Typical QA Tester Interview Questions You Must Know

1

What do you understand about severity and priority of a defect in the context of quality assurance? Differentiate between them.

Reference answer

- Severity: The severity of a flaw is defined as the degree to which it can affect the software. The severity of a defect is a metric that indicates how serious it is and how much it affects the software's functionality. - Priority: Priority is a parameter that determines which defects should be addressed in what order. The higher-priority defects should be addressed first. The following table lists the differences between severity and priority: | Severity | Priority | |---|---| | The severity of a software defect is a measure that indicates how serious it is. | Priority is a criterion used to determine which defects should be addressed first. | | The degree of severity is proportional to the quality standard. | Priority is linked to the timetable for resolving the issue. | | The defect's severity level is determined by the testing engineer. | The defect priorities are set by the product manager. | | The severity of a fault refers to how much it affects the functionality. | Priority refers to how quickly a defect must be fixed. | | It has objective worth. | It's worth is a matter of opinion. | | Its value remains constant over time. | Its value fluctuates over time. | | Critical, Major, Moderate, Minor, and Cosmetic are the five levels of severity. | Priority is divided into three categories: low, medium, and high. |

2

What is the QA Testing Life Cycle?

Reference answer

It starts with requirement analysis and test planning. Next, the appropriate test cases are developed. The test environment is then set up and the tests are executed. Finally, the test is closed when all bugs are eliminated. While the specific steps might not be an exact match, look for the interviewee to understand the basic concepts of the life cycle and how each step is supposed to work.

3

You are testing an e-commerce cart that sometimes empties automatically. What do you check?

Reference answer

A scenario where a cart empties automatically is mainly related to browser session issues. Hence, test the following: - Session timeout rules. - Cookie expiration. - API cache issues. - Concurrent login behavior. - Device/browser switching scenarios.

4

What is test data, and why is it important?

Reference answer

Test data refers to the data used during test execution to validate software functionality. It is important because accurate test data ensures that the software behaves as expected under various scenarios, mimicking real-world use cases.

5

What does the Build Deployment mean?

Reference answer

When the Build so prepared by the CMT (Configuration Management Team), it is deployed (put) to different Test Environments, it is called the Build Deployment.

6

What is headless browser testing, and when is it used in automation?

Reference answer

It's running browser tests without a visible UI (like Chrome in headless mode) faster and resource-light. Use it in CI/CD pipelines for quick validation, regression, or when you don't need visual checks. Great for server-side logic testing

7

How do you handle conflict during bug triage meetings?

Reference answer

I stay factual and let impact guide the decision.

8

How do you handle flaky test cases?

Reference answer

- Improve element locators - Increase wait times (Explicit Waits) - Re-run failed tests automatically - Use stable test environments

9

What does ownership of quality mean in your role?

Reference answer

It means raising risks early and not limiting myself to assigned test cases.

10

How do you prioritize test cases in a time-constrained testing phase?

Reference answer

Prioritizing test cases is crucial when time is limited. I typically prioritize based on risk and criticality. High-risk and critical features or components should be tested first. I also consider functional dependencies and the impact of potential failures on end-users. Additionally, I might employ techniques like pairwise testing, which focuses on testing combinations of variables that are most likely to expose defects, optimizing test coverage within the time frame.

11

What skills should a QA engineer develop to stay relevant in an AI-driven testing landscape?

Reference answer

Example Answer: Beyond the foundational testing skills (which still matter), I'd prioritize five areas. First, prompt engineering and AI literacy: understanding how to get useful output from AI tools and how to evaluate whether that output is trustworthy. Second, risk-based thinking: as AI handles execution, the human value is in deciding what to test and what to skip based on business risk. Third, exploratory testing: the creative, domain-specific skill that AI can't replicate. Fourth, data and metrics fluency: being able to measure AI effectiveness and communicate quality outcomes to stakeholders. And fifth, governance and compliance awareness: understanding the audit and traceability requirements that come with deploying AI in enterprise environments.

12

How do you decide regression scope for a small change?

Reference answer

I analyze impacted modules, dependencies, and critical user flows.

13

When to stop testing? (Or) How do you decide when you have tested enough?

Reference answer

There are many factors involved in real-time projects to decide when to stop testing. - Requirement coverage reaches a specified point - Testing deadlines or release deadlines - When the complete testing budget is exhausted - By reaching the decided pass percentage of test cases - The risk in the project is under an acceptable limit - All the high priority bugs, blockers are fixed - When acceptance criteria is met - After the Alpha and Beta testing period ends - Depends on Management decision

14

How do you approach testing on a tight deadline when quality might suffer?

Reference answer

I've been in situations where the pressure to ship is intense, and I think the honest answer is: quality always suffers a bit under extreme pressure. But you can mitigate it by being strategic. I'd make sure we're testing the highest-risk areas thoroughly, even if lower-risk areas don't get full coverage. I'd also make it visible to the team and stakeholders: ‘We're shipping with limited testing on feature X. Here's the risk.' That way, everyone's eyes are open and the team can decide if that's acceptable. I've also found that what looks like lost time for thorough testing often saves time later because we ship fewer bugs. That's the conversation I'd have—not just accepting that we have to cut corners, but being honest about the tradeoff and looking for ways to do it smartly.

15

Explain how you distinguish a symptom vs. a cause when testing.

Reference answer

Often times within the QA process, test cases fail. But why are they failing? This can be tricky. A great QA engineer is able to provide exact reasons to the developer, rather than simply saying a test case failed.

16

What is the role of a QA engineer?

Reference answer

A QA (Quality Assurance) Engineer is responsible for ensuring the quality of a software product through various means such as testing, process improvement, and collaborating with development teams. The role involves much more than just executing test cases; it's about understanding the product, customer needs, and making sure the processes are in place to prevent issues in the first place. Key responsibilities of a QA engineer include: - Test Planning: Creating comprehensive test plans that outline the scope, approach, resources, schedule, and activities for testing. - Test Case Design: Writing detailed and structured test cases based on requirements and use cases. These test cases should cover functional and non-functional aspects of the application. - Manual and Automated Testing: Conducting both manual and automated testing. QA engineers often write scripts for automated tests using tools like Selenium, Appium, or JUnit to improve testing efficiency. - Collaboration: Working closely with developers, product managers, and business analysts to understand requirements and identify potential risks or areas for improvement in the product. QA engineers ensure that the software meets both functional and non-functional requirements. - Defect Reporting and Tracking: Identifying, reporting, and tracking defects through defect management tools. QA engineers are responsible for ensuring that the development team resolves defects in a timely manner. - Process Improvement: Analyzing testing processes, suggesting improvements, and working on optimizing workflows to ensure the overall quality of the software and efficiency of the team. - Test Execution: Running test cases, logging defects, and ensuring that the product works as expected under various conditions. QA engineers also perform sanity, smoke, and regression testing based on new code changes. - Automation: Many QA engineers are also involved in automation, developing automated tests for repetitive tasks, which increases efficiency and reduces human error. - Continuous Integration and Continuous Testing: Integrating automated tests with CI/CD pipelines, ensuring that every change is verified through automated tests, and enabling fast feedback to the development team. The ultimate goal of a QA engineer is to ensure that the product is of the highest quality possible, that it works as expected, and that end-users will have a seamless and bug-free experience.

17

Describe a situation where you had to make a difficult decision in managing a testing team, and how you handled it.

Reference answer

This is a situational question with no single correct answer. Use the STAR method to structure your response:

18

State difference between verification and validation in software testing.

Reference answer

Validation: It is defined as a process that involves dynamic testing of software products by running it. This process validates whether we are building the right software that meets that customer requirement or not. It involves various activities like system testing, integration testing, user acceptance testing, and unit testing. Verification: It is defined as a process that involves analyzing the documents. This process verifies whether the software conforms to specifications or not. Its ultimate goal is to ensure the quality of software products, design, architecture, etc. Verification Vs Validation: | Verification | Validation | |---|---| | It checks whether the software meets the specification or not. | It checks whether the specification captures the customer's needs or not. | | It is a type of static testing. | It is a type of dynamic testing. | | There is no requirement of executing the code. | There is a requirement for executing the code. | | This process is performed by the QA team to make sure that the software is built as per the specifications in the SRS document. | This process is performed with the involvement of the testing team. | | Reviews, walkthroughs, inspections, and desk-checking are some methods that can be used in verification. | Black box testing, white box testing, and non-functional testing are some methods that can be used during validation. | | It identifies the bugs or errors early in the development process. | It can identify the bugs or errors that the verification process cannot catch. | | It is performed before the validation process. | It is performed after the verification process. |

19

What do you mean by gorilla testing in the context of quality assurance?

Reference answer

Gorilla Testing: Gorilla testing is a method of software testing in which a module is frequently tested based on some random inputs, ensuring that the module's operations are checked and that there are no problems in the module. So it's also known as Torture Testing, Fault Tolerance Testing, or Frustrating Testing because of the Gorilla Testing pattern. It's a manual test that is done over and over again. In Gorilla Testing, testers and developers work together to regularly evaluate a module's functionality.

20

A bug reappears in production, though it was marked fixed earlier. Why?

Reference answer

The possible reasons a bug might reappear in production even after it is fixed are: - The bug was initially tested in the wrong environment. - Regression was incomplete. - The bug was fixed only partially. - The most important reason is that when the bug was tested, some scenarios were missing. - Another reason is that the bug is data-dependent. Also mention how you'd prevent recurrence using root cause analysis and regression automation.

21

You are tasked with testing the login functionality of a web application. What are the critical test scenarios you would cover?

Reference answer

To test the login functionality comprehensively, I would consider the following scenarios: - Positive Test Scenarios: Provide valid data for testing this scenario, such as logging in with a valid username and password, logging in after password recovery, and logging in with different browsers and devices. - Negative Test Scenarios: Try to log in with an incorrect password, use an invalid email format in the username field, or try logging in without filling any fields (empty fields). - Boundary and Edge Cases: Test this scenario by entering minimum and maximum allowable characters in the password field or logging in with special characters in the username or password fields. - Security Scenarios: Check the security aspect of the login page by checking for SQL injection vulnerabilities, verifying that passwords are encrypted during submission, and testing multi-factor authentication if present.

22

What is Defect Cascading in Software Testing?

Reference answer

Defect cascading in Software testing means triggering of other defects in an application. When a defect is not identified or goes unnoticed while testing, it invokes other defects. It leads to multiple defects in the later stages and results in an increase in a number of defects in the application. For example, if there is a defect in an accounting system related to negative taxation then the negative taxation defect affects the ledger which in turn affects other reports such as Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss etc.

23

How do you prioritize what to test when you don't have time to test everything?

Reference answer

I think about risk and impact. I'd focus first on high-risk areas—payment processing, authentication, anything that could cause data loss or security issues. Then I'd consider what's been recently changed, since new code has more bugs. I'd also test the critical user journeys—the core flows that users hit every day. If I'm really time-crunched, I'd at least run smoke tests on the full product to make sure nothing is completely broken, then dive deeper into the risky areas. I'd communicate with my team about what I'm testing and not testing, so developers and PMs know the coverage. I've learned it's better to thoroughly test 60% and communicate what's untested than to do a shallow pass on 100%. The team can then make an informed decision about release risk.

24

How does automation fit into a CI/CD pipeline?

Reference answer

In CI/CD, automation runs tests automatically on every code commit or build. For example, unit tests in CI, then integration/regression in CD stages. It speeds things up, provides instant feedback, and ensures only good code deploys. Tools like Jenkins or GitHub Actions handle this.

25

What is Inspection?

Reference answer

Inspection is a formal meeting lead by a trained moderator, certainly not by the author. The document under inspection is prepared and checked thoroughly by the reviewers before the meeting. In the inspection meeting, the defects found are logged and shared with the author for appropriate actions. Post inspection, a formal follow-up process is used to ensure a timely and corrective action.

26

Can you talk about why testing is important? What are the benefits of testing?

Reference answer

Things like providing confidence in delivery for the Dev team, ensuring product quality, decreasing the loop time between development and feedback, or improving against other business-level KPIs are all good things to hear in a response.

27

What is meant by browser automation?

Reference answer

Browser automation is the process of testing a web application's functionality in a browser automatically, using a script. The script launches the browser, navigates to the site, and then interacts with it like an normal end user would. This involves clicking buttons or links. Browser automation with automation tools like Selenium, Katalon, Cypress, etc., is significantly quicker than testing it manually because these tools can test many scenarios in a very short amount of time.

28

Can you define the terms 'quality assurance' and 'SRS document' in the context of software testing?

Reference answer

'Quality assurance' is a process testers complete to ensure software meets an SRS document's specifications. SRS documents are 'software requirement specification' files that describe the functionality the software should have. The best answers will acknowledge that software quality assurance involves identifying errors, bugs, and gaps that conflict with the specifications in the SRS document.

29

Can you explain the role of risk-based testing in QA?

Reference answer

Risk-based testing focuses on identifying and prioritizing the areas of software most likely to fail or have the greatest impact if they do. This helps optimize testing resources by concentrating on high-risk features first.

30

What is boundary value analysis (BVA) in testing?

Reference answer

BVA is a technique where you test the edges or boundaries of input ranges because that's where bugs often hide. For example, if a field accepts ages 18–65, you'd test 17, 18, 65, and 66 to check for off-by-one errors or invalid handling. It's super useful for catching issues in data validation without testing every possible value.

31

What do you mean by confirmation testing in software testing?

Reference answer

A confirmation test involves retesting a software product to see if the previously reported bugs have been fixed. A bug is usually reported by testers when a test fails. A new version of the software is released after the development team fixes the defect. Now that the new software build has been released, the testing team will retest it in order to ensure that the reported bug was actually fixed. It is also referred to as retesting.

32

What do you understand about bug/ defect triage in the context of quality assurance?

Reference answer

Defect triage is a method of prioritising bugs based on their severity, frequency, risk, and other factors. The term "triage" is used in software testing and quality assurance to describe the severity and importance of new faults. Bug triage's purpose is to review, prioritise, and assign defect solutions. The team must confirm the severity of the fault, make necessary changes, conclude defect resolution, and assign resources. This method is primarily utilised in agile project management. The frequency of the Defect Triage Meeting isn't set in stone. It is dependent on the circumstances of the project. The following are some key elements that influence the frequency of Defect Triage Meetings: - According to the project's schedule. - The number of flaws in the system. - The impact on the availability of team members' schedules. - The state of the project as a whole.

33

What is the difference between Quality Assurance and Quality Control?

Reference answer

QA focuses on improving the processes to prevent defects in the final product, while QC involves identifying defects in the product after it's built. QA is proactive, and QC is reactive.

34

What do you understand by software quality assurance?

Reference answer

Software quality assurance or QA, is all about making sure a software product meets the required standards and works as intended throughout its development. It's not just finding bugs; it's preventing them by checking processes, requirements, and code early on. As an intern, you'd help with things like reviewing specs, running tests, and reporting issues. For example, in a team building an app, QA might catch usability problems before launch to save time and money.

35

What is usability testing?

Reference answer

Usability testing evaluates how user-friendly and intuitive the software application is. The goal is to ensure that end-users can interact with the system easily and efficiently. This type of testing focuses on the user experience (UX) and helps identify design flaws, confusing interfaces, or navigation issues. Key aspects of usability testing: - End-user Feedback: Testers observe real users interacting with the system to gather insights into how easy it is to navigate, understand, and use the software. - Task Performance: The testing often involves giving users specific tasks to complete and measuring how effectively and quickly they can complete them. - Identifying Pain Points: Usability testing helps uncover areas where users may struggle, such as confusing buttons, unclear instructions, or inefficient workflows. Usability testing helps improve the product's design and functionality to ensure it meets user needs and provides a positive experience.

36

What are some common open-ended QA interview questions?

Reference answer

Examples of common open-ended interview questions are: What tools do you use for testing? What is the difference between verification and validation? Describe a project you are proud of.

37

What is boundary value analysis?

Reference answer

Boundary value analysis is a black-box technique used in Software Testing. It involves testing between the two extreme ends or boundaries of partitions, since values closer to the boundary have a higher probability of returning errors.

38

How would you test a REST API endpoint?

Reference answer

I'd validate required parameters, missing fields, invalid data types, and unexpected inputs. I'd verify correct HTTP methods and proper status codes like 200, 400, 401, 404, and 500. Authentication testing includes valid, invalid, and expired tokens with role-based access checks. I'd test pagination, large payloads, concurrent requests, and idempotency of PUT/DELETE. Tools like Postman, curl, or REST Assured can be integrated into CI/CD for automation.

39

What is STLC?

Reference answer

STLC focuses only on testing activities within the SDLC.

40

What is a defect severity and priority, and how are they different?

Reference answer

Defect severity refers to the impact of a defect on the system (e.g., critical, major, minor), while defect priority refers to the urgency with which a defect needs to be fixed. A defect can be high severity but low priority, or vice versa.

41

How do you prioritize tasks within a software development project?

Reference answer

The candidate should explain prioritization based on factors like impact on users, severity of defects, project deadlines, dependencies, and risk assessment, often using techniques like MoSCoW or risk-based testing.

42

Can you explain the differences between stress testing, load testing, and volume testing?

Reference answer

Refer to several authoritative QA sources to confirm that you have up-to-date definitions of these terms. Prepare to define these terms clearly, discuss the scenarios necessitating each one, and describe your experience with them.

43

What is Usability Testing?

Reference answer

Usability Testing evaluates how user-friendly an application is.

44

What is your approach to identifying and reporting defects?

Reference answer

Identifying and reporting defects involves:Systematic Testing: Execute test cases systematically and observe actual vs. expected results. Detailed Logging: Use logs and monitoring tools to capture error details. Defect Documentation: Document defects in a bug tracking tool with detailed information including steps to reproduce, environment details, severity, and screenshots. Prioritization: Assign severity and priority levels to defects based on their impact on the system. Communication: Communicate defects to the development team for resolution and track the status of the defect until closure.

45

What are the seven principles of Software Testing?

Reference answer

There are seven different principles of Software Testing, which include: - Testing has the purpose of showing the presence of defects, not the absence of defects. - Exhaustive testing is not feasible, and will waste time and money with very little impact on product quality. - Early testing is key to saving time and money, so should be conducted in the early stages of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). - Defects will cluster together, therefore, will be found in a small number of modules, which can help focus your testing efforts. - The pesticide paradox refers to using the same tests on the same module until it is immune, showing that it is not useful to re-run tests repeatedly as this will not find new bugs. - Testing is all about context and there is no one size fits all approach. - Watch out for the absence-of-errors fallacy. No defects does not mean the software is successful, especially if it does not solve the end-user problems. Software must be bug-free almost all the time, but must meet user requirements at all times.

46

What is Risk-Based Testing?

Reference answer

In Risk-Based Testing, we use the risk items identified during risk analysis, along with the level of risk associated with each risk item to guide the testing. It is a type of software testing technique that is primarily based on the probability of the risk. Risk-based testing involves the following steps: - Accessing the risk based on software quality. - Frequency of use. - Criticality of Business. - Possible areas with defects, etc. Read More - Risk-Based Testing It uses risks to prioritize the appropriate tests during test execution. It starts early in the software project, identifying the risks to system quality and using the knowledge of risks identified to guide testing planning, specification, preparation, and execution.

47

What is a Use Case?

Reference answer

A use case describes the interaction between a user and the system to achieve a specific goal. It ensures that user actions and system responses align with each other to fulfill functional requirements.

48

What is the role of a QA in Agile testing?

Reference answer

In Agile testing, QA (Quality Assurance) plays a critical role in ensuring that the software meets quality standards while being developed iteratively and incrementally. - Test Planning: QA collaborates with product owners and developers to define the acceptance criteria for each user story or feature. They help define what "done" means for each feature. - Test Execution: QA engineers test user stories or features within the sprint. They perform unit testing, integration testing, functional testing, and regression testing to ensure that the code works as expected. - Collaboration with Developers: QA teams work closely with developers from the start to identify potential issues, testability, and risks. This collaboration ensures that testing is integrated early into the development process. - Automation: In Agile, QA teams focus on automating repetitive test cases (e.g., regression tests) to provide fast feedback. This helps ensure that changes do not break existing functionality. - Continuous Integration: QA ensures that the code is continuously tested as it is integrated into the main codebase, often using automated tests and CI/CD pipelines. - Acceptance Testing: QA verifies that the user stories meet the acceptance criteria and are functioning as intended. This is often done through Acceptance Test-Driven Development (ATDD) or Behavior-Driven Development (BDD). - Test Data Management: QA manages test data, ensuring that the right data is used for various testing scenarios, including boundary conditions, edge cases, and invalid data. - Bug Reporting and Verification: QA is responsible for reporting any bugs found during testing and verifying that the bugs are resolved before the sprint ends. QA in Agile is a collaborative, cross-functional role that ensures software quality is maintained throughout the development lifecycle.

49

How much time is enough time to test for a release?

Reference answer

Of course, any tester wants as much time as possible. But the luxury of time exists only in a perfect world, and you don't see this world populated only by Hemsworth Brothers, do you? Still, it's an opportunity to set and learn expectations about how much time they are used to, and what time or process they prefer. Ask your interviewees to speak to their experiences about getting a job done under pressure—and to explain the other steps they would have included if the team was given a few more days. If they resist the urge to sigh dramatically, so much the better.

50

How is API automation different from UI automation?

Reference answer

API tests are faster, more stable, and catch issues earlier in the pipeline.

51

What is Continuous Deployment (CD)?

Reference answer

CD automates the release process, ensuring new changes are deployed to production seamlessly.

52

What is the Difference Between Quality Assurance, Quality Control, and Testing?

Reference answer

- Quality Assurance (QA): Involves planning and systematic activities to ensure quality in the process of software development. - Quality Control (QC): Focuses on identifying defects in the finished product and recommending improvements. - Testing: Is the process of executing software to find bugs and ensure it meets requirements.

53

What do you understand about data driven testing?

Reference answer

Data-Driven Testing is a software testing technique that stores test data in a table or spreadsheet format. Testers can use data-driven testing to enter a single test script that can run tests for all test data from a table and expect the test results to be returned in the same table. It's also known as parameterized testing or table-driven testing. Because testers usually have several data sets for a single test, Data-Driven Testing is critical. Creating different tests for each data set can be time-consuming. Data-driven testing allows data to be kept separate from test scripts, and the same test scripts can be run for multiple combinations of input test data, resulting in more efficient test results. The above image depicts the process of data-driven testing. Test data is taken from a data file and tested on the application and then the produced output is compared with the actual output.

54

What is Quality Assurance (QA)?

Reference answer

Quality Assurance (QA) is a broad and proactive approach within software development that focuses on ensuring the quality of the product by refining the processes used during its development. Rather than just testing the product for defects, QA is concerned with preventing defects by improving and defining the workflows, standards, and methods followed during development. In a QA process, teams use various strategies such as process audits, root cause analysis, process reviews, and continuous feedback loops to ensure that the software development process is efficient, repeatable, and capable of delivering high-quality outcomes. The goal of QA is to establish a systematic approach to improving both the development process and the final product, ensuring that best practices, compliance, and quality standards are maintained from the initial planning phase through production. By focusing on prevention rather than just detection, QA ensures that the development process is robust, defects are minimized, and customer expectations are met. Common techniques in QA include creating detailed guidelines and frameworks, establishing proper training programs, reviewing development processes, and conducting regular audits and assessments.

55

What is Unit Testing?

Reference answer

Unit Testing is also called Module Testing or Component Testing. It is done to check whether the individual unit or module of the source code is working properly. It is done by the developers in the developer's environment.

56

What is Test Bed?

Reference answer

Test Bed is a platform for conducting rigorous, transparent, and replicable testing that consists of specific hardware, software, operating system, network configuration, software configuration, etc.

57

What tools can you mention when asked about QA testing tools?

Reference answer

All kinds of tests come into play when considering software quality assurance jobs. You could name test management tools, smoke testing tools, or even a simple program that helps you and your QA team stay organized. While there are some obvious answers to this question, you can tailor it to the company, too. For instance, if you'll mainly be working with web services or web APIs, you might mention Selenium testing tools. Another instance may require SQL or Android related tools. It all revolves around the company's products and services.

58

Can you explain what 'sanity testing' is?

Reference answer

Sanity testing is a type of software testing performed after receiving a software build, with minor changes in code, or functionality, to ascertain that the bugs have been fixed and no further issues are introduced due to these changes. The goal is to determine that the proposed functionality works roughly as expected.

59

What is Dynamic Testing?

Reference answer

Dynamic testing is a software testing technique where the dynamic behavior of the code is checked. The purpose of this type of testing is to check and analyze the software behavior with dynamic variables and find the weak areas in the software runtime environment. - In this type of testing, the software must be compiled and run. - Giving the input values and checking if the output is as expected by executing specific test cases. Read More - Dynamic Testing

60

What is Smoke Testing?

Reference answer

Smoke Testing is a preliminary test to check whether the software's basic functionalities work before further testing.

61

Developer says, 'This bug won't happen in real use.' What do you do?

Reference answer

Share evidence, user scenarios, and let impact guide the decision.

62

How do you start quality assurance on a project?

Reference answer

Before starting the quality assurance (QA) of any project, we need to understand the project requirements and objectives. Firstly, we need to gather all available documentation, such as requirement specifications, design documents, and user stories, which lets us understand the system's intended functionality. We need to set clear and measurable QA goals, which is crucial. Also, we need to ensure these goals match the project objectives and stakeholder expectations. Next, we should develop a QA plan that outlines the scope, strategy, resources, schedule, and deliverables for the QA activities. We should also select the right tools and technologies for test management, automated testing, and bug tracking, which are essential to streamlining the QA process. We should build a skilled QA team with a mix of expertise and assigning roles and responsibilities to ensure that all aspects of quality assurance are covered. We should create comprehensive test plans and test cases based on the gathered requirements to ensure all functionalities are verified. We need to be in touch with developers and all stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle to promote transparency and address any issues promptly. Regular updates and feedback loops ensure everyone is on the same page and any potential roadblocks are identified and resolved swiftly. Early engagement in QA activities, such as participating in requirement reviews and design discussions, can also help identify potential issues before they become more significant problems later. By following these steps thoroughly, QA can effectively start the quality assurance process and contribute to delivering a high-quality and reliable product.

63

What process is followed in your project and when do you get involved in the process? What are your roles and responsibilities?

Reference answer

Answers vary, but should describe the SDLC (e.g., Agile, Scrum), when testing starts (e.g., requirements phase), and specific QA responsibilities.

64

How do you ensure the integrity of test data in your testing process?

Reference answer

Use Data Masking: - Anonymize sensitive data to comply with security standards. - Leverage Data Generation Tools: - Use tools like Mockaroo or SQL scripts to create diverse datasets. - Maintain Version Control: - Keep test data synchronized with application versions. - Isolate Test Environments: - Use separate environments for development, testing, and production to prevent data conflicts.

65

How should you answer a hypothetical question about identifying signs of a failing test plan?

Reference answer

Don't be shy when answering a question like this; there are clear signs when testing plans and individual tests go awry. The best option here is to pick a specific example from your career and transition from describing generic signs to what specifically piqued your QA sensibilities in that situation.

66

How do you define 'user acceptance testing'?

Reference answer

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is the last phase of testing, performed by the end-users to ensure that the software meets their expectations and works as designed. It validates that the system is ready for production and is configured to the user's requirements.

67

What is Test Harness?

Reference answer

Test Harness is a collection of stubs, drivers, and other supporting tools that are required to automate test execution. It allows for the automation of tests. - It contains all the information that is required to compile and run a test. For example, test cases, stubs, drivers, Source files under tests, etc. - It helps to enhance the quality of the software components and applications. - It helps developers to measure code coverage at a code level. Read More - Test Harness.

68

What is User Acceptance Testing (UAT)?

Reference answer

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is the final stage of testing, where real users test the software to ensure it meets their needs and works as expected in a production-like environment. UAT focuses on validating business requirements.

69

What is Early Testing?

Reference answer

Defects detected in early phases of SDLC are less expensive to fix. So conducting early testing reduces the cost of fixing defects.

70

How do you do test estimations?

Reference answer

Accurately estimating testing efforts is key for good project planning and smart resource allocation. Here are some steps to consider when performing test estimations: - Requirement Analysis: Understand and analyse the project requirements thoroughly. This helps in identifying the scope and complexity of the testing tasks. - Identify Testing Activities: Break down the testing process into smaller tasks such as test planning, test case design, test execution, defect logging, and reporting. - Use Historical Data: Refer to historical data from similar past projects, using them as a reference point for your estimations. - Task Breakdown: Detail each testing activity and assign effort estimates to each. This provides a granular view and helps in identifying potential roadblocks. - Include Time Buffers: Factor in time buffers for unexpected delays, such as resource unavailability or complex bug fixes. - Expert Judgment: Consult with experienced team members and stakeholders to refine the estimates and ensure they are realistic. - Review and Revise: Regularly review the estimations throughout the project lifecycle and make necessary adjustments based on the progress and any changes to the project scope. Combining these methodologies facilitates a thorough and precise approach to test estimation, ensuring that the project remains on schedule and within budget.

71

Why is software testing important?

Reference answer

Some of the reasons why software testing is important are: - Increase Quality: The quality of the software can be determined by the number of defects identified during the testing process. Those defects can be fixed with the software development life cycle. Testing ensures a quality product is delivered to the customer. - Reduce Risks: Defects discovered during the testing process should either be fixed or removed from the final product to ensure the seamless execution of the software during the live operation. Continuous testing is important to mitigate the risks. - Security: If a specific product has undergone thorough and continuous testing then the user can be ensured that a reliable product will be delivered to them. The personal credentials of the user can be considered to be safe. - Satisfaction of the Customer: System stability is what a customer wants. Continuous testing throughout the software development process ensures that stable software has been developed, therefore increasing the confidence in the customer once the software is released into the live environment. - Cost-Effective: The cost-effectiveness of the software is one of the top reasons why software testing is such an important activity in the software development process. Testing early helps the project managers to have better control of the budget of software. Discovering defects and fixing them in the earlier stages not only enables the system to be better but also reduces unexpected costs. - Enhancing the Development Process: The testing team should work in parallel with the development team, which is useful for the acceleration of the development process. - Determine Performance of the Software: Software testing is the easiest way to determine the performance of the software. If the software has low performance, then it will bring down the reputation of the company. Thus, conducting continuous testing will help to uncover errors in the software and thus increase the performance of the software.

72

What is a Test Plan?

Reference answer

A test plan is a formal document outlining the test strategy, objectives, schedule, resources, and scope of testing. It defines what will be tested, who will perform the testing, and how testing will be carried out.

73

How do you approach data migration in Dynamics 365?

Reference answer

Data migration involves extracting data from the legacy system, transforming it to meet Dynamics 365's format, and loading it using tools like Data Management Framework, Data Entities, and Power Query. Key steps include mapping, cleansing, and testing the migrated data to ensure accuracy.

74

Can you describe your experience with automated testing tools?

Reference answer

The candidate should discuss specific tools they have used, such as Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, or others, and explain how they applied them to automate test cases and improve testing efficiency.

75

What are the Key Components of a Test Report?

Reference answer

A test report should include: - Summary of testing activities - Test cases executed and their results - Defects identified - Recommendations for further action - Test coverage and risks identified

76

What do you think is an ideal progression of testing techniques?

Reference answer

A good answer is a plan that starts with unit testing and concludes with acceptance testing. Depending on the interviewee, intermediate steps would include concrete testing techniques such as system testing and integration testing. A thorough knowledge of different testing techniques and their nuances is a salient quality for an ideal candidate.

77

What criteria do you use to decide when you should automate a test?

Reference answer

I would consider automating a test if it's repetitive, requires multiple data sets, is very prone to human error, or if it's a high-risk area of the application. However, exploratory, usability, or ad-hoc tests might not be suitable for automation, as they rely on human observation and intuition.

78

What is test coverage?

Reference answer

Test coverage helps in measuring the amount of testing performed by a set of tests. Test coverage can be done on both functional and non-functional activities. It assists testers to create tests that cover areas which are missing.

79

What mistake in testing taught you the most?

Reference answer

Answers vary, but should highlight a learning experience, such as missing a critical bug, and how it changed their approach.

80

How would you evaluate whether an AI testing tool is right for your team?

Reference answer

Example Answer: I'd start with the problem, not the tool. What's our biggest bottleneck? If it's test maintenance, I'd look at self-healing capabilities. If it's test creation speed, I'd look at AI-powered test generation from requirements. If it's failure triage, I'd look at root cause analysis features. Then I'd evaluate on three axes: does it integrate with our existing CI/CD pipeline, does it give us enough visibility and control to trust the output, and does it actually reduce the workload or just shift it somewhere else? I'd want to run a pilot on a bounded area (one application, one testing layer) and measure the actual time saved before committing.

81

Can you describe the key phases of software testing, including unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing?

Reference answer

Unit testing focuses on individual code components, while integration testing verifies interactions between components. System testing tests the entire system, and acceptance testing ensures it meets user requirements.

82

How do you handle release pressure when quality is at risk?

Reference answer

I communicate risks clearly and recommend informed decisions.

83

What is load testing, and how is it different from stress testing?

Reference answer

Load testing measures the system's performance under expected user loads to ensure it can handle peak usage. Stress testing pushes the system beyond its normal capacity to test its stability and identify its breaking point.

84

What is STLC and What are the different phases of STLC?

Reference answer

STLC is an important process that provides a simple approach to testing through the step-by-step process to verify whether the Software Quality meets to the expectations or not. There are the six major phases of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) in which we are discussing here in detail: 1. Requirements Analysis: In this phase, the testing team studies the requirements to identify the testable requirements. The requirements can be functional or non-functional. 2. Test Planning: The senior QA manager decides test plan strategy along with cost estimates and efforts for the project. In this phase, the test environment, test schedule, and test limitations are also determined. 3. Test Case Development: This phase involves the creation, verification, and rework of test cases after the test plan is ready. 4. Test Environment Setup: In this phase, the hardware and software conditions under which a work product is tested are determined. This phase includes the following activities to understand the environment setup and determine the hardware and software requirements for the test environment. 5. Test Execution: In this phase, the testers carry out the testing of the software build based on the prepared test plans and test cases. The bugs reported here are reverted to the development team for correction and retesting will be carried out. 6. Test Closure: This is the last phase of test execution which involves several activities like test completion reporting, and collection of test results. Read More – Software Testing Life Cycle.

85

How do you identify and prioritize test cases for regression testing?

Reference answer

I identify critical and frequently used features, along with areas prone to defects. These are prioritized for regression testing to ensure that core functionality remains intact.

86

How well do you work under pressure and with deadlines?

Reference answer

Testing usually comes at the end of the SDLC and testing can be viewed as a bottleneck, so being able to perform under tight deadlines and pressure is important.

87

What should be included in a test report?

Reference answer

A test report is a document that summarises testing objectives, activities and results. The main goal of creating a test report is to help Product Managers and Developers make a decision about whether a product is ready to release.

88

What scenarios do you consider to be ideal for using AI?

Reference answer

AI is ideal for tasks like test case generation, visual testing, anomaly detection in logs, and predictive analysis of defect-prone areas.

89

How would you test a feature with incomplete requirements?

Reference answer

Facing incomplete requirements is quite common. To tackle that, my approach would be to clarify as much as possible by discussing with product managers, developers, stakeholders, or any other relevant person involved with the project to fill obvious gaps. Simultaneously, testing cannot always wait, so the approach would be to rely on assumptions based on similar features. These assumptions should be clearly documented to avoid confusion later.

90

What is your experience with test management tools? Which ones have you used?

Reference answer

Test management tools are used to manage, plan, and execute test cases efficiently, track defects, and report on testing progress. Here are some popular test management tools and my experience with them: - JIRA (with Zephyr or XRay integration): - Experience: JIRA is widely used for managing Agile projects, and with plugins like Zephyr or XRay, it serves as an excellent tool for test case management. It allows seamless integration with Jira issues (stories, tasks, bugs), enabling traceability between test cases and requirements. - Key Features: Test creation, execution, defect tracking, reporting, and integration with CI/CD pipelines. - TestRail: - Experience: TestRail is a comprehensive test case management tool that is user-friendly and allows for effective planning, execution, and reporting. It integrates with JIRA, enabling easy tracking of test cases and defects. - Key Features: Test case management, test run execution, metrics and reports, integration with other tools like Jenkins. - Quality Center (ALM): - Experience: HP Quality Center (now known as Micro Focus ALM) is a more traditional test management tool used in large enterprises. It offers test case management, test execution tracking, defect management, and reporting. - Key Features: Test case management, defect tracking, test execution, requirements management, reporting. - PractiTest: - Experience: PractiTest is a modern test management tool with an intuitive UI. It allows users to track test execution and defects, and it integrates well with CI/CD tools and other defect management systems like JIRA. - Key Features: Test case management, traceability, reporting, integration with automation tools. - TestLink: - Experience: TestLink is an open-source test management tool that I've used for managing test cases, creating test plans, and executing tests. While it lacks some of the more advanced features of commercial tools, it is useful for small to medium-sized teams. - Key Features: Test case creation, test execution, test reporting, integration with Jenkins and other CI tools. Test management tools help ensure test coverage, streamline test execution, and provide valuable metrics for project stakeholders.

91

How would you test an OTP verification feature?

Reference answer

I'd test valid OTP, expired OTP, wrong OTP, resend OTP, and leading zeros. I'd verify expiry timing boundary like exact 5-minute limit. Security checks include rate limiting after multiple wrong attempts and preventing OTP reuse. I'd test multiple rapid OTP requests ensuring only the latest one works. I'd also verify OTP is not exposed in logs or API responses.

92

What is the workbench concept in Software Testing?

Reference answer

Workbench is a practice of documenting how a specific activity must be performed. It is often referred to as phases, steps, and tasks. In every workbench there will be five tasks such as Input, Execute, Check, Production Output, and Rework.

93

What are some best practices for a QA engineer's resume?

Reference answer

Following the KISS method (Keep It Short and Simple) is a great general rule when writing resumes of any kind. Too often, interviewers receive resumes of three pages for lower level positions. While two page resumes are okay for senior level positions, three or more can diminish your chances of getting the QA job you want. Some essential QA Job Resume best practices are: Try not to have too many gaps or bounce from one employer to another. These both stand out as warning signs to interviewers. It's recommended that you tailor your resume to every job you apply for to maximize your opportunity at getting an interview.

94

Have you written Test Plan? What is a Test Plan? What does it include?

Reference answer

Yes. What is a Test Plan? A Test Plan is a document that describes the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of intended testing activities. It identifies test items, the features to be tested, the testing tasks and who will do each task (roles and responsibilities) and any risks and its solutions. What does it include? A Test Plan includes Heading, Revision History, Table of Contents, Introduction, Scope, Approach, Overview, different types of testing that will be carried out, what software and hardware will be required, issues, risks, assumptions and sign off section.

95

List out Test Deliverables?

Reference answer

- Test Strategy - Test Plan - Effort Estimation Report - Test Scenarios - Test Cases/Scripts - Test Data - Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM) - Defect Report/Bug Report - Test Execution Report - Graphs and Metrics - Test summary report - Test incident report - Test closure report - Release Note - Installation/configuration guide - User guide - Test status report - Weekly status report (Project manager to client)

96

What are the differences between regression testing and retesting?

Reference answer

Regression testing ensures that new code changes haven't introduced issues in previously functioning parts of the software. It involves testing the entire system after updates. Retesting, on the other hand, focuses on verifying that specific bugs or issues have been fixed.

97

What is the regression testing process?

Reference answer

The regression testing process refers to a validation technique related to code updates. Testers use this method to see if code updates have impacted the software's functions or features. This process is ideal for approved test cases and ensures that developers have fixed any flaws in the code. Testers can use automation to facilitate regression testing, which helps them accurately check specific application parts and avoid completing repetitive tasks.

98

How do you ensure that the testing team is aligned with the development team and the product roadmap?

Reference answer

- Regular communication between testing and development teams - Collaborative refinement of user stories - Alignment on standardized testing methodologies - Integrating testing activities into the development workflow - Adjusting testing priorities based on roadmap or development changes

99

What is Smoke Testing?

Reference answer

Smoke Testing is done to make sure if the build we received from the development team is testable or not. It is also called as “Day 0” check. It is done at the “build level”. It helps not to waste the testing time to simply testing the whole application when the key features don't work or the key bugs have not been fixed yet.

100

Why are communication skills important for a QA tester?

Reference answer

Communication skills help QA testers complete job functions such as writing clear and concise bug reports, collaborating with product managers, and writing test plans. The best candidates can provide examples of how their communication skills have led to specific successes and victories.

101

Explain the Bug Life Cycle.

Reference answer

The Bug Life Cycle in software testing is the specific set of states that a bug goes through in its entire life. The purpose here is to easily communicate the current status of defects and make the bug-fixing process easy and efficient. Below lifecycle diagram covers all possible states of the bug lifecycle: - New: When a new defect is detected and posted for the first time then it is assigned a status as "New". - Assigned: Once the bug is posted by the tester, it is approved by the lead of the tester, and the bug is assigned to the developer team. The status is changed to "Assigned". - Open: The developer starts analyzing the bug and works on fixing the bug. The status is changed to "Open". - Fixed: When the developer makes changes in the code to fix the bug and verifies the changes, he or she can make the status of the bug "Fixed". - Pending Retest: Once the defect is fixed, the developer gives the particular code to the tester to retest the code. - Retest: The tester retests the code to check whether the defect is fixed or not and changes the status to "Retest". - Reopen: The tester changes the status to "Reopen" if the bug persists even after the developer fixed the bug. - Verified: The tester retests the bug after it is fixed by the developer. If there is no bug in the software then the status is changed to "Verified". - Closed: If the bug no longer exists, then the tester assigns the status "Closed". - Rejected: If the developer feels that the defect is not a genuine defect then it changes the defect state to "Rejected". - Deferred: The status of the defect is changed to "Deferred" i f the present bug is not of prime priority and if it is expected to get fixed in the next release. - Duplicate: If the bug is repeated twice, the status is changed to "Duplicate". - Not a Defect: If the detected bug or defect does not affect the functionality of the application then the status is changed to "Not a defect". - Can't be Fixed: If it is not possible to fix the bug due to one of the following reasons technology not supporting, the cost of fixing is more, then the status is changed to "Can't be Fixed". - Need More Information: If the developer is unable to reproduce the defect as per the steps provided then the status is changed to "Need More Information". In this case, the tester needs to add detailed steps to reproduce the bug and assign the bug back to the development team for fixing it. - Not Reproducible: If it is not possible for the developer to reproduce the bug due to one of the following reasons platform mismatch, improper defect document, data mismatch, build mismatch, or inconsistent defect. Then the status is changed to "Not reproducible". Read More - Bug Life Cycle.

102

What is Software Configuration Management?

Reference answer

Software Configuration Management (SCM) is a process to manage, organize, and control the changes in the code, document, and other entities during the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). - It is commonly used in software development groups in which several developers are concurrently working on a common set of files. - SCM is designed to avoid the problem of sharing files in a multiuser environment.

103

Explain the concept of boundary value analysis.

Reference answer

Boundary Value Analysis (BVA) is a test design technique that focuses on testing the boundaries of input values, as errors often occur at these boundaries. The principle is based on the fact that defects are more likely to appear at the edges of input ranges rather than in the middle. Key points of BVA include: - Identify Boundary Values: Identify the boundaries of valid input ranges and test the values that are at the edge or near the edge. For example, if a field accepts values between 1 and 100, test cases should include values like 0, 1, 100, and 101. - Test Equivalence Classes: For each boundary, test the value just below, at the boundary, and just above. This covers possible errors in the system when it handles input values that are on or near the edge of valid ranges. - Typical Test Cases: If a field accepts a range of values from 1 to 100, the boundary test cases would be for values such as: - Below the lower boundary: 0 (invalid) - At the lower boundary: 1 (valid) - At the upper boundary: 100 (valid) - Above the upper boundary: 101 (invalid) Boundary value analysis is particularly useful for testing input validation, form fields, and other scenarios where the system expects values within a specific range.

104

What are some of the most common testing mistakes that result in major issues?

Reference answer

We are all human and mistakes happen, however, this can have detrimental outcomes in Software Testing. Some of the most common mistakes that happen in Software Testing include: - Poor scheduling - Ignoring processes - Misallocation of resources - Turning a blind eye to small issues - Having unorganised documentation - Lack of communication Although these may not seem significant, these small mistakes can lead to major issues down the line. It's important to understand what impact errors can have on product quality and release time.

105

How do you ensure cross-browser compatibility during testing?

Reference answer

To ensure cross-browser compatibility, I use tools like BrowserStack or Sauce Labs to test the software across different browsers, operating systems, and devices. I create a matrix of supported browsers and systematically test core functionalities in each.

106

What is performance testing?

Reference answer

Performance testing focuses on evaluating the software's performance under various conditions, such as load or stress. In my experience, this is crucial for ensuring that the software can handle real-world usage scenarios.

107

What tasks in testing do you think are an unnecessary burden?

Reference answer

Answers vary, such as excessive manual regression testing, redundant documentation, or poorly designed test cases.

108

What is Functional Testing?

Reference answer

In simple words, what the system actually does is functional testing. To verify that each function of the software application behaves as specified in the requirement document. Testing all the functionalities by providing appropriate input to verify whether the actual output is matching the expected output or not. It falls within the scope of black box testing and the testers need not concern about the source code of the application.

109

How would you test a form with multiple fields?

Reference answer

Validate required fields, input formats, error handling, and submission flow.

110

How do you write a test case?

Reference answer

Of course you want someone who can write a test case as easily as they can drink quarantinis. But not every interviewee gets an A+ and a gold star, particularly those who are new to a software testing career. Don't expect the applicant to have the answer, Bulyhin says. But the discussion can show what the interviewee considers important. “You should see attentiveness, clear articulation of thoughts, and how comfortable they would be when working.” It isn't their answers that matter as much as their questions. “What I look for here is for the potential QA tester to ask a question,” says Shayne Sherman, CEO of TechLoris. “I want them to ask what platforms we support. Anyone who has done any QA on web applications knows that there are significant differences between the different browsers and devices. QA shouldn't sign off on any test case until it has been tested on all [supported] device/OS/Browser combinations.” So even if QA newbies flub that part of the interview, they might still walk away with an offer...as long as they flub it the right way.

111

Can you explain the difference between 'validation' and 'verification'?

Reference answer

Verification is the process of checking that a product meets specified requirements. It is a preventive measure which ensures that the product is designed to deliver all functionality to the customer; it typically involves reviews and meetings to evaluate documents, plans, code, requirements and specifications. Validation, on the other hand, is the process of checking that the system meets the user's requirements, and is functionally correct and complete. It's an active process where actual product properties are tested.

112

How would you build a test strategy that combines human testers and AI agents?

Reference answer

Example Answer: I'd split the work based on what each side does best. AI handles the high-volume, repetitive, pattern-matching work: regression suites, smoke tests, visual comparison, data generation, failure classification. Humans handle the work that requires judgment: exploratory testing, risk assessment, defining quality objectives, reviewing AI output, and the creative edge-case thinking that comes from understanding the product and its users. The critical design decision is where the handoff happens. I'd build human-in-the-loop checkpoints at every high-risk decision point, like release readiness and defect severity classification, while letting AI operate autonomously on the routine 80% of scenarios.

113

How do you perform visual testing?

Reference answer

Visual testing involves verifying that the user interface (UI) of an application appears as intended across different devices and browsers. It includes checking for layout consistency, font sizes, colors, alignment, and overall design.Tools like Applitools, Selenium, and Percy are commonly used for automated visual testing. These tools capture screenshots of the UI and compare them against baseline images to detect any visual discrepancies. Manual visual testing may also be conducted by visually inspecting the UI to ensure it meets design specifications.

114

What is the difference between Bug, Defect, Error, Fault, and Failure?

Reference answer

- Bug: It is a flaw in the software which means that the software is not working as per the requirement. When there is a coding error, it leads to a program breakdown, which is known as a bug. - Defect: It occurs when an application is not working as per the requirements. It is the deviation or the difference between the expected output and the actual output. - Error: It is a mistake made in the code due to which the code cannot be executed. - Fault: It can be termed as a condition that causes the software to fail to perform its required function according to the specification. - Failure: It is the inability of the software or system to perform the required function due to the accumulation of several defects that ultimately results in the loss of information in critical modules and thus make the system unresponsive.

115

What is the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?

Reference answer

STLC includes: - Requirement Analysis - Test Planning - Test Case Development - Test Environment Setup - Test Execution - Test Closure

116

What is Agile testing and the importance of Agile testing?

Reference answer

Agile testing aligns with Agile development methodologies, emphasizing continuous testing throughout the development lifecycle.In Agile, testing begins at the start of the project and involves ongoing collaboration between developers, testers, and stakeholders. Agile testing ensures that features are tested as they are developed, leading to early defect detection, faster feedback loops, and higher-quality software. It supports the Agile principle of delivering working software frequently and responding swiftly to changes.

117

What is a Good Approach to Exploratory Testing?

Reference answer

Exploratory testing involves simultaneous learning, test design, and execution. It's effective when documentation is limited or when testers want to discover unknown issues. Test charters are often used to define goals, and testers adapt their strategies as they explore.

118

What do you mean by latent defect and masked defect?

Reference answer

- Latent Defect: Latent defects are defects that exist but have not yet been invoked because the conditions required to invoke them have not been met. As a systematic flaw, it encompasses the entire production process of the software, including all pre-production testing and extended testing. When users perform a particular task in an unusual or rare situation or without the presence of usual scenarios, latent defects are revealed. - Masked Defect: These are the defects that have not yet resulted in a failure since another defect hides that portion of the code from being executed. It can only be discovered when the defect hiding it is exposed by the user through a specific operation. There are defects that are hidden or marked by another defect and remain hidden until the other defect is detected.

119

What is Bucket Testing?

Reference answer

Bucket testing is a method to compare two versions of an application against each other to determine which one performs better.

120

Tell some examples of Bug Severity and Bug Priority?

Reference answer

High Priority & High Severity: Submit button is not working on a login page and customers are unable to login to the application Low Priority & High Severity: Crash in some functionality which is going to deliver after couple of releases High Priority & Low Severity: Spelling mistake of a company name on the homepage Low Priority & Low Severity: FAQ page takes a long time to load

121

Explain stress testing, load testing, and volume testing

Reference answer

Stress Testing – Pushes the application beyond its limits to see how it breaks. This helps developers prepare for failures and improve system resilience. Load Testing – Tests the system under expected user traffic to identify performance issues such as slow response times or high CPU usage. Volume Testing – Evaluates how well the system processes large amounts of data to ensure no data loss or corruption.

122

Can you explain the differences between white-box testing and black-box testing, and when is each approach suitable?

Reference answer

White-box testing examines the internal structure of code, while black-box testing focuses on testing from an external perspective. Both approaches have their place in a comprehensive testing strategy.

123

What are some of the challenges the software quality assurance team faces while automating the testing process?

Reference answer

Automation testing can present several challenges, such as selecting the right tools, writing maintainable test scripts, and ensuring compatibility across different environments. One significant challenge is the initial time investment required to set up automation frameworks, which can delay immediate testing results. Another issue is maintaining the automation scripts when the application undergoes frequent updates.

124

How do you decide what not to test when you're close to a deadline?

Reference answer

Reveals prioritization and risk-based thinking. Focus on the most critical paths and areas with high impact, deferring low-risk or low-use features.

125

What is your approach to Regression Testing?

Reference answer

Regression testing is conducted after modifications or enhancements are made to the application to ensure that existing functionality still works as expected. My approach would be to identify critical functions in the application that could be affected by changes and automate those regression tests if possible, to save time in future testing cycles.

126

What are the best practices for writing test cases?

Reference answer

- Write test cases with end-users perspective - Write test steps in a simple way that anyone can follow them easily - Make the test cases reusable - Set the priority - Provide a test case description, test data, expected result, precondition, postcondition. - Write invalid test cases along with valid test cases - Follow proper naming conventions - Review the test cases regularly and update them if necessary.

127

What is the difference between Selenium WebDriver and Selenium Grid?

Reference answer

- WebDriver: Executes tests on a single browser instance. - Grid: Runs tests in parallel on multiple machines and browsers.

128

What are the essential components you would include in a bug report?

Reference answer

An effective bug report should include the bug ID, product, bug detection date, tester name, defect description, steps to reproduce, severity, priority, status, and screenshots if possible. It can also be beneficial to include what the expected and actual results were.

129

What is the role of an automation framework?

Reference answer

An automation framework is a structured set of guidelines, tools, and processes that facilitate the creation, execution, and maintenance of automated tests. The main roles and benefits of an automation framework include: - Standardization: Provides standardized coding practices and reusable components, ensuring consistency across automated test scripts and reducing redundancy. - Efficiency: Automates repetitive testing tasks, such as regression testing, freeing up time for manual testing of new or complex features. - Scalability: Allows for scaling up test automation to cover more test cases or larger systems without a proportional increase in testing effort. - Reliability: Reduces human errors by running automated tests consistently with the same conditions and inputs. - Maintainability: Offers structures for test script organization, reporting, and logging, making it easier to update and maintain automated tests as the application evolves. - Cross-Platform Testing: Automation frameworks enable tests to be run across multiple environments, browsers, or operating systems to ensure cross-platform compatibility. Common types of automation frameworks include: - Linear Scripting: Simple scripts executed in sequence. - Modular Framework: Breaks tests into reusable components. - Data-Driven Framework: Allows tests to run with different sets of data. - Keyword-Driven Framework: Uses a set of predefined keywords for testing actions. - Hybrid Framework: Combines elements of multiple frameworks to suit project needs. Automation frameworks provide structure and efficiency to automated testing efforts.

130

Explain boundary value analysis in software testing.

Reference answer

BVA (Boundary Value Analysis) is a black box software testing technique that uses boundary values to create test cases. Input values near the boundary have a higher probability of error, so BVA is used to test boundary values. BVA includes values at the boundaries in the test cases. If the input falls within the boundary range, then the test is positive; if it falls outside, then it is negative. There are several types of values, including maximum or minimum, inside or outside edge, and typical or error values.

131

What is Test Strategy?

Reference answer

Test Strategy is a high-level document (static document) and usually developed by the project manager. It is a document that captures the approach on how we go about testing the product and achieve the goals. It is normally derived from the Business Requirement Specification (BRS). Documents like Test Plan are prepared by keeping this document as a base.

132

What is monkey testing?

Reference answer

Monkey testing uses randomly generated inputs to test the behavior of the system. It is meant to replicate scenarios where real users might provide random inputs to the application. Monkey testing can be automated and is useful during load or stress tests. Expect your interviewee to be able to explain the importance of monkey testing and understand basic concepts like dumb and smart monkeys.

133

What do you understand about regression testing? Which test cases should be selected for regression testing?

Reference answer

Regression Testing is a sort of software testing used to ensure that a recent program or code modification hasn't broken existing functionality. Regression Testing is just a full or partial re-execution of previously executed test cases to confirm that current functionality is working properly. This testing ensures that new code modifications do not have unintended consequences for current functionality. It ensures that the old code continues to function after the most recent code modifications have been made. According to industry data, a large proportion of defects reported by customers were caused by last-minute bug patches that had unintended consequences, making selecting the Test Case for regression testing an art and not an easy task. The following test scenarios can be used to create effective regression tests : - Test scenarios with a high number of flaws - Test cases covering features that are more visible to the users - Test cases that test the product's fundamental features - Test cases of functionalities that have experienced significant and recent alterations - All Test Cases for Integration - All Complex Test Cases - Cases of boundary value tests.

134

What is the difference between positive and negative testing?

Reference answer

Positive testing is testing the software to ensure that it works as expected, while negative testing is testing the software to ensure that it fails gracefully in case of unexpected inputs or conditions.

135

Describe a time you took ownership beyond your role.

Reference answer

While testing a feature, I realized monitoring was missing for a high-risk area. I flagged it, aligned with the team, and ensured checks were added before release.

136

What tools have you used for defect tracking?

Reference answer

Several defect tracking tools are used by QA teams to document, track, and manage defects. Some of the most commonly used defect tracking tools include: - JIRA: One of the most widely used defect tracking tools, JIRA by Atlassian provides a flexible platform for managing defects, tasks, and projects. It integrates with other development and testing tools and supports workflows, prioritization, and reporting. - Bugzilla: An open-source tool for bug tracking, Bugzilla allows teams to track defects, categorize them, and assign them to developers. It includes features such as advanced search and reporting. - Trello: While primarily a project management tool, Trello is often used for defect tracking due to its simple and visual interface. It's particularly useful for teams that prefer a more lightweight, flexible tool. - Redmine: An open-source project management tool that includes defect tracking capabilities. Redmine offers multi-project support, issue tracking, and project planning features. - Asana: Another project management tool that can be adapted for defect tracking. It allows teams to track tasks and bugs, assign responsibilities, and monitor progress. - TestRail: A test management tool that also integrates defect tracking. It helps in organizing test cases, test runs, and bug reporting. - Mantis Bug Tracker: Mantis is an open-source defect tracking tool that offers an easy-to-use interface for reporting and managing defects. It is widely used by smaller teams or projects. - Azure DevOps: A Microsoft tool that supports the management of defect tracking, code versioning, and project planning, Azure DevOps integrates tightly with development processes. Choosing the right defect tracking tool depends on the team's needs, project scale, and preferred workflow.

137

What is Adhoc Testing?

Reference answer

Ad-hoc testing is quite opposite to the formal testing. It is an informal testing type. In Adhoc testing, testers randomly test the application without following any documents and test design techniques. This testing is primarily performed if the knowledge of testers in the application under test is very high. Testers randomly test the application without any test cases or any business requirement document.

138

How would you explain the value of testing to a product manager who thinks testing slows delivery?

Reference answer

Communication and advocacy skills. Explain that testing prevents costly rework, reduces risk, and ensures faster delivery of reliable software.

139

What is smoke testing, and when is it performed?

Reference answer

Smoke testing is a preliminary test performed to check if the critical functionalities of an application are working as expected. It is usually conducted after a new build is released to verify its stability before deeper testing.

140

Can you explain the concept of test coverage?

Reference answer

Test coverage measures the extent to which the software has been tested. It includes both functional and code coverage. During the interview, explain the different types of coverage and how you ensure comprehensive coverage during testing.

141

What does the test strategy include?

Reference answer

The test strategy is a high-level plan that sets the definition of the overall testing approach for the whole project. It usually includes the scope, schedule, and vital resources for test planning and testing priorities. Expect your interviewee to understand the different ingredients of an effective test strategy and its importance in informing the testing approach for the entire project.

142

How do you handle flaky tests in an automated test suite?

Reference answer

Flaky tests are tests that produce inconsistent results, passing sometimes and failing at other times, even if the code under test hasn't changed. This can lead to unreliable test outcomes and undermine the credibility of an automated test suite. Steps to Handle Flaky Tests: - Investigate the Cause: Identify the root cause of the flaky test. Common causes include: - Timing issues (e.g., waiting for elements that take variable time to load). - Test dependencies on external resources (e.g., network instability, third-party APIs). - Unreliable test data or environment setup. - Resource contention or memory issues. - Isolate the Test: Run the flaky test in isolation to see if the issue persists when not influenced by other tests. This helps to understand if the problem is related to other tests or the test itself. - Improve Synchronization: If the test fails due to timing issues, implement better synchronization techniques, such as waiting for elements to be present, visible, or clickable (e.g., using WebDriverWait in Selenium). - Mock or Stub External Dependencies: If flaky tests depend on external systems (e.g., databases, APIs), replace them with mocks or stubs during testing to eliminate external variability. - Improve Test Stability: Ensure that the tests are not dependent on the order of execution. Use appropriate setup and teardown steps, and ensure that tests are idempotent, meaning they can be run multiple times with the same results. - Reevaluate Test Coverage: If a flaky test continues to be problematic despite attempts to fix it, assess whether it is necessary to keep the test in the suite or if it can be replaced with a more stable, reliable test. - Logging and Reporting: Add detailed logging to flaky tests to better understand their behavior when they fail and improve their stability.

143

What is the difference between functional and non-functional testing?

Reference answer

Functional and non-functional testing are two broad categories of testing that focus on different aspects of a software product. - Functional Testing: This type of testing focuses on verifying that the software functions as expected based on the functional requirements. It checks if the software does what it is supposed to do—whether features are implemented correctly, whether user interactions work as expected, and whether the system behaves according to the requirements. Examples of functional testing include: - Unit Testing - Integration Testing - System Testing - Acceptance Testing Functional tests typically cover the following aspects: - User interfaces and interactions - APIs and database interactions - Business logic and workflows - Security and user authentication - Non-Functional Testing: Non-functional testing evaluates aspects of the software that do not directly relate to specific functions, but instead to its quality attributes. These tests measure performance, scalability, reliability, usability, and other system attributes. Non-functional testing checks how well the system performs under various conditions and how it reacts to different types of load and stress. Examples of non-functional testing include: - Performance Testing - Load Testing - Stress Testing - Usability Testing - Compatibility Testing - Security Testing Non-functional testing is concerned with: - How fast the system performs under load (performance) - How the system behaves in extreme situations (stress and load testing) - How user-friendly and intuitive the system is (usability) - How the system is protected against unauthorized access (security) In essence, functional testing ensures the system works correctly according to requirements, while non-functional testing ensures the system performs well and provides a positive user experience under different conditions.

144

What is an API?

Reference answer

The term API stands for Application Programming Interface. In other words, it is a method of communication between two software components. An API shields the internal process and complexity of a software program while allowing users to focus only on the inputs and outputs required to use it. Consequently, this makes life much easier for everyone involved! When developers are building software, they usually don't write the code from scratch. Instead, they use other libraries that have been created by third parties. An API allows two separate components of software to communicate with each other by providing an interface for them to understand. APIs can also provide the data an application needs. For example, pretend you're building a weather app that displays temperature. You would rather access the meteorological institute's API for this information instead of developing the technology to collect it yourself.

145

What are some common technical or testing interview questions for QA?

Reference answer

Testing is the job along with detailed documentation, bug identification, and more. When interviewers ask these kinds of testing interview questions, provide short and sweet responses that display your knowledge without becoming needlessly overdrawn. Depending on the nature of the interview such as a C++ interview, PHP interview, Selenium interview, or Java interview, you can also tailor your responses to fit those intents.

146

How do you stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in software testing?

Reference answer

To stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in software testing, I:Follow Industry Blogs and Websites: Regularly read articles from leading testing blogs and websites. Join Professional Networks: Participate in online forums and professional networks like LinkedIn and Reddit. Attend Conferences and Webinars: Attend industry conferences, webinars, and workshops to learn from experts. Continuous Learning: Take online courses and certifications to enhance my knowledge and skills. Networking: Engage with peers and industry professionals to exchange ideas and insights.

147

What is Load Testing?

Reference answer

Load Testing evaluates system performance under expected user loads.

148

What are the different types of software testing?

Reference answer

The primary types of testing include: - Manual Testing - Automation Testing - Performance Testing - Security Testing - Usability Testing - Integration Testing - Unit Testing - Regression Testing

149

What is the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?

Reference answer

The QA testing life cycle includes the following stages: - Requirement analysis - Test planning - Test case design - Test environment setup - Test execution - Test closure

150

What is system testing?

Reference answer

System testing is a high-level testing that validates the complete and integrated software system. From what I've seen, this helps ensure that the software meets the specified requirements and works as a whole.

151

What do you mean by build and release in the context of quality assurance? Differentiate between them.

Reference answer

- Build: A build is a software or application that is ready to be tested. Developers create software, which they then hand over to testers to test. It's a broad phrase that refers to any application that will be examined. Developers can either create a complete program or add a new feature to an existing one. Then that program, together with the new functionality, is dubbed BUILD, and it is put through its tests by testers. - Release: After development and testing, the release is the finalized application. The testing team verifies the program and releases it to the customer after testing it. It's possible that a single release will have many builds. As a result, it is the program that is supplied to the customer when the development and testing phases are completed. Furthermore, the release is based on builds, and there may be multiple builds. The following table lists the differences between build and release: | Build | Release | |---|---| | Build refers to a version of the software or application which the development team hands over to the testing team. | Release refers to the software which the testing team hands over to the end customers. | | The build version of the software requires testing to be done on it. Generally, sanity testing is performed on a build version. | The release version of software no longer requires testing to be done on it. | | The build version of the software is made more frequently than the release version. | Release versions of the software are made less frequently than the build version. |

152

What is Integration Testing?

Reference answer

Integration Testing is the process of testing the interface between the two software units. Integration testing is done in three ways. Big Bang Approach, Top-Down Approach, Bottom-Up Approach.

153

Why is quality assurance critical in software development?

Reference answer

Quality assurance is critical because it helps testers enhance application security, ensure the application meets industry-specific requirements, and guarantee that the software complies with data privacy regulations. Since complex, full-scale apps can cost more than $150,000 to develop, producing a high-quality application is essential to yield a good return on investment. QA processes ensure the software contains minimal defects and aligns with the end customer's requirements.

154

What made you want to get into testing?

Reference answer

Figuring out how your job candidate achieved their current career status can uncover a lot around their ambitions and aspirations.

155

How do you stay updated with the latest testing tools and methodologies?

Reference answer

At my previous position with TSB Bank, I implemented a quarterly training program for my QA team, focusing on emerging testing tools and best practices. I encouraged team members to attend relevant webinars and share insights during team meetings. Additionally, I established a pilot project to evaluate new testing tools, allowing the team to provide feedback before wider adoption. This approach not only kept our skills sharp but also fostered a culture of continuous improvement.

156

Walk me through the steps of a bug cycle.

Reference answer

The bug cycle begins when a tester identifies a defect during testing. First, the bug is documented and assigned to the development team. If the bug is valid, it is given a priority level and moves to the ‘in-progress' stage for resolution. Once the developer fixes the issue, the bug is returned to the QA team for retesting. If it passes retesting, the bug is marked as ‘closed.' If not, it's sent back to the development team.

157

What is the difference between QA, QC, and testing?

Reference answer

- Quality Assurance (QA) refers to the activities that are designed to improve and establish processes to deliver quality products. It is a proactive and process-oriented practice that aims to prevent defects in the product by focusing on the improvement of processes and methodologies used during the software development lifecycle. QA aims to build quality into the product by ensuring that all necessary steps are followed in creating a product. - Quality Control (QC) is the process of identifying and fixing defects or bugs in the final product. Unlike QA, which focuses on process improvement, QC is a product-oriented, reactive activity aimed at detecting and correcting issues in the product after it has been developed. QC activities include reviews, inspections, testing, and defect management, and are performed to ensure that the final product meets the required specifications and standards. - Testing is a specific activity within QC and refers to the execution of a product (or a system) under specified conditions to identify defects or issues that may not have been caught during the development process. Testing checks for functional and non-functional requirements by running predefined test cases to verify that the software behaves as expected. It is a sub-process under QC, which involves the detection of defects and reporting them to development teams. In summary, QA is about improving processes to prevent defects from occurring, QC focuses on identifying and correcting defects in the product, and testing is a technique used within QC to evaluate whether the product meets quality standards.

158

What is GUI Testing?

Reference answer

Graphical User Interface Testing is to test the interface between the application and the end user.

159

Provide some examples of Software Testing tools

Reference answer

Working as a Software Tester, you will be required to use a variety of software testing tools. Although each organisation will have its own preference, it's a good idea to get familiar with some of the most popular tools, their uses and benefits, such as: - Selenium - Protractor - Cypress - Jasmine - JUnit and NUnit

160

Explain stress testing, load testing, and volume testing.

Reference answer

Stress testing evaluates an application's robustness by pushing it beyond its normal operational capacity to identify its breaking point.Load testing measures the system's performance under expected user load to ensure it can handle anticipated traffic. Volume testing checks the system's ability to manage large volumes of data over time. These tests help ensure the application remains stable and performs well under different stress levels, loads, and data volumes.

161

What is impact analysis in QA?

Reference answer

Understanding which parts of the system may break due to a change.

162

How should you answer the question 'Describe a project you are proud of'?

Reference answer

This kind of question will clue interviewers into what kind of work ethic you have. That means that it is important to be the right kind of candidate and select a project where you grew professionally. Ultimately, you will have to decide from your experience pool which project fits these parameters.

163

How do you handle testing in agile development environments with frequent code changes?

Reference answer

Agile testing involves testing smaller increments of code continuously. It requires close collaboration with developers, automation, and an emphasis on fast feedback.

164

What is Sanity Testing?

Reference answer

Sanity Test also known as Surface Testing is a type of software testing that is performed to make sure that the code changes made are working properly without any bugs. - This type of testing is done on the stable build of the software. - It is a subset of Regression testing. - Sanity testing is usually done after the software product has passed the Smoke test. - The focus of this type of testing is to validate the functionality of the application and not detailed testing. Read More - Sanity Testing.

165

What is the difference between TDD vs BDD?

Reference answer

TDD (Test-Driven Development) is a coding method where developers write tests before writing the actual code, resulting in cleaner and more maintainable software. BDD (Behavior-Driven Development) focuses on defining software behavior from the end-user perspective using plain language that both technical and non-technical stakeholders understand. Below is a table for quick comparison: | TDD | BDD | | |---|---|---| | Definition | Start software development by writing test cases. | Use given-when-then syntax to: | | Goal | Test coverage and code testability | Alignment between technical and business stakeholders | | Test writing | Developers | Varies by team. Ideally: | | Tools | Test libraries: JUnit, NUnit, TestNG, Selenium Testing tools: Katalon, TestComplete | Available frameworks: Cucumber, SpecFlow, Behave |

166

How do you decide which test cases to automate?

Reference answer

When it comes to test case selection, it should always be driven by impact and efficiency. Critical user flows, frequently executed tests, and regression-prone scenarios are high-priority areas for automation testing. At the same time, unstable or frequently changing features can be avoided until they stabilize.

167

What is an entry criteria?

Reference answer

The prerequisites that must be achieved before commencing the testing process.

168

What is Test Environment?

Reference answer

Test Environment is the combination of hardware and software on which Test Team performs testing. Example: - Application Type: Web Application - OS: Windows - Web Server: IIS - Web Page Design: Dot Net - Client Side Validation: JavaScript - Server Side Scripting: ASP Dot Net - Database: MS SQL Server - Browser: IE/FireFox/Chrome

169

Should QA's resolve production issues?

Reference answer

QA's primary responsibility is to identify and report defects, not necessarily to resolve production issues. However, they play a critical role in reproducing the issue, gathering relevant data, and collaborating with developers to ensure a swift resolution.In some cases, senior QA engineers with extensive experience may assist in resolving certain issues, especially if they are related to testing environments or processes.

170

What is root cause analysis in QA?

Reference answer

Root cause analysis is the process of identifying the underlying reason for a defect. It involves investigating the defect to understand how and why it occurred so that corrective actions can be taken to prevent future occurrences.

171

What is Bottom-up Testing?

Reference answer

Bottom-up Testing is a type of integration testing that tests the lowest components of a code base first. In these, low-level modules are tested first, and then the high-level modules are tested. The driver is a temporary module that is used to simulate the caller module for a module to be tested, to call the interface procedures of the module to be tested, and to report the results. Read More -Bottom-up Testing.

172

What would you include in an automation test plan?

Reference answer

An automation test plan should include the following elements:Objectives and Scope: Define the goals of automation testing and the boundaries within which it will be applied. Test Environment: Describe the hardware, software, and network configurations needed for testing. Test Data: Outline the data requirements for executing the tests. Test Cases to be Automated: Identify which test cases will be automated, prioritizing those that are time-consuming and repetitive. Tools and Frameworks: Specify the tools and frameworks that will be used for automation. Resource Allocation: Detail the team members involved and their roles. Schedule and Milestones: Provide a timeline for the testing phases and key deliverables. Metrics and Reporting: Define the metrics for measuring the success of the automation efforts and the reporting mechanisms.

173

What is Stress Testing?

Reference answer

It is to verify the behavior of the system once the load increases more than its design expectations.

174

How do you ensure the reliability of APIs when integrating third-party services?

Reference answer

Validation of Endpoints: - Test GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE operations for expected behavior. - Ensure proper handling of invalid or malformed requests. - Authentication Testing: - Verify token-based or OAuth authentication methods. - Error Handling: - Test API responses for error scenarios (e.g., 400, 401, 500 errors). - Validate user-friendly messages for failure responses. - Performance Testing: - Use tools like Postman or JMeter to test API latency and response times. - Contract Testing: - Ensure that API request and response formats match the defined schema.

175

What is the difference between white-box testing and black-box testing?

Reference answer

White-box testing involves testing the internal structure, code, and design of an application (code-level testing). Black-box testing focuses on testing the application's functionality without knowing the internal workings (behavioral testing).

176

What is 'verification' in the context of software testing?

Reference answer

'Verification' is a process in which testers evaluate software systems to ensure developers have created them correctly and to ensure the software matches its design. Examples of verification strategies include static analysis, inspections, and walkthroughs. These strategies work for examining software artifacts, including design documents and source code.

177

What is Monkey Testing?

Reference answer

Monkey Testing is random testing to find unexpected crashes.

178

What are self-healing tests and when are they useful?

Reference answer

Example Answer: Self-healing tests use AI to detect when a UI element has changed (a button moved, a selector broke, a class name updated) and automatically update the test to match the new state, instead of just failing. They're most useful in environments where the front end changes frequently, like agile teams shipping weekly UI updates. The practical value is in reducing the maintenance burden. Without self-healing, a significant portion of an automation engineer's time goes to fixing broken locators rather than writing new tests that actually catch bugs. The tradeoff is that you need to monitor the healing behaviour to make sure the AI isn't "healing" tests in ways that mask real defects.

179

Different kinds of testing?

Reference answer

There are several kinds of testing in software development, including:Unit Testing: Testing individual components or modules of a software. Integration Testing: Testing the interaction between integrated modules. System Testing: Testing the complete and integrated software application. Acceptance Testing: Verifying if the software meets business and user requirements. Performance Testing: Evaluating the system's performance under various conditions. Security Testing: Identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring data protection. Usability Testing: Assessing the application's ease of use. Compatibility Testing: Ensuring the software works across different devices, browsers, and environments. Regression Testing: Ensuring new code changes do not adversely affect existing functionality. Exploratory Testing: Testing without predefined test cases to find defects through exploration.

180

Tell me about a bug you missed that slipped into production. What did you learn from it?

Reference answer

Shows humility, ownership, and learning mindset. The answer should describe the bug, its impact, and the lessons learned to prevent similar issues.

181

Requirements change mid-sprint. How do you adapt testing?

Reference answer

Re-scope tests, update risks, and communicate trade-offs clearly.

182

Which kinds of tools are typically used by testers?

Reference answer

The tools a tester uses to do their job will vary according to the kind of project they're working on. But some tools you can mention in your answer are Firebug, OpenSGTA, Web developer toolbar for Firefox, Selenium, WinSCP, and YSlow for Firebug.

183

What is RTM?

Reference answer

Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM) is used to trace the requirements to the tests that are needed to verify whether the requirements are fulfilled. We have to ensure that every requirement has atleast 1 test case. Requirement Traceability Matrix AKA Traceability Matrix or Cross Reference Matrix.

184

What are common SQL queries used in Testing?

Reference answer

- SELECT * FROM users WHERE age > 30; - UPDATE orders SET status = 'Shipped' WHERE order_id = 123; - DELETE FROM products WHERE id = 10;

185

How does Dynamics 365 integrate with other Microsoft tools?

Reference answer

Dynamics 365 integrates with Azure for cloud services, Power BI for advanced analytics and reporting, and Office 365 for seamless collaboration and communication. This integration enhances productivity by providing real-time insights, secure cloud storage, and unified communication across Microsoft's ecosystem.

186

Whats you're biggest success working in quality and testing?

Reference answer

Answers vary, but should describe a specific achievement that improved product quality, process efficiency, or team collaboration.

187

What is Ad-hoc Testing?

Reference answer

Ad-hoc Testing is an unstructured approach to finding defects without formal test cases.

188

Explain the concept of a test case.

Reference answer

A test case is a set of conditions and steps used to test whether a specific functionality in the application is working as intended.

189

What is a traceability matrix?

Reference answer

A traceability matrix is a document used to map and trace the relationship between requirements and test cases. It ensures that all requirements defined for the software have corresponding test cases that validate their implementation. The traceability matrix is used to: - Verify Test Coverage: It helps ensure that all requirements have been tested. - Track Changes: When requirements change during development, the traceability matrix is updated to ensure that the impacted test cases are also updated. - Gap Identification: It helps identify any gaps where there might be requirements without test cases or test cases without requirements. A traceability matrix typically includes columns for requirement IDs, test case IDs, test execution status, and pass/fail status.

190

How does QA fit into an Agile environment?

Reference answer

In Agile, QA works closely with developers from the start of the project. QA participates in planning, attends daily scrums, and ensures that testing is performed iteratively throughout the sprint.

191

Can you discuss the importance of test environments and test data in software testing?

Reference answer

Test environments mimic the production environment, ensuring that tests are realistic. Test data provides inputs for testing various scenarios. Both are crucial for effective testing.

192

What is Continuous Integration (CI) in Testing?

Reference answer

CI is a practice where developers merge code frequently, and automated tests run to ensure stability (e.g., Jenkins, GitHub Actions).

193

What examples can you give of having a positive influence on those outside of QA/QE?

Reference answer

Answers vary, such as mentoring developers in testing practices, advocating for quality in planning, or improving cross-team communication.

194

What is the role of a QA engineer in a Scrum team?

Reference answer

A QA engineer in a Scrum team collaborates with developers and product owners to define acceptance criteria, write and execute test cases, participate in daily scrums, and ensure that testing is conducted iteratively throughout the sprint.

195

How do you ensure that software is accessible and usable for people with special needs?

Reference answer

I follow industry standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and ensure that the software is tested using assistive technologies, such as screen readers, to identify and resolve any accessibility issues. I also work with design and development teams to incorporate accessibility considerations into the software development process from the very beginning.

196

What is Penetration Testing?

Reference answer

Penetration Testing is a security assessment to find vulnerabilities in a system before attackers exploit them.

197

How Do You Ensure Quality in a QA Team?

Reference answer

To ensure quality in a QA team, it's essential to maintain clear communication, have structured processes, follow a well-defined test plan, and continuously gather and analyze test metrics to identify areas for improvement. Regular reviews and adapting to new technologies also play a critical role.

198

What is Equivalence Class Partition?

Reference answer

Equivalence Partitioning is also known as Equivalence Class Partitioning. In equivalence partitioning, inputs to the software or system are divided into groups that are expected to exhibit similar behavior, so they are likely to be proposed in the same way. Hence selecting one input from each group to design the test cases.

199

What is the role of 'configuration management' in QA?

Reference answer

Configuration management in QA ensures that a system is tested against the correct configuration, and it also keeps track of changes made during testing. It involves maintaining an inventory of the hardware and software settings and ensuring that tests are performed in the correct environment. It is critical for consistency, repeatability, and accuracy in testing.

200

What effect does removing a defect during the latter stage, as opposed to the initial stage, have on cost?

Reference answer

It is crucial to fix any defects found in the beginning stages of a project because it will be much more expensive to do so later on. The cost of fixing a defect grows exponentially as time goes by. Eliminating defects is cheaper during the design phase than waiting until maintenance, but if you wait, it'll cost you twenty times more.

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