Manual QA testing can be an art, and it certainly doesn’t sound like the most exciting task you could be given at work. But there are many benefits to it, even if you don’t consider yourself particularly skilled in software testing or quality assurance. If manual QA tests are new to you, take some time to learn what they are and how they’re done before you start your first assignment. This article will tell you about the main processes of manual QA testing, what tools you should use, and the types of testing you can expect to do as part of your job responsibilities.
Main manual QA procedures
If you’re doing your job correctly, there is no such thing as a standard operating procedure. However, there are some common practices that are important for every tester and test team leader to know about. At a minimum, testers should be aware of these procedures in order to stay up to date with industry standards and improve their own processes accordingly.
Remember: the best way to learn is by doing. Putting these processes into practice is what will help you become an expert at manual testing, so use them as often as possible. Here are some examples of standard procedures and tools that all testers should be familiar with.
What are the main manual QA procedures?
To be able to figure out what kind of manual testing should be done for your app, you first need to know about its purpose. But before we go further into manual testing, let’s make it clear that it is not fully automated. These procedures are conducted by testers manually and with their own devices (usually called “device lab”). There are different types of software testing, like installation testing, integration testing, and functional testing, and every manual test has its own specific goals and objectives. One of these goals can be checking if an app works as it is supposed to on different supported platforms and catching any bugs before it gets to the hands of an end user.
The main tasks in the preparation phase will include:
- Getting familiar with the specs.
- Understanding the designed functionality.
- Defining the tests that will be done. Usually testing starts with functionality and then continues to the rest (UI, stress, negative, boundary, load, and others).
- Writing test cases. Your coverage should be good enough to cover the tests that you will be performing.
- Preparing your devices under test. Knowing which devices and platforms are supported is critical so you don’t have to perform extra or unnecessary tests. At the same time, make sure you cover the desired platforms and devices.
Most common manual QA tools
A robust library of testing tools is available for manual QA testing. Many of these tools, however, overlap one another in that they perform similar functions in slightly different ways. For example, both record/playback tools and test-script tools allow you to input a list of steps or commands to be executed on an application under test (AUT). This is good to know for the future, but as a basic set of manual tools you can use something as simple as Google Docs or a Word document! However, it’s much easier to use a tool specifically designed for documenting and running test cases.
A few such tools are:
- TestRail. This is a tool used to write, store, group, and run test cases. Simply put, TestRail is a test-case library that the QA tester maintains and manages. You can add as many tests as you would like and run them as many times as you desire. TestRail is software designed to keep you organized with your tests and records. It is paid software, so your company will usually get a package for the whole QA team.
- Jira, or a similar bug-tracking tool. Once you catch a bug in the software under test, you need to submit a ticket with the description and screenshots to a developer. Of course, you can just go ahead and tell him what you just saw, but that’s not the best way of doing things if you are a software tester. As a QA tester, we use a tool that is specifically designed for this purpose. It is called a “bug-tracking tool.” It could be Jira or any similar tool, but all of them will be similar in their functionality and have the same end goal. Your company may decide to use Jira because it is the most common option, or they may turn to any similar tool. For you as a tester, there is not much of a difference. As mentioned, all of the tools serve the same purpose and work in a similar way. If you know how to use one, you can easily use others.
- Rundeck. This is a tool mostly used to run different scripts in manual and automation QA. Rundeck makes it easy to deploy a new code for testing without the need to wait for DevOps to do so. Also, with this tool you can do many tasks to simulate tests. For example, you can run a script to simulate your device location or network to run necessary tests. The only thing to keep in mind is that before you can use Rundeck for your daily activities, you will need System Engineers or DevOps to set it up for you. The scripts first need to be written and then integrated into Rundeck. After this is done, you can start using it and modify the scripts any way you want.
Common problems in manual QA testing
It’s not uncommon for manual testers, especially those with little experience, to underestimate how many hours testing will take. Projects often run over budget because people think they can test a site in only one or two days! While you might be able to test a product in a couple of days, that will definitely not be enough time to retest all the fixes and bugs that you will find.
So when it comes to testing estimates, prepare yourself for a few rounds of tests, and it is always good to talk to your lead or manager if you aren’t sure. Usually your lead will have to estimate the time and amount of tests before you actually start testing. Many factors will be considered in their estimate, and it will be based not only on the amount of work but also on the desired test coverage, amount of devices under test, and release date.
You may also see problems with poor communication and misunderstanding of requirements, both on your part and that of others involved in delivering your project. On top of that, conflicts with other stakeholders, such as developers, are common as everyone works toward solutions.
To avoid these problems it’s best to make sure everyone involved is clearly communicating what their goals are. When you’re on site with clients, that means making time for daily standups or retrospectives.
The main goal for any QA team is to understand the requirements of the product and to make sure that it is delivered as designed.
How to prepare yourself before starting on manual QA tasks
Keep these three questions in mind before you get started on any manual QA tasks:
- Is it relevant?
- Can I add value?
- Can I do it well?
Any manual task you do should be answering these questions and more. Your answers will give you greater insight into your work and what’s needed from both a strategic and tactical standpoint. For example, some tasks are just too broad for manual QA to be effective. Others can be done better by other people or by automation. You may also find that certain activities no longer make sense or can be removed altogether once you start looking at things through that lens.
A well-structured test strategy can help keep you from making those mistakes by ensuring that everyone involved has clear expectations about their work and how it fits into broader goals.
Done right, manual QA tests can provide great value for your team. But not every task is worth doing on its own merits alone. To make sure your time and effort add up to a real impact on your project, approach each new manual test with purpose and care.
And if you are not sure about something, don’t be afraid to ask! Remember, it’s important to do your job right, not just fast!
