What is Software Testing? Role of Software Tester

Discover What is Software Testing? Role of Software Tester in ensuring quality, finding bugs, and validating software functionality for reliable user experiences.

What is software testing?  

Software testing can be stated as the process of verifying and validating the Application to check that it is working as per User Requirements/expectations.  

The process checks whether the actual software matches the expected requirements and ensures the software is bug-free. 

The Scope of software testing often includes analyzing as well as executing it under various conditions: does it do 

What is it supposed to do?  

The goal of the testing team is to find issues as early as possible  and make sure that they get fixed 

What is Verification? 

Involves reviewing and evaluating documents and  artifacts to ensure that the software is being developed  correctly and completely 

Are we building the product right?  

Deliverables of each phase of SDLC are reviewed to find issues/ defects. 

Verification is manual, except for code review tools can be used.  

It's static testing as the Application is not executed  (the Application is still being developed)  

Helps in finding the issues/ defects and its location. 

Documents reviewed are : 

▪ System Requirements Specification(SRS)  ▪ Architecture Plan  

▪ Module-level design 

▪ Program Specification 

▪ Screen Design  

▪ UI architecture  

▪ Codebase 

Verification Process:  

✓Read the Review Document  

✓Identify issues/defects  

✓Document the issues and track them  

✓ The creator of the Review should take the necessary action  for closure 

✓Track the closure of reported issues 

Verification Techniques 

Reviews:  

 – Peer review 

 – Lead (Superior) review  

 – Inspections 

 – Walkthroughs 

What is Validation? 

This focuses on the end product and aims to verify that  the software fulfils the customer's needs and expectations 

Are we building the right product?  

The process of evaluating software during or at the end of  the development  

process to determine whether it satisfies specified requirements.  

Checks that the software being developed satisfies all  functional requirements 

Involves execution of a program or system component e.g. Various levels of testing  

Its Dynamic testing as the application is executed.  

Validation starts (after coding) once the Verification process is completed. 

Levels of Testing  

Unit Testing  

Integration Testing  

System Testing  

User Acceptance Testing(UAT) 

Why is testing necessary?  

➢Customer Satisfaction 

➢Cost Effective 

➢Quality Product 

➢Low Failure 

➢Bug-Free Application

➢Security 

➢Early Defect Detection 

Test Team Roles and Responsibilities: 

Test Manager  

➢Creation of Test Strategy  

➢Effort Estimation  

➢Monitor and control Cost, Schedule, Resource, and Communication  

➢Resource Management  

➢Resource identification, onboarding  

➢Stakeholder and communication management  ➢Update Test status, RAIDs  

➢Review and Approve Test Plan  

➢Acquire Test Environment 

Test Lead 

➢Technically lead the Testing team  

➢Create Test Plan 

➢Get Test Plan approved from Test Manager  ➢Circulate Test plan with stakeholders and get  their sign-off  

➢Manage day-to-day Test Activities  

➢Task allocation  

➢Closely monitor daily test progress and Test  Schedule  

➢Review Test Results  

➢Handle communication with the Development team  

Test Engineer  

➢Create Test Scenarios  

➢Create Test Cases for each scenario  

➢Create Requirements Traceability Matrix(RTM)  ➢Create Test Data  

➢Execute Test Case  

➢Log Defects  

➢Track Defects till closure

What exactly does a software tester do?  

A software tester plays a crucial role in the software  development process by ensuring that applications and  systems function correctly and meet specified  

requirements. 

Here are the primary responsibilities and tasks of a  software tester: 

Key Responsibilities 

Test Planning:- Develop test plans and test cases based on software requirements and design specifications. Identify testing objectives and determine the scope of testing. 

Test Design 

Best Practices of Test Design 

Design Test cases which are  

Accurate: Tests what it is expected to test  

Economical: Is just right in terms of details  

Traceable: Traceable to a requirement  

Appropriate: For the test environment  

Self-standing: Independent of the author 

Use Test Data Techniques 

Test Execution:- Execute manual and automated tests to verify the functionality, performance, and reliability of the software. Perform regression testing to ensure that new code changes do not adversely affect existing functionality. 

Defect Reporting:- Identify, document, and report defects or issues found during testing. Collaborate with developers to reproduce issues and ensure they are resolved. 

Test Automation:- Create and maintain automated test scripts using testing frameworks and tools. Optimize and  improve existing automated tests to enhance  

efficiency 

Performance Testing:- Conduct performance, load, and stress testing to evaluate how the application behaves under various conditions. 

User Acceptance Testing (UAT):- Assist in coordinating  UAT with end-users to ensure the software meets their needs and expectations.

Documentation:- Maintain detailed documentation of test results, test cases, and testing procedures. Provide clear and concise reports on testing progress and outcomes. 

Collaboration:- Work closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to understand requirements and provide feedback. 

Participate in Agile ceremonies, such as sprint planning and retrospectives, if working in an Agile environment. 

Testing Principles, Guidelines for new testers 

The seven principles of testing 

➢Testing shows the presence of defects 

➢Exhaustive testing is impossible 

➢Early testing 

➢ Defect clustering 

➢pesticide paradox 

➢Testing is context-dependent. 

➢ Absence of errors is a fallacy.

What makes a good tester?  

✓Technical Skills 

✓Curiosity 

✓Analytical Thinking 

✓Communication 

✓Reporting 

✓Risk Assessment Ability 

✓Time Management 

Daily routine of a tester 

Some of the key tasks, however, that are done on a day-to-day basis include: 

 

➢Gather requirement specifications 

➢Documentation 

➢Touch base with developers 

➢Write test conditions and test cases 

➢Run test cases (manual, automated, or both) ➢Discover bugs and report 

➢Retest

Demand for tester jobs in the current market. 

The software testing industry across the UK is flourishing (developing rapidly and successfully), driven by the necessity of businesses to keep up-to-date standards for software with rapid technological advances. 

As the demand for reliable software increases, so does the demand for highly skilled software testers. 

With the changing technological landscape, jobs for software testers are becoming increasingly specialized,  providing a variety of options, ranging from entry-level jobs to jobs that require expertise in security, automation as well as AI-driven testing.

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Author:-Prajakta Desai