smoke test
compound.compound. a quick check to see if the most important parts of a new system or machine work correctly. It is a simple first test to make sure nothing is completely broken before doing more detailed checks.
compound. a preliminary trial of a system or piece of equipment to ensure its basic functions operate correctly before more rigorous testing is performed. In software engineering, it refers to a build verification test that checks the stability of a new version.
The software passed the smoke test, so we can start full testing.
After the mechanic replaced the engine parts, he performed a smoke test to ensure there were no immediate leaks or failures.
While the smoke test does not guarantee a bug-free release, it serves as a critical gatekeeper to prevent the QA team from wasting time on fundamentally broken builds.
The term originates from plumbing and electronics, where smoke was physically introduced into pipes or circuits to reveal leaks or failing components. It later transitioned into software engineering as a metaphor for the initial application of power to a system.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Commonly used in software development and hardware engineering; often functions as a compound noun.
Last updated July 22, 2026