In modern software development, testing individual components is not enough to ensure overall system reliability. Once separate modules are combined, issues often appear in how they communicate, share data, or depend on each other. This is where integration testing becomes essential, as it validates that different units work together as expected before moving further in the testing lifecycle.
Unlike unit testing, which focuses on isolated components, integration testing examines real interactions between services, APIs, databases, and external systems. It helps identify interface mismatches, data flow issues, and logic errors that only surface when components are connected. Catching these problems early reduces debugging time and prevents costly failures in later stages like system or end-to-end testing.
If you want a clear and practical breakdown of approaches, types, and best practices, this guide explains everything step by step: 👉 integration testing It’s a useful resource for developers, testers, and anyone looking to strengthen their understanding of how reliable software systems are built.