1. What is manual testing?
Manual testing refers to the process of manually testing software for any defects. It involves executing test cases and comparing the actual and expected results to ensure the quality of the software.

2. What are the advantages of manual testing?
Manual testing offers the following advantages:
– It does not require any specialized tools or programming knowledge.
– It allows testers to perform exploratory testing and identify unforeseen defects.
– It is cost-effective for small-scale projects.
– It provides a realistic simulation of end-user behavior.

3. What are the drawbacks of manual testing?
Manual testing has some drawbacks, including:
– It is time-consuming and repetitive.
– It requires extensive documentation and manual test case creation.
– Human errors can occur during repetitive testing activities.
– It is not suitable for large-scale projects or those with tight schedules.

4. What is a test case?
A test case is a set of conditions and steps that are used to determine whether a system, software, or feature is functioning correctly. It includes the input, expected output, and the conditions for testing.

5. What is a test plan?
A test plan is a document that outlines the testing approach, objectives, and resources required for a testing project. It includes information about test scope, deliverables, schedules, and test environments.

6. What is the difference between Verification and Validation?
Verification refers to the process of evaluating a system or component to determine whether it meets specified requirements. It ensures that the product is being built correctly.
Validation, on the other hand, refers to the process of evaluating a system or component during or at the end of the development process to determine whether it satisfies the specified needs. It ensures that the right product is being built.

7. What is the difference between Smoke testing and Sanity testing?
Smoke testing is a shallow and narrow approach to testing, usually performed after receiving a new build or release. It quickly verifies whether the critical functionalities are working fine or not.
Sanity testing, on the other hand, is a cursory testing approach that is performed to ensure that the major functionalities of the application are working as expected. It is usually done during the later stages of the testing cycle.

8. What is regression testing?
Regression testing is the process of retesting modified software to ensure that the existing functionalities have not been negatively affected by the changes. It helps ensure that any new bugs or defects have not been introduced during development or maintenance.

9. What is the difference between Retesting and Regression testing?
Retesting involves re-executing test cases that failed in a previous execution cycle to verify if the defects have been fixed.
Regression testing involves re-executing test cases that previously passed to ensure that the changes or fixes have not introduced new defects in the existing functionalities.

10. What is test execution in manual testing?
Test execution refers to the process of running test cases and recording the results. It involves validating the actual outcomes against the expected outcomes.

11. What is a defect or bug?
A defect or bug is a flaw or fault in a software application that causes it to produce an incorrect or unexpected result. It can range from minor display issues to critical functionality errors.

12. What is the defect life cycle?
The defect life cycle includes the following stages:
– Defect identification: The defect is logged and documented.
– Defect triaging: The priority and severity of the defect are assessed.
– Defect assignment: The defect is assigned to the respective development team member.
– Defect fixing: The developer fixes the defect.
– Retesting: The fixed defect is verified by the tester.
– Closing: The bug is closed if it is resolved, or it may be reopened if not fixed correctly.

13. What is the difference between Severity and Priority?
Severity represents the impact of a defect on the system’s functionality, while priority represents its urgency or importance in terms of fixing it.

14. What are the important qualities of a good tester?
A good tester possesses the following qualities:
– Attention to detail
– Good communication skills
– Analytical and problem-solving mindset
– Curiosity and willingness to learn
– Patience and persistence

15. What is the purpose of test documentation?
Test documentation helps in maintaining a record of test activities, including test plans, test cases, test scripts, test results, and defects. It ensures consistency, traceability, and provides a basis for future testing efforts.

16. What is boundary testing?
Boundary testing involves testing the application using input values at the lower and upper boundaries of their valid ranges. It helps identify defects related to boundary conditions.

17. What is compatibility testing?
Compatibility testing checks if the software application is compatible with various operating systems, web browsers, hardware platforms, and network environments. It ensures that the software performs consistently across different configurations.

18. What is the difference between System testing and Acceptance testing?
System testing is performed to verify that a system or application meets its specified requirements and functions correctly in its intended environment.
Acceptance testing, also known as User Acceptance Testing (UAT), is performed to ensure that the software meets the business requirements and is fit for use from an end-user perspective.

19. What is exploratory testing?
Exploratory testing is an informal and unscripted testing approach in which the tester explores the software application, tries different scenarios, and identifies defects on-the-go. It relies on the tester’s domain knowledge and experience.

20. What is the difference between Test Scenario and Test Case?
A test scenario is a high-level description of the functionality to be tested, while a test case is a detailed set of conditions and steps to verify a specific aspect of the functionality defined in the test scenario. Test cases are derived from test scenarios.

1. What is the difference between verification and validation in software testing?
Verification ensures that the software meets the specified requirements, whereas validation ensures that the software meets the customer’s expectations and needs.

2. Define defect cascading in software testing.
Defect cascading occurs when a defect remains undetected in the early stages of testing and leads to other defects or issues in later stages.

3. What is the significance of a test plan in manual testing?
A test plan outlines the testing strategy, test objectives, resources, and schedule. It serves as a roadmap for the entire testing process and ensures that testing activities are systematic and organized.

4. Explain the concept of boundary value analysis.
Boundary value analysis involves testing with input values at or near the boundaries between input ranges. It helps identify defects that may be present at these boundaries.

5. How do you prioritize test cases during test execution?
Test cases are typically prioritized based on their impact and risk. Critical and high-risk test cases are executed first to minimize potential risks and ensure the stability of the software.

6. What is the purpose of regression testing?
Regression testing is performed when modifications or enhancements are made to the software to ensure that the existing functionality is not affected. It helps in identifying any unexpected side effects of changes.

7. What is the difference between positive and negative testing?
Positive testing checks if the system behaves as expected with the correct inputs, while negative testing involves testing with invalid or incorrect inputs to ensure the system handles them appropriately.

8. How do you handle a situation where there is not enough time for thorough testing?
In such cases, it is important to prioritize critical and high-risk areas for testing. Testing techniques such as risk-based testing and exploratory testing can be utilized to maximize the coverage within the available time.

9. How do you conduct a smoke testing or sanity testing?
Smoke testing or sanity testing is performed to quickly verify if the major functionalities of the software are working correctly after a new build or release. It involves executing a set of essential test cases to ensure basic stability.

10. Can you explain the concept of test coverage?
Test coverage measures the extent to which the software’s functionality has been tested. It determines the percentage of requirements or code covered by the test cases and helps identify any areas that are not adequately tested.

11. What is decision table testing? When is it useful?
Decision table testing is a technique to test different combinations of inputs against a set of rules. It is useful when there are complex business rules or conditions that need to be validated.

12. Describe the role of a test lead in the testing process.
A test lead is responsible for overall test planning, coordination, and management. They ensure that testing activities are on track, allocate resources, communicate with stakeholders, and monitor test progress.

13. What is the difference between functional testing and system testing?
Functional testing focuses on the functionality of individual components or features, while system testing verifies the system as a whole, including the interaction between different components and their integration.

14. What is the purpose of a test harness?
A test harness is a set of tools, libraries, and software used for testing. It provides the necessary infrastructure and environment to automate and execute test cases.

15. Explain the concept of equivalence partitioning.
Equivalence partitioning involves dividing the input domain into a set of valid and invalid equivalence classes. Test cases are then designed to cover each class, reducing the number of redundant test cases.

16. What is the role of a traceability matrix?
A traceability matrix links test cases to the requirements they cover. It helps ensure that all requirements are tested and provides a basis for tracking the progress of testing activities.

17. How do you handle the situation when a developer disagrees with the identified defect?
In such situations, it is important to maintain clear and open communication channels. Provide detailed evidence and a clear description of the defect and its impact. Engage in a professional discussion to resolve any disagreements.

18. What is exploratory testing?
Exploratory testing involves simultaneous test design and execution without predefined test cases. It relies on the tester’s domain knowledge, experience, and intuition to identify defects and uncover areas not covered by scripted tests.

19. How do you measure the success of a test cycle?
The success of a test cycle can be measured based on the number of defects identified, their severity, the proportion of test cases executed, the adherence to the test schedule, and the overall stability and quality of the software after testing.

20. What are the key skills required for a successful manual tester?
Key skills for a manual tester include strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, excellent communication skills, a solid understanding of testing principles and techniques, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.