10 Manual Testing Best Practices
1. Strategic Planning for Testing Excellence
Effective manual testing should come with a meticulously crafted plan that serves as a guide for all stakeholders involved. This plan, effectively documented and adhering to SMART principles (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound), establishes a foundation for clear communication. Specific goals, measurable metrics, achievable objectives, adherence to the overall strategy, and adhesion to a timeline are the components of a robust testing plan.
2. Early Integration: Shifting Left for Success
The shift-left strategy advocates for the integration of testing from the early stages of development. This proactive approach has several advantages, including the early identification of bugs, alignment with agile development practices, and improved testing consistency. Successful integration necessitates testing at the earliest possible time, often and consistently. Additionally, the positive impacts of automated testing were highlighted, emphasizing the reduction of testing time and improvements in consistency, accuracy, and feedback.
3. Embracing Test-Oriented Development
Adopting technology-oriented development practices can significantly reduce the number of bugs and issues found during the testing stage. The mindset of testing during development is fostered through practices like pair programming, where two programmers collaboratively work on a single computer, facilitating knowledge sharing and error detection during coding. Another notable practice is test-driven development (TDD), where tests are created before writing the actual code, promoting code quality and early issue identification.
4. Thorough Documentation of Testing Results
Comprehensivе documentation of testing results is a cornerstone of effective manual testing. The first report should include bug resolution screenshots, screenshots or screenshots of identified issues, a clear description of expected functionality, and proposed solutions for bug resolution. Clarity in reporting mitigates the risk of misinterpretation, ensuring that all stakeholders have a precise understanding of the testing outcomes.
5. Comprehensive Testing Coverage
Manual testing should extend beyond mere functionality testing to encompass various dimensions of an application or API. Ensuring comprehensive testing involves adding aspects such as UI/UX, performance, and security. Focusing on all dimensions is crucial to uncovering potential problems and bugs that may impact the software’s overall success.
6. Real Device Testing for an Accurate End-User Experience
While simulation offers communication, no simulator or emulator can fully replicate the actual end-user experience. Testing in real-world conditions, including low battery levels, slow internet, network fluctuations, and pop-ups, is essential for detecting errors. Conducting tests on real devices empowers developers to identify and resolve issues before the software’s official launch.
7. Implementing Testing Metrics for Continuous Improvement
Effective utilization of testing metrics involves careful selection, realistic target setting, and collaborative use of multiple metrics. Choosing metrics aligned with business goals, setting achievable targets, and using metrics in conjunction provide a holistic view of testing efficiency. Continuous improvement is encouraged through feedback and enhancement of their performance indicators (KPIs).
8. Distributed Task Assignments Based on Skills
While communication and collaboration are vital in testing, recognizing and learning different skills within a testing team is equally crucial. Tailoring tasks based on individual team members’ skills ensures that each member contributes effectively to the testing process. For instance, writing test scripts may require QA testers with experience in scripting languages, while non-technical team messengers can handle keyword-driven tests.
9. Test One Feature Per Case for Reusability
Embracing a modular approach, wherein individual cases are written for individual features, promotes reusability and targeted error identification. This practice enables developers to isolate errors to specific features, facilitating a more straightforward debugging process. Additionally, it aids in understanding errors in specific circumstances rather than grappling with system-wide issues.
10. Provide A Vеrsion Rollback Option
Recognizing the limitations of testing in detecting all bugs, providing a version rollback option is a proactive measure. This empowers customers to revert to a previous software version in case new updates introduce unforeseen issues. Offering a vibration rollback minimizes the impact of potential bugs on end-users, fostering a sense of security and stability.
10 Manual Testing Best Practices
In the intricate landscape of software development, the detection and resolution of bugs before software release are pivotal for project success. The cost of detecting bugs during the testing stage is significantly lower than in the production phase.
Despite the time and expense associated with testing, understanding, and implementing best practices in software testing can empower Quality Assurance (QA) specialists and executives to make informed decisions, leading to a more effective tasting process. In this article, we dive into the top 10 manual testing best practices, drawing inspiration from established methodologies and industry insights.