When I build software, I don’t just write code and hope it works. Testing plays a key role from start to finish. It helps me discover issues, improve quality, and deliver reliable results. But let me be clear—testing isn’t just about executing software to catch bugs. That’s only one part. In reality, I follow a complete cycle of test activities, from planning through to archiving. These steps ensure I stay organized, hit goals, and communicate clearly with everyone involved. And I repeat these activities in every iteration, no matter the project size or industry.

When I develop software, testing becomes my compass. It guides me toward stability, reliability, and user satisfaction. However, despite its importance, testing isn’t a silver bullet. It doesn’t magically eliminate all bugs or guarantee perfection. In this article, I’ll explore the limitations of software tests, explain why exhaustive testing can’t be done, and reveal how context shapes every testing strategy.

Debugging in software testing means identifying the exact cause of a failure in the code and removing it. In this article, I’ll walk you through what this really means. We’ll explore how debugging fits into the development cycle, how it connects to software testing, and why it matters so much. Although testing and debugging are separate tasks, they work best when they support each other. So, let’s start by understanding the role of testing first.