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Sanity Testing: A Detailed Guide

Sanity testing is a focused approach to validating key functionalities of an application to ensure recent changes or bug fixes have not broken critical workflows.

In this article, we’ll dive into the essentials of sanity testing: what it is, how it works, and why it’s indispensable for maintaining software reliability.

What is Sanity Testing?

Sanity testing verifies critical functionality after changes like bug fixes or enhancements. It ensures the application works as expected before further testing proceeds.

Characteristics of Sanity Testing

Targeted Validation: Sanity testing focuses on verifying specific functionalities affected by recent changes, such as bug fixes or updates.
Quick Confirmation: It provides a rapid assessment to ensure the application behaves as expected without conducting exhaustive tests.
Post-Fix Testing: Sanity testing is performed after receiving a stable build where minor changes are introduced.
Stopgate Mechanism: If sanity testing fails, further testing is halted, and the build is returned to the development team for fixes.

Sanity Testing vs. Smoke Testing

Smoke testing and sanity testing is highly similar.

Smoke testing only checks the very foundational features of the system. If those features work fine, it means that the system is ready for more advanced testing. If not, it is sent back to the dev team for immediate troubleshooting.

Sanity testing does the same, but it is more focused on one or several specific modules. It is done after targeted fix to check if that fix actually solves the issue (and helps everyone stay sane).

Here is a quick comparison between them:

Aspect	Smoke Testing	Sanity Testing
Objective	Build verification	Fix/enhancement validation
Scope	Broad (entire build)	Narrow (specific modules)
Timing	After every new build	After targeted fixes or changes
Approach	High-level	In-depth for specific changes
Execution	Often automated	Typically manual

Sanity Testing vs. Regression Testing

There are also many similarities between sanity testing and regression testing. They are all performed to check if the system still works well after updates.

The biggest difference is their scope: sanity testing only targets specific fixes, while regression testing ensures overall application stability after updates. Sanity is quick; regression is comprehensive.

Here is a simple comparison table for you:

Aspect	Sanity Testing	Regression Testing
Objective	Validate specific fixes or enhancements	Verify unchanged features after updates
Scope	Narrow (focuses on specific modules)	Broad (tests the entire application)
Timing	Performed after targeted changes	Conducted after significant code changes
Execution	Quick and targeted	Comprehensive and time-intensive
Automation	Rarely automated	Often automated for efficiency

Sanity Testing vs. Smoke Testing vs. Regression Testing

Here's a simple Venn diagram to illustrate the relationship between these types of tests.

Comparison diagram.png

It is easy to see how regression testing encompasses both smoke testing and sanity testing.

Sanity Testing Process

Sanity testing doesn’t have to be overwhelming—it’s about being focused and efficient. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Zero in on the Changes: identify the specific features or modules impacted by recent updates, like bug fixes or enhancements. These are your testing priorities.
Write Targeted Test Cases: create simple, focused test cases for the identified areas. Avoid complex scenarios—sanity testing is about quick validation, not exhaustive coverage.
Execute and Evaluate: run the tests. If any issues arise, document them, and halt further testing. There's no point in proceeding if the updated functionality isn’t stable.
Automate for Efficiency: set up automated sanity tests to save time on recurring checks. Tools like Katalon Studio or Selenium can help streamline and speed up your sanity testing process.

See how you can do regression testing better