In the software testing lifecycle, both smoke testing and sanity testing play crucial roles in ensuring that the application functions as expected. Although they share some similarities, there are distinct differences that set them apart.

What is Smoke Testing in Software?

Smoke testing is an initial level of software testing performed on a newly developed or modified application build. The purpose of smoke testing is to verify whether the critical functionalities of the software are working before proceeding with more detailed testing.

Key Characteristics of Smoke Testing

• It is executed on every new build to validate its stability.

• Focuses on major functionalities rather than specific features.

• If the build fails smoke testing, further testing is stopped until the issues are fixed.

• It is scripted and automated in most cases.

When to Perform Smoke Testing?

• Before conducting regression testing.

• When a new software build is released.

• Before delivering the application to QA teams.

• After integration testing to check system stability.

Advantages of Smoke Testing

• Detects major bugs at an early stage.

• Ensures that the build is stable for further testing.

• Reduces testing effort by identifying unstable builds quickly.

• Can be automated, saving time and resources.

Disadvantages of Smoke Testing

• Does not cover all application features.

• May not catch deeper functionality defects.

• Requires an initial setup for automation in some cases.

What is Sanity Testing?

Sanity testing is a type of software testing performed after receiving a new build to check if specific functionalities or bug fixes work as expected. It is a narrow and focused testing process that ensures that the minor changes in the code have not affected the core functionalities of the application.

Key Characteristics of Sanity Testing

• It is performed after receiving a new build with minor code changes or bug fixes.

• Focuses on specific functionalities rather than the entire system.

• Ensures that previously reported bugs are fixed without introducing new issues.

• It is unscripted and quick, allowing testers to proceed with further testing if the application is stable.

When to Perform Sanity Testing?

• When developers fix a critical bug in the software.

• Before moving to regression testing to validate small fixes.

• After minor code changes to ensure stability before deeper testing.

• When an application is migrated to a different environment.

Advantages of Sanity Testing

• Saves time by focusing only on specific features.

• Helps identify major issues quickly.

• Ensures bug fixes do not cause new defects.

• Avoids redundant testing efforts.

Disadvantages of Sanity Testing

• Does not cover the entire application.

• May miss issues outside the tested functionalities.

• Mostly manual, which can be time-consuming.

Smoke Testing vs Sanity Testing

Though both smoke testing and sanity testing aim to ensure that the software build is stable, they differ in purpose, scope, and execution. Below is a comparison between smoke testing vs sanity testing:

Key Differences Between Smoke Testing and Sanity Testing

Scope: Smoke testing checks the entire system’s core features, whereas sanity testing focuses on specific bug fixes or modifications.

Objective: Smoke testing ensures build stability, while sanity testing validates whether bug fixes are successful.

Execution Stage: Smoke testing is done early in the testing process, while sanity testing is done later after a stable build is received.

Test Coverage: Smoke testing covers high-level functionalities, whereas sanity testing is more focused on detailed validation.

Automation: Smoke testing can be automated, but sanity testing is usually performed manually.

When Should You Choose Smoke Testing vs. Sanity Testing?

Use smoke testing when a new build is received to validate core functionalities before further testing.

Use sanity testing when there are minor changes or bug fixes to ensure that no new issues are introduced.

If the project is large and complex, both tests should be combined to ensure smooth software development.

Conclusion

Both smoke testing and sanity testing are essential in software testing to ensure the reliability and stability of an application. Smoke testing focuses on verifying the core functionalities of a new build, while sanity testing ensures that recent changes or bug fixes do not introduce new issues. Understanding the differences between smoke testing vs sanity testing helps QA teams decide when and how to apply them in the software development process.

By implementing both smoke testing and sanity testing effectively, software teams can reduce defects, save time, and improve overall software quality. Always ensure that these testing techniques are part of your software testing strategy for a smoother development cycle.