Component Testing vs Integration Testing

Component testing and integration testing are two types of software testing that are essential in the software development life cycle. The main differences between them are as follows:

1. Scope: Component testing focuses on testing individual components or modules of the software, while integration testing focuses on testing how different modules work together as a whole system.
2. Timing: Component testing is typically done early in the software development life cycle, while integration testing is done later in the cycle when multiple components are ready to be tested together.
3. Dependencies: Component testing is performed in isolation from other components, while integration testing focuses on identifying and testing the interactions between different components.
4. Testing approach: Component testing typically uses white-box testing techniques to test the internal workings of the component, while integration testing usually uses black-box testing techniques to test the external behavior of the system.
5. Testing objectives: The main objective of component testing is to ensure that each component works correctly on its own, while the main objective of integration testing is to ensure that the components work correctly together and that the system meets its functional and non-functional requirements.

Overall, component testing and integration testing are complementary testing approaches that work together to ensure that the software is of high quality and meets its intended purpose.