What Does a Software Tester Do? Roles, Responsibilities & Skills
Software products are involved in nearly every aspect of our lives today. Every app and app-based tool relies heavily on a thorough process of testing to vet its quality before it passes to end users. This is where the area of software testing coordinates the process to ensure the product behaves as intended.
A software tester plays a key part in software testing. A software tester explores how a product operates in various scenarios and provides the engineering team with observations of what happens. This is done as early as possible, which enhances the overall experience of users while ensuring the software development process flows smoothly from one phase to the next.
This blog will explain what a software tester does in simple terms. In this blog, you will learn about the daily job responsibilities of a software tester. You will learn about the skill sets software testers typically employ and the career path to follow in this field.
What does software testing mean?
Software testing is the formal process of inspecting all the elements and component aspects of the software product or service. Software testing provides a non-biased perspective for any stakeholders to understand the attention towards risks in the software market. Software testing is one of the important stages in the process of producing software.
The method of software testing is commonly dependent upon the type of application being tested and the type of project requirements. Quality assurance teams use both manual testing and automated testing approaches to accommodate the entire range of testing scenarios. The testing phase is a critical step in the software development process, providing you with reliable computer software.
Software testing technique is based on the type of application being tested and the application’s project needs. Quality assurance teams use both manual testing and automated testing methods to address all possible scenarios and outcomes. The testing phase is important in the software development life cycle to contribute to delivering robust computer software.
What are the types of Software Testing Techniques?
Functional Testing
Functional testing is aimed at confirming that the software is performing as required. Testers evaluate the interfaces, features, and APIs to ensure that each function of the software is working effectively. They develop test scenarios reflecting genuine user activities as well as extreme situations to make sure that no issue goes unnoticed.
Depending on the requirements, this testing may be conducted manually or through automation. Instruments such as Selenium and Cypress facilitate the automation of functional testing leading to more extensive testing. The primary objective is to confirm that the program is functioning properly in all aspects.
Black Box Testing
Black box testing is a method that evaluates the program from the perspective of a user. Here, testers concentrate solely on the inputs and outputs and do not have any knowledge of the program’s code. This method is particularly useful for acceptance testing and user acceptance testing.
Testers develop test scenarios based on the requirements and user behavior. This allows them to uncover the errors, which, in turn, improves the user experience. One such technique is boundary value analysis, which makes the testing more efficient.
White Box Testing
White box testing is a method that involves looking inside the code. Testers and developers verify the code by checking the logic, flow, and framework. This work demands technical skills as well as a good knowledge of the architecture.
The most prevalent example of white box testing is unit testing. This is a tool that enables the team to discover the bugs at an early stage before they have a chance to spread to other parts of the system. Besides, the code quality and its reliability are enhanced in the process.
Gray Box Testing
Gray box testing incorporates both black box and white box testing techniques. A tester has partial knowledge of the internals, which enables him/her to create improved test cases. Consequently, it is great for integration testing and intricate workflows.
Such a tool plays a major role in the absence of problems between different parts and subparts. Furthermore, it is an equilibrium without the necessity of having the full code.
Unit Testing
Unit testing is a program that verifies the smallest parts of the code such as functions or modules. These tests are written by developers in order to make sure that each unit is performing well. Such a bug fixation method works on the principle of isolating units of code. Thus, it is extremely difficult for bugs to spread to other parts of the software.
On the other hand, automated unit tests may be launched at any time, thus, they ensure that new features do not interfere with the already existing ones. Daily development will thus greatly benefit from the generated user trust model.
Integration Testing
Integration testing involves checking the coordination between different parts of a software application or services. It comes after unit testing and is followed by system testing. Thus, the primary concern is to catch difficulties that have not been accounted for in any individual module but may arise from interactions between modules.
The idea is to examine the data that is being sent, the communication and the logical operations that take place between the modules. The involvement of automation tools makes the procedure more convenient and less time-consuming for the teams.
System Testing
System Testing externally tests the integration of the entire software or a feature, in an environment that is as close to real-world as possible. It is an end-to-end testing process which covers both functional and non-functional aspects of the software. The testing team goes through situations that are most likely to happen in the real world and looks to find out whether the final product fulfills the requirements.
This stage of testing is generally carried out in the vicinity of production so that any last-minute bugs can be found. The acceptance testing phase is merely a few steps away from here.
Acceptance Testing
In acceptance testing, the criteria used to check the software include business and user demands. User acceptance testing, in which actual users are given the chance to operate the system and thereby certify that it meets their needs, is a major part of this process.
The availability of test cases is due to user stories and genuine business scenarios. One of the key outcomes of acceptance testing is that the product is good enough to be launched in the market.
Performance Testing
Performance testing evaluates the software efficiencies under heavy usage. It tracks the time of the different parameters such as speed, response, and scalability. Load levels for these tests are usually set by using tools such as LoadRunner or JMeter.
Also, performance testing contains stress testing and load testing with the aim to locate bottlenecks in the system. Such information then can be used by teams to improve the system’s performance before the product release.
Security Testing
Security testing identifies the weak points in the system and assures that the software is a safe haven for the user data. These activities involve penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.
Security testers attempt to make their tasks as difficult as possible by finding less obvious areas that may be exploited by hackers. Consequently, this approach results in the creation of safer as well as more reliable products.
Usability Testing
Usability testing is about measuring the software intuitiveness. Testers observe real users and spot any parts that are difficult, take too long, or users are not sure how to proceed.
This then contributes to the betterment of design, navigation, and the general user experience. Continuous usability testing is great prevention of bigger problems later.
Regression Testing
Regression testing ensures that any new updates or changes made do not affect the existing features in a negative way. Automation of regression suites results in saving time as the tests can be executed effortlessly after each change.
As an application develops, it becomes more and more significant. Consistent regression testing is a pillar for continuous testing as well as for stable releases.
Exploratory Testing
There are no defined test cases in Exploratory testing. Tester can use their skills and knowledge to explore new features and identify the defects of the app.
It can find the hidden bugs, the developers didn’t expect usability and edge cases guided by the testers creativity and experience and these are quick and very effective.
Sanity Testing
Sanity testing is a quick check to confirm that a recent fix works. Builds for which sanity tests fail are rejected and hence not tested further.
The major advantage of this approach is the saving of time due to the omission of testing on broken builds. The person usually doing this task is a manual tester.
Ad Hoc Testing
Ad-hoc testing is a type of informal unplanned testing. The testers do random checks on the functionalities and bugs, due to which they can find the most obvious issues. Tester knowledge and intuition largely determine the outcome of the method.
Whilst it can hardly act as a substitute for structured testing, the technique on which it relies nevertheless provides useful insights and the quick finding of bugs.
API Testing
API testing is a method that verifies the correctness and security of APIs. They should return proper data, handle errors in a good manner and work securely. Without a doubt, it is very crucial for microservices that are modern.
Both the functionalities and the performance of the API can be tested with the help of such tools as Postman and SoapUI. API testing is a stage at which defects can be found earliest, before the user interface is created.
Compatibility Testing
Compatibility testing is a process that ensures the software is compatible with different platforms such as devices, browsers, and operating systems. It checks if the software behaves the same, looks the same, and functions the same.
The primary reason for this being a necessary endeavor is to guarantee that the web and mobile apps which have many versions as well as devices will be compatible. In addition to this, automation testing can be extremely beneficial when it is necessary to ascertain the compatibility of numerous devices.
Stress Testing
System testing beyond its usual limits, in order to see where it fails, is known as stress testing. It allows the teams to see the reaction of the system where the performance is heavy and there is a sudden spike in use, besides the usual situations.
With these clues in hand, the teams can improve the stability, recovery, and scaling of the system. Indeed, this is the case with apps which anticipate that a large number of users will be accessing them.
Why is Software Testing Important?
Software testing provides proof that the product works as expected in the real world. It facilitates identifying software bugs early on and thus mitigates risks to users or businesses. In doing so, software testing minimizes the risk of loss to business caused by software defects.
Testing software improves the performance, stability, and security of the software product. It also builds back the assurance that each function performed as intended through regression testing. This contributes to organizations confirming the software is stable after changes.
Testers also contribute to quality by identifying requirements that are less clear and ambiguous. They engage with the development team to fix issues that would have otherwise contributed to the elapsed time to test and the overall testing process. This is the ideal way to continue building upon the strong foundation we have given the product.
Software Testing in Modern Development
The software development process has taken on a new focus on continuous testing through the software development lifecycle. The key benefit of continuous testing is that each member of the development team works closely with testing professionals to encourage quality within testing phases of the project. The successful integration of testing into the software development process has become a standard practice within most organizations.
Automated testing has significantly changed the way project teams test their applications and software systems. Test automation helps reduce the time it takes to complete regression testing and improves the efficiency of testing as a whole. Automated testing and software tools allow testers to place their focus on testing scenarios where human judgement is required rather than on routine testing.
The modern software development process has expanded its use of testing types in addition to traditional testing types, such as unit testing and integration testing. All types of testing continue to serve specific validations of aspects of the software program. Each testing phase serves a purpose in validating software functionality, which ensures that all functionality works in the way the user is expecting.
What Does a Software Tester Do?
A software tester ensures that a software product is error-free and ready for the public. They identify these issues and work with the development team to resolve them, while also ensuring the software development process is sound and is progressing on time.
Testing software is the methodology testers use to verify that each function works as designed. Testers must recreate scenarios that test each function or feature, summarize and analyze the entire testing effort, and communicate the results. Additionally, testers play an important supportive role by providing early feedback about a product’s quality.
Testers employ methods found in testing techniques that may include black box testing and white box testing to find defects or issues that are found upon testing the product. Based on the objective of the project, they determine the required level of manual testing versus automated testing. Ultimately, the tester’s goal is to protect the end user from a malfunctioning product and improve confidence in the software as a whole.
What is a Software Tester?
A software tester is a quality professional who assesses how a software system continues to function. They utilize protocols, test strategies, and test cases for executing features, finding defects, and determining bugs in the software. A tester’s role evokes an understanding of whether a product is compliant with documented business needs and meets user expectations.
A tester provides valuable feedback to development team members early in the process, saving time and improving software quality. Testers perform this process throughout iterations or phases of the testing stage, which includes coverage and supports a continuous testing process.
Software testers use testing tools as well as testing automation tools to assess functions more quickly. They have an understanding of how software systems behave and provide those results back to the testing team. Their efforts yield safer and more reliable products.
Software Testers’ Role in a Team
Software testers will usually have some sort of connection with product owners, designers, and developers. They will engage in the software development process at the very beginning meetings of the development teams. They help the team evaluate risks during planning.
They also reassure teams when they provide comments on actual test results after testing has been executed. Developers will rely on testers to help them understand how to fix a bug when testers can share what the bug is, where it occurs, and how to reproduce it. Designers also benefit from the explanation of how users may interact with a piece of the product.
A tester will also play a role in keeping quality assurance strong while the product goes through every build. They will keep a running log of issues as they arise for developers with a more organized process. They will review fixes and confirm when user acceptance testing is ready to begin with the client. The tester’s job is to keep everyone aligned.
Why Are Software Testers Important?
Software testers stop software problems before users run into them. They represent insurance against issues affecting data and money. They confirm the product works well from end to end.
They assist in the improvement of the software’s quality through validation of functionality. They check that every feature acts as intended. They check the software remains stable while the product is being updated.
An effective tester determines that products achieve their business intent. They facilitate teams to release features on time with less error or issues. Their contribution enables teams to feel confident of their release.
Career Path for Software Testers
Entry Level – QA Analyst / Junior Tester
At this level, you primarily learn test cases, carrying out test execution, and manual testing. You support the development team and begin understanding the Software Development Lifecycle. You will begin to become comfortable with functionality testing, compatibility testing and basic automation testing tools.
Mid Level – Senior Tester / Test Lead
At this level, you lead the testing efforts, design the test plan and manage the test cases for multiple features. You may begin to do some coordination around multiple projects while mentoring junior testers. You will start doing system testing, perform integration testing, utilize performance-testing tools, and work with automation tools and test automation frameworks.
Advanced Level – Test Manager / QA Manager
This position requires you to supervise the testing team, establish a quality assurance strategy, and ensure the releases conform to the business requirements. You take the initiative for test tools, automation strategy, regression testing coverage, stakeholder communication, and continuous testing practices implementation throughout the product.
Expert Level – Test Architect / QA Director
Here, you determine the testing vision of huge software systems and create the frameworks for automated testing, performance engineering, security testing, and usability testing. You quality metrics, testing innovation, and global scale with senior leadership and influence the entire organisation’s quality culture.
Software Growth in Software Testing
Entry-Level Salary
An entry-level tester in India may receive a salary of approximately ₹3 lakhs to ₹6 lakhs a year. Meanwhile, in the US, a beginner software tester can expect to be paid between $45,000 and $75,000 per year.
Mid-Level Salary
After 3-5 years of working experience, you can make between ₹7 lakhs and ₹12 lakhs in India, or from $95,000 to $120,000 in the US. Your domain and skillset will determine the final figure.
Advanced / Manager Level Salary
Test managers or QA leads with the experience of 8-10+ years might be able to make between ₹12 lakhs and ₹20 lakhs+ in India, or $130,000 to $160,000+ in the US.
Architect / Director Level Salary
At the senior leadership level, the pay may be as high as ₹25 lakhs+ in India or $180,000+ in the US, with the addition of bonuses and stock options.
Key Skills Needed for Growth
Technical Skills
- Capability to perform functional as well as system testing, integration testing, and performance testing.
- Experience in the use of test automation tools and frameworks, development of test scripts, and automated tests.
- Sound knowledge of API testing, security testing, usability testing, and non-functional testing techniques.
- Ability to collaborate with software testing tools, version control, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing workflows.
Analytical & Soft Skills
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking to find software defects and to evaluate risks.
- Good communication skills for informing test results and interacting with the development team and stakeholders.
- The skill to manage multiple projects, be open to changes and to learn new testing methods and technologies.
- Leadership qualities for guiding and managing test teams and promoting quality assurance across features.
Domain & Quality Assurance Knowledge
- Knowledge of the software development process and software development lifecycle.
- Understanding of business requirements and acknowledgement of the software testers’ role in delivering quality.
- Capability to prepare test cases for box testing (black box testing, white box testing, gray box testing) and to generate relevant test data.
- Knowledge of continuous testing, regression testing, test planning and test execution in large-scale software systems.
5 Common Challenges Software Testers Face
- Changing Requirements and Scope Creep: Testers deal with changes in business requirements, which frequently lead to changes in test plans and make coverage difficult.
- Time Pressure and Tight Deadlines: Due to fast releases and continuous testing requirements, test schedules can be shortened, and risk might increase.
- Maintaining Test Coverage and Regression: With software progression, updating test cases and handling regression testing becomes quite a task.
- Ensuring Non-Functional Testing Areas: Areas such as usability testing, security testing, and performance testing are often overlooked but are equally important for software quality.
- Communication and Collaboration Issues: Testers work with the development team and stakeholders; therefore, poor communication can limit quality assurance efforts.
Education Needed for Software Testing
A career in software testing is commonly opened through fundamental education and a general interest in technology. Many employers like candidates with appropriate degrees, although the degree is not necessarily limited to computer science. In fact, a large number of testers are from non-IT backgrounds, and they acquire their skills through training and practical sessions.
Common Education Paths
The holders of bachelor’s degrees in BSc, BCA, or B.Tech can take the first step toward the field without facing much difficulty. Likewise, people with a master’s degree in MCA, M.Sc., or M.Tech are also suitable for testing positions. A lot of professionals convert their careers to the testing field after mastering the necessary skills themselves.
Preparation and Quick-Learning Alternatives
Considering software testing on a short-term basis, bootcamps are the fastest way to get acquainted with the topic. They provide practical experience, real-world project involvement, and assistance in the job application process. Apart from that, students familiarize themselves with the latest tools that are used in the industry.
Certifications for Added Advantage
Places like CAST or CSTE are stepping stones towards gaining credentials and can help bring recognition. They communicate to the employers that you have a grasp of the concepts of testing and can be given real projects right away.
Future of Software Testing
Test automation is rapidly evolving, and that is where most of the new intelligent tools for testing are focused. With the help of these new gadgets, the programmers can now run fewer test scripts. Moreover, some platforms are leveraging service virtualization to simulate the environment and verify features early.
AI makes testing more accurate and takes care of monotonous tasks. As a result, software defects get minimized as AI pinpoints the probable areas in which risks will happen. This enables testers to do explorations that are deeper and do spontaneous testing.
Software quality assurance is evolving with technology. Testers familiar with cloud computing and having leadership skills will be leading the teams. This puts software testing as a stable career with plenty of future possibilities.
Conclusion
Software testing is an absolutely necessary and ever-changing sphere that guarantees that software products comply with quality requirements before they are handed over to the last users.
The rise in demand for testers is a positive phenomenon that opens up many stable and enticing career pathways for those seeking to enter the quality assurance field. Whatever your background is, whether technical or non-technical, there are plenty of career opportunities in software testing for you to start and excel further.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the role of a software tester?
A software tester is responsible for ensuring that a product functions correctly, and if not, identifying and communicating the bugs.
- What do I need to be a software tester?
One must have a basic technical understanding, be inquisitive, and have problem-solving capabilities.
- What is the salary of a software tester?
Newly graduates or entry-level testers are paid around INR 3 to 6 LPA, and the testers at the intermediate level get higher salaries.
- What skills are needed for software testing?
The person must have the skills of logical thinking, communication, and some basic knowledge of the testing process.
- Is software testing easy or hard?
It is neither too easy nor too difficult. The only requirements are practice and the ability to think clearly.
