Types of testing
White box testing
White box testing is a method of testing software that tests internal structures or workings of an application, as opposed to its functionality (i.e., black box testing).
An example of white box testing would be testing to ensure the age form field only accepted an integer between 14 and 120.
Black box testing
Black box testing examines the functionality of an application without peering into its internal structures or workings. For example: Does the reset button on the age form clear the data?
Black box testing can be considered as testing from the end user's perspective.
System testing
The purpose of a system test is to ensure that all the individually developed units of software work together as intended. One benefit of system testing is that it helps you discover problems or inconsistencies between software units that are intended to work together.
Alpha testing
Alpha testing is the in-house testing that takes place before software is released for beta testing.
Alpha testing will be carried out by employees of the company making the software, usually by those not involved in its creation. Any necessary alterations are then made before beta testing. Alpha testing will follow a test plan using test data.
Beta testing
Beta testing is the second phase of testing in which a sample group of end users try the application out. Beta testing is "pre-release" testing carried out in a live environment using real volumes of data.
The aim of beta testing is to place an application in the hands of real users outside the software development team to discover any flaws or issues from the user's perspective.
A/B testing
A/B testing is comparing two versions of a web page to see which one performs better. You compare two web pages by showing the two versions (let's call them A and B) to similar visitors at the same time. The one that gives receives the best feedback, wins!