PDTPRO

Testing is the systematic search for defects in all project deliverables. It is the process of examining an output of a process under consideration, comparing the results against a set of pre-determined expectations, and dealing with the variances.Testing will take on many forms, As the form and content of the output change, the approaches and techniques used to test them must be adapted.

Fundamental to the concept of testing are:

• validation the act of ensuring compliance against an original requirement.

An example being the comparison of the actual system response of an on-line transaction to what was originally expected, requested, and finally approved in the External Design.

• verification the act of checking the current work product to insure it performs as specified its predecessor.

The comparison of a module’s code against its technical design specifications document is one example.

• process a series of actions performed to achieve a desired result that transforms a set of inputs (usually information) into useful outputs.
• expectations a set of requirements or specifications to which an output result of a process must conform in order to be acceptable

One such example is the performance specification that an on-line application must return a response in less than two seconds.

• variances deviations of the output of a process from the expected outcome.These variances are often referred to as defects.
  

Testing is therefore the process of verifying and or validating an output against a set of expectations and observing the variances.