What is System Testing?
System Testing is performed on a fully integrated system to evaluate the system's compliance with its specified requirements. It is conducted by the QA team and focuses on end-to-end testing of the complete application.
Objectives of System Testing
- Validate the end-to-end system functionality
- Ensure the system meets business and technical requirements
- Detect defects that may have been missed in integration testing
Advantages
- Ensures the system works as expected
- Detects system-level defects
- Increases confidence before production release
Limitations
- Time-consuming and resource intensive
- May not cover all possible scenarios
- Requires proper environment and test data setup
System Testing Process
- Develop a comprehensive system test plan
- Prepare test cases covering all functional and non-functional requirements
- Execute test cases on the complete system
- Log defects and report issues
- Re-test and verify fixes
️ Example
Example: Testing an e-commerce website as a complete system, including product search, checkout process, payment gateway, and user account functionality.
Best Practices
- Test early and continuously in the SDLC
- Use realistic test data and environment
- Automate repetitive system tests wherever possible
- Document defects and test results clearly
