Shift-left testing is a term used in the context of software development and quality assurance. It refers to the practice of moving testing activities earlier in the software development lifecycle (SDLC), specifically to the early stages of the development process.
Traditionally, testing is performed after the development phase is completed, and the software is considered "ready" for testing. However, with the adoption of agile development methodologies and continuous integration and delivery practices, there has been a shift towards incorporating testing much earlier in the development process. This shift-left approach aims to identify and address defects and issues as early as possible to reduce the cost and effort of fixing problems later in the development lifecycle.
Here are some key characteristics of shift-left testing:
Early Involvement: Testers get involved in the project right from the requirement gathering and design phases. They work closely with developers, business analysts, and other stakeholders to understand the requirements and create test cases and scenarios early on.
Test Automation: To enable early testing, automation plays a crucial role. Automated test scripts are developed alongside the development process, allowing continuous testing throughout the SDLC.
Continuous Testing: Shift-left testing emphasizes continuous testing throughout the development process, integrating testing with every code change and build.
Frequent Feedback: Testers provide feedback to developers promptly, allowing them to fix issues and iterate on improvements quickly.
Improved Collaboration: Shift-left testing promotes collaboration between developers, testers, and other stakeholders, fostering a culture of shared responsibility for quality.
Reduced Defects: By identifying and addressing issues early, shift-left testing helps reduce the number of defects that reach later stages of development or production.
Shorter Feedback Loop: Early testing and continuous feedback loop enable faster delivery of software with improved quality.
Overall, the shift-left testing approach aims to create a more robust and efficient development process by catching defects early, shortening development cycles, and ultimately delivering higher-quality software products. It aligns well with agile and DevOps practices, which emphasize collaboration, continuous integration, and iterative development.

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