Question: What is software testing, and why is it important?
Answer: Software testing is the process of evaluating a software application to identify and rectify defects or issues. It ensures that the software meets the specified requirements, functions correctly, and is reliable.
It's important because it helps improve the quality of the software, reduces the risk of defects in production, and enhances user satisfaction.
Question: Software Development Life Cycle(SDLC)
Answer: SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle. It is a structured and systematic approach to planning, creating, testing, deploying, and maintaining software applications or systems. SDLC provides a framework for software development teams to follow in order to ensure that software projects are completed efficiently, with high quality, and within budget.
The SDLC process typically consists of several stages or phases, which can vary in number and specific activities depending on the chosen methodology or model. Here is a common breakdown of the phases in a typical SDLC:
1. Planning: In this initial phase, the project's objectives, scope, requirements, and constraints are defined. Project stakeholders collaborate to create a project plan that outlines the project's goals, timeline, budget, and resources. A feasibility study may also be conducted to determine if the project is economically and technically viable.
2. Analysis: During this phase, the software development team works closely with stakeholders, including end-users, to gather detailed requirements. The goal is to understand the user's needs and document them in a way that can guide the development process.
3. Design: In this phase, the software architecture and design are created based on the requirements gathered in the previous phase. This includes defining the system's structure, components, data models, user interfaces, and more. The design phase can be broken down into high-level and low-level design stages.
4. Implementation (Coding): This is where the actual coding or programming of the software takes place. Developers write the source code according to the design specifications. This phase involves careful coding practices, version control, and code reviews to ensure code quality.
5.Testing: Testing is a critical phase where the software is rigorously tested to identify and fix defects and ensure that it meets the specified requirements. Different types of testing, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing, are performed at this stage.
6. Deployment: Once the software has passed all testing phases and is deemed stable and ready for production use, it is deployed to the target environment. This may involve installing the software on servers, configuring it, and making it available to users.
7. Maintenance and Support: After deployment, the software enters the maintenance phase, where ongoing updates, bug fixes, and enhancements are made as needed. This phase can last for the entire lifecycle of the software.
SDLC models and methodologies can vary, with some popular ones including the Waterfall model, Agile methodologies (like Scrum and Kanban), and DevOps practices. The choice of SDLC model depends on the project's characteristics, requirements, and organizational preferences.
Question: Bug/ Defect life cycle
Answer: The Defect Life Cycle, also known as the Bug Life Cycle, is a set of predefined stages and processes that a software defect or bug goes through from its initial discovery to its resolution and verification. Managing defects using a structured life cycle helps development and testing teams track, prioritize, and communicate about issues effectively. The defect life cycle may vary slightly between organizations and projects, but here is a common sequence of stages:
New: When the Defect is posted for the first time, its state will be “NEW”. This means that the Defect is not yet approved.
Open: After a tester has posted a Defect, the test lead/authorized resource approves that the Defect is genuine and changes the state as “OPEN”.
Assigned: Once the lead/manager changes the state as “OPEN”, Defect can be assigned to corresponding developer or development team. The state of the Defect now is changed to “ASSIGNED”.
Fixed: Issue has been fixed/resolved by the developer.
Re-Test: Once the developer fixes the Defect, developer has to assign the Defect to the testing team for next round of testing ( RE-TEST).
Verified: Once the Defect is fixed and the status is changed to “Re-Test”, the tester tests the Defect. If the Defect is not present in the software, tester approves that the Defect is fixed and changes the status to “VERIFIED”.
Closed: This state means that the Defect is fixed, re-tested and approved.
Reopened: If the Defect still exists even after the Defect is fixed by the developer, the tester changes the status to “REOPENED”. The Defect traverses the life cycle once again.
Deferred: The Defect, changed to deferred state means the Defect is expected to be fixed in next releases. The reasons for changing the Defect to this state have many factors. Some of them are priority of the Defect may be low, lack of time for the release or the Defect may not have major effect on the software.
Rejected: If the developer feels that the Defect is not genuine, Developer rejects the Defect. Then the state of the Defect is changed to “REJECTED”.
Returned: Defect is returned, because more information is needed.
Question: Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)
Answer: The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a set of systematic and sequential steps or phases that guide the planning, execution, and management of software testing activities within the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Requirement Analysis: In this initial phase, testers work closely with stakeholders, business analysts, and developers to understand and analyze the software requirements. The goal is to identify potential test scenarios and establish a comprehensive understanding of what needs to be tested.
Test Planning: Based on the requirements analysis, a detailed test plan is created. This plan outlines the test objectives, scope, test strategy, test deliverables, resources, and schedules. It also identifies the testing types and techniques to be used, as well as any dependencies on other project activities.
Test Design: In this phase, test cases and test scenarios are developed. Test cases describe specific test conditions, inputs, expected results, and execution steps. Test scenarios are broader and describe a combination of test cases. Test data and test environments are also prepared during this phase.
Test Environment Setup: The testing environment is set up to mimic the production environment as closely as possible. This includes configuring hardware, software, databases, and any other necessary components. Ensuring a stable and consistent test environment is crucial for reliable testing.
Test Execution: Testers execute the test cases and scenarios as per the test plan. Testers record the results, including any defects or issues encountered during testing. This phase involves both manual and automated testing, depending on the project's requirements.
Test Closure: After all test cases have been executed, and defects have been resolved and retested, the testing team assesses whether the testing objectives have been met. A test summary report is generated, which includes metrics on test coverage, defect statistics, and an overall assessment of the software's quality.
Question: Smoke Testing
Answer: Smoke testing, also known as a "smoke test," is an initial and minimal set of tests performed on a software build or release to verify that the most critical and essential functionalities are working correctly. The primary purpose of a smoke test is to determine if the software is stable enough for further, more comprehensive testing. It acts as a quick check to catch severe issues early in the development or deployment process.
Here are key characteristics and aspects of smoke testing:
1. Scope: Smoke testing focuses on the most critical and fundamental features of the software, such as basic functionality, key user interfaces, and essential workflows. It does not delve into in-depth or exhaustive testing of all features.
2. Objective: The primary objective of smoke testing is to identify showstopper issues or critical defects that could prevent further testing or deployment. These issues might include crashes, major functionality failures, or critical security vulnerabilities.
3. Automation: Smoke tests can be automated to expedite the testing process. Automated scripts or test cases can quickly validate the critical functionalities of the software after each build or code change.
4. Frequency: Smoke testing is typically performed frequently throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC). It is executed after every build or integration to ensure that basic functionality remains intact.
5. Test Cases: Smoke test cases are generally straightforward and easy to execute. They are not intended to be exhaustive or detailed but should cover the core paths through the application.
6. Decision-Making: Based on the results of the smoke test, a decision is made regarding whether the software build is stable enough to proceed with more extensive testing, such as regression testing, functional testing, and performance testing. If the smoke test fails, the development team should investigate and resolve the critical issues before further testing.
7. Quick Feedback: Smoke testing provides rapid feedback to the development team. It helps them identify issues early in the development cycle, reducing the time and cost of fixing problems.
8. Smoke Test Criteria: The criteria for passing a smoke test are typically predefined. If the software build meets these criteria and passes the smoke test, it is considered suitable for further testing or deployment.
It's important to note that smoke testing is not a comprehensive testing approach. It does not replace more detailed testing phases, such as regression testing or user acceptance testing. Instead, it serves as a preliminary check to ensure that the software's critical functions are operational. If the software passes the smoke test, it can then undergo more thorough testing to identify additional issues and ensure overall quality.
Question: Sanity testing
Answer: Sanity testing, also known as sanity check or build verification testing, is a subset of software testing that focuses on quickly checking the most critical and essential functionalities of a software application or system. The primary purpose of sanity testing is to ensure that the recent changes or updates in the codebase have not adversely affected the core features and that the software remains in a functional state.
Here are the key characteristics and aspects of sanity testing:
1. Scope: Sanity testing is a narrow and shallow form of testing. It typically covers only a small set of critical test cases or scenarios that represent core functionalities, user interfaces, and workflows of the software.
2. Objective: The primary objective of sanity testing is to verify that the software build is reasonably stable after recent changes. It helps ensure that essential features have not been broken and that the software remains in a usable state.
3. Frequency: Sanity testing is performed frequently, often after each code change, integration, or build. It is part of the continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline, allowing quick feedback to developers.
4. Automation: Automation is commonly used for sanity testing to expedite the process. Automated test scripts or cases can rapidly verify the critical functions of the software.
5. Test Cases: Sanity test cases are typically straightforward and easy to execute. They are designed to cover only the most important paths through the application. These tests are not comprehensive but focus on essential functionality.
6. Decision-Making: Based on the results of sanity testing, a decision is made about whether the recent code changes are acceptable and whether further, more comprehensive testing, such as regression testing, should proceed.
7. Quick Feedback: Sanity testing provides rapid feedback to the development team. If the sanity tests fail, it indicates that there are critical issues that need immediate attention.
8. Sanity Test Criteria: The criteria for passing sanity testing are predefined. If the software build meets these criteria and passes the sanity tests, it is considered stable enough for more extensive testing or deployment.
It's important to note that sanity testing is not a substitute for thorough testing. It is a quick and focused check to ensure that essential functionality remains intact. If sanity testing reveals critical issues, it is a signal that more comprehensive testing is needed before the software can be considered ready for release.
In summary, sanity testing is a valuable practice in software development and testing that helps quickly assess the stability of software builds after recent changes. It ensures that core functionalities are working as expected and that the software remains in a functional state.
Question: Regression testing
Answer: Regression testing is a crucial software testing practice that focuses on verifying that recent changes or updates to a software application or system have not adversely affected its existing functionality. It aims to ensure that previously tested features and behaviors still work as expected after code modifications, enhancements, bug fixes, or new feature additions. The term "regression" refers to the possibility of introducing new defects or regressing to a previous state of dysfunctionality during the development or maintenance process.
Key aspects of regression testing include:
1. Scope: Regression testing covers a broad range of functionalities and features of the software, not just the critical ones. It aims to ensure the stability of the entire application.
2. Objective: The primary objective of regression testing is to identify and catch unintended side effects or defects caused by recent code changes. It helps prevent the introduction of new issues while maintaining existing functionality.
3. Frequency: Regression testing is performed frequently throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC), particularly in agile development and continuous integration environments. It is executed after every code change, integration, or build to ensure that the software remains reliable.
4. Automation: Automation is often a significant component of regression testing. Automated test suites or scripts are created to retest previously validated scenarios quickly, saving time and effort.
5. Test Cases: Regression test cases cover various aspects of the application, including user interfaces, workflows, and integrations with other systems. These test cases are comprehensive and designed to identify any deviations from expected behavior.
6. Selection Criteria: Not all test cases need to be rerun for every regression test. Test case selection criteria help determine which tests to include in a given regression suite. These criteria can be based on the areas affected by recent changes or historical defect patterns.
7. Continuous Integration: In CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) pipelines, regression testing is automated and integrated into the development process. This ensures that code changes are automatically tested for regression issues upon integration into the codebase.
8. Baseline: A baseline is established during the initial testing phase, representing the expected behavior of the software. During regression testing, the software is compared against this baseline to detect any deviations.
9. Bug Tracking: Any regression defects identified during testing are logged in a bug tracking system and addressed by the development team. These defects are given high priority since they represent unintended changes in functionality.
10. Regression Test Suites: Over time, regression test suites grow as new functionalities are added to the software. Managing these suites efficiently becomes important to ensure that testing remains timely and comprehensive.
In summary, regression testing is a critical practice in software development and maintenance. It helps ensure the stability and reliability of software by verifying that recent code changes do not introduce new defects or disrupt existing functionality. Automated regression testing is particularly valuable in fast-paced development environments where frequent code changes occur.
Question: What is Exploratory Testing and when should it be performed
Answer: The definition of Exploratory Testing is “simultaneous test design and execution” against an application.
This means that the tester uses her domain knowledge and testing experience to predict where and under what conditions the system might behave unexpectedly.
As the tester starts exploring the system, new test design ideas are thought of on the fly and executed against the software under test.
In an exploratory testing session, the tester executes a chain of actions against the system, each action depends on the result of the previous action, hence the outcome of the result of the actions could influence what the tester does next, therefore the test sessions are not identical.
This is in contrast to Scripted Testing where tests are designed beforehand using the requirements or design documents, usually before the system is ready and execute those exact same steps against the system at another time.
Exploratory Testing is usually performed as the product is evolving (agile) or as a final check before the software is released. It is a complementary activity to automated regression testing.
Question: What are the different levels/types of software testing?
Answer: There are various levels/types of software testing, including:
Unit Testing
Integration Testing
System Testing
Acceptance Testing
Regression Testing
Performance Testing
Security Testing
Usability Testing
Compatibility Testing
Question: Explain the difference between black-box and white-box testing.
Answer: Black-box testing focuses on testing the software's functionality without knowledge of its internal code. White-box testing, on the other hand, examines the internal code, logic, and structure of the software. Black-box testing is more user-centric, while white-box testing is code-centric.
Question: What is the purpose of a test plan, and what information should it include?
Answer: A test plan outlines the strategy, scope, objectives, and resources required for testing. It includes information like test objectives, test scope, test schedules, resource allocation, test environments, and entry/exit criteria.
Here are some key pieces of information that a test plan should contain:
Introduction: This section provides an overview of the test plan, including its objectives, scope, and purpose.
Testing Objectives: Clearly state the objectives of the testing effort. This could include ensuring that the software meets specified requirements, verifying functionality, validating against user needs, etc.
Scope: Define what will be tested and what won't be tested. This includes identifying the features, functions, and components of the software that will be included in the testing effort.
Testing Approach: Describe the overall testing strategy, including methodologies, techniques, and tools that will be used. This section may also include details on types of testing such as functional, non-functional, regression, etc.
Test Deliverables: List the documents, reports, and artifacts that will be produced as part of the testing process, such as test cases, test scripts, test data, defect reports, etc.
Testing Schedule: Provide a timeline for testing activities, including start and end dates for each phase of testing (e.g., unit testing, integration testing, system testing, user acceptance testing).
Resource Requirements: Identify the resources needed for testing, including personnel, hardware, software, and testing environments.
Risks and Assumptions: Identify potential risks that may impact the testing process and outline any assumptions made during the planning process.
Exit Criteria: Define the conditions that must be met for testing to be considered complete and for the software to be ready for release.
Approvals and Sign-offs: Specify the stakeholders who need to review and approve the test plan before testing begins.
References: Include references to any related documents or standards that are relevant to the testing effort.
Appendices: Provide any additional information or supplementary materials that may be useful for understanding the test plan.
Question: What is the difference between functional and non-functional testing?
Answer: Functional testing checks if the software performs its intended functions correctly. Non-functional testing evaluates aspects like performance, security, usability, and reliability of the software.
Question: Explain the concept of test automation and its benefits.
Answer: Test automation involves using software tools and scripts to perform test cases automatically. It benefits by speeding up the testing process, increasing test coverage, ensuring repeatability, and reducing human error.
Question: What is a test case, and how do you write one?
Answer: A test case is a detailed set of steps to be executed to verify a specific aspect of the software's functionality. It includes a test objective, preconditions, test steps, expected results, and postconditions. Writing a test case involves understanding the requirements and designing tests that cover different scenarios.
Question: How do you prioritize test cases for execution?
Answer: Test case prioritization depends on factors like business criticality, risk, and dependencies.
High-risk areas or critical functionalities should be tested first, followed by other areas based on their importance and interdependencies.
Question: What is a bug tracking system, and why is it essential?
Answer: A bug tracking system is a software tool used to record, track, and manage defects or issues identified during testing. It is essential because it helps in efficient communication, monitoring, and resolution of defects, ensuring software quality.
Question: What Test Techniques are there and what is their purpose
1. To help identify defects,
2. To reduce the number of test cases.
- EQUIVALENCE PARTITIONING is mainly used to reduce the number of test cases by identifying different sets of data that are not the same and only executing one test from each set of data
- BOUNDARY VALUE ANALYSIS is used to check the behavior of the system at the boundaries of allowed data.
- STATE TRANSITION TESTING is used to validate allowed and disallowed states and transitions from one state to another by various input data
- Pair-wise or All Pairs Testing is a very powerful test technique and is mainly used to reduce the number of test cases while increasing the coverage of feature combinations.
Question: V-Model in Software Testing
- The left side of the model is Software Development Life Cycle – SDLC
- The right side of the model is Software Test Life Cycle – STLC
- The entire figure looks like a V, hence the name V – model
- Work Breakdown Structure
- 3-Point Software Testing Estimation Technique
- Wideband Delphi technique
- Function Point/Testing Point Analysis
- Use – Case Point Method
- Percentage distribution
- Ad-hoc method
- Plan: Identify improvements and set targets
- Do: Implement improvements
- Check: Check result of improvements
- Act: Learn from results
It is a Test Process Improvement (TPI) method.
Question: What is the difference between validation and verification in software testing?
Answer: Verification ensures that the software is built correctly according to the specified requirements, while validation ensures that the software meets the user's needs and expectations.
Question: Explain the concept of boundary value analysis and equivalence partitioning in test design.
Answer: Boundary value analysis involves testing values at the boundaries of input domains, as they are more likely to cause errors. Equivalence partitioning involves dividing input values into groups or partitions and testing one value from each partition.
Question: What are the key challenges in software testing, and how would you address them?
Answer: Some common challenges include incomplete requirements, changing requirements, resource constraints, and automation challenges. Addressing these challenges involves effective communication, adaptability, and collaboration with the development team.
Question: You're testing an e-commerce website, and customers have reported that the checkout process is sometimes slow, leading to abandoned carts. What steps would you take to address this issue?
Answer: I would start by conducting performance testing on the checkout process. This includes load testing to determine the system's capacity and stress testing to identify its breaking point.
Additionally, I would monitor server resources during the checkout process to pinpoint any bottlenecks, such as database queries or network issues. Once identified, I'd work with the development team to optimize the code and improve the performance.
Question: You're testing a mobile app, and users are experiencing frequent crashes. How would you approach diagnosing and fixing this issue?
Answer: To diagnose and fix the app crashes, I would take the following steps:
- Collect crash reports and logs from users to understand the nature and frequency of crashes.
- Reproduce the crashes in a controlled test environment to isolate the issue.
- Use debugging tools and techniques to identify the specific line of code or module causing the crash.
- Collaborate with the development team to fix the identified issue and perform regression testing to ensure it's resolved.
Question: You're testing a financial application, and you discover a critical security vulnerability that could expose user data. What immediate actions would you take?
Answer: In this scenario, I would follow these steps:
Document the details of the security vulnerability, including its impact and how it can be exploited.
Notify the development team and project stakeholders about the vulnerability.
If necessary, work with the development team to develop a patch or fix to address the vulnerability.
Advise the team to prioritize this fix and perform a security retest once the fix is implemented.
Consider temporarily disabling or restricting access to the affected feature to mitigate the risk while the fix is being developed.
Question: You're testing a software update for a widely-used productivity application. Shortly after the release, users report data loss issues. How would you investigate and address this problem?
Answer: To investigate and address data loss issues after a software update:
First, stop the distribution of the update to prevent further users from experiencing data loss.
Gather detailed information from affected users, including their actions leading to data loss and any error messages.
Analyze the software update to identify potential causes of data loss, such as changes to data storage or file handling.
Work with the development team to develop a fix for the data loss issue and thoroughly test it.
Consider data recovery options for affected users, if feasible, and communicate the issue and resolution plan transparently to users.
Question: You are testing a login page for a banking application. What test cases would you write to ensure its functionality and security?
Answer: Test Cases:
Verify that valid credentials (username and password) allow the user to log in successfully.
Verify that entering an incorrect password results in a login failure.
Verify that entering an incorrect username results in a login failure.
Verify that the system locks the user's account after a specified number of consecutive failed login attempts.
Verify that the login page has proper security mechanisms, such as input validation and protection against SQL injection and XSS attacks.
Question: You are testing a file upload feature for a cloud storage application. What test cases would you write to ensure it works correctly?
Answer: Test Cases:
Verify that users can upload files of various formats (e.g., .txt, .jpg, .pdf) successfully.
Verify that there is a maximum file size limit, and attempting to upload a file larger than this limit results in an appropriate error message.
Verify that uploading a file with a duplicate name prompts the user to rename or overwrite the existing file.
Verify that the system handles interruptions during the upload process (e.g., network disconnection) gracefully.
Verify that the uploaded files are stored securely and can be downloaded and accessed without corruption.
Question: You are testing a search functionality on an e-commerce website. What test cases would you write to ensure accurate and efficient search results?
Answer: Test Cases:
Verify that searching for a specific product by name yields the expected result as the first item.
Verify that searching for a product by a partial name or keyword returns relevant results.
Verify that the search feature handles case-insensitivity correctly (e.g., "laptop" and "Laptop" return the same results).
Verify that the search results can be sorted by various criteria (e.g., price, rating, relevance).
Verify that the search feature handles misspelled or ambiguous queries gracefully by suggesting corrections or alternatives.
Question: You are testing a registration form for a social media platform. What test cases would you write to ensure a smooth user registration process?
Answer: Test Cases:
Verify that users can successfully register by providing valid information, including name, email, password, and date of birth.
Verify that the system enforces password complexity requirements (e.g., minimum length, special characters) during registration.
Verify that email addresses must be unique, and attempting to register with an existing email results in an error.
Verify that users receive a confirmation email after successful registration.
Verify that the registration process is user-friendly, with clear error messages for incomplete or incorrect information.
Question: What do you understand about code inspection in the context of software testing? What are its advantages
Answer: Code inspection is a sort of static testing that involves inspecting software code and looking for flaws. It simplifies the initial error detection procedure, lowering the defect multiplication ratio and avoiding subsequent stage error detection. This code inspection is actually part of the application evaluation procedure.
Following are the key steps involved in code inspection :
An Inspection team's primary members are the Moderator, Reader, Recorder, and Author.
The inspection team receives related documents, prepares the inspection meeting, and coordinates with the inspection team members.
If the inspection team is unfamiliar with the project, the author gives them an overview of the project and its code.
Following that, each inspection team conducts a code inspection using inspection checklists.
Conduct a meeting with all team members after the code inspection is completed to discuss the code that was inspected.
Following are the advantages of Code Inspection :
Code Inspection enhances the overall quality of the product.
It finds bugs and flaws in software code.
In any event, it marks any process improvement.
It finds and removes functional defects in a timely and effective manner.
It aids in the correction of prior flaws.
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