Smoke Testing vs End To End Testing

Smoke testing and end-to-end testing are two different types of software testing, each serving a specific purpose in the development process.

Smoke testing

Smoke testing, also known as a sanity check, is a simple integration test that verifies if the basic functionalities of an application are working correctly. It’s typically performed after a new build or deployment to ensure that the system is stable enough for further testing. Smoke tests are usually quick, high-level, and focus on the most critical parts of the application.

End To End Testing

On the other hand, end-to-end testing replicates user behavior in a complete application environment. It verifies that various user flows work as expected and tests the application from start to finish. End-to-end tests are more comprehensive and time-consuming compared to smoke tests.

Key differences

Scope: Smoke tests check basic functionality, while end-to-end tests cover entire user flows.

Depth: Smoke tests are shallow, focusing on critical paths, whereas end-to-end tests are deep and thorough.

Timing: Smoke tests are usually run after each build or deployment, while end-to-end tests are typically performed less frequently, often as part of a larger testing cycle.

Duration: Smoke tests are quick to execute, whereas end-to-end tests take longer due to their comprehensive nature.

Purpose: The primary goal of smoke testing is to identify obvious issues quickly, while end-to-end testing aims to validate the entire system’s functionality and integration.

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• Smoke Testing vs System Testing
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In practice, both types of tests are valuable and often used together in a comprehensive testing strategy. Smoke tests provide rapid feedback on build stability, while end-to-end tests ensure the overall system works correctly from a user’s perspective.