Software Testing vs. Software Development: What Is The Difference?

Consumers and brands of the modern world are rapidly embracing the digital ways of life across the globe. Why? Because digital solutions promise them convenience at lower costs and within shorter periods. Furthermore, the series of lockdowns spanning the last two years have compelled consumers and businesses to open their arms to online services and solutions.

As such, the software industry is now flourishing at an even faster rate. Brands are looking to build intuitive websites and applications that best serve their target audience. Consumers, on the other hand, are looking for solutions that best serve their interests, as well as address their concerns at the earliest.

This perspective change has opened up new avenues for the software industry, but it has also brought forth challenging aspects for the professionals of the industry, especially the ones starting their careers in this field. Given the vastness of the sector, they often have to face different dilemmas, the most common being that of Software Testing vs. Software Development.

When it comes to these two concepts, they wonder as to which path will best align with their interests and will bring them rewarding opportunities to succeed and grow as a professional. If you are a beginner who is facing the same kind of challenge, this blog is sure to help you make up your mind and take a pick confidently. Let’s first better understand these two concepts individually, and then move on to exploring the differences between software testing vs software development.

What Is Software Testing?

Software Testing is a phase that takes place after the entire software development cycle. It is essentially an intricate process designed to verify whether the application that is built matches the requirements or not; whether it is up to the mark or if some modifications have to be made to help meet its expected functionality.

When done with precision, software testing helps identify the most minor of errors and bugs. This is done by executing certain system components using manual or automated tools. There are multiple types of software testing, to name a few important ones – Unit Testing, Integration Testing (Black Box testing + White Box testing), Alpha Testing, Beta Testing, System Testing, Stress Testing, Regression testing, and more.

Why is software testing important? It enables testers to identify the bugs early in the stage, well before an application’s final release or delivery. It allows developers to fix the issues, optimize the application, and bring an element of perfection to the software product. This in turn contributes significantly to saving time, money, and resources expertise, as well as ensuring user satisfaction. It also equipped the product with security features, making sure that the customer data remains safe within the confines of the product.

What Is Software Development?

As the terms suggest, software development is the actual process of building a product or an application from scratch, via the power of programming languages. It involves writing codes that breathe life into a product, making it functional and adorning it with impressive features. The software development process is a well-organized one – it begins right from product conceptualization and ends with its final execution. The in-between processes usually include researching for the right solutions, writing codes, prototyping, making alterations, re-purposing the generic codes, maintaining accurate documentation, and so on.

Software development is a holistic and layered process in the sense that it comprises key phases of a software product lifecycle – right from product designing and code creation, deploying and supporting the software after the delivery. The entire process is handled by multiple expert teams of software developers, software engineers, and programmers.

Why is software development important? It is through software development that businesses today can keep up with the rising demand of consumers who believe in ‘all-things-digital’. Application/software development can help businesses stay ahead of the competition by building intuitive products that bring seamless expenses to the consumers. These products can also be easily personalized according to consumers’ preferences. They can also be modified as consumer demands evolve with time and trends.

Now, three important questions crowd the minds of the aspirants who want to make a mark in the software industry. The first is – ‘Can a tester become a developer?’ Absolutely yes! A tester can choose to switch to the role of a developer, given that he or she has in-depth knowledge of at least one of the programming languages.

The second question is – ‘Is it good to switch from development to testing?’ Although both the roles are quite different from each other, it is possible to switch from development to testing. However, the aspirants who wish to do so must have at least an underlying passion for testing as well. They have to first get started with mastering the basics of testing and then sharpen their skills for each testing project they work on.

The next important question that crosses their mind is – ‘Testing or development which is easy?’ The answer is as simple as it gets. They both come with their unique set of advantages and challenges. However, the career prospects associated with both fields are quite promising.

Let’s now take a look at the differences between software testing and software development to help determine which one best suits your skillset.

Key Differences Between Software Testing & Software Development

Software Development	Software Testing
Software development is the actual process of creating software. It involves designing, developing, and deploying the product. This is the phase where all the codes are written.	Once the software is entirely developed, it is then ready for the testing phase. Here, it is analyzed against the actual requirements. It is also a process designed to find bugs.
In the simplest terms, development is writing the code to create the software.	In the simplest terms, testing is verifying if this code functions as it is expected to or not.
Software development demands the expertise of multiple roles, to name a few – software engineers, developers, software publishers, and programmers.	Multiple teams of experts are involved in the process of software testing as well – software testers, test leads, test designers, test administrators, and automation developers.
Software development is important as it helps businesses stay ahead of the competition by helping them build new-age products, and release them in the market in all their glory. These products can be altered and enhanced as per the requirements.	Software testing is crucial as it verifies whether the product delivered is in line with the requirements. The process renders the product error-free and enhances its quality. This ultimately helps reduce maintenance costs and improve user experiences.

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