ISTQB Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Testing Explained Simply

ISTQB Foundation Level Chapter 1: Fundamentals of Testing

Reading time: 8 minutes

1. Introduction

Testing is more than finding bugs. It’s a process to ensure that software meets user expectations, requirements, and business goals. This chapter introduces the importance of testing in software development and explains how it supports quality assurance.

한글 요약: 테스트는 단순히 버그를 찾는 것이 아니라, 소프트웨어가 요구사항과 사용자 기대를 충족하는지 확인하는 과정입니다.

2. Why is Testing Necessary?

• Software often contains defects due to human error or complexity.
• Early testing helps reduce risks and cost.
• Quality assurance and testing ensure confidence in software before release.
• Testing also provides information for decision-making about release readiness.

한글 요약: 테스트는 결함 예방, 리스크 감소, 릴리스 결정 지원을 위해 필수적입니다.

3. What is Testing?

Testing is the process of evaluating a system to determine whether it meets specified requirements. It includes both verification (checking if we built the product right) and validation (checking if we built the right product).

• Verification: Are we building the product right?
• Validation: Are we building the right product?

한글 요약: 테스트는 검증(올바르게 만들었는가)과 확인(올바른 것을 만들었는가)의 두 측면을 모두 포함합니다.

4. The Seven Testing Principles

1. Testing shows presence of defects, not their absence.
2. Exhaustive testing is impossible.
3. Early testing saves time and money.
4. Defects cluster together.
5. Pesticide paradox: Repeating the same tests will not find new defects.
6. Testing depends on context.
7. Absence-of-errors fallacy: A bug-free system can still fail if it doesn’t meet user needs.

한글 요약: 7가지 테스트 원칙은 테스트의 한계, 타이밍, 결함 집중, 맥락 의존성을 강조합니다.

5. Testing and Quality Assurance

Testing is part of quality assurance (QA). QA focuses on process improvement, while testing focuses on detecting defects in the product.

• QA: Ensures the process is correct.
• Testing: Ensures the product works correctly.

한글 요약: QA는 올바른 프로세스를 보장하고, 테스트는 올바른 제품을 보장합니다.

6. The Testing Process

The testing process includes these key activities:

• Test Planning and Control
• Test Analysis and Design
• Test Implementation and Execution
• Evaluating Exit Criteria
• Test Closure

한글 요약: 테스트 과정은 계획 → 설계 → 실행 → 평가 → 종료 단계로 구성됩니다.

7. The Psychology of Testing

Effective testing requires a balanced mindset. Developers may be emotionally attached to their code, so independent testers provide objective evaluation. Collaboration between testers and developers builds trust and quality.

한글 요약: 독립적인 테스터의 객관적인 시각이 중요하며, 개발자와의 협력이 품질을 높입니다.

8. Summary & Call to Action

Chapter 1 lays the foundation for understanding the purpose, principles, and process of software testing. It helps you think like a tester — analytical, curious, and detail-oriented.

한글 요약: 1장은 테스트의 목적, 원칙, 과정의 기본을 다루며 테스터의 사고방식을 익히는 출발점입니다.

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