Generally, People consider Quality Assurance and Testing terms the same and
use them interchangeably, but they are not the same. They have different goals
and methods to apply. Quality Management links Quality Assurance and Testing
together and makes them related.
Quality Management includes many activities that direct and control an
organization about Quality, and among these activities, two are Quality
Assurance and Quality Control.
Quality Assurance is generally focused on adherence to proper processes to
provide confidence that the appropriate levels of Quality will be achieved.
Quality Control involves different activities, including testing activities
that help achieve proper levels of Quality.
Testing is the essential Quality Control activity aimed at detecting issues in
the software under test and evaluating the product usability, performance,
security, and compatibility.
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Purpose: Quality Assurance focuses on setting up adequate
processes and Procedures rather than conducting actual testing on the
system. Testing focus on detecting errors and flaws. Software Testing
helps find and fix existing mistakes, and Quality Assurance helps avoid
them. Quality assurance applies to each step of the development process,
whereas software testing refers to activities performed on developed
software or its feature.
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Types of Activities:
Quality Assurance includes process-oriented activities. Testing includes
product-oriented activities. Quality Assurance incorporates preventive
activities and techniques. Testing is a preventive process and corrective
technique.
Quality Assurance includes activities that ensure implementing processes,
procedures, and standards to verify developed software and requirements.
Testing includes activities that ensure the identification of bugs,
errors, or defects in software.
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Type of Measure: Quality Assurance is a Proactive measure. Testing
is a Reactive measure.
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Scope: Quality assurance's scope is to all products that the
organization will create. Scope of Testing applies to a particular product
being tested.
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Aim: Quality Assurance aims to assure Quality. The testing aim is
to control the Quality.
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Responsibility: Quality Assurance is the responsibility of the
team, including the stakeholders. Detecting Errors in the software is the
responsibility of the Testing Team.