What should a software tester know

Automation With the increasing complexities and integrations in the application, relying on manual testing alone cannot get the job done. For testing browser compatibility , performance, headless as well as database and integration layers, testers should learn automation skills since it imparts higher accuracy because of the business logic and technicalities it can serve.

In addition, there are several test automation tools that dedicatedly support specific testing type and come with features to get the tasks done quickly and efficiently. It is highly important that testers keep a tab on the web and mobile technology advancements since it guides them in comprehending the coding architecture and technical challenges to deliver effective QA solutions.

SDLC It is also advisable for testers to learn the software lifecycle management skills as it will help them understand the application development tasks and plan testing cycles easily. Having an in-depth knowledge of SDLC cycle will also help anticipate complexities in the application which can guide in taking the right measures beforehand.

With this, testers must also learn a couple of development methodologies like Waterfall, Kanban, Scrum, Lean, etc. Having good analytical and reasoning skills helps in validating applications against different scenario and examine its elements, workflows against pre-defined standards. This further aids in assessing relevant information, raise clear questions, identify strengths and weaknesses without being biased, which helps with the right course of action and solution.

Social Networking Social Networking skills are pretty much required for any professional in any industry. Since social networks provide instant access to discussions, resources and content, honing skills in this area definitely help software testers to engage with counterparts, learn new things and keep updated with the latest information.

Having social networking skills also lets you connect with experts on Twitter and LinkedIn to exchange knowledge and of course build long-term relationships that can be beneficial for your professional and enterprise-level goals. By checking every single unit, automated testing also increases test coverage. Also, each type of testing comes with its own costs and associated challenges. Considering that your team and organization have limited resources, how can you choose between the many available types of testing in a way that maximizes test coverage , ensuring you can ship high quality software while using your resources in the most efficient way?

At the bottom of the pyramid, you have unit tests. Unit tests are easier and cheaper to write than most other forms of testing. So, it makes sense to have lots of them. The middle of the pyramid is comprised of service tests, or integration tests. Integration tests are valuable, but due to their limitations, it makes sense to employer fewer of them. Finally, the top of the pyramid contains end-to-end tests. End-to-end tests are the most realistic of all the software testing types since they exercise the application in the same way a real user would.

However, they tend to be slower and fragile, besides being more expensive to write, maintain and execute. No company can underestimate the importance of delivering the best possible product to customers. And the types of testing keep evolving and the list keeps going on. Depending on the nature and scope of your products, you can run different testing procedures.

Once the testing team gives the green signal, the deliverable is ready to go out into the market. To help earn customer trust, you need to provide consistent, reliable products. This post was written by Arnab Roy Chowdhury. Arnab is a UI developer by profession and a blogging enthusiast. A Helpful Introductory Guide.

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Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Creating detailed defect reports, or bug reports, is crucial to understand software issues and provide a thorough explanation of the software's current status for other team members.

A proper defect should include the following information:. Closing out a project properly ensures that the IT team and company owners know the most updated status of a project.

Accurate reporting and signing-off can help avoid miscommunication and wasted time. Software testers must analyze computer processes and results and make deductions based on the information available.

The testing reports may not state conclusions explicitly, but good testers should be able to determine what must follow reasonably given the current status. While a software tester primarily focuses on the technical aspects of a program, it is important for a tester to understand the flow of business in an organization. This helps a software tester make the systems relevant for their organization and create a hierarchy of functions.

For instance, if a tester understands that a company's sales require customers to create online accounts, they will prioritize this function to ensure the company doesn't lose any revenue because of technical defects. A "glocal" approach to software testing means that testers understand both the individual components of systems and the larger global perspective of how the system works.

Using this perspective can help you identify problems and solutions quicker. As a software tester, you should be proficient in running manual tests, but you should also recognize when and how to incorporate automated testing processes to enhance efficiency and reduce expenses.

DevOps and Agile methods promote collaboration and flexibility in software testing. These newer approaches encourage testers to work through problems with a range of team members and focus more on working software and less on rigid documentation standards. Promoters of these methods report more efficient and more rapid software testing. Software testers should be familiar with the most common programming languages so they can better communicate with members of the IT team.

A basic knowledge of coding can enhance your understanding of systems and their operations. As a software tester, it's important to understand the complete life cycle of a system or application, even if the testing phase is only a portion of the life cycle. Having a more global perspective can help you predict and prepare for challenges and understand how to plan and document your duties to best prepare the system for the next step in the cycle.

Project management is an important tool for the project-based work of software testers. Adhering to project management strategies and contributing effectively to the team can help the project progress efficiently and ensure everyone stays updated on project status.

As technology continues to move forward, software testers must understand how current tech trends may affect their organization and its systems. Note — Only knowledge of any Automation tool is not sufficient to crack the interview, you must have good hands-on experience, so practice the tool of your choice to achieve mastery.

Knowledge of any scripting language like VBScript, JavaScript , C is always helpful as a tester if you are looking for a job into automation. Again, it will depend on the company and which tools are used by that company. There is also a lot of scope for performance testing tools because applications need to be tested for their performance which is a part of non-functional testing. Please note you do not need ALL the technical skills listed above. The technical skill sets required vary with the Job Role and company processes.

Compensation of a software tester varies from company to company. Average Software testing career package in India is Rs , — Rs , On any typical work day, you will be busy understanding requirement documents, creating test cases, executing test cases, reporting and re-testing bugs, attending review meetings and other team building activities.

Software testing is not boring.