Smoke Testing vs Sanity Testing

1. Smoke testing and sanity testing are two types of software testing activities performed during the early stages of testing to quickly assess the software's stability and readiness for more comprehensive testing. While they serve similar purposes, they have distinct objectives and scopes. Here's a comparison of smoke testing and sanity testing:
2. Smoke Testing:

1. Objective:

   1. Smoke testing aims to verify whether the most critical and basic functionalities of the software work as expected after a new build or major code changes. It is a quick check to ensure that the software is stable enough for further testing.

2. Scope:

   1. Smoke testing covers a broad range of critical functionalities and major components of the application. It tests the essential features that are necessary for the software to perform its core functions.

3. Depth:

   1. Smoke testing does not delve into detailed testing of individual features or components. It focuses on high-level functionality and integration.

4. Timing:

   1. Smoke testing is typically conducted early in the testing process, often after each build is created. It helps identify showstopper issues quickly.

5. Pass or Fail:

   1. In smoke testing, the software build is considered "passed" if the critical functions work without major issues. If there are significant failures, the build is deemed "failed," and further testing is halted until the issues are addressed.

6. Regression Testing:

   1. Smoke testing does not usually include extensive regression testing but may cover regression of critical functionalities.
7. Sanity Testing:

8. Objective:

   1. Sanity testing, also known as sanity check or build verification testing, verifies that specific areas or functionalities of the software have been fixed or enhanced after code changes. It is a more focused and narrow test compared to smoke testing.

9. Scope:

   1. Sanity testing narrows down the scope to specific areas or features affected by recent code changes. It aims to confirm that the changes have not introduced new defects or regressions.

10. Depth:

    1. While it is more focused than smoke testing, sanity testing still does not explore the full depth of functionality. It is not meant for exhaustive testing.

11. Timing:

    1. Sanity testing is usually performed after smoke testing or when there are specific code changes or bug fixes. It helps ensure that the recent changes have not disrupted the software's overall stability.

12. Pass or Fail:

    1. In sanity testing, the focus is on verifying that the recent changes are working correctly and have not adversely affected other areas of the software. If the changes pass the sanity check, the build is considered "sanity passed."

13. Regression Testing:

    1. Sanity testing may involve some level of regression testing, but it is primarily focused on the areas affected by the recent code changes.
14. Summary:
15. In summary, smoke testing verifies the overall stability of the software by checking critical functionalities, while sanity testing focuses on specific areas or changes to ensure that recent code modifications have not introduced new issues. Both testing types are valuable for quickly assessing the software's readiness for more extensive testing and for ensuring that code changes do not disrupt the existing functionality.