Software Quality Assurance Practice Exam

Which testing method focuses on the interaction of different software modules?

1. End-to-end testing

2. Unit testing

3. Integration testing

4. Static testing

The correct answer is: Integration testing

Integration testing is a critical phase in the software development lifecycle that specifically assesses how different software modules or components work together. This method goes beyond individual unit functionality, which is the concern of unit testing, to examine the interactions, data flow, and communication between modules. In this type of testing, testers evaluate how these integrated parts function in unison under various conditions, ensuring that combined components perform as expected when interconnected. By identifying interface defects and interaction issues, integration testing helps to provide assurance that the software components work together harmoniously, which is essential for the overall reliability and performance of the application. End-to-end testing checks the complete application flow, including all subsystems, but it encompasses more than just module interactions. Unit testing focuses on isolated functionality of individual components, and static testing analyzes the code without executing it, missing the aspect of dynamic module interaction. Thus, integration testing is specifically tailored to address the complexities arising from different software modules working together.