Manual Testing

The Human Touch in Quality Assurance

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INTRODUCTION

What is Manual Testing?

Manual testing is the process where a tester manually executes test cases without using any automated tools.

Human Perspective

Java’s “write once, run anywhere” philosophy allows code to run on any device with a Java Virtual Machine.

Quality Assurance

 It helps ensure that the software meets quality standards, functions correctly, and provides a good user experience.

Exploratory Testing

Manual testing allows for exploratory testing, where testers can investigate and discover issues that might not be caught by predefined test cases.

Flexibility

It offers flexibility to adapt to changing requirements and test scenarios that might be difficult to automate.

Types

Types of Manual Testing

Manual testing encompasses various approaches to ensure comprehensive quality assurance.

Black Box Testing

Testing without knowledge of the internal structure of the application. Focuses on inputs and outputs without considering how the system processes them.

White Box Testing

Testing with knowledge of the internal structure and code of the application. Focuses on code paths, conditions, and branches.

Gray Box Testing

A combination of black box and white box testing. Testers have partial knowledge of the internal workings of the application.

Functional Testing

Testing that focuses on the functionality of the application. Verifies that each function works according to the requirements.

Non-Functional Testing

 Testing aspects of the software that are not related to specific functions, such as performance, usability, and reliability.

User Acceptance Testing

Testing performed by the end-users to verify that the system meets their requirements and is ready for deployment.

Techniques

Manual Testing Techniques

Effective manual testing requires a variety of techniques to uncover different types of issues.

Exploratory Testing

A hands-on approach where testers explore the application while designing and executing tests simultaneously.

Key Aspects:

Error Guessing

A technique where testers use their experience to anticipate where errors might occur in the application.

Common Error Guessing Scenarios:

Boundary Value Analysis

Testing at the boundaries of valid input ranges, where errors are more likely to occur.

Example:

Equivalence Partitioning

 Dividing input data into partitions to reduce the number of test cases while maintaining coverage.

Example:

Decision Table Testing

Using tables to represent combinations of inputs and their corresponding outputs or actions.

Benefits:

State Transition Testing

Testing how the system transitions between different states in response to events or inputs.

Ideal For:

Comparison

Manual vs Automated Testing

Understanding when to use manual testing versus automated testing is crucial for an effective testing strategy.

Manual Testing

Strengths

Automated Testing

Strengths

Limitations

Limitations

Best Used For

Best Used For

The Balanced Approach

Most successful testing strategies employ a balanced approach that leverages both manual and automated testing. The key is knowing when to use each approach:

Use Manual Testing When:

Use Automated Testing When:

Best Practices

Manual Testing Best Practices

Follow these best practices to maximize the effectiveness of your manual testing efforts.

Create Detailed Test Plans and Cases

Well-documented test plans and cases ensure comprehensive coverage and provide a reference for future testing.

Key Components of a Good Test Case:

Test ID: Unique identifier for the test case

Expected Results: What should happen

Expected Results: What should happen

Pass/Fail Status: Test outcome

Test Description: What is being tested

Test Steps: Detailed steps to execute

Actual Results: What actually happened

Notes: Additional observations

Think Like a User

Approach testing from the user’s perspective to identify usability issues and ensure a positive user experience.

User-Centric Testing Approaches:

User Personas to Consider:

Document Bugs Effectively

Clear and detailed bug reports help developers understand and fix issues quickly.

Elements of an Effective Bug Report:

Bug Summary

A concise one-line description of the issue

Example: “Login button unresponsive on Safari browser”

Environment

Details about the testing environment

Example: “macOS 12.1, Safari 15.2, iPhone 13 simulator”

Steps to Reproduce

Numbered steps to consistently recreate the issue

Example: “1. Navigate to login page
2. Enter valid credentials
3. Click login button”

Expected vs. Actual Result

What should happen and what actually happened

Example: “Expected: User logged in and redirected to dashboard
Actual: Button click has no effect, user remains on login page”

Severity/Priority

How critical the issue is to functionality

Example: “Critical – Blocks user access to the application”

Visual Evidence

Screenshots, videos, or logs that demonstrate the issue

Example: “See attached screenshot showing the unresponsive button state”

Maintain Test Environment Consistency

Ensure test environments closely match production to minimize environment-specific issues.

Environment Considerations:

Hardware
Software
Data

Ready to improve your testing process?

Start implementing these manual testing best practices today.

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