Difference between Agile Testing and Waterfall Testing

Agile Testing

Agile testing is a software testing method in which all the development requirements, including software testing, are completed simultaneously. In this approach, you can test your program at every stage of development so that you can find bugs early on and fix them as quickly as possible. This testing approach is popular among many companies because it allows them to deliver high-quality products faster than competitors who use traditional waterfall processes.

Waterfall testing

Waterfall testing is a methodology of software development that follows the sequential process of requirement, design, implementation, and testing phases. This process is also known as the linear approach because at each phase output of one phase becomes the input for the next phase. The term waterfall comes from this method as you need to go down with your feet together in one direction and not move sideways or backward during the process. It is used to test the functionality and usability of software by following certain steps in order until completion.

Difference between Agile Testing and Waterfall Testing

Waterfall testing and agile testing are two different types of software testing methodologies. Waterfall Testing is a software testing model in which the process flows linearly from top to bottom. Agile Testing is a software testing method in which all the development requirements including software testing are completed simultaneously. In waterfall testing, there is a review process at the end of each phase whereas, in agile testing, reviewing happens only at the end of a project or after every sprint/iteration. There are many other factors attached to the difference between waterfall and agile testing techniques.

The testing activity is continuous

A good example of the difference between agile and waterfall testing is that in an agile project, you will find that test cases are created as soon as they have the product is available. This means that testing can start immediately without having to wait for all the requirements to be completed and then build up test cases. Agile also enables testers to run tests in parallel with development, which saves time as it helps avoid defects being introduced by developers due to a lack of adequate testing upfront. Waterfall-based testing of projects tends not to consider this method because they have a strict process in place and do not allow anything outside their boundaries or framework. The key difference here is that with agile methods, testers can start working immediately on creating test scenarios based on user stories or acceptance criteria (AC), so there’s no need for them to wait until all requirements are done before starting their work. 

There is no test planning as such. The developers and testers decide the test cases and scenarios during the build phase itself.

Agile testing is a method of software development where the test cases are created as part of the sprint planning meeting. The testers and developers decide upon them during this meeting. After creating the test cases, they will be reviewed by all members at a time of their convenience before conducting any testing activities. Once approved by all stakeholders, a tester may start execution to ensure that the product meets its requirements specified at the definition phase. In the waterfall model, test case creation happens after the design document is finalized, which means that it cannot be changed even if new requirements come up during the development process or even after the alpha or beta release of a software product. This is one of the fundamental differences between waterfall and agile.

Testers can start their work only after the completion of all or most of the development activities.

In Agile, testing can start even before the completion of all development activities. Testers are involved in every phase of a project and they are responsible for making sure that the product meets its objectives. The waterfall model requires testers to wait until the product is ready to test.

Testers are involved from the very beginning in agile methodologies like Scrum. They can carry out testing in parallel with development.

Agile methodologies like Scrum involve testers from the very beginning. ATDD and BDD are used in Agile. Testers can carry out testing in parallel with development. They can be involved in the planning of test cases and scenarios during the build phase itself. The entire project team works in silos, i.e., the team members work independently of each other, and there is very little interaction among them. In a waterfall methodology, the project is broken down into distinct phases, with each phase being assigned to a different group of people. For example, in waterfall methodologies, there are separate roles for UX designers and developers.

The UX designer will create wireframes and sketches first; then these designs are handed over to the developer who will develop them into functional prototypes; finally, these end products are tested by QA testers who ensure that they work as intended. In this way, each team member works independently of each other and there is very little interaction among them. In contrast, agile methodologies encourage cross-functional collaboration between team members during every stage of development—from requirements analysis to testing itself—rather than having distinct groups working on separate tasks throughout the entire project lifecycle (e.g., one group designing while another group coding).

You will have to choose between agile and waterfall testing.

Agile and waterfall testing are two different methods of software testing. Both have their advantages, disadvantages, and pros and cons. The choice between them will depend on the type of project you are working on. If you are planning to start a new project or your current project needs an improvement in its test automation strategy, you need to decide whether to use agile or waterfall methodologies for testing before proceeding with the development phase.

Conclusion

Agile testing is a dynamic process that involves frequent user feedback and constant changes to the product. It requires close collaboration between testers, developers, and customers. Waterfall testing is an old-school method that does not take into account the changing requirements of customers. It also does not provide an opportunity for testers to improve their testing skills with real-world experience because they don't get enough time to practice what they have learned during training sessions.

There are many factors to consider when choosing and going through difference between waterfall and agile testing. If you’re unsure which method would work best for your project, it’s important to do some research on both methods before making a decision. This way, you can make an informed choice and be confident that whatever method you choose will work well with your team!