Integration Testing
Integration testing is a software testing technique where individual software modules or
components are combined and tested as a group to ensure that they work together seamlessly
as intended. There are several types of integration testing, each focusing on different aspects of
integration:
1. Big Bang Integration Testing:
In this approach, all the components or modules are integrated simultaneously,
and the system is tested as a whole.
It's often used when components are largely independent and can be integrated
easily.
Example: In a web application, all modules including user authentication,
product catalog, shopping cart, and checkout process are integrated at once, and
the entire application is tested.
2. Top-Down Integration Testing:
In this approach, testing starts from the top-level modules (closest to the user
interface) and progresses downwards, integrating and testing lower-level
modules as needed.
Stubs (dummy implementations) may be used for lower-level modules that have
not yet been developed.
Example: In a web application, testing starts with the user interface layer, then
progresses to the business logic layer, and finally to the data access layer.
3. Bottom-Up Integration Testing:
This approach is the opposite of top-down integration testing. Testing starts
from the lower-level modules and moves upwards, integrating and testing
higher-level modules as needed.
Drivers (test scaffolding) may be used for higher-level modules that have not yet
been developed.
Example: In a web application, testing starts with the data access layer, then
progresses to the business logic layer, and finally to the user interface layer.
4. Incremental Integration Testing:
Also known as "Incremental Testing," this approach involves integrating and
testing the system incrementally, one module or component at a time.
Each integrated module is tested individually and then in combination with
previously integrated modules.
Example: In an e-commerce platform, the user authentication module is
integrated and tested first, followed by the product catalog module, then the
shopping cart module, and so on.
5. Sandwich Testing:
This approach combines elements of both top-down and bottom-up integration
testing.
It starts with a core module or set of modules being tested, then integrates
surrounding modules, and continues iterating until all modules are integrated.
Example: In a messaging application, the core messaging functionality may be
tested first, then additional features like file sharing, group messaging, and voice
calls are gradually integrated and tested.
