How can you measure the effectiveness of your software tests?

1 Test coverage

Test coverage is a metric that indicates how much of your code or functionality is exercised by your test cases. It can be measured at different levels, such as unit, integration, system, or requirement coverage. Test coverage helps you identify the gaps and weaknesses in your testing strategy, and prioritize the areas that need more attention. However, test coverage alone does not guarantee the quality of your tests, as it does not reflect how well your tests detect and prevent defects.

2 Defect density

Defect density is a metric that measures the number of defects found in your software per unit of size, such as lines of code, function points, or user stories. It can help you assess the quality of your code and your testing process, as well as compare the performance of different modules, teams, or releases. However, defect density can vary depending on the definition, severity, and reporting of defects, as well as the complexity and maturity of your software.

3 Defect removal efficiency

Defect removal efficiency (DRE) is a metric that measures the percentage of defects that are detected and fixed before your software is delivered to the end users. It can help you evaluate the effectiveness of your testing activities, as well as the quality of your software delivery. A high DRE means that your testing process is able to catch and correct most of the defects before they reach the customers, while a low DRE means that your testing process is missing or overlooking many defects that can affect the user satisfaction and reputation of your software.

4 Test case effectiveness

Test case effectiveness is a metric that measures the ratio of defects found by your test cases to the total number of defects found in your software. It can help you evaluate the quality and relevance of your test cases, as well as the efficiency of your testing process. A high test case effectiveness means that your test cases are able to discover most of the defects in your software, while a low test case effectiveness means that your test cases are either redundant, incomplete, or irrelevant.

5 Test automation rate

Test automation rate is a metric that measures the percentage of test cases that are automated and executed by a software tool, rather than manually by a human tester. It can help you measure the productivity and scalability of your testing process, as well as the return on investment of your test automation efforts. A high test automation rate means that your testing process can save time, resources, and human errors, while a low test automation rate means that your testing process can be slow, costly, and error-prone.

6 Customer satisfaction

Customer satisfaction is a metric that measures the degree to which your software meets or exceeds the expectations and needs of your end users. It can help you measure the ultimate goal and value of your software testing, as well as the impact of your software quality on your business outcomes. Customer satisfaction can be measured by various methods, such as surveys, feedback, ratings, reviews, or referrals. A high customer satisfaction means that your software testing is effective and successful, while a low customer satisfaction means that your software testing is ineffective and unsuccessful.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?