Software testing is a crucial process that ensures the quality, functionality, and reliability of software products. As a software tester, you need to have different skills depending on the level of testing you perform. In this article, we will explore what skills you need to test software at different levels, from unit testing to system testing.
Unit testing is the lowest level of testing, where you test individual components or modules of the software. You need to have a good knowledge of the programming language, the logic, and the design of the code you are testing. You also need to use tools and frameworks that help you create, execute, and automate unit tests. For example, if you are testing a Java application, you might use JUnit, TestNG, or Mockito.
For uni testing you need to have good understanding about the individua feature components, modules and the integration between these components. Good knowledge about mocking when third party components or inetegrations are there. Also if you want to do proper unit testing its better to identify the boundary values, equialance paritions and the logic. During unit testing you should pass all the possible inputs to a component and assert the output. So knowing the right logic also really important. Redundant inputs should not be used and all possible negative flows should be covered within the tests related to methods, classes and etc.
Programming Skills: Strong programming skills in the relevant programming languages to write and execute unit tests. Understanding of Code: Ability to understand code structure, logic, and relationships to create comprehensive test cases. Debugging Skills: Proficiency in debugging to identify and isolate defects in isolated code units.
Programming Skills: Proficiency in the programming languages used in the project to write and execute unit tests. Debugging Skills: Ability to identify and isolate issues within small units of code. Test Frameworks: Familiarity with unit testing frameworks like JUnit, NUnit, or pytest. Code Review: Skill in reviewing code for correctness, test coverage, and adherence to coding standards.
Unit testing is about the logic of functions and functionality of the current module. Developers(Scrum perspective) need to focus on code coverage, statements and valid/invalid inputs. We also identify test coverage for our unit tests. We identify this by using equivalence partitions and boundary values. Once we found defects we focus our attention to that area.
Integration testing is the next level of testing, where you test how different components or modules interact with each other. You need to have a good understanding of the architecture, the dependencies, and the interfaces of the software. You also need to use tools and frameworks that help you simulate, monitor, and verify the integration scenarios. For example, if you are testing a web application, you might use Postman, SoapUI, or Selenium.
Testing Strategies: Understanding of integration testing strategies like top-down, bottom-up, or sandwich testing. API Testing: Knowledge of testing APIs and web services to ensure data flows correctly between components. Mocking and Stubbing: Proficiency in creating mocks and stubs for testing components that are not yet developed or available. Data Validation: Ability to validate data integrity and consistency across integrated components.
Once modules is ready for integration testing we need to understand its purpose and what we expect them to do. What type of data do we need and how should it be validated? Do we need external resources for example encryption and/or signing? Does these modules communicate with each-other or do they rely on external resources to be able inter-communication? Both checklists and user stories with a corresponding test story are very usable here to be able to identify what needs to be verified accordingly to its identified specifications.
System testing is the highest level of testing, where you test the software as a whole in a realistic environment. You need to have a good knowledge of the requirements, the specifications, and the expected outcomes of the software. You also need to use tools and frameworks that help you perform various types of system tests, such as functional, non-functional, usability, security, or performance tests. For example, if you are testing a mobile application, you might use Appium, JMeter, or Cucumber.
End-to-End Testing: Skill in testing the entire application as a whole, including user interactions, workflows, and data flow. Test Data Management: Managing and preparing test data to simulate real-world scenarios. Compatibility Testing: Ability to test software on different platforms, browsers, and devices. Performance Testing: Knowledge of testing the software's performance under various loads and conditions.
Comprehensive Understanding of Requirements: Knowing the system's functional and non-functional requirements to ensure the software meets the user's needs. Experience with System Testing Tools: Proficiency with tools that simulate real-world usage and load conditions (e.g., Selenium for web applications, LoadRunner for performance testing). Cross-Platform Testing Knowledge: Understanding of various operating systems, browsers, and devices to ensure the software works seamlessly across all platforms.
In my experience system testing can be quite "fuzzy". We need to have verified that all components in the system are working and have been through integrational testing. Here we need to focus more on non-functionality testing and we need to focus on validation(yes its different from verifying) as we need to validate that the system is behaving as our customer has asked us to deliver. A system is typically more than just an application as it includes an operating system, application(s) with storage engines and so on. We also need to look at underlying infrastructure such Docker, Kubernetes, vmware and so on to see that it is performing well.
Communication skills are essential for any software tester, regardless of the level of testing. You need to be able to communicate clearly and effectively with developers, managers, clients, and other testers. You need to be able to write concise and accurate test cases, test plans, test reports, and bug reports. You also need to be able to collaborate and coordinate with your team members, share feedback, and resolve issues.
In software testing, good communication is crucial for efficient teamwork, transparent issue reporting, comprehension of project specifications, client relations, and for high-quality documentation.
Documentation: Clearly document unit test cases, expected outcomes, and any issues found for future reference. Issue Reporting: Clearly communicate integration issues, data discrepancies, and inconsistencies to facilitate prompt resolution. User Feedback: Collaborate with end users to gather feedback and insights, enhancing the software's quality and user experience. User Stories: Translate user stories into actionable test scenarios and communicate results back to stakeholders. Test Automation Status: Update the team on the status of automated regression test suites and any necessary adjustments. Cross-Functional Communication: Collaborate with security experts and developers to ensure a shared understanding of security concerns.
Effective Communication: Ability to clearly articulate findings, write detailed bug reports, and collaborate with developers to ensure issues are understood and resolved. Team Collaboration: Working closely with developers, business analysts, and other stakeholders to understand requirements, receive feedback, and refine testing approaches.
Analytical skills are also important for any software tester, regardless of the level of testing. You need to be able to analyze the software, the requirements, the test results, and the defects. You need to be able to identify the root causes, the impacts, and the solutions of the problems. You also need to be able to prioritize, optimize, and improve your testing processes and strategies.
Identify problems early and creat mitigation to stop them. Static test documentation, speak to the dev team to understand where risks could be? Speak to your fellow testers to look at trends for equivalent software. Review previous test results from other similar applications and teams.
Regardless of the testing level, the first and foremost step in testing is to analyze the test basis, which includes software requirements, system requirements, software architecture, etc. Similarly, to identify the root cause of a defect, the test engineer is required to analyze the test results, including test logs and test reports. Therefore analytical skills of the test engineer play an important role in overall test activities.
Critical Thinking: Ability to approach problems logically and systematically, analyzing software behavior to identify potential issues. Attention to Detail: The capability to catch subtle bugs and discrepancies that might be overlooked by others.
For analytical skills I suggest training in problem solving, learning design patterns and how to break them and methodically going through specifications to learn what has been missed, what has been misunderstood or any other defects. Many errors can stopped if we identify which specification from stakeholder/customer requirements does and doesn′t work. Adhere to Scrum and DevOps patterns and make sure anything that is being communicated through other means than your planning board is immediately discussed, prioritized and executed accordingly or back-logged. Make sure your team is working together!
Learning skills are another key factor for any software tester, regardless of the level of testing. You need to be able to learn new technologies, tools, frameworks, and methodologies that are relevant to your testing domain. You need to be able to adapt to changing requirements, expectations, and standards. You also need to be able to update your skills, knowledge, and certifications regularly.
Adaptability: The software industry is constantly evolving, so being able to quickly learn and apply new tools, technologies, and testing methodologies is essential. Curiosity: A keen interest in exploring software functionalities and testing new features comprehensively.
Experts ??????. Just because you give yourself a particular job title does not make you an expert in that job as the comments on here clearly demonstrate.
Your testing career can start with ISTQB but it doesn′t end there. I have seen many refer to these certifications but testing and Quality Assurance is more than that. I advocate Scrum and DevOps patterns for better understanding how to deliver quality in your increments regardless of product being produced. Adapt to failures and learn from mistakes to get a better learning culture in your team. Never get into blame games and listen to your team members when they struggle. Learn their personality to be able to help them.