| In system testing, whole software or application is tested at a time. | In end-to-end testing, behavioral flow of the software is tested. |
| Tests the system as a whole, including individual components and their interactions | Tests the system as a whole, including its integration with external systems and interfaces
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| Typically conducted in a controlled environment, such as a testing lab | Typically conducted in a simulated production environment
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| Focuses on evaluating the behavior and performance of the system | Focuses on evaluating the user experience and functionality of the system
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| Primarily tests the internal functionality of the system | Tests the external functionality of the system
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| Performed after integration testing and before acceptance testing | Performed after system testing and before acceptance testing
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| Involves functional and non-functional testing | Involves functional testing and end-to-end flow testing
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| Testers use test cases and scenarios based on system requirements | Testers use real-world scenarios based on customer use cases and user stories
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| Objective is to identify and eliminate defects in the system | Objective is to ensure that the software meets customer requirements and expectations
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| Provides a comprehensive understanding of the system's quality and readiness for deployment | Provides assurance that the system will function as expected in the production environment |
| System testing only tests the specific software system. | It tests the software system and the connected systems both. |
| The functionality of the software is tested. | Flow from end-to-end is tested. |
| It validates the software system as per standards and specifications. | It validated all the interfaces of the software. |
| Knowledge of interconnected systems is not required. | Knowledge about interconnected systems is required. |
| It is carried out once integration testing is performed. | It is performed after the system testing. |
| It is performed both manually and automated. | It is generally performed manually. |
| It is the super set of end-to-end testing. | It is considered as subset of the system testing. |
| System testing is usually a higher level of testing, | end-to-end testing is a lower level |
| System testing is usually done in a testing environment that closely mirrors the production environment, | end-to-end testing is typically done in an environment that mimics the real-world usage. |
| System testing typically has a broader scope than end-to-end testing, as it covers all aspects of the system, including its functionality, performance, security, and other features. | End-to-end testing focuses on the flow of the system, and how all components interact with each other. |