I am a QA Software Engineer with three years of commercial experience. I served worldwide clients with logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a feature/project.  I support the development teams in all product development stages, ensuring all features meet quality objectives.  

Mateusz Pękal

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The process of assessing a system or its components to see if it complies with requirements is known as ‘Quality Assurance Testing.’ Software quality assurance carries out a series of operations to spot any bugs and issues.

This article will discuss the steps involved in quality assurance, a general review of QA practices, and an explanation of the duties of a quality assurance manager.

## What is Quality Assurance in Software Testing?

Software quality assurance aids in the identification of potential issues and flaws in IT products, as well as verifying the compliance of all business scenarios and user needs.

The terms 'Testing,' 'Quality Assurance,' and 'Quality Control' are frequently conflated or used in the same sentence. These terms, however, describe a variety of separate processes, including:

* **Testing** refers to the process of finding bugs in an application or software.
* **QC (Quality Control)** It involves putting the testing procedure into practice through case description, search, and issue establishment;
* **QA** **(Quality Assurance)** is establishing a control system to defend against errors during the software development phase and minimize the number of flaws during the testing phase. It entails the design of the testing procedure.

We requested detailed reviews of the QA software testing procedure from the quality assurance specialists on our software development team, as well as an explanation of why QA testing services are required for all software development projects.

![Img](https://a.storyblok.com/f/86602/870x565/fb7d875793/why-do-we-need-qa-specialists.jpg)

### Why do we need QA Specialists to Conduct Quality Assurance Process?

This topic was hotly debated in IT five to six years ago. However, a firm providing software testing services will still be in need in the next years. IT testing needs to be done by experts with the necessary training.

So, **what is QA testing**? What do quality assurance specialists do?

1. They examine all connections between various settings and portions of code that aren't part of the software they created themselves;
2. They simulate the experience of a user for whom the product is being developed while conducting tests;
3. The QA engineer's work is not only to design and build software but also includes minimizing the possibility of its breakdown.

## What is Verification and Validation in Software Testing?

Verification is making sure a software program accomplishes its objective error-free. The procedure is used to check whether the generated product is acceptable. It checks to see if the created product satisfies our standards. Static testing is verification.

***Does validation entail whether we are constructing the product correctly?***

The process of validating a software product involves determining if it meets high-level criteria or, to put it another way, is up to par. It is the process of ensuring that the product we are building is genuine or the appropriate product. It serves to validate the real and anticipated product. Dynamic testing occurs throughout validation.

### Differences between Verification and Validation

![Img](https://a.storyblok.com/f/86602/870x883/1a7ab8accc/table.jpg)

#### Verification Process

**The verification** process helps to ensure that the product is designed to deliver all functionality to the customer.

* The development process is started with verification. Examining papers, plans, codes, requirements, and specifications. It involves reviews, meetings, walkthroughs, and other types of inspection.
* It answers queries like, "Am I developing the product correctly?"
* Am I correctly obtaining the data?
* It is a low-level task while creating important artifacts, such as walkthroughs, reviews, inspections, mentor feedback, training, checklists, and standards.
* A demonstration of the software's consistency, completeness, and correctness across each development life cycle phase and between each stage.

#### Verification Process Steps

**Step 1:** Planning + when we perform verification, as part of planning, to determine what we want to include in a particular version of the application

**Step 2:** Execution

**Step 3:** Reporting

<Baner name={qa} />

##### Step 1: Verification Planning

Planning for verification is done at every level of the system that is being developed. The process of creating a verification plan includes:

* **Verification Method and Level Assignments:** Describes the connections between the level of validation and the method of validation for the defined criteria. Analysis, inspection, demonstration, and testing are part of the verification process.

When we perform verification as a part of planning, we should determine what we want to include in a particular version of the application. Verification results could be inaccurate if the wrong techniques are used

##### Step 2: Verification Execution

The execution of a certain verification assignment while using supporting tools. Results of the verification task—whether they come from a test, analysis, inspection, or simulation—are reported for compliance or non-compliance with evidence to support the finding.

##### Step 3: Verification Reporting

Provides a summary of the outcomes of the performed verification plan and confirms that all areas of the application were tested with no potential threats or bugs (and any bugs were reported and will be checked again).

### Test cases to improve the Verification process

![Img](https://a.storyblok.com/f/86602/870x565/0ced993a83/test-cases-to-improve-the-verification-process.jpg)

#### What is a Test Case?

A test case is a collection of operations to confirm a specific feature or functionality of your software application. A test case is a set of test procedures, test information, preconditions, and postconditions created for a specific test scenario to validate any requirement. The test case comprises certain variables or circumstances, which a testing engineer may use to compare predicted and actual outcomes to assess whether a software product is operating as per the client's needs.

#### Best Practice for writing Test Cases

Here are some expert-recommended tips for writing Test Cases:

**1. Test Cases need to be transparent and simple**

Make your test cases as straightforward as you can. As the test case author might not carry them out, they must be clear and simple.

Use direct language, such as going to the main page, inputting your information, and clicking this. This facilitates easy comprehension of the test procedures and speeds up test execution.

**2. Create Test Case with End User in Mind**

Any software project should aim to produce test cases that are simple to use and operate while still meeting client needs. A tester must write test cases with the end user's perspective in mind.

**3. Avoid test case repetition**

Avoid rerunning test cases. Call a test case by its test case id in the preconditioned column if it is necessary for another test case to be run to complete it.

<ReadMore> Read also: [Why Do We Need QA Engineers?](https://selleo.com/blog/why-do-we-need-quality-assurance-engineers) </ReadMore>

**4. Do not Assume**

When creating your test case, don't presume the functionality and features of your software program. Be sure to follow the specification documents.

**5. Ensure 100% Coverage**

A test case should be written to verify each software requirement listed in the specification document. Use the Traceability matrix to verify that no functions or circumstances are left untested.

**6. Test Cases must be identifiable.**

The test case id should be given a name that makes it simple to recognize later when recording software requirements or faults.

**7. Implement Testing Techniques**

It's impossible to test your software program for every conceivable scenario. Software testing methods assist you in choosing a small number of test cases with the best chance of detecting a flaw.

**8. Self-cleaning**

You must not make the test environment useless with the test case you write; rather, it must restore the Test Environment to its pre-test condition. For configuration testing, this is particularly true.

**9. Repeatable** **and self-standing**

The test case should generate the same results every time no matter who tests it.

**10. Peer Review**

Request the review of your colleagues after building test cases. Your colleagues can find the flaws in your test case design that you would easily overlook.

## What is a QA Test Summary Report?

A test summary report thoroughly reviews all the significant information that was recognized and learned during the various testing phases. The software must be delivered to the appropriate stakeholders to communicate its high or bad performance. Therefore, the main goal is to improve their decision-making process while deciding whether to go live.

It allows project stakeholders to evaluate how the test plan was carried out, promoting accountability and openness.

The quality of testing efforts, information gleaned from incident reports, and the performance of the program in various situations are all included in the report.

### How to create a test summary report?

![Img](https://a.storyblok.com/f/86602/870x565/dc450b9d46/how-to-create-a-test-summary-report.jpg)

Generally speaking, depending on your testing exercises, this may vary from business to company. However, a test summary report must include a few typical components listed below.

* A concise assessment of the testing's effectiveness.
* Testing effort quality.
* Evaluation of the software's quality.
* Statistics were gathered from incident reports.
* A summary of the test's outcomes.

There should be brief mentions of the project and product. For example, the name of the project, the official or preferred product name, and the specific product's version.

#### Purpose

Include a brief description of why the report was created. For example, "The accompanying report is a summary of all the insights discovered during the various testing phases of the ABC project,"

#### Software/Product Overview

You can follow the below example as a reference.

**Objective and Testing Scope**

The stakeholders can comprehend the testing-related functions included and excluded in this section. Details on the things that aren't tested and the reasons why. The limitations, obstacles, and lessons learned at each step are also discussed.

For instance: "A verification that requires third-party connectivity was not feasible. A technical issue led to this, which will shortly be fixed.

**Magical Metrics**

The most intriguing and significant one thus far. The essential understanding of certain complicated data is made possible by the crucial metrics in a visual depiction. The greatest way to grasp something is generally via the use of visuals.

Metrics like:

* Test cases passed vs. failed
* Cases planned vs. executed
* Total defects found, their severity, and status
* Module-wise defects distribution

<Baner name={qa-landing} />

#### Types of Testing

The data about a project's extensive testing was used. This ensures that all testing is carried out per preceding plan agreements. Here are a few excellent examples.

* Smoke Testing
* Regression Testing
* System Integration Testing

a) Smoke Testing: If a build is obtained, this testing is carried out to make sure the essential features are operating as intended. Accepting the build will enable you to begin testing later.

b) Regression testing is re-running functional and non-functional tests to ensure that previously developed and tested software still performs after a change. If not, that would be called a *regression*.

c) System integration testing is conducted to determine whether the entire piece of software complies with the requirements without any issues. Additionally, several business scenarios are evaluated to ensure that the crucial operations are operating as intended.

#### Testing Environments

The details of the testing environments should be recorded here, with accurate data. Follow the below format:

* Application URL
* Server
* OS
* Device
* Database
* Tools used example: Quality Centre (HP ALM)

#### Lessons Learned

This is a simple part of learning experiences, not for stakeholders. Throughout the problem encountered, remedies are identified, and critical decisions are taken. These documented errors can be avoided in the next round of testing. Examples: The Problem - Manual testing is difficult in smoke test situations.

**Solution** – Test cases were automated, and scripts ran, saving time.

#### Recommendations and Improvements

You are welcome to make suggestions that would strengthen the software testing. For instance, more effective test management systems with useful integrations can be employed for rapid and efficient testing.

#### Test results

A detailed inventory of all functionalities checked and the defects found.

* Details about test case results also should include the links to issues of only failed and blocked test cases
* No. of bugs found
* Status of bugs (opened, resolved, and depending)
* List it by severity and priority

#### Exit Criteria

The portions that include the majority of the details are additional yes-or-no questions. It may be summed up as the testing process is finished once all predetermined conditions are satisfied. Here are a few instances:

* Planned test cases are executed – Yes
* The defects and all kinds of severity are entirely verified and closed – Yes

Again this may differ from project to project and company to company.

<ReadMore> Read also: [Best Tools For Remote Work To Try Out ](https://selleo.com/blog/best-tools-for-remote-work)</ReadMore>

#### Conclusions

* The testing team's readiness to go live is discussed in this specific session. Inform the audience if the testing didn't satisfy the exit conditions.
* It is not recommended that the application or program go online.
* The following recommendation should be made if the program satisfies the exit criterion and meets all the requirements.

We recommend the software/application go live because it complied with the exit criteria and the conditions listed in section 9.

#### Definition, Abbreviation, and Acronyms

A QA test summary report explains the intricate testing procedure and its outcomes to the stakeholders.

Sometimes the phrases used in the report may not all be known to the stakeholders. It would be preferable if you included such information in the report itself. As crucial as the testing itself is, making communication simple. Furthermore, don't fill your report with technical jargon; not every stakeholder is an engineer and won't be able to grasp them.

## Summary

A QA process and report helps to:

1. Assist in reducing the number of defects in the latter stages of development.
2. Make it easier to comprehend the product in the long run if it is verified from the outset of creation.
3. Lessen the likelihood that the product or piece of software will fail.
4. Aid in producing a product that meets the requirements and needs of the client.

Furthermore, once a QA Analyst/Specialist sees that all of the flow has been validated, he can approach the release with greater calm. Furthermore, the report's format is legible even by the OP, who is not technically savvy, which is sometimes critical.  
If you have further questions regarding the QA process or would like a QA done for your products, [Contact us now](https://selleo.com/contact)!

This article will discuss the steps involved in quality assurance, a general review of QA practices, and an explanation of the duties of a quality assurance manager.

QA Process: How To Accelerate Application Performance

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***To Err is Human!***

It is a very famous quote that means that every human makes mistakes. So, it is very much possible that while developing software or applications, developers make mistakes that might result in a defect or failure of the entire project. Depending on the severity of the mistake, the outcome can either be minor or catastrophic.

To avoid such an incident, **TESTING is essential**. Developers should conduct QA testing at every stage and phase of the development cycle.

In this article, you will learn about **Software Development Testing**, why it is important and how to conduct it. Don't skip a line. Read till the end.

## What is Manual Testing?

Manual testing is a type of software evaluation in which tests are carried out by hand by a [QA Analyst ](https://selleo.com/software-quality-assurance-services)or developer. It is used to find any potential issues in software that is still in development.

It is a traditional approach for all sorts of testing that aids in the discovery of flaws in software solutions. A skilled engineer usually carries out test cases and creates reports in this method.

## What Tools to use in Manual Testing?

![Img](https://a.storyblok.com/f/86602/720x422/803d9b4ba6/what-tools-to-use-in-manual-testing.jpg)

There are different categories of such tools. We have listed the most useful ones for your reference. Let's dive in!

### Test Case Management Tools

A test case management platform makes manual testing projects easier to **plan, measure, report, and collaborate** on. Testing generally requires a lot of paperwork, and if the appropriate tools and processes aren't in place, things can rapidly get out of hand.

#### Suggested Tools

* [TestLodge](https://www.testlodge.com/) -TestLodge is a simple and easy-to-use tool for organizing your testing papers. You can develop and manage test cases, requirements, test plans, and test suites with TestLodge. It also has reporting capabilities and connections with Jira and Trello.
* [Zephyr](https://www.getzephyr.com/) – Zephyr works with Jira to help testing teams leave spreadsheets behind and improve visibility into their test results.
* [TestLink](http://testlink.org/) – TestLink is an open-source test management solution that is free to use. It pairs requirements to test cases and allows for both manual and automated testing.

### Issue Tracking Tools

An issue tracker is another important manual testing tool for software testers. As flaws are discovered, testers must produce a thorough bug report to the design and development teams for resolution. There are many issue tracking programs on the market, and while each one is unique, they all seek to tackle the problem of making it easier to monitor issues and interact with teams on project work.

<Baner name={qa} />

#### Suggested Tools

* [Trello](https://www.atlassian.com/software/trello) – Trello is a simple project management and issue tracking application that lets testers generate and monitor issues aboard. Trello can be set up using simple rules and automation or more complicated rules and automation.
* [Jira](https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira) – Jira's flexible framework makes it one of the most popular manual issue tracking tools for software testers.
* [Clubhouse](https://clubhouse.io/) – helping modern software teams work collaboratively and ship quickly. With Clubhouse, you are able to plan, build, and measure success.
* [Teamwork](https://www.teamwork.com/) – Teamwork is a project and work management tool that can easily customize to support how teams like to work.
* [Asana](https://asana.com/) – Asana is another popular work management platform with a wide range of applications and is utilized by many of the world's largest corporations.

### Cross Browser Testing Tools

![Img](https://a.storyblok.com/f/86602/720x486/e0119b7a23/cross-browser-testing-tools.jpg)

The nature of the procedure typically necessitates manual testing when using cross-browser testing tools. Today, there are many **cross-browser testing tools** available to assist testers in saving time and effort while ensuring that their online apps work effectively across all browsers.

#### Suggested Tools

* [BrowserStack](https://www.browserstack.com/) – BrowserStack is popular manual testing software. It allows testers to instantly load their application onto on-demand browsers and devices, saving them a significant amount of time.
* [Sauce Labs](https://saucelabs.com/) – Sauce Labs is a continuous testing tool that offers simple cross-browser testing solutions.
* [Browser Shots](http://browsershots.org/) – Browser Shots is a free application that allows you to load a URL and obtain screenshots of how the site appears in different browsers.

### API Testing Tools

**API testing** ensures that the API fulfills the application's functionality, security, performance, and reliability standards. The procedure frequently entails repeating the same API requests, which might take a long time. API testing aids this process by allowing testers to save and organize commonly used API requests and scripts.

#### Suggested Tools

* [SoapUI](https://www.soapui.org/) – SoapUI makes it easier for software testers to test APIs. API load testing, API functional testing, and API performance testing are all supported by SoapUI.
* [Postman](https://www.getpostman.com/) – Postman is a great tool for testing API requests since it allows you to write and save them. These requests can be manually executed or automatically completed in a series.
* [REST Assured](http://rest-assured.io/) – Rest Assured is a java library that helps testers to validate RESTful API endpoints quickly.

### Screen Capture Tools

When manually testing software, screen capture technologies are useful because many software problems are aesthetic flaws or workflow difficulties that may be better comprehended visually. Some screen capture software allows you to mark up the image and call out particular details. The ability to quickly produce a picture or screen capture in this manner aids software testers in more precisely communicating issues.

#### Suggested Tools

* [CloudApp](https://www.getcloudapp.com/) \– CloudApp is a screen recorder, screenshot maker, and animated.gif maker in one app. It enables testers to capture and share what's happening on their screens in real-time with their development teams.
* [Like CloudApp, Loom](https://www.loom.com/) creates screen recordings and videos, allowing testers to capture what they are looking at on the screen.
* [Skitch](https://evernote.com/products/skitch) – Skitch enables testers to capture screenshots quickly and annotate them for extra context.
* [Screenpresso](https://www.screenpresso.com/) \- captures your desktop (screenshots and HD videos) for your training documents, collaborative design work, IT bug reports, and more…

<ReadMore> Read also: [How To Start Writing Gherkin Test Scenarios?](https://selleo.com/blog/how-to-start-writing-gherkin-test-scenarios) </ReadMore>

### Email Testing Tools

**Email testing** is an area that is sometimes ignored, yet it is critical to ensure that emails operate properly and look nice. Email is becoming as much of the product as the program itself due to automated mailings and sophisticated drip campaigns linked to the software. This is why these email tools are included in our manual testing tools list.

#### Suggested Tools

* [Litmus](https://litmus.com/) – Litmus is a great manual testing tool since it lets testers see how their emails look in various email clients without signing up for several accounts or downloading email programs, saving time.
* [Mailtrap](https://mailtrap.io/) – Email testers adore Mailtrap, another helpful manual testing tool. Mailtrap mimics the functionality of a genuine SMTP server, preventing test emails from accidentally landing in the mailbox of a real client.
* [Email on Acid](https://www.emailonacid.com/) – Email on Acid is a multi-featured email optimizing service that includes campaign analysis and cross-client testing for the performance of individual emails.

## Pros and Cons of Manual Testing

Like all other systems, Manual testing poses some Pros and Cons. Let’s discuss both of them in detail.

![Img](https://a.storyblok.com/f/86602/720x343/777fd838eb/pros-of-manual-testing.jpg)

### Pros of Manual Testing

* Receive immediate and accurate visual feedback.
* It is less expensive since you do not have to invest money in automation technologies and processes.
* The manual aspect always benefits from human judgment and intuition.
* An automated test would involve code, which might be time-consuming for testing a minor change.

### Cons of Manual Testing

* Because a person does it, it is a less trustworthy testing procedure. As a result, it is prone to errors and blunders at all times.
* Because the manual testing procedure cannot be recorded, the manual test cannot be reused.
* Certain activities are difficult to execute manually in this testing approach, demanding more time during the software testing process.

## What is Automated Testing?

Testers or developers create code/test scripts to automate test execution in **Automated Software Testing**. They create test scripts and validate the program using the proper automation tools. The objective is to finish test execution in as little time as possible.

Automated testing is based solely on a pre-scripted test that runs in the background and compares the actual findings to the predicted ones. This assists the engineer in determining whether an application is performing as expected.

You can use automated testing to complete **repetitive jobs and regression tests** without the help of a manual tester. Even though all procedures are automated, the first testing scripts take some manual work.

<Baner name={qa-landing} />

## What tools to use in Automated Testing?

**Test automation tools**, also known as automation testing tools, are software programs that assist users in testing a variety of desktop, online, and mobile applications. These technologies offer automated methods to make the testing process more efficient. The automated testing tools include GUI testing, performance testing, load testing, and API testing.

Below are some of the Test Automation tools:

* [Cypress](https://www.cypress.com/) \- Cypress is a front-end testing tool for the current web that is entirely based on JavaScript. Its goal is to alleviate the difficulties that [developers](https://selleo.com/custom-software-development-company) and QA engineers experience when testing an application.
* [Selenium](https://www.browserstack.com/selenium) \- Selenium is a well-known web browser automation tool. Using the Selenium WebDriver library and a language-specific framework allows QAs to automate test cases for the selected browser.
* [TestProject](https://testproject.io/) \- TestProject is a test automation platform that lets us write automated tests for web and mobile apps.
* [Ranorex](https://www.ranorex.com/) \- Ranorex is a robust test automation tool. It's a graphical user interface (GUI) test automation framework for web, desktop, and mobile apps.
* [TestArchitect](https://www.testarchitect.com/) \- TestArchitect is a fully integrated, codeless Test Automation platform that focuses on increasing test coverage and productivity.
* [LambdaTest](https://www.lambdatest.com/) \- LambdaTest is a cloud-based cross-browser testing solution that lets you test web applications across more than 2000 different browsers, operating systems, and devices. LambdaTest allows you to do both manual and automatic cross-browser testing.
* [Apache JMeter](https://jmeter.apache.org/) \- The Apache JMeterTM is a pure Java open-source program designed to load functional test behavior and evaluate performance. It was initially created by Stefano Mazzocchi of the Apache Software Foundation. JMeter is a tool for analyzing and measuring the performance of web applications and other services.
* [Cucumber](https://cucumber.io/) \- BDD (Behavior Driven Development) is a growing approach for testing and ensuring the quality of your code. Cucumber is a well-known BDD framework.
* [Protractor](https://www.protractortest.org/) \- Protractor is a NodeJS-based open-source testing platform for automation. It provides integrated end-to-end testing for AngularJS-based web apps. It works with both Angular and non-Angular apps.
* [WebdriverIO](https://webdriver.io/) \- WebdriverIO is a test automation framework that uses the Webdriver protocol and Appium automation technologies to execute tests.

## Pros and Cons of Automated Testing

Here’re the pros and cons of Automated Testing:

![Img](https://a.storyblok.com/f/86602/720x353/243ac84da2/pros-of-automated-testing.jpg)

### Pros of Automated Testing

* Automated testing helps you uncover more flaws when compared to a human tester.
* You can have a quick and efficient procedure because the majority of the testing process is automated.
* It is possible to record the automation process. This allows you to reuse and run the same testing processes over and over again.
* Unlike manual testing, automated testing is carried out utilizing software tools. Thus it does not tire or fatigue the tester.
* Because it delivers quick and precise testing results, it may readily boost productivity.
* Various applications benefit from automated testing.
* Testing improves by implying automated testing to cover more ground to find flaws.

### Cons of Automated Testing

* It's impossible to gain insight into visual components of your UI like colors, typeface, sizes, contrast, or button sizes without a human element.
* Automation testing tools may be costly, which might drive up the cost of the testing project.
* The automation testing tool isn't completely foolproof yet. Each automation technology has its own set of restrictions that limit the extent of automation.
* Another important difficulty in automated testing is debugging the test script. The expense of test maintenance is high.

<ReadMore> Read also: [How To Conduct End-To-End Testing In Endtest.io?](https://selleo.com/blog/how-to-conduct-end-to-end-testing-in-endtest-io) </ReadMore>

## How to choose the Best Testing Method?

Choosing the right technique of testing is crucial to the entire development cycle. In making the selection following factors are important to consider.

* System or Software Application Types
* Regulatory standards
* Customer's requirements
* Level and type of risk
* Test objectives
* Tester's skill and knowledge
* Time and budget
* Application development life cycle
* Previous experience in types of defects tracked

## Summary

While discussing parts of method design, I would like to point out that an unsatisfactory test might provide unwanted results or, even worse, fail to detect problems.

Testing manually and testing by automation **are not mutually exclusive**. In reality, when the size of your project and the program's complexity under test are balanced, both techniques perform well. Still, test automation is a more cost-effective, efficient, and dependable option in large-scale, long-term projects.

If you are looking for a **[Software Development Company](https://app.storyblok.com/#!/me/spaces/86602/stories/0/0/71281431?env=preview)** that can help choose the right testing method for your next project, then [contact us at Selleo](https://selleo.com/contact).

In this article, you will learn about Software Development Testing, why it is important and how to conduct it. Don't skip a line. Read till the end.

Mateusz Pękal

Blog posts that I worked on

QA Process: How To Accelerate Application Performance

Manual Vs. Automated Testing | What's The Deal?

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