Why is Software Testing Necessary?

To begin with let's define what "software testing" means. Let's consider this concept in terms of an everyday use. When anything is being tested, the main idea is to check whether it works properly or not. It is great when it does, but when it doesn't it means that something needs to be corrected.


Testing is necessary because all people make mistakes. Some mistakes may be not so serious, while others may have devastating consequences. That is why any product needs to be tested before it can be used efficiently and safely.

The same is true for software.

Software consists of computer programs, functions, accompanying documentation and data relevant to the operation of the computer system.

Computer technology more deeply penetrates into daily lives of people. The software controls many things that surround us, from mobile phones and computers to washing machines and credit cards.

Every day we face various program errors like Word processor is not responding right in the moment when you are working over the dissertation, or the ATM "ate" the card or just a website that does not working – all these aspects make life even more difficult.

However, not all the errors are equally dangerous, risk levels may vary for different software systems. The risks are the following:
- the factor that can lead to negative consequences in the future; usually associated with likelihood of such consequences and their impact on the system.

- Something that has not yet happened and may never occur; a potential problem.

Moreover, the level of risk will depend on the likelihood of adverse effects.

For example, the same small mistake, let is be a misprint, can have very different levels of risk for different programs:

- A misprint in Member's interests fill-in field on a personal page on Facebook is unlikely to have significant consequences;

- A misprint in the description of a large company's activities posted on its official website is already dangerous, since indirectly it speaks for incompetence of its employees;

- A misprint in the code that calculates exposure levels of X-ray machine (for example, 100 instead of 10) may have the most disastrous consequences – the damage done to the health and safety of people will result in expensive lawsuits and loss of trust to this company.