High Order Tests, also known as Higher-Order Testing, is the next step to Module Testing. It is well known that Module Testing is not the foolproof method to identify and locate all the errors in the software. As a result, further tests need to be conducted. These additional tests comprise the High Order Testing. Most times, organizations use a third party to validate their software through High Order Testing.
The purpose is to make sure that the test findings of the third party match with those of their own, so that all the customer requirements are confirmed. The tests that are conducted for this purpose generally pertain to function, performance and behavior of the software.
Necessity of High Order Testing
Software Development Process involves the execution of different tasks or activities or requirements, carried out through multiple stages or steps, which needs to be verified and validated through different testing techniques, covered under the High Order Testing, such as
System/program design is evaluated through Integration Testing.
External specifications are checked through Function Testing.
Objectives specified, prior to the development process, defining- what will be the functions, how it will be performed, etc., is examined by the System Testing.
Requirements as specified by the users/clients are checked using acceptance testing.
Thus, High Order Test ensures the fulfilment of all sorts of requirement, criterion, at each step of the development, so as to produce a software product of desired quality.
High Order Testing : Infographics
What Tests Form High Order Testing?
The various tests that collectively come under the blanket of High Order Test are:
System Testing – Herein the focus lies on the incorporated or the integrated system. The main aim behind System Testing is to completely work out and analyze the software in order to identify the loopholes that can cause errors.
Recovery Testing – In Recovery Testing the software is forced to fail under various scenarios and in different ways. The idea is to corroborate that the recovery process occurs as expected and that there are no deviations from it.
Security Testing – These days security is a very big issue. If a software is open to unauthorized and illegal access then it is bound to cause concern. In order to substantiate and authenticate the fact that the software is well secured it is necessary to conduct comprehensive Security Testing.
Stress Testing – The software is now tested at varying frequencies, with abnormal data inputs and haphazard volume to validate its breaking point. The idea is to judge its complete functionality in the light of unpredictable and inconsistent consumer or user behavior.
Performance Testing – Finally the software needs to be checked and tested for its range of performance to know its compatibility and functionality.
Function Testing - This testing is used to locate out the discrepancies, between the actual working and behaviour and what was intended, from the user's point of view.
Integration Testing - Ensures the proper working of the modules, after getting integrated.
Acceptance Testing - It is used to verify and validate a software product, against the specified requirements and specifications, to ensure that the product is ready for the use.
Is High Order Testing Mandatory?
Considering the various tests that are performed under the mantle of High Order Testing, it is safe to say that it is mandatory. Skipping such an important part of testing can cause fatal errors in the software. Ultimately, this will lead to rising costs by way of constant bug fixes or else it will garner so much ill-will that there will be no takers for it. Hence, it can be rightly said that High Order Testing is and should always be an implicit part of the complete software testing ritual.
Conclusion
High Order Testing is the call of the day. If an independent third party conducts this test, then it is all the better as you are able to match your responses free of any influence. The idea is to make a strong software that can bear any type of stress and contradictory human behaviour.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
