Differences between Sanity and Smoke Testing

Sanity testing and smoke testing are both initial testing techniques used in software development to quickly evaluate whether an application is ready for more rigorous testing. Here are the key differences between them:

1. Purpose:

   • Smoke Testing: The primary goal of smoke testing is to check if the critical functionalities of the software work correctly. It aims to determine if the application is stable enough to proceed with more detailed testing. Smoke tests are broad and shallow, covering the most important functionalities or features.

   • Sanity Testing: Sanity testing, on the other hand, is more focused. It verifies that specific functionality or a small part of the application is working as expected after some minor changes or fixes. It is often performed after a bug fix or a small enhancement to ensure that the core functionalities have not been affected.

2. Scope:

   • Smoke Testing: Typically covers a wide range of functionalities or features of the software. It ensures that the basic and critical components are working before proceeding with deeper testing.

   • Sanity Testing: Targets specific areas of the software, usually those that have undergone recent changes. It checks whether these specific changes or fixes have not adversely affected the core functionalities.

3. Depth of Testing:

   • Smoke Testing: It is shallow and non-exhaustive. The tests are designed to be quick and should not delve into detailed functionality or corner cases.

   • Sanity Testing: While also quick, it may involve more detailed testing of the specific functionality or feature that has been changed or fixed. It ensures that the recent changes have not introduced any critical issues.

4. Timing:

   • Smoke Testing: Typically performed early in the testing phase, often after a new build is deployed. It helps in deciding whether to proceed with further testing or not.

   • Sanity Testing: Usually conducted after a new build or a code fix to verify if the immediate changes have been implemented correctly and have not disrupted the system.

Validation and verification are two critical processes in software testing and quality assurance. Here are the key differences between them:

1. Definition:

   • Verification: This process involves evaluating whether a system or component meets specified requirements and fulfills its intended purpose. It essentially asks, "Are we building the product right?" Verification ensures that the software is being developed according to the requirements and specifications defined for it.

   • Validation: In contrast, validation is the process of evaluating software during or at the end of the development process to determine whether it satisfies specified business requirements. It seeks