What are the entry criteria in testing?

Entry Criteria are a set of conditions that must be met before starting a specific testing phase. They help ensure that we have all necessary resources, product readiness, and environment for a successful testing start.

Examples of entry criteria:

• Specifications readiness: Functional requirements are documented and approved.
• Test plan readiness: A test plan for the current phase has been developed and approved.
• Test environment readiness: The test environment is deployed and configured according to requirements.
• Test data readiness: Necessary test data is prepared and available.
• Build/version quality: A stable build of the product has been received, passing initial checks (e.g., smoke testing).
• Absence of blocking defects: Critical/blocker defects from previous testing phases (if applicable) are resolved.
• Team availability: All testing team members are available and ready to start work.

Adhering to entry criteria reduces risks associated with premature testing (e.g., testing an unstable build, lack of data) and promotes more efficient resource utilization.