Manual Testing Interview Questions

What is Manual Testing and why is it important?

Manual Testing is the process of manually executing test cases without the use of automation tools. It is important because it allows testers to experience the application as an end-user would, identifying usability issues, visual discrepancies, and other defects that automated tests might miss. Manual testing is essential for exploratory, ad-hoc, and user interface testing.

What are the different types of testing performed during Manual Testing?

Different types of testing performed during Manual Testing include:

  • Functional Testing
  • Usability Testing
  • Regression Testing
  • Integration Testing
  • System Testing
  • Acceptance Testing
  • Smoke Testing
  • Sanity Testing
  • Exploratory Testing
  • Ad-hoc Testing

Each type focuses on different aspects of the application to ensure comprehensive quality assurance.

What is the difference between Verification and Validation in Software Testing?

Verification is the process of evaluating work-products of a development phase to ensure they meet the specified requirements. It answers the question, “Are we building the product right?” Validation, on the other hand, is the process of evaluating the final product to check whether it meets the business needs and requirements. It answers the question, “Are we building the right product?” Both are essential for ensuring software quality.

What are the different levels of testing?

The different levels of testing include:

  • Unit Testing: Testing individual components or modules for correctness.
  • Integration Testing: Testing the interaction between integrated units/modules.
  • System Testing: Testing the complete and integrated software to evaluate its compliance with the requirements.
  • Acceptance Testing: Testing conducted to determine whether or not the system satisfies the acceptance criteria and to enable the customer to decide whether to accept the system.

Each level serves a specific purpose in the software development lifecycle to ensure quality and functionality.

What is a Test Case and what are its components?

A Test Case is a set of conditions or variables under which a tester determines whether an application or software system is working correctly. Its components include:

  • Test Case ID: Unique identifier for the test case.
  • Test Description: Brief description of what the test case will verify.
  • Pre-conditions: Any setup or prerequisites required before executing the test.
  • Test Steps: Step-by-step instructions to execute the test.
  • Test Data: Data required to perform the test.
  • Expected Result: The expected outcome of the test steps.
  • Actual Result: The actual outcome observed during testing.
  • Status: Pass or Fail based on the comparison of expected and actual results.

Well-defined test cases are crucial for effective manual testing.

What is Regression Testing?

Regression Testing is the process of testing existing software applications to ensure that recent code changes have not adversely affected existing functionalities. It is crucial after enhancements, bug fixes, or any modifications to the codebase to maintain software stability and quality.

What is Exploratory Testing?

Exploratory Testing is an approach where testers actively explore the application without predefined test cases. It involves simultaneous learning, test design, and test execution, allowing testers to discover defects that might not be found through scripted testing. This approach leverages the tester’s experience, intuition, and creativity to identify potential issues.

What is the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?

The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) consists of a series of phases that define the testing process. The phases include:

  • Requirement Analysis: Understanding and analyzing the requirements for testing.
  • Test Planning: Defining the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of intended test activities.
  • Test Case Development: Creating detailed test cases and test scripts.
  • Environment Setup: Preparing the testing environment where tests will be executed.
  • Test Execution: Running the test cases and reporting defects.
  • Test Cycle Closure: Finalizing and archiving testware, and conducting retrospective meetings.

STLC ensures a structured and systematic approach to testing, enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the testing process.

What is the difference between Severity and Priority in bug tracking?

Severity refers to the impact of a bug on the system’s functionality, indicating how critical the defect is. Priority, on the other hand, indicates the order in which the bug should be fixed based on business needs and timelines. A bug with high severity might not always have high priority if it doesn’t affect critical functionality, and vice versa.

What is Boundary Value Analysis?

Boundary Value Analysis is a testing technique that involves creating test cases that focus on the boundaries of input domains. It is based on the principle that errors often occur at the edges of input ranges rather than in the center. By testing the boundary values, testers can identify defects related to input validation and processing.

Explain Equivalence Partitioning.

Equivalence Partitioning is a testing technique that divides input data into partitions of equivalent data from which test cases can be derived. The idea is that if one test case in a partition passes, all other test cases in that partition are expected to pass, and similarly, if one fails, all are expected to fail. This reduces the number of test cases needed while maintaining adequate coverage.

What is Usability Testing?

Usability Testing evaluates a product’s user interface to ensure it is intuitive, efficient, and satisfying for end-users. It focuses on the ease of use, accessibility, and overall user experience. During usability testing, real users interact with the application to identify any issues or areas for improvement, ensuring the product meets user expectations and requirements.

What is a Test Plan and what does it include?

A Test Plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the strategy, objectives, resources, schedule, and scope of testing activities for a software project. It includes:

  • Test objectives and scope
  • Test strategy and approach
  • Resources and responsibilities
  • Test schedule and milestones
  • Test deliverables
  • Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
  • Entry and exit criteria
  • Tools and environments to be used

The Test Plan serves as a roadmap for the testing process, ensuring all stakeholders are aligned and aware of the testing activities.

How do you prioritize test cases?

Test cases can be prioritized based on factors such as:

  • Business Impact: Critical functionalities that affect the business are given higher priority.
  • Risk Assessment: Areas with higher risk of failure receive priority.
  • Frequency of Use: Features that are used more frequently by users are prioritized.
  • Complexity: More complex features may require more rigorous testing.
  • Dependencies: Test cases that support other tests are given higher priority.
  • Historical Defects: Areas with a history of defects are prioritized.

Prioritizing ensures that the most important and high-risk areas are tested first, optimizing the testing effort.

What is Boundary Value Analysis?

Boundary Value Analysis is a testing technique that focuses on the values at the boundaries of input domains. It is based on the idea that errors are more likely to occur at the edges of input ranges rather than in the middle. By testing boundary values, testers can identify defects related to input validation and processing, ensuring that the application handles edge cases correctly.

What is Smoke Testing?

Smoke Testing is a preliminary testing process to check the basic functionality of an application. It aims to verify that the most crucial functions work correctly and that the application is stable enough for further, more detailed testing. Smoke tests are typically executed before a new build is accepted for regression or further testing.

What is Exploratory Testing?

Exploratory Testing is an approach where testers simultaneously learn, design, and execute tests on the application without predefined test cases. It relies on the tester’s experience, intuition, and creativity to explore the application, identify defects, and uncover unexpected behaviors. This method is particularly useful for discovering issues that structured testing might overlook.

How do you handle flaky tests in Manual Testing?

Flaky tests are tests that sometimes pass and sometimes fail without any changes in the code. To handle flaky tests in Manual Testing:

  • Review and identify the root cause of flakiness.
  • Ensure that the testing environment is stable and consistent.
  • Improve test case documentation and clarity.
  • Eliminate dependencies on external factors.
  • Use proper setup and teardown procedures.
  • Retest and validate the fixes to ensure stability.

Addressing flaky tests helps maintain the reliability and credibility of the testing process.

What is User Acceptance Testing (UAT)?

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is the final phase of the testing process where actual users test the software to ensure it can handle required tasks in real-world scenarios. UAT verifies that the system meets business needs and requirements, and it is ready for deployment. It involves validating the functionality, usability, and overall user experience from the end-user’s perspective.

What is the role of a Test Manager?

A Test Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing the testing activities within a project. Their roles include:

  • Defining the test strategy and objectives.
  • Managing the testing team and assigning tasks.
  • Creating and maintaining test plans and test cases.
  • Ensuring resources and tools are available for testing.
  • Monitoring test progress and reporting on test results.
  • Managing defects and ensuring their resolution.
  • Facilitating communication between stakeholders.
  • Ensuring compliance with quality standards.

The Test Manager plays a crucial role in ensuring that the software meets quality standards and is delivered on time.

How do you perform root cause analysis for a defect?

Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for a defect involves identifying the underlying reason for the defect’s occurrence. Steps include:

  • Collecting detailed information about the defect.
  • Reproducing the defect to understand its behavior.
  • Analyzing the defect to identify patterns or common factors.
  • Using techniques like the 5 Whys or Fishbone Diagram to trace the defect back to its origin.
  • Documenting the findings and recommending corrective actions.

RCA helps in preventing similar defects in the future by addressing the fundamental issues in the development or testing process.

What is Test Coverage?

Test Coverage measures the extent to which the software is tested by the test cases. It can be quantified in terms of:

  • Code Coverage: The percentage of code executed during testing.
  • Requirement Coverage: The percentage of requirements tested.
  • Feature Coverage: The percentage of features tested.

High test coverage indicates a thorough testing process, reducing the likelihood of undiscovered defects.

What is the importance of Test Environment in Manual Testing?

The Test Environment is a setup that mimics the production environment where the application will run. It is crucial because:

  • Ensures that tests are conducted under conditions similar to the live environment.
  • Helps in identifying environment-specific issues.
  • Provides a controlled setting for reproducible test results.
  • Facilitates accurate performance and compatibility testing.

A well-configured test environment contributes to the reliability and validity of the testing process.

What is Test Data and how is it managed?

Test Data refers to the data used to execute test cases. It is managed by:

  • Creating realistic and comprehensive datasets that cover all test scenarios.
  • Ensuring data privacy and security, especially when using sensitive information.
  • Using data management tools or scripts to generate and maintain test data.
  • Organizing data in a way that is easily accessible and reusable for multiple tests.
  • Maintaining data integrity and consistency across different test environments.

Proper management of test data ensures accurate and efficient testing outcomes.

What is Defect Life Cycle?

The Defect Life Cycle, also known as the Bug Life Cycle, is the journey of a defect from its identification to its closure. The stages typically include:

  • New: Defect is logged and pending review.
  • Assigned: Defect is assigned to a developer for fixing.
  • Open: Developer has started working on the defect.
  • Fixed: Developer has resolved the defect.
  • Retest: Tester verifies the fix.
  • Reopened: If the defect persists, it is reopened.
  • Closed: Defect is fixed and verified successfully.

Understanding the Defect Life Cycle helps in efficient defect management and resolution.

What is the difference between Test Case and Test Scenario?

A Test Scenario is a high-level description of what to test in the application. It outlines the functionality to be tested without detailing the steps. A Test Case, on the other hand, is a detailed document that includes specific steps, input data, expected results, and execution conditions to verify a particular aspect of the application. Test Scenarios are broader and can encompass multiple Test Cases.

What is the role of a Test Analyst?

A Test Analyst is responsible for analyzing requirements, identifying test scenarios, designing test cases, and ensuring that the application meets the specified requirements. They collaborate with developers, business analysts, and other stakeholders to understand the application’s functionality and to identify areas that require testing. Additionally, Test Analysts are involved in executing test cases, reporting defects, and ensuring the overall quality of the software.

How do you handle incomplete or unclear requirements in testing?

Handling incomplete or unclear requirements involves:

  • Communicating with stakeholders to clarify and gather missing information.
  • Reviewing related documentation for additional context.
  • Assumingly making informed decisions based on best practices while noting uncertainties.
  • Using exploratory testing techniques to uncover potential issues.
  • Documenting assumptions and seeking approval from stakeholders.

Effective communication and proactive problem-solving are key to addressing unclear requirements.

What is Ad-hoc Testing?

Ad-hoc Testing is an informal testing approach where testers aim to find defects without any formal test planning or documentation. It relies on the tester’s intuition, experience, and creativity to explore the application and identify issues. Ad-hoc Testing is useful for quick testing sessions, exploratory testing, and when time constraints prevent detailed test case development.

What is Boundary Value Analysis?

Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) is a testing technique that focuses on the values at the boundaries of input domains. It is based on the principle that errors are more likely to occur at the edges of input ranges rather than in the middle. By testing boundary values, testers can identify defects related to input validation and processing, ensuring that the application handles edge cases correctly.