In this article, you will find popular interview questions for manual testers. It’s a good idea to study them to build confidence before interviewing an HR specialist. If you’re already familiar with some aspects of software development, you should read this article anyway to gain new knowledge. At the end of the day, the better you know about all stages of software development, the better your chances in the job market.
We’ll look at the easy questions first, then move on to the more difficult ones.
Questions for Beginners
1. What is Software Testing?
It is the process of analyzing software and its documentation to determine whether it meets the needs of the end user. It is also the process of identifying defects and improving the quality of a product by checking its performance, capabilities, usefulness, and usability.
2. What is Quality Control and Quality Assurance?
Quality control is the thorough testing of a program for defects, as well as checking that the software meets all the requirements put forward by the customer.
Quality assurance is an approach that helps ensure that the methods, technologies, and processes used to create quality results are applied correctly.
3. Manual and Automated Software Testing
Manual software testing is a process in which testers manually run test cases and then write reports on the test results. At Automated Testing Software, these functions are performed by automation tools that include code and test scripts.
4. What Are the Benefits of Manual Testing?
Pros of manual testing:
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It is cheaper than automated.
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Accurate and prompt visual feedback.
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Ideal for testing software while making minor changes.
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Convenient for Ad-hoc testing.
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Testers don’t need to know automation and programming languages.
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Great for UI testing.
5. What are the disadvantages of manual testing?
Cons of manual testing:
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Susceptibility to the human factor.
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Some tasks are more time-consuming if done manually.
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The cost of manual testing increases over time, so it can be more expensive than automated testing in the long run.
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It is not possible to record the passage of all test cases, so they can be difficult to reproduce.
6. What Skills Do You Need to Become a Tester?
Software testers need to:
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Be able to solve problems.
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Possess written and oral communication skills.
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Be attentive to details.
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Be able to work under pressure.
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It is equally good to work both alone and in a team.
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Have organizational skills.
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Possess relevant technical knowledge.
7. What is SDLC?
This abbreviation stands for Software development lifecycle. The SDLC includes all stages of software development, including requirements gathering and analysis, design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
8. What is a test case?
A test case is used to verify that an application meets its requirements. It is a documented set of actions that includes prerequisites, inputs, and expected and actual validation results.
9. What is a test scenario?
A test script is used to test the functionality of an application from start to finish. You can place several test cases in one test case. Applies if testing time is limited.
10. What is a test plan?
A test plan is a formal document that defines the scope of testing, the method to be used, the resources required, and the estimated time to complete the process. It is compiled on the basis of specifications (software requirements).
11. What is test data?
Test data is information that is used to test software with different inputs and determine whether the result is as planned. Test data is generated depending on the needs of the company.
12. What Is A Test SqueakT?
An automated test case written in any programming language is called a test script. Essentially, it’s a set of instructions for evaluating the functionality of an application.
13. What Are the Different Types of Manual Testing?
Manual testing is divided into:
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Black Box
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White Box
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Integration
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Unit
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System
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Acceptance
14. What is Black Box Testing?
QA engineers use black-box testing when they don’t know the internal architecture or don’t have access to the code structure. His techniques include:
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Equivalence Class Breakdown
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Boundary Value Analysis
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Constructing a cause-and-effect graph
15. What is white-box testing?
In contrast to black-box testing, the white-box method involves an analysis of the internal architecture of the system and/or its implementation, as well as access to the program code. His techniques include:
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Operator Coverage in Code
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Solution Coverage
16. What is the difference between alpha and beta testing?
Alpha Testing conducted by the developers before the release. Beta Testing It is carried out by end users on an almost final version of the product before its release to a wide audience.
17. What is the difference between verification and validation?
Verification evaluates software during the development phase, finding out whether the product meets the expected requirements. Validation evaluates the finished software for compliance with the requirements of the customer and the end user.
18. What is a test environment?
This is the environment used to test the application. It includes the hardware, as well as any software needed to run the program under test.
19. What is Sanity testing?
Sanity Testing is carried out at the release level and verifies that the core features work as stated in the specification. It is also considered one of the stages of regression testing.
20. When should configuration management be implemented?
This should be done during the test planning phase.
21. List Four Different Levels of Testing
Four levels:
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Unit
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Integration
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System
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Acceptance
22. What is the difference between a bug and a defect?
A bug is a bug in the software that is discovered during testing. A defect is a discrepancy between expected and actual results that is discovered by the developer after the product is put into production.
23. What is the difference between an error and a crash?
If a program can’t be run or compiled during development, it’s an error. If the end user encounters the software not working properly, it is a failure.
24. What is GUI testing?
It is a test of the interface between the software and the end user. GUI is short for Graphics User Interface.
25. When should the testing end?
There are several criteria for stopping testing:
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The number of errors has become less than agreed upon
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Testing is over or it’s time for release
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The budget allocated for testing has been exhausted
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A certain percentage of test cases have been completed
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The alpha or beta testing period has ended
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Code, functionality, or requirements coverage was completed at the stated point
26. Why Do You Need Software Testing?
Software testing is essential to ensure the quality and reliability of software. It:
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Helps identify bugs, errors, and other issues in the software so that they can be fixed before the product is released.
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Ensures that the software meets all the requirements set by the customer and works as expected.
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Helps ensure that the software is secure and can resist malicious attacks.
27. Name the Levels of Manual Testing
Manual testing levels include:
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Unit
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Integration
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System
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Acceptance
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Performance Testing
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Security Testing
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Compatibility Testing
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Testing Ease of Use
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Plant Testing
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Smoke Testing
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Sanity Testing
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Regression testing
28. How is manual testing conducted?
Manual testing is the process of identifying errors in a software product without the use of automated tools.
The first step of manual testing is to determine the scope of testing. It can be a specific module, functionality, function, or the entire system.
The next step is to develop test cases based on the set scope of testing. They should include test scenarios, preconditions, expected results, and all other details needed to run the tests.
Once the test cases are developed, testers run them to find any discrepancies between the expected and actual results.
When running tests, testers capture the results for further analysis.
29. What is a test case?
A test case is a set of conditions or variables under which a tester determines whether a software system or one of its features is working as originally planned. The test case includes preconditions, test steps, description of the environment, expected and actual results.
30. What Is The Role Of Documentation In Manual Testing?
Documentation is an essential part of manual testing. It is very important to record all the steps taken during the testing process to ensure quality test coverage and accurate results. Documentation helps you maintain an audit trail that can be used to evaluate past test scores and identify areas for improvement. It is also a reference for other testers who may be unfamiliar with the system under test.
Advanced Level Questions
31. What Are the Types of Software Testing?
Software testing falls into two main categories:
32. What is functional testing?
Functional testing is a type of “black box” testing. It focuses on the functional requirements of the software rather than its internal implementation.
Functional testing verifies that software meets functional requirements or specifications, ignoring non-functional characteristics such as usability and reliability.
The purpose of functional testing is to make sure that the software meets the functional requirements and solves the problems of the target users.
Types of Functional Testing:
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Unit Testing
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Integration Testing
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Regression testing
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System Testing
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Smoke Testing
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Performance Testing
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Stress Testing
33. What is non-functional testing?
Non-functional testing verifies the characteristics or qualities of a system specifically requested by the customer. These include security, scalability, and usability.
Non-functional testing is performed after functional testing. It examines aspects that are not related to the functional requirements of the software and ensures that the program is safe, adaptive, fast, and able to withstand overloads.
34. What are the benefits of automation?
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Automated test execution saves a significant amount of time.
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With thorough preparation of test cases, human errors are eliminated during testing.
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Continuous integration auto-tools such as Jenkins, which can also be configured to distribute test results to stakeholders, can be used to schedule tests to run overnight.
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Automated testing uses much fewer resources. Running tests after they are automated takes almost no time for QA engineers.
35. What is regression testing?
Regression testing is the repetition of previously performed test cases in order to make sure that existing functions work normally.
Steps to take in regression testing:
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Retesting: All test cases from the current set are retested. It is quite expensive and time-consuming.
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Regression tests fall into three categories: functional, integration, and end-to-end. Some of the tests are selected at this point.
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Definition of PrioTest cases: they are ranked according to their business impact and important functionalities.
36. What is a test environment?
A test environment is a set of software and data used to test a software module by running it under different conditions and monitoring its behavior.
37. Differences between positive and negative testing.
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Positive Testing |
Negative Testing |
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Positive testing ensures that the software works as expected. The test fails if an error is detected during a positive test. |
Negative testing ensures that your app can handle unexpected user behavior or incorrect data entry with ease. |
In this QA testing, the engineer always uses only reliable data |
When checking an application for entering erroneous data, testers try to be as creative as possible. |
38. What is a critical error?
A critical error is a bug that can potentially affect the main functionality of the application. This error indicates that important functions or critical components of the system are completely disrupted. The application is not distributed to end users until the critical error is fixed.
39. What is Test Completion?
Completion of testing is the final stage of the software testing life cycle, on the basis of which the final document is created. It summarizes all the tests carried out during the development of the software, as well as makes a complete analysis of the defects fixed and the errors found. The total number of inspections scheduled, the total number of inspections performed, the total number of defects found, the total number of defects resolved, the total number of bugs not corrected, the total number of rejected bugs, and so on, are all included in this document.
40. What is the life cycle of a defect?
Defect life cycle is a process in which a defect goes through many stages over the course of its existence. The cycle starts when the defect is detected and ends when the defect closes after checking that it has been corrected.
41. What is the pesticide paradox? How to overcome it?
According to the pesticide paradox, if the same tests are repeated over and over again, they will eventually stop finding new errors. Developers will be especially cautious in areas where testers have found more flaws, and may miss bugs in others.
Methods to avoid the “pesticide paradox”:
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Create an entirely new set of test cases to validate different aspects of the software.
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Create new checks and include them in existing test cases.
With these methods, more flaws can be detected in areas with low defect rates.
42. What is API testing?
It is an assessment of application programming interfaces (APIs) for their compliance with functionality, reliability, performance, and security requirements. Simply put, API testing is designed to detect defects, inconsistencies, or deviations from expected behavior. Typically, applications are divided into three layers:
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The user interface is also known as the presentation layer.
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The business layer or application UI is used to logically process business data.
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API testing is done at the most important layer of the software architecture, the business layer for modeling and data management.
43. What is System Testing?
System testing is a type of testing in which all software is tested. System testing verifies that an application meets business requirements.
44. What is Acceptance Testing?
Acceptance testing is a type of testing conducted by a potential end user or customer to ensure that it meets business requirements and can be released to a wide audience.
45. What is the difference between a defect leak and a bug release?
When tested software is brought to market and the end user discovers errors, it is called a defect leak. These are bugs that the testing team overlooked during the testing phase.
When a particular version of software is released to the market with bugs that are known and expected to be corrected, the software will be corrected.In later versions, this is called a bug release. Most often, these are low-priority issues that are identified in the release notes when communicating with end users.
46. What is defect sorting?
Defect triage is a procedure in which defects are prioritized based on various characteristics, such as severity, risk, and the amount of time it will take to resolve the fault.
To assess defects, several stakeholders – the development team, the testing team, the project manager, business analysts, and so on – gather to determine the order in which the defects should be fixed.
47. What is integration testing?
Integration Testing It is performed after the modular one. In integration testing, a group of interconnected software modules is checked. Its purpose is to identify faults related to their interaction.
Types of integration testing:
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“Big Bang” is held after all modules are combined.
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Top-down – testing and integration starts at the top and goes down.
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Bottom-up—Lower-level modules are tested before moving up the hierarchy to higher-level modules.
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Hybrid – combines top-down and bottom-up integration testing. Integration with this approach starts at the intermediate level, and testing is done in both directions.
48. What is a stub?
In many cases, when top-down integration testing is performed, the lower-level modules are not created until the top-level modules have been tested and integrated. In these circumstances, stubs or dummy modules are used to mimic the behavior of the missing module by providing a hard-coded or predictable result based on input variables.
49. What is code coverage?
The amount of code covered by test scripts is called code coverage. It reflects the extent to which your app is covered by test cases.
50. What is a cause-and-effect graph?
A cause-and-effect graph test method is a way of developing tests using a “black box” method that uses a graphical representation of input (cause) and output (effect) to construct a test. This method uses a variety of notations to describe functions and other relationships between input and output conditions.
51. Explain the Equivalence Class Technique
Equivalence class splitting is a specification-based method of black box testing. The set of inputs that define the test conditions is broken down into logically comparable groups so that the use of even one test data from a test group can be considered the same as the use of all the other data in that group.
52. What is Boundary Value Analysis?
In this method, the top, bottom, and mean values of the class boundaries formed by the equivalent partition are used as inputs to develop test cases.
53. What will you do if you find serious bugs in the software?
In such cases, the best course of action for testers is to immediately report all bugs with the status “critic” or “blocker”. Since situations like this can lead to serious problems such as insufficient unit or integration testing, poor design, improper build or release methods, and so on, it is imperative to contact management and provide documentation as proof of the problem.
54. Sometimes the growth of an organization is so rapid that standard testing procedures are no longer possible. What to do in such a situation?
This is a very common problem in the software development industry, which is exacerbated by the development of new technologies. In this case, there is no definitive answer, but there are some things you can do:
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Hire people who are really good at what they do.
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Quality issues should be “strictly prioritized” by management, with a constant focus on the customer.
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Everyone in the company needs to understand what the term “quality” means to the end user.
55. When is it safe to say that a code meets its specifications?
Most companies have coding standards that all developers must follow, but everyone has an opinion on how to do better. There are many methods, such as a traceability matrix, to ensure that test cases are consistent with the requirements of theIn 2014, the Netherlands announced that it would And when all the test cases are passed, it means that the code satisfies the requirement.
56. What is the difference between manual and automated testing?
Manual testing is the process of checking software for defects. It requires the tester to manually perform the testing steps and compare the actual and expected results.
Automated testing uses special software to monitor the execution of tests and compare actual results with expected results. Automated testing is faster than manual testing and significantly reduces the time it takes to complete a test cycle.
57. When should manual testing be preferred to automated testing?
Manual testing should be used when the tests are specific or require human interpretation. Manual testing is also better suited for exploratory testing, usability testing, testing on multiple operating systems, or unique hardware.
58. What are the phases of the software testing life cycle?
In Test Lifecycle The software includes the following phases:
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Test Planning
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Test Analysis
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Test development
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Implementing the Testing Process
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Running Tests
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Analysis of test results
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Closing a test
59. What qualities does a good tester need?
A good test engineer is detail-oriented and organized, has excellent problem-solving skills, and can get the job done quickly and efficiently. In addition, they must have communication skills and be a great team player, stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and software trends, and be able to apply them in the testing process.
60. What is the difference between system testing and integration testing?
System testing is a type of software testing in which a fully assembled software product is evaluated. It verifies that the software meets the requirements specified in the design and technical specifications at the system level. System testing also identifies any weaknesses, bugs, or bugs.
Integration testing verifies the interaction between two or more components of a system. It is performed after unit testing and before system testing, and verifies how the components interact with each other. Integration testing is necessary to ensure that the components of the system work together exactly as planned.
61. What is defect cascading?
Defect cascading is a type of software testing problem in which the effects of a defect in one module cause defects or problems to appear in other modules. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but more often than not, it happens because the original defect has not been properly addressed.
Defect cascading can lead to a variety of problems, from minor performance slowdowns to significant system crashes, making it a serious risk for software developers and testers.
62. What does the term “quality” mean in testing?
Quality in testing refers to the degree to which a product meets the specified requirements, as well as the extent to which it satisfies the needs and expectations of customers. It includes both functional and non-functional aspects of the product.
63. What are the methods of experiential testing?
Experiential testing methods include:
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Exploratory Testing
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Error guessing method
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Ad-hoc testing
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Checklist testing
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Alpha Testing
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Beta Testing
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Acceptance Testing
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Usability Testing
64. What is a top-down and bottom-up approach in testing?
The top-down and bottom-up approach to testing refers to the order in which the testing is conducted.
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Top-down testing starts at the highest level and works downward. In this way, each higher-level component is tested in isolation from the lower-level components.
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Bottom-up testing starts at the lowest level and works on an incremental basis. In this way, each lower-level component is tested in isolation from the top-level components.
65. What’s the Difference Between Smoke and Sanity testing?
Smoke testing is a high-level test used to ensure that the most important functions of a software system work correctly. This is a quick test that can be used to determine if it’s worth the time and energy to spend on further, more extensive testing.
Sanity testing is a more specific test used to verify that recent changes to the system have not caused any new, undesirable occurrences. It ensures that after minor changes are made, core features continue to work as expected.
66. What is the difference between static and dynamic testing?
Static testing is a type of testing that is done without running the code of a software application. Instead, it includes reviews, inspections, and taking tests.
Dynamic testing involves executing the code of a software application to determine the results of certain functions and operations. It includes unit, integration, and acceptance testing.
Questions Based on Real Experience
Real-world manual testing interview questions are based on actual projects and scenarios that the candidate has worked on and can provide insight into their capabilities and experience. As a result, hiring managers can better understand a candidate’s skills and knowledge and determine if they are a good fit for the position.
67. How do you determine when testing should be stopped?
When testing, it’s crucial to determine when to stop so you don’t waste resources. When deciding whether to stop testing, consider the following criteria:
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Desired Quality Level
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Meeting deadlines and budgets
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Number of defects found
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Number of completed test cases
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Risk factors associated with the project
Once these criteria are met, you can stop testing.
68. How will you test the product if the requirements are not yet set?
When the requirements are not yet defined, it is best to use an agile methodology such as Scrum.
The first step should be to hold requirements gathering meetings with all stakeholders to understand the purpose of the product and the desired outcomes. This is followed by breaking down the project into separate, manageable user stories.
After that, they prioritize user stories and assign a sprint to develop them.
As the project progresses, the product is constantly tested using such types of testing as unit, integration, acceptance, and system. In addition, as requirements change, tests must be updated to ensure that the product meets the desired results.
69. In which cases will you opt for automated testing?
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When the test is repeated over and over again. Automated testing is ideal for running tests that require multiple iterations or repetition of the same steps.
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When a test requires a lot of data. Automated testing allows you to quickly enter large amounts of data into the system under test.
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When a test requires the use of multiple environments. Automated testing can be easily configured to test systems in a variety of environments, such as multiple operating systems, browsers, and devices.
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When testing is scheduled for overnight. Automated tests can be programmed to execute accurately, ensuring that each step of the test is executed at the exact time.
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When a test requires the participation of multiple users. Automated testing can simulate multiple users accessing the system at the same time, allowing for more realistic testing.
70. What is “configuration management”?
Configuration management is the management, tracking, and control of changes in a system’s software, hardware, or networking. All of this helps maintain the integrity of the system and ensure that it is secure, stable, and in line with the organization’s policies.
The primary goals of configuration management are to ensure reliability, maintain availability, and improve system performance.
71. Can system testing be performed at any stage?
No, system testing is usually done at the end of the development process, after integration and acceptance.
72. What practices should be followed when writing test cases?
Top Tips for Writing Test Cases:
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Develop test cases that are clear, concise, and to the point.
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Make sure they check the functionality of the software in all dimensions.
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Make sure they cover all requirements.
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Develop repetitive test cases that can be automated as needed.
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Develop test cases that are independent of each other.
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Use clear, descriptive titles.
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Record test results for future reference.
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Analyze them to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the checks.
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Document test cases in a standard format.
73. Why does the analysis of boundary values fit well into test cases?
Boundary value analysis helps to make good test cases because it ensures that the boundaries of input and output values are tested. Such checks help identify errors related to the processing of boundary conditions and ensure that your system is reliable and can handle any unexpected inputs or outputs.
74. Why can’t I test the program or rule out errors 100%?
It is not possible to fully validate the entire program or get rid of all possible errors, because it is impossible to anticipate and test all possible combinations of inputs, environments, and states that the software may encounter.
75. Can automated testing replace manual testing?
No. We can automate repetitive, tedious test cases and make the testing process more efficient. However, automated testing cannot completely replace manual testing, because some tests can only be performed manually.
The types of testing that can’t be automated are exploratory, user-based, and usability.
But while automated testing won’t completely replace manual testing, it’s fair to say that in the long run, manual testing will be relegated to the role of a “junior partner” designed to take care of the few things that automated testing can’t handle properly.
Automated testing is constantly evolving. Moreover, as technology improves and further evolves, it is safe to say that automation will be able to overcome its weaknesses, while the strengths of manual testing will become negligible.
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