Smoke Testing vs Sanity Testing – Differences Between Them

Although the concepts of "smoke test" and "sanity test" may seem similar, they serve different purposes and focuses. Here's what each type of test is and how they differ:

Smoke Test:

A smoke test is a type of test used to quickly verify the basic functionality and launchability of software. This test is conducted to verify whether the basic functionality of the software is working after a certain stage of software development or after an update. The smoke test is designed to check the most fundamental functions of the software.

The main objectives of a smoke test are as follows:

• Check if the software is launchable.

• Verify that basic functions (such as login, navigating between pages, basic operations) are working correctly.
• Quickly identify basic errors and issues.

The smoke test is usually completed quickly, and if successful, the software is considered ready to move on to more comprehensive tests or user acceptance testing (UAT).

Some examples of smoke tests are provided below:

Web Browser: A smoke test for a web browser can verify if the browser is launchable and can perform basic functions such as accessing a website and basic navigation. This test includes opening the browser, loading web pages, and performing basic operations smoothly.

E-commerce Application: A smoke test for an e-commerce application can check if users can log in, search for products, add them to cart, and successfully complete the payment process. This test ensures that basic functions are working correctly.

Sanity Test:

A sanity test is used to quickly check the basic functionality and successful operation of software. However, the sanity test has a narrower focus than the smoke test and does not aim for detailed verification. The sanity test is typically used to check the basic functionality and important features of software, especially after a specific update. The main objectives of a sanity test are as follows:

• Check if the most basic functions of the software are working correctly.
• Quickly identify basic errors and issues.
• Evaluate if the software is in a usable state initially.

The sanity test is used, especially as part of an accelerated development process or when it is necessary to check a specific functionality or section of the software after an update. This test is considered as a preliminary step to assess whether the software is ready for more comprehensive tests or user acceptance testing (UAT).

Some examples of sanity tests are provided below:

Email Client: A sanity test for an email client can check if users can send, receive, read, and delete emails. This test is used to verify that basic functions are working correctly.

Mobile App Update: After updating a mobile app, a sanity test can be used to check specific new features or updates. For example, if a new feature has been added, a sanity test can be performed to check its functionality.

Website Improvement: After updating a specific website section, a sanity test can be used to check if that section is still functioning properly. For example, after updating a payment page, a sanity test can be performed to check its functionality.

In conclusion, "smoke test" and "sanity test" are different types of software tests used for different purposes during software development and after updates. While a smoke test quickly checks the basic functionality and launchability of software, a sanity test focuses on specific functionality or section of the software. Both tests are important for evaluating the health of the software and quickly identifying errors. Therefore, they are critical components of the software development process and complement each other. Both types of tests help improve the quality of the software and quickly detect errors.

Author: Fatih M. HARMANCI