# Source: https://configcat.com/docs/glossary/smoke-testing.md

# Smoke Testing - Ensuring the Core of Your Software Stands Strong

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## Introduction[​](#introduction "Direct link to Introduction")

Smoke testing acts as a preliminary check to confirm that the key features of an application are working effectively. Delve into the fundamentals of smoke testing and its critical role in the early stages of the development cycle.

## What is Smoke Testing?[​](#what-is-smoke-testing "Direct link to What is Smoke Testing?")

Smoke testing, often known as "build verification testing," is a shallow and wide approach to testing that evaluates whether the most fundamental functions of an application operate without any critical issues. It's like doing an initial health check-up for software.

## The Aims of Smoke Testing[​](#the-aims-of-smoke-testing "Direct link to The Aims of Smoke Testing")

* **Critical Feature Check**: Ensuring that the primary functions perform correctly.
* **Build Stability**: Validating the stability of initial software builds.
* **Early Problem Detection**: Catching severe issues at the onset before they propagate.

## The Smoke Testing Cycle[​](#the-smoke-testing-cycle "Direct link to The Smoke Testing Cycle")

* **Build**: The latest version of the application is prepared for testing.
* **Deploy**: The build is placed in a testing environment similar to production.
* **Test**: Core functionalities are tested to ensure they work as expected.
* **Report**: Results are documented, with failures addressed immediately.

## The Importance of Smoke Testing[​](#the-importance-of-smoke-testing "Direct link to The Importance of Smoke Testing")

* **Saves Time**: Identifies major problems early, avoiding wasted effort on flawed builds.
* **Enhances Quality**: Promotes a more stable and reliable software development process.
* **Facilitates Continuous Integration**: Acts as a checkpoint for new integrations and deployments.

## Challenges in Smoke Testing and Overcoming Them[​](#challenges-in-smoke-testing-and-overcoming-them "Direct link to Challenges in Smoke Testing and Overcoming Them")

* **Scope Definition**: Determining what constitutes the 'smoke' can be subjective. Solution: Develop clear criteria for essential features.
* **Environment Differences**: Discrepancies between testing and production environments can skew results. Solution: Mirror production settings as closely as possible.
* **Automation Balance**: Deciding what to automate versus what to manually test. Solution: Automate common and stable features; manually test newly added features.

## Conclusion[​](#conclusion "Direct link to Conclusion")

Smoke testing serves as the first line of defense, ensuring that the application's backbone is robust before it's subject to detailed testing. By verifying the core functionality after each build, developers can proceed with confidence, knowing that the foundation of their application is solid.