What type of tests are categorized as "smoke tests" in CI?

Smoke tests are categorized as quick sanity checks in the continuous integration (CI) process. They serve to verify that the most critical features of an application are functioning correctly after a new build or deployment. The primary goal of smoke tests is to provide a preliminary indication of the application's stability, ensuring that the most important functionalities work as expected before proceeding to more rigorous testing phases.

This type of testing is generally quick to execute and covers essential functionalities, providing immediate feedback to developers. If a smoke test fails, it indicates that there is a significant problem that needs to be addressed before further testing can take place. By focusing on the key areas of the system, smoke tests help in assessing whether the build is stable enough for more in-depth testing, thereby saving time and resources in the development process.