What is your approach to identifying and prioritizing defects in a software application as a manual tester?

Identifying and Prioritizing Defects in a Software Application

As a manual tester, my approach to identifying and prioritizing defects in a software application involves a systematic methodology that ensures thorough testing and efficient defect management. Here is how I approach this:

1. Understanding Requirements: I start by thoroughly understanding the requirements of the software application to make sure that I am testing for the correct functionality.
2. Creating Test Cases: I create comprehensive test cases based on the requirements to cover all possible scenarios and functionalities of the software.
3. Executing Test Cases: I execute the test cases meticulously, following a structured approach to ensure that all areas of the software are thoroughly tested.
4. Logging Defects: Whenever I encounter a defect during testing, I log it in a defect tracking system with detailed information including steps to reproduce, expected results, and actual results.
5. Prioritizing Defects: I prioritize defects based on factors such as severity, impact on functionality, frequency of occurrence, and customer impact. This helps in focusing on critical issues first.
6. Collaborating with Developers: I work closely with developers to provide them with all necessary information to reproduce and fix the defects identified, ensuring efficient resolution.

By following this approach, I ensure that defects are identified early in the software development lifecycle and are prioritized based on their impact, leading to a high-quality software application that meets user expectations.