# BS 7925-2
BS 7925-2 was a British Standard that provided a formal process and vocabulary for software component testing. Now withdrawn, it has been superseded by the international standard ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119. It was highly influential in shaping modern testing practices and certifications.
**Pronunciation:** Bee Ess Seventy-Nine Twenty-Five Dash Two
**Difficulty:** Intermediate
**Synonyms:** British Standard 7925-2, Standard for Software Component Testing
**Categories:** Software Testing, Standards, Quality Assurance
**Tags:** British Standard, Software Component Testing, Unit Testing, Integration Testing, ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119, Withdrawn Standard
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/glossaries/bs-7925-2
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## Definitions

- **Standard for Software Component Testing:** BS 7925-2 is a now-withdrawn British Standard that provided a standardized process and vocabulary for software component testing. It was developed to bring consistency and rigor to the testing of individual software units or modules.

**Key Concepts**

*   **Component Testing**: The standard defined component testing (often called unit testing or module testing) as the process of testing individual software components in isolation from the rest of the system.
*   **Test Documentation**: It specified a set of documents for the testing process, including the Component Test Plan, Component Test Specification, and Component Test Report. This ensured that testing activities were well-planned, executed, and documented.
*   **Standardized Process**: The standard outlined a systematic approach, from planning and designing test cases to executing them and reporting the results. This helped organizations create repeatable and auditable testing processes.

**Usage**

Before its withdrawal, **BS 7925-2** was widely used in the UK and influenced international practices. It was a foundational text for professional testing certifications, such as those from the ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board), and many organizations based their internal quality assurance processes on its guidelines.

## Etymology

The term 'BS 7925-2' is an identifier from the British Standards Institution (BSI). 'BS' stands for 'British Standard'. '7925' is the unique number assigned to the standard series concerning software testing. The '-2' suffix indicates that this is the second part of the standard, specifically focused on 'Software Component Testing'. Part 1 (BS 7925-1) covered the vocabulary of software testing.

## First used

1998

## Historical context

BS 7925-2 was first published in 1998 by the British Standards Institution (BSI). It emerged from a need to formalize the ad-hoc methods often used for testing individual software components. At the time, there was a lack of a common framework, leading to inconsistencies in quality and terminology across different projects and organizations.

The standard provided a clear, process-driven approach and became highly influential, particularly within the UK's software development industry. Its principles were heavily integrated into the syllabi for professional software testing qualifications, most notably the ISTQB Foundation Level certification, which helped to propagate its concepts globally.

In the 2010s, a major international effort began to create a new, unified set of standards for software testing under the ISO/IEC/IEEE umbrella. This resulted in the creation of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 series. As this new international standard covered the same ground as BS 7925-2 but in a more modern and comprehensive way, the British Standard was officially withdrawn in 2014. Its legacy continues as its core ideas were foundational to the development of its successor.

## Q&A

- **What was the primary focus of BS 7925-2?:** Its primary focus was to provide a standard for the process of software component testing. This included defining terminology, test design techniques, test documentation (like test plans and reports), and the overall process for testing individual software units or modules in isolation.
- **Is BS 7925-2 still an active standard?:** No, BS 7925-2 is no longer an active standard. It was officially withdrawn and has been superseded by the international standard ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119, specifically Part 3 which covers Software Test Documentation.
- **Why is BS 7925-2 still relevant if it has been withdrawn?:** Its relevance lies in its historical significance and influence. Many concepts and principles from BS 7925-2 were incorporated into the ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board) syllabus and the subsequent ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119 standard. Understanding it helps in comprehending the evolution of software testing standards.

## Usage examples

- Our quality assurance team originally based their unit testing procedures on the **BS 7925-2** standard before migrating to the newer ISO 29119.
- The certification exam included questions on the **Standard for Software Component Testing**, which was the common name for **BS 7925-2**.
- Although now superseded, understanding the principles of **British Standard 7925-2** provides valuable historical context for modern software testing documentation standards.

## Related terms

- ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119
- ISTQB
- Component Testing
- Unit Testing
- Integration Testing
- Test Plan
- British Standards Institution (BSI)

## Popular related terms

- ISO/IEC/IEEE 29119
- ISTQB
- Unit Testing