Why are you testing?

You might already have some quick answers in mind for this question. I totally get it — I do too.

I'm not here to talk you out of testing or the usual testing processes. I just want to nudge you to think about why you're testing in the first place. Figuring out and questioning the "why" can really steer you towards the right testing methods and tools.

Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself.

Your project

• What's the baseline quality that's expected for a project like yours?
• Is uniform quality necessary across all interactions? For example, consider the user experience of your sign-up process. Is it worthwhile to channel efforts into refining that experience rather than testing a section that only a few users might visit?

Your audience

If you are building something which has yet to see the light of the day. Would you rather have it

• Launch early but in a rough shape but risk a lukewarm reception from initial users?
• Launch it later in a polished state but risk finding out that no one's interested?
• Which user paths will be the most traveled? Consider interactions like visits to the settings page, are they frequent?

Your team

• How big is your team?
• Is everyone aligned on what the goal is?
• What skill set and experience does your team possess?
• What budget are you operating under? How long can you afford to develop before you need to generate revenue.

Considering the context that you are in will help you truly answer the question of "Why are you testing?".

Testing is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It requires thoughtful consideration of your audience, team, and project context.

By asking these questions and reflecting on your unique circumstances, you can shape your testing strategy to deliver a project that truly meets the needs of your users.