomplish the given objective.
Similarly, regression testing involves retesting the previous changes to an app to ensure that everything is working as it should. Application development relies on this process, which is common and vital.
Distinctions Between Debugging and Testing
| Testing | Debugging |
| Once the code is developed, testing begins. | The completion of a testing phase initiates debugging. |
| Testing is done to check for bugs in the code. | Debugging is the procedure of discovering and eliminating bugs from software. |
| When testing, the test circumstances are known, and predetermined procedures are employed. | The majority of the time, test circumstances are unknown before debugging begins. |
| Testing is carried out after careful scheduling, planning, and design. | Debugging does not follow any set technique or time limit. |
| Testing can be done manually or automatically. | Debugging is usually done by hand. |
| The testing procedure can be contracted and done by a third party. | Debugging can only be done by developers. |
| It is carried out depending on the type of testing required, such as unit testing, system acceptance testing, integration testing, pressure, stress, soak, and performance testing, among others. | Debugging is done based on the kind of misconfigurations reported to the programmers for debugging. |
| The testing method produces a list of defects. Most testing takes place in user space, wherein you execute the program as an end-user might and try to break it. | The process of debugging produces bug-free software. |
| The majority of the testing may be done without any design expertise. | Debugging is impossible without full design knowledge. |
