21 Tips for QA (2023 Edition)(Part 1)
1. Understand the Business
Get a good understanding of the business domain and user requirements. This will help you design better test scenarios and ensure the software meets the users’ needs.
2. Be a Problem Solver.
Before starting Automation, Understand the problem well and think about how we can solve it. Being an SDET your work is not only to convert the Functional Test cases to Automated, Our work is to make the testing process efficient and remove the bottlenecks which make the process slow and consume time unnecessarily.
3. Always keep an open mind and be willing to learn new things.
Keeping an open mind and being willing to learn new things is essential for testers because the field of software testing is constantly evolving. New technologies, methodologies, and tools are emerging all the time, and testers need to stay up-to-date with these developments to remain effective in their roles.
An open mind means being receptive to new ideas, perspectives, and approaches. Testers should be open to learning new testing techniques, exploring new tools, and adopting new methodologies. They should also be willing to experiment with new approaches and techniques to see what works best for them and their team.
Being open-minded also means being willing to challenge assumptions and preconceptions. Testers should not assume that a particular approach or tool is always the best option. Instead, they should be willing to evaluate different options and choose the one that is most appropriate for the situation.
In addition, being open-minded means being open to feedback and criticism. Testers should be willing to accept feedback from their colleagues and stakeholders and use it to improve their work. They should also be open to criticism of their testing approach and be willing to make changes if necessary.
Overall, being open-minded and willing to learn new things is essential for testers to stay relevant and effective in a constantly evolving field. It allows them to adapt to new challenges, stay innovative, and continuously improve their skills and knowledge.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or raise concerns.
In software testing, asking questions and raising concerns is an essential part of the job. Testers are responsible for identifying defects and issues in the software, and they often need to seek clarification or raise concerns about the requirements, design, or functionality of the system.
Asking questions is a way to gather information and clarify requirements. Testers should ask questions to ensure that they understand the expected behavior of the software and to uncover any ambiguities or gaps in the requirements. This helps ensure that the software is developed to meet the needs of the users and the business.
Raising concerns is also important for testers. If a tester identifies a potential issue or problem in the software, they should raise it with the appropriate stakeholders. This could include the development team, project manager, or business stakeholders. Raising concerns early on can help prevent more significant problems down the line.
It’s essential for testers not to be afraid to ask questions or raise concerns. Testers should feel comfortable seeking clarification, challenging assumptions, and identifying potential issues. By doing so, testers can help ensure that the software meets the needs of the users and the business and that it is delivered on time and within budget.
In summary, asking questions and raising concerns is a critical part of software testing. It helps ensure that the software meets the required standards and is developed to meet the needs of the users and the business. Testers should feel empowered to seek clarification and raise concerns to ensure that the software is of high quality.
5. Always test for usability — this is just as important as functionality.
Usability testing is a critical part of software testing, and it is just as important as functionality testing. Usability testing is the process of evaluating a product’s user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to ensure that it is user-friendly, efficient, and effective.
The purpose of usability testing is to identify any usability issues that could prevent users from using the software effectively. These issues may include confusing or cluttered UI, slow response times, lack of feedback, or difficult-to-understand error messages.
Usability testing involves observing users as they interact with the software and asking them to perform specific tasks. The tester will look for any areas where users struggle or make mistakes and will collect feedback on the software’s usability.
Usability testing is essential because even if a product has all the necessary features and functions if it is not easy to use, users are likely to become frustrated and abandon it. This can lead to lost revenue, negative reviews, and damage to the company’s reputation.
Therefore, usability testing should be integrated into the software testing process from the beginning. It should be considered alongside functionality testing to ensure that the software meets the needs of the users and provides a positive user experience.
In summary, usability testing is just as important as functionality testing. Testers should ensure that the software is user-friendly, efficient, and effective by testing the UI and UX. By doing so, they can help ensure that the software meets the needs of the users and provides a positive user experience.
6. Document everything — this will help you and your team in the future.
Documentation is an essential part of software testing. It involves creating and maintaining records of all testing activities, including test plans, test cases, test results, and defects. Documenting everything during the testing process is crucial because it helps testers and their team in the future.
Documentation allows testers to keep track of their progress, identify potential issues, and track defects throughout the testing process. By documenting everything, testers can easily refer to previous testing activities and ensure that they are testing the right areas of the software.
Documenting everything also helps testers and their team in the future. When new team members join the project or when the software needs to be updated or modified, having documentation can help ensure that the team has a clear understanding of what has been tested and what still needs to be tested.
In addition, documentation helps with knowledge transfer. When a tester leaves the team or the project, the documentation they have created can be used by their replacement to quickly get up to speed and understand what has been tested and what still needs to be tested.
Moreover, documentation helps improve the quality of the software by providing a record of defects and their resolutions. This information can be used to identify patterns or trends in the defects, leading to improvements in the software development process.
In summary, documenting everything during software testing is crucial. It helps testers keep track of their progress, identify potential issues, and track defects. It also helps the team in the future, by ensuring that new team members understand what has been tested and what still needs to be tested. Finally, documentation can improve the quality of the software by providing valuable information on defects and their resolutions.
7. Develop a testing plan and stick to it.
Developing a testing plan is an essential step in software testing, and it involves defining the testing objectives, scope, approach, and timeline. A well-defined testing plan provides a clear roadmap for the testing process and helps testers stay focused on their testing goals.
A testing plan should outline the testing objectives and priorities, as well as the specific testing tasks to be performed. The plan should also identify the test environment, testing tools and techniques, and the expected outcomes.
By developing a testing plan, testers can ensure that all necessary testing tasks are performed, and no critical areas are overlooked. The plan can also help testers manage their time and resources more effectively and efficiently.
However, developing a testing plan is not enough; it is equally important to stick to it. Deviating from the testing plan can result in incomplete testing, missed defects, and delays in the testing process. Therefore, testers should follow the testing plan as closely as possible, making adjustments only when necessary and after careful consideration.
Sticking to the testing plan requires discipline, focus, and attention to detail. It involves monitoring progress, identifying any deviations from the plan, and taking corrective action where necessary.
In summary, developing a testing plan is crucial to the success of the testing process. It provides a roadmap for testing and helps testers stay focused on their objectives. However, it is equally important to stick to the plan to ensure that all critical areas are tested, and the testing process is completed efficiently and effectively.
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