A Comprehensive Guide for Manual Testing Services

Author: Arnav Goyal

Manual testing is software testers' most fundamental quality assurance (QA) technique. While automation has gained significant ground in recent years, manual testing is essential in validating software applications' usability, performance, and stability. This comprehensive guide will delve into the meaning of manual testing services, the processes involved, and their continued relevance in QA. Additionally, we will explore tools that facilitate manual testing, such as test case management tools, bug tracking tools, cross-browser testing tools, and screen capture tools.

What is the Meaning of Manual Testing Services

Manual testing services refer to manually executing test cases without using automated tools. In manual testing, a tester acts as an end user, interacting with the software to identify unexpected behavior, bugs, or issues. This form of testing is critical for examining how real users will experience the product.

Unlike automated testing, which relies on predefined scripts to verify software functionality, manual testing involves a tester's intuition and creativity. The tester performs the test operations without relying on automation scripts, allowing them to catch issues that might be missed by automated tools, especially when testing usability, user interface (UI), and user experience (UX).

Key Aspects of Manual Testing:

  • Exploratory Testing: Testers can explore the software freely, uncovering defects that automated tools might miss.

  • Intuitive Testing: Human judgment and creativity are crucial in manual testing, offering a better understanding of the user’s perspective.

  • Flexibility: Manual testing allows testers to adapt and change their test scenarios based on real-time findings.

What Process is Followed by Manual Testing Services

Manual testing services follow a well-structured process to ensure that the software functions as expected. Below is a breakdown of the typical process followed in manual testing:

1. Requirement Analysis

During the requirement analysis phase, testers review software requirements to understand what needs to be tested. Testers collaborate with developers, business analysts, and other stakeholders to comprehensively understand the application’s expected behavior.

2. Test Plan Creation

Once the requirements are precise, a test plan is formulated. This document outlines the testing process's scope, objectives, testing approach, resources, schedule, and deliverables. The test plan serves as a roadmap for the entire manual testing effort.

3. Test Case Design

In this phase, test cases are designed to cover all the software's features, functionality, and edge cases. Testers write detailed steps to execute, including each test case's expected outcomes. The goal is to cover all scenarios where the software could fail or underperform.

4. Test Environment Setup

The next step is to set up the test environment, which includes preparing the hardware, software, network, and other necessary configurations. The environment should mimic the production environment where the software will be deployed to ensure accurate results.

5. Test Execution

Once the environment is ready, testers begin executing the test cases manually. They interact with the application to verify that it behaves as expected. Any discrepancies from the expected outcome are logged as bugs or defects.

6. Defect Reporting

Testers document any defects discovered during test execution in a defect tracking tool. The defect report includes steps to reproduce, severity, and screenshots. These reports are shared with the development team for fixing.

7. Regression Testing

After defects are fixed, testers re-execute the test cases to ensure the fixes have not introduced new bugs. This is known as regression testing and is essential to maintaining software stability.

8. Test Closure

The testing process is formally closed once all the test cases are executed and defects are resolved. A test summary report is generated to document the outcomes, including the number of test cases executed, defects found, and areas for improvement.

What is the Relevancy of Manual Testing Services in QA

While automation testing is excellent for repetitive tasks and regression tests, manual testing is indispensable for ensuring the overall quality of software. Quality assurance services company ensure that it is crucial in usability, UI/UX, and exploratory testing, which require human judgment and insight.

Key reasons why manual testing remains relevant:

  1. Usability Testing: Human testers are better equipped to assess how user-friendly a software application is.

  2. Exploratory Testing: Manual testing enables testers to explore the application without the limitations of automated scripts, discovering defects that automated tools might overlook.

  3. Ad-hoc Testing: Manual testers can quickly test new features or bug fixes without updating test scripts.

  4. Cost-effective for Small Projects: Manual testing can be more cost-effective than automation for smaller projects or applications with fewer test cases.

What are the Test Case Management Tools

Test case management tools are designed to help testers create, manage, and track test cases throughout the software development lifecycle. These tools simplify test planning, execution, and reporting.

Some popular test case management tools include:

  • TestRail: A comprehensive test management tool that allows for efficient organization of test cases, tracking of results, and integration with other tools.

  • Zephyr: A widely used test management tool that integrates seamlessly with Jira for efficient bug tracking.

  • qTest: An enterprise-grade tool designed for agile teams, enabling test case creation, tracking, and reporting.

  • Bug Tracking Tools

Bug tracking tools help teams record and track software defects. They facilitate communication between testers and developers, ensuring defects are promptly addressed and resolved.

Popular bug-tracking tools include:

  • Jira: A robust project management tool with integrated bug-tracking features that is widely used in agile development environments.

  • Bugzilla: An open-source tool that allows testers to track defects and manage software development projects efficiently.

  • Mantis: A user-friendly bug-tracking tool with essential features such as email notifications and customizable workflows.

  • Cross Browser Testing Tools

Cross-browser testing tools allow testers to verify a web application's compatibility with different browsers and operating systems. Ensuring consistent performance across browsers is crucial for maintaining a positive user experience.

Some widely used cross-browser testing tools include:

  • BrowserStack: A cloud-based platform that enables testing across a wide range of browsers and devices without needing physical setups.

  • Sauce Labs: Offers a comprehensive cloud-based solution for testing web and mobile applications across different browsers and devices.

  • CrossBrowserTesting: Provides real browser testing environments to verify compatibility with manual and automated testing options.

  • Screen Capture Tools

Screen capture tools are essential for manual testers to document defects visually. These tools allow testers to capture screenshots or record screen activities, making reporting and communicating bugs easier.

Common screen capture tools include:

  • Snagit: A powerful tool for capturing screenshots and recording videos with built-in editing features.

  • Lightshot: A lightweight and easy-to-use tool for instantly capturing and sharing screenshots.

  • Greenshot: An open-source tool that allows users to capture, annotate, and share screenshots efficiently.

Where to Apply Manual Testing Services

Manual testing services are applicable in various scenarios where human insight and interaction are essential. Some key areas include:

  • Usability Testing: To ensure the software is intuitive and easy to use from the end-user’s perspective.

  • Exploratory Testing: When there is a need for ad-hoc testing to uncover unexpected issues in the software.

  • Cross-browser Testing: When validating a web application's performance consistently across different browsers.

  • Localization Testing: To verify that the application adapts to different languages and regions.

  • Accessibility Testing: Ensuring that the software meets accessibility standards and is usable by people with disabilities.

Conclusion

Manual testers can efficiently organize, document, and execute their test cases with the support of test case management tools, bug tracking tools, cross-browser testing tools, and screen capture tools. Manual testing will remain relevant as technology evolves, especially in areas that demand human intuition and expertise. By combining manual testing with automated testing, companies can ensure robust, efficient, and high-quality software delivery. Contact QASource to know more.