Conformance testing is a software testing technique used to ensure that a software system meets the standards and regulations established by IEEE, W3C, or ETSI. Conformance testing determines how a system under test meets the individual requirements of a specific standard. Compliance testing is another name for conformance testing.  

 It deals with some technical aspects. It includes:

1. Performance
2. Functions
3. Robustness
4. Interoperability
5. Behaviour of a system

What is the Importance of Conformance Testing? 

Conformance testing is important for the following reasons : 

1. To ensure that all system requirements are fulfilled 
2. To ascertain whether the system documentation has been done thoroughly and completely.
3. To check for the development, design and evaluation as per requirement.

What can we test? 

Conformance testing can be carried out to test for the following:

1. The standards and processes in which the implementation takes place.
2. The type and specifications of the system that is to be developed.
3. The scope of specifications.
4. The objectives of the specifications.

Conformance Testing Process

The test is necessary to make sure there is efficiency, performance and to mitigate risks for a software application in the foreseeable future. Effective conformance testing includes the following step-by-step process :

1. Analyzing Standards and Specifications
2. Selecting test tools and test suite
3. Designing Testing Procedures
4. Checking necessary validations
5. Adapting relevant testing policies and certifications.

Advantages of Conformance Testing:

1. It ensures that there is proper implementation of specifications.
2. Increases chances of portability and interoperability
3. It gives room for the utilization of required standards during development.
4. It makes it possible to ascertain that interfaces and functions are working as expected.
5. It helps to identify the areas that are to be confirmed with those which are not to be conformed such as syntax and semantics

Disadvantages of Conformance Testing:

Like every other type of testing, Conformance Testing also has some tasks that are quite complicated. To perform them might pose a challenge. Some of them are listed below;

1. Identifying the class and the best method to carry out the test.
2. Sorting specifications in categories i.e into Profiles, Levels, and Modules
3. Setting values.
4. Designing extensions, options and approaches to run the testing process successfully.