Software Testing - Traceability

Software testing is performed on the basis of the requirements given by the customers. As a result, it is very important to ensure that each requirement is covered by at least one test case. Traceability is the process of keeping track of the specifications, change requests, requirements, defects, versions etc.

What is Software Traceability?

The software traceability is the technique applied to the software development process. It involves tracking and tracing of the requirements to test cases, artifacts, and everything else related to the software development life cycle. It is very important for maintaining transparency at all stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC). It also helps to keep track of the roles and responsibilities of each team member, and their delivery timelines. The traceability is not a very easy process and can be obtained with the help of tools like the Helix ALM.

Purpose of Software Traceability

The purposes of software traceability are listed below −

• The software traceability helps to monitor the history of each individual item in the software development so that they are built as per the standards within project timelines, and there are minimal risks involved.
• The software traceability is mostly used for risk mitigation.
• The software traceability is used for the quality control purposes.
• The traceability is used for the faster development and delivery of the software.
• The traceability is mostly used for achieving more operational efficiency and productivity.

Where is the Software Traceability Used?

The software traceability is used in the scenarios listed below −

• The traceability is used before, during, and after the process of software development.
• The traceability is used to record what all items have already been covered with respect to the software development.
• The traceability is used to identify all the probable risks, and to stop errors in the software development process.
• The traceability is used to maintain and adhere to the mandates given by the government regulations.
• The traceability is used to develop a quality software in a shorter period of time.

Traceability in Software Engineering

The traceability in software engineering is used to manage, and track the progress of all deliverables in the SDLC. It works towards achieving the regulatory compliances while building the software. It links two or more entities in software development. This link describes the dependency that exists in between those entities. The traceability is mostly used for the test cases, and the test runs and is maintained for both managerial and regulatory purposes.

For example, the requirements are mostly traced to the test cases or, a safety hazard may be linked to a functionality of the software that overcomes that hazard. Once that link has been detected, it is confirmed that the corresponding requirement has been taken care of. The traceability can be tracked bi-directionally. To verify that a particular hazard has been diminished, we can trace the link in the forward direction to the requirement. Simultaneously, if we want to know the reason for the requirement, we can track down backward to the hazard.

What is Requirement Traceability?

The requirement traceability is used to track requirements both in the forward, and backward directions in the SDLC. The requirements are tracked forward using various artifacts such as the test cases, test runs, and defects. They are tracked backward to the requirement origins namely the stakeholders or the regulatory compliances around them.

The main objective of the requirement traceability is to ensure that all the requirements are satisfied. It fastens the complete software development process by establishing a clear view and understanding of the requirements. It is also an important factor for the evaluation of the requirements.

In case there are any modifications in the requirements, then we can use the requirement traceability to analyze the impact of the changes, identify the affected requirements, and their related test cases or defects. It is often maintained through the traceability matrix which uses an audit trail.

Traceability in Software Testing

The traceability in software testing is used to track test cases both in the forward, and backward directions in the SDLC. The test cases are tracked in the forward direction to the test runs. The test runs are in turn tracked to the defects which need to be resolved. Both the test cases, and the test runs are tracked in the backward direction to the requirements.

It is also maintained through the traceability matrix which consists of the epics, stories, requirements, test cases, test runs, test outcomes, and defects. Inside the traceability matrix, we can obtain both forward and backward traceability of each of these items.

Conclusion

This concludes our comprehensive take on the tutorial on Software Traceability. Weve started with describing what is software traceability, what is the purpose of software traceability, where is the software traceability used, what is traceability in software engineering, what is requirement traceability, and what is traceability in software testing. This equips you with in-depth knowledge of Software Traceability. It is wise to keep practicing what youve learned and exploring others relevant to Software Testing to deepen your understanding and expand your horizons.