Testing is a critical element in the software development life cycle. There are two techniques for software testing nowadays: manual and automated. Most QA teams integrate both techniques expertly since they are not interchangeable, and each has advantages and downsides. We will go through manual testing in great depth. So let’s start at the beginning and look at the fundamentals of manual testing.
What is manual testing?
Manual testing is the inspection and usage of the software by end users to assess its quality, find current errors, and reveal potential flaws. Unlike automated testing, which uses a software program to execute tests, manual testing is based on human activities.
Types of Manual Testing
We cannot exclude manual testing methods from our manual testing guide. There are several manual testing kinds, but we will focus on the most common.
Exploratory Testing
In general, manual testers use exploratory testing to grasp the fundamental concept of the product or become acquainted with its new features. There are no rules, and testers investigate systems based on their initiative and interest. Exploratory testing is performed anytime a tester believes it is necessary.
Usability Testing
There is no way to conduct usability testing properly without engaging people since software user-friendliness is judged based on user behavior and emotions. Therefore, during usability testing, manual testers ensure that an application is easy, convenient, and intuitive to minimize end-user misunderstanding and irritation.
GUI testing
Manual testers evaluate fonts, color palettes, windows, buttons, and all other GUI components and features during the GUI testing process to ensure that there are no mistakes or confusion and that the user experience is as good as possible.
Localization
Manual testers perform localization testing to guarantee that a program fits multiple linguistic and cultural standards. Localization testing is especially critical if a program is intended for a worldwide user base.
Compatibility testing
Compatibility testing ensures a program works correctly with other software, hardware, networks, etc. Unfortunately, compatibility testing takes a long period. As a result, most QA teams choose to automate this procedure. Still, suppose it must be done manually. In that case, it is best to identify the top-priority browsers and systems and focus on them.
Smoke Testing
Smoke testing validates only the application’s core functionality to see whether it meets its primary goal and is free of critical flaws. Smoke testing is a preliminary examination performed before more serious, in-depth testing.
Regression Testing
Before each release, regression testing is performed to ensure that upgrades have not compromised current features. Unfortunately, regression testing of big, complex programs can take a long time. As a result, when possibilities arise, many businesses attempt to automate them.
Conclusion
Manual testing requires a lot of effort and might take a long time. Nonetheless, maintaining a high degree of software quality is critical. Despite the benefits of automated testing, automated scripts can only test what they were created to test. In contrast, manual testing is more adaptive and creative. Furthermore, a human tester can always discover issues that an automated test cannot. To achieve the greatest results and ensure top-notch quality, QA teams must combine human and automated testing since they are two sides of the same coin.
