What does the term 'early testing' mean and how does it help save time and money?

Early testing is the practice of testing that begins at the earliest stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC), such as requirements analysis and design. The goal is to find and fix defects as early as possible.

Cost and time savings are achieved as follows:

• Cheaper to fix: The earlier a defect is found, the less effort and resources are required to fix it. At later stages (for example, in production), the cost of fixing increases exponentially.
• Minimizing rework: Early detection of defects in requirements or design prevents the creation of functionality based on erroneous specifications, which eliminates the need for costly rework.
• Improving quality: Early detection of defects helps create a more stable and reliable product from the very beginning.
• Reducing risks: Identifying critical issues early reduces the risk of release delays and associated financial losses.
• Increasing team efficiency: Early involvement of testers in the development process promotes a better understanding of the product and requirements by all team members.