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Testing is the process of checking whether something is true or false, whether it is valid, or whether it is functional.

A test compares an expectation with an observation. The expectation must exist (in the mind of the tester, on paper, in discussion, etc.) before the observation is taken. If no expected values exist, it cannot be a test, but merely an observation.

In Software engineering and development

• A Test is an experiment to determine some characteristic of a software system. See software testing.

Alpha Test

In software development, testing is usually required before release to the general public. In-house developers often test the software in what is known as 'alpha' testing which is often performed under a debugger or with hardware-assisted debugging to catch bugs quickly. It can then be handed over to quality assurance staff for additional testing in an environment simular to how it was intended to be used.

This is often known as the second stage of alpha testing.

Beta Test

Following that, limited public tests known as beta-versions are often released to groups of people so that further testing can ensure the product has few faults or bugs.

Gamma Test

There are companies that introduced the so-called gamma tests, which means feature-completed, but the software did not run through all the inhouse quality checks. Some cynics refer to software release as "gamma testing".

In Science

• In science, a test is an experiment performed to verify the presence, the quality or the quantity of determined characteristics or elements in a specimen.

Test is the 4th stage of the scientific method:

1. Observe a phenomenon
2. Hypothesize an explanation of the phenomenon
3. Predict a logical consequence of the explanation
4. Test the prediction. "'For Example' is no proof" (Yiddish proverb).(This fallacy is called affirming the consequent) Conversely, however, any counterexample to the prediction will disprove the hypothesis.
5. Review - did the Hypothesis survive the test.

Test of Newton's First Law

One common observation is
"Forces act on Objects to change their motion". This is called Newton's Second Law of Motion. When no forces are acting on an object,

• Objects in motion tend to remain in motion. Objects at rest tend to remain at rest. This is called Newton's First Law of Motion.
  

A logical prediction of the First Law of Motion is

• If I am in my car travelling at 6 Miles Per Hour, and the car suddenly stops, an object that is sitting on my dashboard, which is not glued down, will keep going at 6 Miles Per Hour.

• Design an experiment to test the First Law.
  • A. Put my sunglasses on the dashboard
  • B. Start the car
  • C. In the driveway, with no one nearby, to avoid hurting them, begin moving the car, slowly.
  • D. Hit the brakes
  • E. I predict that "the sunglasses will keep going in the same direction as step C, even though the car is now stopped (from step D).

Kids, have your parents run this test. Don't try this at home, alone.

• Test of the prediction
• Run the procedure A through D. Then look for E.
  • If the sunglasses stay where they were in step A, then
    • the forces acting on the sunglasses are greater than the forces in step D
    • otherwise, the forces in step D are greater than the forces that were acting in step A.

In Manufacturing

Test is part of Quality Assurance. Typically, measurements are taken, and test results are recorded. To reduce the cost of testing, sampling is typically used, in a statistical test.

See also crash test, Statistical hypothesis testing, Likelihood-ratio test.

Test (student assessment). A tool or technique intended to measure student's performance, knowledge or skills.

Geography. The river Test is a river in Hampshire, England.

Test is also the professional wrestling name of Andrew Martin. His entry can be found at that link.

A better place to "test" out new Misplaced Pages code is in the Misplaced Pages sandbox.