Complete Course
Software Testing Fundamentals
Start your QA journey: the testing pyramid, test types and levels, the testing quadrants, and core test design techniques like equivalence classes, boundaries, and edge cases.
~4 hours of content
Course Content
17 comprehensive lessons covering everything you need to know
Introduction
Introduction
Course Overview
Learn what this course covers, who it is for, and how to get the most out of it.
Introduction
What you will learn
A map of the fundamentals ahead, from why we test to the core test design techniques.
Testing foundations
Lesson
Lesson 1What is software testing and why we test
What testing really is, why it matters, and the difference between verification and validation.
Lesson
Lesson 2The seven principles of testing
The seven classic testing principles and what each one changes about how you test.
Lesson
Lesson 3Static vs dynamic, functional vs non-functional
Two fundamental ways to slice testing: with or without running the code, and what vs how well.
Test types and levels
Lesson
Lesson 4Test levels: unit, integration, system, and acceptance
The four levels of testing, what each one checks, and who typically owns it.
Lesson
Lesson 5The testing pyramid
How to balance many fast tests against a few slow ones, and how to avoid the ice-cream cone.
Lesson
Lesson 6The testing quadrants
A model that maps tests by who they guide and what they measure, so nothing important is missed.
Lesson
Lesson 7Black-box, white-box, and grey-box testing
Testing based on behavior, on internal structure, or on a mix of both, and when each fits.
Lesson
Lesson 8Smoke tests vs regression tests
Quick confidence checks vs broad safety nets, plus how retesting differs from regression.
Test design techniques
Lesson
Lesson 9Equivalence class partitioning
Group inputs that behave the same way so you test more with fewer cases.
Lesson
Lesson 10Boundary value analysis
Bugs love the edges of a range. Learn to test right at and around the boundaries.
Lesson
Lesson 11Happy path vs unhappy path testing
Positive vs negative testing: proving it works, and proving it fails gracefully.
Lesson
Lesson 12Edge case testing
The rare, extreme, and unexpected conditions where software quietly breaks.
Lesson
Lesson 13Decision tables, state transition, and pairwise testing
Three techniques for taming combinations, rules, and stateful behavior.
Lesson
Lesson 14False positives and false negatives
When a test lies: passing tests that should fail, and flaky tests that fail when they should pass, and why they destroy trust.
Process, strategy, and tools
Lesson
Lesson 15Testing in the SDLC and shift-left
Where testing fits across the software lifecycle, the STLC, and why earlier is cheaper.
Lesson
Lesson 16Exploratory, risk-based, manual and automated testing
Learning by exploring, prioritizing by risk, and choosing between manual and automated testing.
Lesson
Lesson 17Tool alternatives for the different test types
A tool-agnostic map of the popular options for unit, API, UI, performance, and accessibility testing.
Bonus & Conclusion
Bonus
Bonus: testing with AI
How AI assistants can speed up the fundamentals you just learned, and why you stay in charge of quality.
Conclusion
Congratulations!
You have completed the Software Testing Fundamentals course!