Manual Testing for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide
Learn the key concepts, best practices, and tools you need to excel at manual testing.
Manual Testing for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide
Learn the key concepts, best practices, and tools you need to excel at manual testing.
Manual testing is an integral part of the software testing process. It involves manually executing test cases without using any automated tools. While automation testing has become popular over the years, manual testing still has its benefits and continues to be widely used, especially by beginners. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to start with manual testing as a beginner.
What is Manual Testing?
Manual testing is manually testing software for defects without using any automation tools. The tester acts as an end-user and tests the software to identify bugs or issues.
In manual testing, testers manually execute test cases and compare the actual results against the expected results. Issues are logged when there is a deviation.
Some of the key activities in manual testing include:
Reviewing requirements, specifications, and design documents.
Creating detailed test plans and test cases.
Setting up the test environment.
Executing the test cases.
Reporting defects and retesting after fixes.
Comparing actual results with expected results.
Evaluating the overall quality of the software.
Manual testing relies on human intervention and evaluation. Testers need to be experienced and possess domain knowledge to test effectively.
Benefits of Manual Testing
While manual testing takes effort and time, it has several advantages:
No Additional Cost: No investment in tools or infrastructure is required for manual testing. This makes it a cost-effective validation technique.
Better for Usability Testing: Human testers can evaluate software for parameters like look and feel, ease of use, etc. better than tools.
Early Stage Testing: Test automation needs software to be stable first. Manual testing allows reporting bugs/issues earlier in development stages.
Better Analysis of Complex Scenarios: Human intelligence and evaluation is superior for complex scenarios with many data variations.
Flexibility: Manual testing allows flexibility to test without restrictions on test cases and data. Testers can improvise based on knowledge and intuition.
Prerequisites for Manual Testing
Understanding of Software Testing Concepts: Fundamental concepts like test plans, techniques, defect tracking, etc. helps effective manual testing.
Domain Knowledge: Understanding the software domain/business functionality is needed to create meaningful test cases.
Technical Aptitude: Basic technical knowledge helps debug issues and understand software limitations.
Attention to Detail: Important to be thorough and meticulous in test case execution and result analysis.
Analytical Skills: Logically evaluate results, identify defects and their impact.
Communication: Ability to document defects clearly and discuss issues with developers.
Steps to Perform Manual Testing
Here are the typical steps involved in carrying out manual software testing:
Understand Requirements: Study and analyze business and technical requirements from a testing perspective.
Review Design and Specifications: Understand software architecture, review interface specs, data structures etc.
Create Test Strategy: Define the overall testing approach based on requirements, priorities, scope, and constraints.
Prepare Test Plan: Detail the scope, resources, schedule, tools required, risks and contingencies, among other details in a test plan.
Write Test Cases: Write step-by-step test cases to validate all requirements and use cases. Cover positive, negative, data-driven scenarios.
Set Up Test Environment: Ensure the environment and test data meets the prerequisites for execution.
Execute Test Cases: Follow test cases and perform testing manually, logging defects. Re-run cases after fixes as regression testing.
Report Defects: Document defects in detail, along with steps to recreate. Perform root cause analysis.
Retest and Regress: Retest bug fixes and perform regression testing to detect side effects.
Evaluate Exit Criteria: Evaluate metrics like defects fixed/open, test coverage etc., against defined exit criteria.
Test Closure: Summarize testing efforts, key metrics, and results in a test closure report.
By following these testing steps/phases, you can thoroughly validate software functionality and quality.
Challenges in Manual Testing
While manual testing has its perks, it also comes with some key challenges:
It can be slow, tedious and repetitive, especially for regression testing cycles.
Complete testing is difficult due to combinations of scenarios.
Human errors like missing a defect, wrong execution etc. can occur.
Testing without documented test cases affects quality.
Reproducing defects to the development team can be difficult.
The subjective nature of exploratory testing leads to inconsistency.
Ensuring thoroughness and coverage is challenging.
Resource and cost-intensive for continuous cycles.
Maintaining documentation can be difficult.
Adopting Best Practices
Beginners can overcome challenges and maximize the effectiveness of manual testing by following these best practices:
Structured Approach: Follow a formal and systematic testing process.
Detailed Documentation: Document test plans, cases, results, defects etc., in standard templates.
Attend Reviews: Actively participate in requirements and design reviews.
Test Case Traceability: Ensure each test case maps to a requirement or user story.
Execute Test Cases Fully: Ensure all test case stepsand inputs are covered.
Follow Naming Conventions: Follow uniform and intuitive naming conventions for artifacts.
Timely Status Reporting: Update stakeholders on test progress, and metrics periodically.
Automate When Feasible: Identify repeatable cases to shift to automation for efficiency.
Continuous Improvement: Give feedback on enhancements to the testing process followed.
Leverage Tools When Applicable: Use defect management and test management tools for better tracking.
By adopting best practices with commitment and consistency, beginners can master manual testing.
Getting the Right Manual Testing Job
For beginners looking to find a job in manual testing, the key is to showcase skills, experience and passion to prospective employers. Here are some tips:
Build a resume highlighting software testing certifications, methodologies learned, tools knowledge etc. Even mini projects and online courses help.
Develop a portfolio of sample test cases, test plans and reports to demonstrate hands-on skills. Share testing process samples.
Showcase communication and analytical abilities required for the role during interviews.
Demonstrate a keen passion for starting and progressing a career in software testing.
Highlight ability and willingness to learn new things on the job. Display a good learning attitude.
Participate on platforms like UTest and BugCrowd to gain experience with real-world apps and demonstrate skills.
Consider internships or volunteering on testing projects to develop hands-on expertise.
Learn popular test management and defect tracking tools like JIRA, Quality Center etc.
Get certified in ISTQB foundation level to validate fundamental software testing knowledge.
With the above efforts, beginners can land the right manual testing roles in IT companies as they build expertise.
Bottom Line
Manual testing requires patience and effort but offers a great way to build a solid foundation in software testing. By understanding key concepts, following best practices and demonstrating potential, beginners can excel at manual testing and advance their careers.
Some key takeaways for manual testing beginners:
Structure test approach with test plans, cases, and processes.
Document tests in detail with steps and expected results.
Master defect tracking and test reporting.
Develop sharp attention to detail.
Supplement with tools when feasible.
Showcase skills/experience; highlight passion.
With commitment and incrementally developing testing skills, beginners can establish expertise and grow professionally in manual testing.