Difference between Desktop, Client server and Web testing

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In this post, I am gonna give an answer to reader’s question.
There was one question asked by Srividya:

Q.What is the difference between client-server and Web Testing?
Vijay: Well Srividya I would like to add one more testing type i.e Desktop Testing in this discussion. So now we have three testing types Desktop application testing, Client server application testing, and Web application testing.

Each one differs in the environment in which they are tested and you will lose control over the environment in which application you are testing, while you move from desktop to web applications.

Desktop application runs on personal computers and workstations, so when you test the desktop application you are focusing on a specific environment. You will test complete application broadly in categories like GUI, functionality, Load, and backend i.e DB.

In the client-server application, you have two different components to test. Application is loaded on server machine while the application exe on every client machine. You will test broadly in categories like, GUI on both sides, functionality, Load, client-server interaction, backend. This environment is mostly used in Intranet networks. You are aware of number of clients and servers and their locations in the test scenario.

Web application is a bit different and complex to test as tester don’t have that much control over the application. Application is loaded on the server whose location may or may not be known and no exe is installed on the client machine, you have to test it on different web browsers. Web applications are supposed to be tested on different browsers and OS platforms so broadly Web application is tested mainly for browser compatibility and operating system compatibility, error handling, static pages, backend testing and load testing.

I think this will have an idea of all three testing environment. Keep in mind that even the difference exist in these three environment, the basic quality assurance and testing principles remains same and applies to all.

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133 Comments on “Difference between Desktop, Client server and Web testing”

  1. tnx yar……. it helps me a lot for my interview

  2. thaaaaaaaanks

  3. thanks for good information

  4. Hi,

    I have Strong experience in Manual Testing.
    I wanna move to ETL testing.
    So please guide me what to do?

  5. Thanks for sharing the useful information, its really very nice stuff.. in my 5 years of experience I had never seen such an extensive check list..

    REgards,
    Maheedhar

  6. Hi ,
    Very interesting information.Under what type of testing do we classify desktop testing , client server testing and web based testing?

  7. Hi,

    I found this very useful. Thanks for defining them on layman terms.

  8. Can anyone tell me the difference between Quality Assurance and Software Testing

  9. Which is the better among Quality Assurance and Software Testing ,if it has co-relation

  10. for Set top box application testing.is it web based or windows based or client based ?please confirm me.

    Thanks,
    Sanjay

  11. hey bro, u r awsome yar………. now i got wat i wanted….
    Only people with great heart will help others… Keep up the simplicity of ur method of explaination….BIG THANX from my side…

  12. Thanks ..it helped me alot…

  13. #42 VIJAYD

    Good Stuff :)

  14. I have 3 + years of experience web and mobile application testing. But i want to switch my domain to banking|Telecom|Automation Testing.
    Can any one suggest me is that my decision is right ?

  15. Give me examples of application type of Desktop ,Client-server and Web Application ?

  16. Kindly let me know examples of dektop ,client-server and web applications ? Is yahoo messenger is a desktop app or client server or web app ?

  17. Kindly let me know examples of desktop ,client-server and web applications ? Is yahoo messenger is a desktop app or client server or web app ?

  19. What is web server testing ?

  20. Hi,
    This is very useful article. Nicely explained. Thank you

  21. Very Good Info from this site….
    Even for experienced candidates…we learn much

  22. its not satisfying my doubt about difference…give valuable info……..

  23. | Reply

    Thank you so much Vijay to giving this useful testing environment knowledge.!!!

  24. I was working as a Test Engineer. Was into manual testing and mainly into web based testing. I was into web based testing for more than 2 years. Now I have shifted my job. At the new work place I need to test Desktop applications. Will it affect my career in any way? Should I be concentrating in any one – Desktop/Web Based/ Client Server?

  25. Sorry guys.. Simply Testing….

  26. hi all
    this is daya can anybody explain me what is client server and web application? because here is an article on client server and web application but this is very confusing .pls reply me on same
    u can reply me on my id ensista.sandeep@gmail.com

  27. This information is very useful for meee. I love this Site. Its Amezing…

  28. Hi

    why do we go for web service testing instead of web scenario testing.

    Regards
    Subba.

  29. Thank you so much

  30. pagal ho kya tum log

  31. Above Article superb!
    want help how to do Destop,Web and Mobile of an application

  32. Above Article superb!
    want help how to do Destop,Web and Mobile of an application testing

  33. On what basic you will define which test types are required for a given application?

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