Frequently asked Testing Interview Questions

What is Software Testing and why is it important?

Software Testing is the process of evaluating and verifying that a software application or system meets the specified requirements and works as intended. It is important because it helps identify defects, ensures the quality and reliability of the software, enhances user satisfaction, and reduces the cost and time associated with fixing bugs after deployment.

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 or modules.
• System Testing: Testing the complete and integrated software to evaluate its compliance with the specified requirements.
• Acceptance Testing: Testing conducted to determine whether the system satisfies the acceptance criteria and is ready for deployment.

Each level serves a specific purpose in the software development lifecycle to ensure comprehensive quality assurance.

What is the difference between Verification and Validation?

Verification is the process of evaluating work-products 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 ensure 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 types of Software Testing?

Different types of Software Testing include:

• Functional Testing: Testing the functions of the software against the requirements.
• Non-Functional Testing: Testing aspects like performance, usability, and security.
• Manual Testing: Testing performed manually without automation tools.
• Automation Testing: Testing using automated tools and scripts.
• White Box Testing: Testing internal structures or workings of an application.
• Black Box Testing: Testing the functionality without knowing the internal implementation.
• Grey Box Testing: A combination of both white box and black box testing.

Each type focuses on different aspects to ensure comprehensive testing coverage.

What is a Test Case and what does it include?

A Test Case is a set of conditions or variables under which a tester determines whether a system or application is working correctly. It includes:

• 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 testing.

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: Goals and what the testing aims to achieve.
• Scope: Features to be tested and those to be excluded.
• Test Strategy: Approach to testing, including types of testing to be performed.
• Resources: Personnel, tools, and environments required.
• Schedule: Timeline for testing activities.
• Deliverables: Test cases, test scripts, and reports.
• Risk Assessment: Potential risks and mitigation strategies.

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

What is Regression Testing?

Regression Testing is the process of re-executing functional and non-functional tests to ensure that previously developed and tested software still performs correctly after a change. Changes can include enhancements, patches, configuration changes, etc. Regression Testing helps in identifying any unintended side effects of the changes, ensuring the stability and reliability of the software.

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

Severity refers to the impact a defect has on the functionality of the application. It indicates how serious the bug is. Priority, on the other hand, indicates the order in which a bug should be fixed based on business needs and deadlines. A high severity bug may not always have high priority if it does not affect critical functionality, and vice versa.

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.

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 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 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 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.

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 a Test Strategy?

A Test Strategy is a high-level document that outlines the testing approach and the goals of testing. It includes:

• Scope of Testing: What will and will not be tested.
• Testing Objectives: Goals to be achieved through testing.
• Test Levels: Unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing.
• Test Types: Functional, non-functional, regression, etc.
• Testing Tools: Tools to be used for testing and defect tracking.
• Resource Allocation: Personnel and their roles.
• Schedule: Timeline for testing activities.
• Risk Management: Identifying potential risks and mitigation strategies.

The Test Strategy provides a blueprint for the testing process, ensuring consistency and alignment with project goals.

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 Integration Testing?

Integration Testing is the phase in software testing where individual units or components are combined and tested as a group. The purpose is to identify defects in the interactions between integrated units, ensuring that they work together as expected. It helps in detecting issues related to data flow, control flow, and interface mismatches between modules.

What is System Testing?

System Testing is a high-level testing phase where the complete and integrated software is tested to verify that it meets the specified requirements. It evaluates the system’s compliance with the functional and non-functional requirements, ensuring that it behaves as expected in a fully integrated environment. System Testing includes various types of testing like performance, security, and usability testing.

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 a Bug Life Cycle?

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

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

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

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 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 Load Testing?

Load Testing is a type of performance testing that assesses how a system behaves under expected user loads. The goal is to identify performance bottlenecks, ensure the system can handle the anticipated traffic, and verify that it meets performance criteria. Load Testing helps in ensuring that the application remains responsive and stable under varying levels of load.

What is Stress Testing?

Stress Testing is a type of performance testing that evaluates how a system behaves under extreme conditions, such as high traffic or limited resources. The goal is to determine the system’s robustness and error-handling capabilities when pushed beyond its normal operational capacity. Stress Testing helps in identifying the breaking points and ensuring that the system fails gracefully under adverse conditions.

What is Security Testing?

Security Testing is a type of non-functional testing that ensures the software application protects data and maintains functionality as intended. It involves identifying vulnerabilities, threats, and risks in the software to prevent malicious attacks and ensure data integrity, confidentiality, and availability. Security Testing includes activities like penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and risk assessment.