Why Software Testing is the Backbone of Successful Tech Companies

More and more technological focus is on software and practically every business and industry today have software at its core. Companies ranging from those in the finance sector, or even healthcare, and extending to e-commerce and education sectors are relying more and more on complex and efficient software systems to be able to use their resources effectively, create value for their clients, and be competitive on the market. Still, in spite of the many benefits that software offers, there are some down sides especially if the software is inadequately tested. Repercussions face businesses due to bugs, security holes, performance issues and other disruptive factors. This is the reason why software testing has become the lifeline and the Most Important Function of Tech Companies It Ensured the reliability of products and their competitive position with regard to the quality of the user experience.

Preventing Catastrophic Failures

A major responsibility that software testers must take up is to ensure that any form of deviation or defect is rectified before the software is deployed. One software bug can create chaos and lead to loss of money, loss of image, and may even lead to costly lawsuits. For instance, in 2012, a software bug at Knight Capital Group made the company lose 440 million dollars within a span of just 45 minutes, which almost brought the firm to its knees. Also, a similar lack of attention to software in the healthcare industry can cause fatalities by making unsubstantiated proposals on treatments or even miss critical medical conditions. These are among the things that make companies look the other way when it comes to making cuts on testing.

Problems of this type can be avoided in the first place by testing various properties early in the software development process. It makes certain that the systems perform as expected in a variety of situations and circumstances. For technology firms, user-initiated disruptions are not only futile, but also undesirable if continuity of customer trust is to be maintained, which in turn lends itself to competitiveness against other firms as well as maximizing overall revenue.

Enhancing User Experience (UX)

As the world is becoming a global marketplace, user experience (UX) has become the most important key competitive advantage for any online business. Today’s consumers will leave applications, sites, or platforms that perform even a tad slow, have bugs, or are cumbersome to use in a heartbeat. This is where software testing comes in. It guarantees that the applications perform within acceptable limits, are usable on different devices and are usable in smooth ways.

Usability testing is among the biggest ways targeted at making sure that the software is the right fit for the targeted users. This helps companies discover and adjust any design or navigation problems that would irritate users or affect their experience. Also, performance testing also assesses the way the application behaves under a heavy load, in order to make sure that it will withstand the highest volume of use. All these tests help in building up the user-friendly components of a product leading to increased user retention and customer loyalty as well.

Supporting Agile and DevOps Methodologies

There is an increase in the implementation of both Agile and DevOps as methods of development in the tech firms. Especially, these methodologies include building and deploying applications incrementally through constant refinement and relentless deployment. Nevertheless, without constant verification and validation, it would be close to impossible to keep the quality of software in such a velocity-oriented environment.

Testing is there in the whole life cycle of development in practice and DevOps. Various tools for conducting tests automatically check the effectiveness of the new code, evaluate the code for faults, and verify that the added features do not interfere with any of the previous features. With this level of testing, companies can release more updates frequently while maintaining the quality level. It also allows them to accommodate customer requirements quickly thus improving the development time.

Ensuring Security in an Increasingly Digital World

The increasing inter-connectedness of the world has exposed software companies to security threats and as such, the security concerns keep changing. Information security breaches can result in great risks like compromising large amounts of data, exposing very private data to unauthorized people and the strenuous process to repair the damage done to the corporation’s reputation. Hence, this leads to Security testing being recognized as an essential part of the overall comprehensive testing process.

Security testing confirms the prevention of such defects in the software system, which can open up certain user’s vulnerabilities to external people with malicious aspirations. And, it provides measures to ensure sensitive information security, correct enforcement of user permissions, and protection against hacking attacks in the systems. For technology companies, the requirement for such analysis is not only the safety of users – it is rather fundamental for the security of the organization itself and for foreseeing such damaging things as legal consequence as a result of data leakage.

Reducing Long-Term Costs

Towards this goal, some companies take it as an unnecessary cost, Jeanie Noe Pahutan asserts that the opposite is true. This is why it is vital to deal with a defect as early as possible during the software lifecycle. Studies show that the cost of adjusting post-verification errors can rise to 30 times more than appropriating these errors as they occur in the coding activity. A reason for this is that such problems are usually at the later stages of the cycle, which usually leads to having to change several stages that come after it, which makes the development and release of the product take longer than planned.

Testing helps prevent companies from releasing products with bugs and later putting up very extravagant and unnecessary post-release patching or emergency bug fixing. Also, it lessens the amount of support and maintenance that will be needed once the product has been released to its intended users. In the end, testing helps achieve the objectives of the technology companies as they are able to release high quality software without having to keep spending resources in correcting errors.

Driving Innovation with Confidence

At last, let us look at one more aspect that is so often underappreciated – software testing and its contribution to innovation. If companies are confident with the stability and security of the prolusion software, they are able to extend the limits, so to say. New features or new technologies can be tested by developers without a fear of causing a disruptive change. Testing offers a cushion that gives companies the ability to be very aggressive on innovation and yet ensure quality.

The process of testing has also become highly effective and extensive with the introduction of test automation. As opposed to state manual testing where only a limited number of tests can be performed, automated testing can achieve this within a number of minutes due to the fact that pre-scripted tests are controlled by a program which also gives a result. This enables technology firms to continue living with the reality of ever achieve enhancement of their systems by releasing novel modifications sequentially in constant terms to outpace their rivals.

Conclusion

Testing software cannot be viewed merely as a process of performing many chores — it is an activity that determines how successful tech companies will be. It avoids expensive mistakes and poor usability, embraces Agile and DevOps processes, secures systems and promotes creativity. In the business where the pace, consistency, and users’ trust matter most — software testing is a core practice that focuses on the long-term health of the business. Businesses that choose to adopt an effective test strategy would not only mitigate risks but also create an opportunity that will better their prospects and foster creativity.

Security Testing for Critical Systems in Software Testing

Introduction:

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, software systems are central to the functioning of businesses, governments, and industries. Many of these systems, such as financial applications, healthcare systems, defense technologies, and critical infrastructure, handle sensitive data or control essential processes. For such systems, security is paramount. A security breach can lead to data loss, financial damage, compromised operations, or even loss of life. Therefore, ensuring the security of critical systems through rigorous testing is an essential component of the software development lifecycle.

What is Security Testing?

Security testing is the process of evaluating a software application or system to identify vulnerabilities, weaknesses, or threats that could lead to unauthorized access, data leakage, or manipulation. It aims to protect the system from malicious attacks, prevent data breaches, and ensure that sensitive information remains secure.

Security testing for critical systems involves assessing how the software behaves in the presence of malicious actors, incorrect usage, or unexpected inputs, and ensuring that the system meets required security standards and compliance regulations.

Key Objectives of Security Testing for Critical Systems:

  1. Identify Vulnerabilities: Detect flaws or weaknesses that could potentially be exploited by attackers. These vulnerabilities may exist in the software, system architecture, or its integration with other systems.
  2. Ensure Data Protection: Critical systems often handle sensitive information. Security testing ensures that data privacy measures are in place and that information is encrypted, masked, or securely stored.
  3. Verify Authentication and Authorization: Strong mechanisms for user authentication and authorization are vital for preventing unauthorized access to critical systems. Security testing ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive parts of the system.
  4. Detect and Mitigate Threats: Identify potential threats, including common attack methods such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. The goal is to ensure that the system is resilient to such threats.
  5. Compliance with Regulations: Many critical systems are subject to industry-specific regulations, such as HIPAA (for healthcare), GDPR (for data privacy), or PCI-DSS (for payment systems). Security testing ensures that the system complies with these standards.

Types of Security Testing for Critical Systems:

  1. Vulnerability Scanning: Automated tools are used to scan the system for known vulnerabilities. These tools compare the system’s components against a database of known security flaws and provide insights into any potential weaknesses.
  2. Penetration Testing (Pen Test): Penetration testing involves simulating real-world cyber-attacks to identify exploitable vulnerabilities. Ethical hackers (or penetration testers) attempt to gain unauthorized access to the system by exploiting weaknesses in its design, implementation, or configuration.
  3. Static Application Security Testing (SAST): SAST involves reviewing the source code of the application without executing it. It identifies vulnerabilities at the code level, such as insecure coding practices, poor input validation, or missing security controls.
  4. Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST): DAST is performed while the application is running. It focuses on identifying vulnerabilities that occur during the operation of the application, such as improper handling of user inputs or weak session management.
  5. Threat Modeling: Threat modeling helps identify potential security risks early in the software design phase. This involves analyzing how an attacker might exploit weaknesses and how various parts of the system might be targeted.
  6. Security Code Review: A manual or automated review of the application’s code to detect any weaknesses or flaws related to security. This often includes checking for issues such as poor input validation, hardcoded passwords, or insufficient data encryption.
  7. Risk Assessment: Risk assessments identify potential security threats based on system architecture, external threats, and business impact. This includes determining the likelihood of attacks and the impact of those attacks on the organization’s operations.

Best Practices for Security Testing in Critical Systems:

  1. Shift Left Security: Security testing should start early in the development lifecycle, not just during the testing phase. Integrating security into the DevOps process (DevSecOps) ensures that security is embedded throughout the design, development, and deployment stages.
  2. Continuous Security Testing: Security testing shouldn’t be a one-time event but an ongoing process. With the rapid pace of new threats and vulnerabilities emerging daily, continuous testing and monitoring of the system’s security posture is critical.
  3. Use of Automation Tools: While manual penetration testing and code reviews are essential, automated tools can significantly enhance the speed and thoroughness of security testing. Tools like OWASP ZAP, Nessus, and Burp Suite can automate common security tests.
  4. Security Awareness and Training: Developers, testers, and other stakeholders involved in critical systems should be trained to understand common security risks and how to avoid them. This includes recognizing common attack vectors and following best security practices during development.
  5. Patch Management: Vulnerabilities in critical systems often arise from outdated software or libraries. Regular patch management and updates ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed and patched promptly.
  6. Simulation of Real-World Attacks: Use red teams (simulated adversarial attackers) to conduct security exercises that mimic real-world attacks. These exercises help assess the effectiveness of security controls, the response to incidents, and the ability to mitigate breaches.
  7. Zero Trust Architecture: In a zero-trust model, no user or system is trusted by default, even if they are inside the corporate network. Implementing zero trust in critical systems ensures that every access request is verified and validated, reducing the risk of internal or external breaches.
  8. Logging and Monitoring: Critical systems must have comprehensive logging and monitoring mechanisms in place to detect suspicious activities in real time. Security testing should verify the effectiveness of these mechanisms in identifying and responding to threats quickly.
  9. Incident Response and Recovery Planning: Security testing for critical systems should also assess the system’s ability to respond to security incidents. This includes verifying incident response procedures and the robustness of disaster recovery and business continuity plans.

Challenges in Security Testing for Critical Systems:

  1. Complexity: Critical systems are often large, complex, and interconnected with other systems, making it challenging to conduct exhaustive security testing.
  2. Evolving Threats: The landscape of cybersecurity threats is constantly changing, and new attack methods are developed regularly. This requires continuous learning, adaptation, and testing.
  3. Resource Constraints: Comprehensive security testing can be resource-intensive. Many organizations may face budget or time constraints when trying to implement thorough security testing for critical systems.
  4. False Positives and Negatives: Security testing tools can sometimes produce false positives (indicating vulnerabilities where none exist) or false negatives (failing to detect actual vulnerabilities), requiring human intervention and expertise to interpret results correctly.

Conclusion:

Security testing for critical systems is a vital part of software testing. It ensures that software is resilient to cyber threats, protecting both sensitive data and the integrity of the system. Given the potential consequences of security failures, organizations must adopt a comprehensive and proactive approach to security testing, integrating it early into the development lifecycle, using the latest tools and techniques, and ensuring continuous monitoring. By doing so, they can minimize the risk of cyber-attacks, maintain the trust of their users, and meet regulatory compliance requirements, all while safeguarding the functionality and security of critical systems.

How API Testing with C# and RestSharp

API testing is an essential part of the software development lifecycle, focusing on the communication and data exchange between different software systems. It verifies that APIs are functioning correctly and meeting performance, reliability, and security standards. Using C# with the RestSharp library simplifies the process of interacting with RESTful APIs by providing an easy-to-use interface for making HTTP requests.

Embracing Quality: A Deep Dive into Software Testing and Quality Assurance at Uttara University

As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the demand for quality software has never been greater. In response to this need, I’m excited to announce that I will be leading a series of lectures on Quality Assurance (QA) and Software Testing at Uttara University under the EDGE project.

Why Quality Assurance Matters

Quality Assurance is more than just finding bugs; it’s about ensuring that software meets the highest standards of quality and reliability. With the increasing complexity of software applications, effective QA practices are essential for delivering products that not only meet user expectations but also perform well under real-world conditions.

Course Overview

Throughout this course, we will explore key concepts and methodologies in QA and software testing, including:

  1. Introduction to Quality Assurance: Understanding the principles of QA, its importance in the software development lifecycle, and the role of QA professionals.
  2. Testing Methodologies: Delving into various testing types such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing. We will also discuss manual vs. automated testing and when to use each approach.
  3. Test Planning and Design: Learning how to create effective test plans, design test cases, and establish testing criteria that align with project requirements.
  4. Defect Tracking and Reporting: Best practices for identifying, documenting, and communicating defects to ensure timely resolution.
  5. Tools and Technologies: An overview of popular testing tools (like Selenium, JUnit, and Postman) and how they can enhance the testing process.
  6. Real-World Applications: Case studies and practical exercises to apply the concepts learned and prepare students for real-world QA challenges.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to:

  • Understand the critical role of QA in software development.
  • Develop comprehensive test plans and cases.
  • Utilize various testing tools effectively.
  • Analyze and report on testing outcomes to drive improvements.

Join the Journey

I am passionate about sharing my knowledge and experiences in QA and software testing. This course will not only provide theoretical insights but also hands-on experience that prepares students for careers in this vital field.

I look forward to engaging discussions, collaborative projects, and fostering a deeper understanding of quality assurance among aspiring software professionals.

Stay tuned for updates, and let’s embark on this journey towards achieving excellence in software quality together!

Using Paste Special in Visual Studio to Generate C# Classes from JSON

Visual Studio offers a feature called “Paste Special” that allows you to easily generate C# classes from JSON objects. This is particularly useful when working with web APIs or any JSON data, as it automates the creation of data models that match the JSON structure.

  1. Copy the JSON Object:
    • Ensure you have your JSON object copied to the clipboard. For example
  1. Open Visual Studio:
    • Launch Visual Studio and open the project where you want to add the new classes.
  2. Add a New Class File:
    • In Solution Explorer, right-click on the folder where you want to add the new class.
    • Select Add > New Item….
    • Choose Class and give it a meaningful name, then click Add.
  3. Use Paste Special:
    • Open the newly created class file (e.g., MyClass.cs).
    • Delete any default code in the class file.
    • Go to Edit > Paste Special > Paste JSON as Classes.
  4. Review the Generated Code:
  5. Visual Studio will automatically generate C# classes that correspond to the JSON structure. For the example JSON, it would generate something like this:

Types of Software Testing – A Comprehensive Breakdown for Professionals

Software testing is the backbone of delivering reliable, secure, and user-friendly applications. It ensures that the software meets expectations, both technically and functionally. This guide explores the two primary categories of software testing—Functional and Non-Functional Testing—and outlines core types under each, complete with real-world examples and use cases.

Functional Testing

Definition: Functional testing focuses on testing the software against the business requirements. It answers the question: “Does the system do what it’s supposed to do?”

1. Unit Testing

  • Purpose: To test individual components or units of code in isolation.
  • Who Performs: Developers during development.
  • Tools: JUnit (Java), NUnit (.NET), Jest (JavaScript), xUnit, Mocha.
  • Example: A login method is tested to ensure it returns the correct token when given a valid username and password.

2. Integration Testing

  • Purpose: To test the communication between integrated modules or external systems.
  • Approaches: Top-down, bottom-up, or hybrid.
  • Example: In a flight booking system, testing the integration between the booking engine and payment gateway.

3. Smoke Testing

  • Purpose: A quick test of basic functionalities to verify if the build is stable enough for further testing.
  • Example: After a new release, QAs run smoke tests to confirm login, dashboard, and logout features are functioning.

4. Sanity Testing

  • Purpose: A focused test to verify a specific bug fix or new functionality works without doing full regression.
  • Example: After fixing an issue where items couldn’t be added to the cart, sanity testing ensures that feature is now functioning.

5. Regression Testing

  • Purpose: Ensures that new updates haven’t negatively affected existing features.
  • Why Important: Frequent changes can break stable code.
  • Tools: Selenium, TestComplete, Cypress.
  • Example: After adding a new coupon feature, verifying that the checkout still works with older promo codes.

6. End-to-End Testing

  • Purpose: Simulates real user behavior across an entire system.
  • Scope: Covers all integrations like database, APIs, third-party services.
  • Example: Testing a pet insurance site: login → policy selection → payment → email confirmation.

7. Acceptance Testing (UAT)

  • Purpose: Final validation by business users or clients to ensure the software meets their needs.
  • Who Performs: End-users or business stakeholders.
  • Example: A customer verifies a new dashboard layout meets their expectations before go-live.

8. Interface Testing

  • Purpose: Ensures modules or external APIs integrate properly.
  • Example: Testing whether the CRM system correctly receives data from a web form.

9. White Box Testing

  • Approach: Tests internal logic, structure, and code paths.
  • Performed By: Developers or technically advanced testers.

10. Black Box Testing

  • Approach: Tests functionality without knowing internal code structure.
  • Performed By: QA engineers simulating real user behavior.

Non-Functional Testing

Definition: Non-functional testing focuses on how the system performs under various conditions rather than what it does.

1. Performance Testing

  • Purpose: Measures system responsiveness, speed, and stability under load.
  • Types:
    • Load Testing: Tests expected user volume.
    • Stress Testing: Tests beyond capacity to find breaking points.
    • Endurance Testing: Tests over long periods to detect memory leaks or resource exhaustion.
  • Tools: JMeter, LoadRunner, Gatling, Locust.
  • Example: An e-commerce app tested under Black Friday traffic.

2. Security Testing

  • Purpose: Detects vulnerabilities to protect from unauthorized access, data breaches, and hacking.
  • Focus Areas:
    • Authentication & authorization
    • Data encryption
    • SQL injection & cross-site scripting (XSS)
  • Tools: Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, Nessus.
  • Example: A banking app is tested for password strength and two-factor authentication.

3. Usability Testing

  • Purpose: Ensures the software is user-friendly and intuitive.
  • Example: A stock trading app is tested to confirm users can navigate one-handed and access key functions easily.

4. Installation Testing

  • Purpose: Verifies smooth installation, upgrade, and uninstallation across platforms.
  • Example: Installing a desktop app on Windows, Mac, and Linux and validating proper setup.

5. Reliability Testing

  • Purpose: Assesses how consistently the software performs under normal use.
  • Example: Running a server monitoring tool continuously for a week to track uptime and response time.

Specialized Testing Techniques

1. Alpha Testing

  • When: Late development, before public release.
  • Who Performs: Internal QA and developers.
  • Goal: Catch bugs before handing to users.

2. Beta Testing

  • When: After alpha, in real-world user environments.
  • Who Performs: External users.
  • Goal: Get feedback on usability, compatibility, and reliability.

3. A/B Testing

  • Purpose: Compare two versions of a UI or feature to determine which performs better.
  • Common In: Marketing, UI/UX optimization.
  • Example: Two versions of a signup form tested to see which gets more completions.

4. Ad Hoc / Monkey Testing

  • Purpose: Informal testing without test cases, often exploratory.
  • When Useful: Late-stage testing or in agile environments for fast feedback.
  • Example: A tester randomly clicks buttons or inputs data to catch unexpected crashes.

Summary Table

Testing TypeCategoryPerformed ByExample Use
Unit TestingFunctionalDevelopersLogin method returns correct token
Regression TestingFunctionalQAOld checkout flow after adding discounts
Load TestingNon-FunctionalQAApp supports 1000 concurrent users
Security TestingNon-FunctionalSecurity TeamPrevent SQL injection
UATFunctionalEnd-UsersFinal confirmation of a sales dashboard
A/B TestingSpecializedMarketing/ProductChoose best email subject line

Final Takeaway

Mastering the different types of software testing is essential for delivering bug-free, scalable, and user-friendly software. A balanced mix of functional, non-functional, and exploratory testing ensures high-quality releases and happy users.

How to input value into an international number text box in selenium

Below is the text box and the corresponding HTML:

If I used sendkeys, sometimes it may not working

driver.findElement(By.name(“mainphone”)).sendKeys(“(02)2222-2222”);
driver.findElement(By.id(“mobilephone”)).sendKeys(“05-5555-5555”);

If sendkeys() methods are not working then use following two ways to input text:

Before sendkeys() use click() method to click inside textfield i.e:

driver.findElement(By.name("mainphone")).click();
driver.findElement(By.name("mainphone")).sendKeys("(02)2222-2222");   
driver.findElement(By.id("mobilephone")).click();
driver.findElement(By.id("mobilephone")).sendKeys("05-5555-5555"); 

Open chrome mobile emulator with selenium c#

Hi guys, I am going to run a test mobile emulator with selenium and VS C#

Import

using System;
using System.Threading;
using NUnit.Framework;
using OpenQA.Selenium;
using OpenQA.Selenium.Support.UI;
using OpenQA.Selenium.Chrome;

Driver Utils Class

First of all delclaring the webdriver, which will be used for open specfic browser

namespace SeleniumAutomation
{
[TestClass]
public class Setup
  {
       IWebDriver webDriver;
  }
}

Open Chrome

[Test]
public void Open_Browser()
{
 webDriver = new ChromeDriver();

}

Open Chrome Mobile Emulator

 [Test]
 public void Mobile_Emulator_Browser()
 {
 ChromeOptions chromeCapabilities = new ChromeOptions();
 chromeCapabilities.EnableMobileEmulation("Pixel 5");
 webDriver = new ChromeDriver(chromeCapabilities);

 }

I think it will be helpful to run chrome in mobile emulator

Technical & Soft Skills Every QA Tester Should Master

🧠 Top Skills That Are Important for a Test Professional in 2025

Software testing has transformed rapidly with the rise of automation, agile, AI, and complex digital ecosystems. A test professional today is no longer limited to clicking through test cases—they are expected to be problem solvers, communicators, coders, and sometimes even data analysts.

The infographic below shows a breakdown of the most critical testing skills, based on industry-wide feedback.


📌 Why These Skills Matter

With constant software releases, test professionals need to ensure quality without slowing down development. That means:

  • Faster feedback loops
  • Deeper collaboration with developers
  • Testing beyond just functionality (security, usability, performance)
  • Understanding user behavior and business context

These skills help testers not just find bugs—but prevent them.

📊 Top Skills Breakdown

Here’s a detailed look at what each skill means and why it matters:

1. 🗣️ Communication Skills (75% Very Important)

📍 Why it’s critical:
Testers must clearly document bugs, write test cases, and explain defects to developers and stakeholders. Good communication prevents misunderstandings and keeps the team aligned.

2. ⚙️ Automation & Scripting (65%)

📍 Why it’s critical:
Manual testing can’t scale. Knowledge of automation frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, or Playwright is essential. Scripting in languages like Python, Java, or JavaScript can save hours of repetitive work.

3. 📚 General Testing Methodologies (62%)

📍 Why it’s critical:
Understanding black-box, white-box, regression, smoke, and exploratory testing helps testers select the right test at the right time.

4. 🌐 Web Technologies (60%)

📍 Why it’s critical:
Modern testers must understand HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to validate front-end issues or debug problems in browser-based apps.

5. 🔌 API Testing (55%)

📍 Why it’s critical:
More apps rely on microservices and APIs. Testers need tools like Postman, REST Assured, or Karate to test APIs for performance, reliability, and correctness.

6. 🛡️ Security Testing (48%)

📍 Why it’s critical:
Testers play a role in identifying vulnerabilities—such as XSS, injection attacks, or broken authentication—before attackers do.

7. 🔁 Agile Methodologies (45%)

📍 Why it’s critical:
Testers in Agile teams need to test early and often, work in sprints, and use practices like TDD (Test-Driven Development) and CI/CD pipelines.

8. 📈 Performance & Load Testing (42%)

📍 Why it’s critical:
Users expect fast apps. Testers use tools like JMeter, Gatling, or k6 to simulate thousands of users and ensure the app can handle peak loads.

9. 📱 Mobile Technologies (39%)

📍 Why it’s critical:
Testing on Android and iOS requires mobile-specific knowledge (e.g., gestures, screen sizes, emulators, Appium automation).

10. 🧠 Customer-Facing & Business Skills

📍 Why it’s critical:
Testers with empathy and business understanding catch real-world bugs—issues a user would actually care about.

🧩 Other Valuable (Emerging) Skills:

SkillUse Case
Data AnalysisUnderstanding logs, charts, trends for performance and issue tracking
Cloud TestingTesting apps deployed in AWS, Azure, GCP
Microservices TestingEnsuring independent services communicate reliably
Big Data TestingValidating high-volume, high-velocity data pipelines
IoT TestingTesting smart devices and networks
AI/ML TestingVerifying predictions, fairness, and performance of AI models
Operations ManagementCoordinating test environments, deployments, and reporting

Final Tips for Testers to Stay Relevant:

  1. 🧑‍💻 Practice automation daily – even if just small scripts
  2. 📚 Read about new tools and trends in QA weekly
  3. 🧪 Participate in real-world testing challenges (e.g., Bug Bashes, uTest)
  4. 🤝 Collaborate with developers and product owners
  5. 📊 Learn to report insights, not just bugs

Types of Software Testing Every QA Engineer Should Know

Software Testing is the process of evaluating a software application to ensure it works as expected, is secure, and performs well. It is broadly categorized into Static Testing and Dynamic Testing.

🔍 1. Static Testing

  • What it is:
    Testing the software without executing code. It’s done during the early stages of development.
  • Key methods:
    • Review
    • Walkthrough
    • Inspection

This helps find early-stage errors in requirements or design.

⚙️ 2. Dynamic Testing

  • What it is:
    Involves running the actual software and validating its behavior.
  • Two major branches: Functional & Non-Functional Testing

🔧 Functional Testing

Focuses on what the software does (its features and functions). It includes:

✅ White Box Testing

Tests internal code and logic. Done by developers.

  • Unit Testing – Tests individual functions/methods
  • Code/Statement/Path Testing – Analyzes code coverage
  • Branch Coverage – Ensures each decision point (like if-else) is tested

✅ Black Box Testing

Focuses on inputs and outputs without knowing the internal code.

  • Integration Testing – Checks interactions between modules
  • Smoke/Sanity Testing – Basic checks after builds
  • Functionality Testing – Verifies features as per requirements
  • Regression Testing – Ensures old features work after changes
  • System Testing – Full end-to-end testing of the entire app
  • User Acceptance Testing (UAT) – Final testing by users before release

🧱 Non-Functional Testing

Tests how the software performs rather than what it does. Examples:

  • Load and Stress Testing – Tests system behavior under high load
  • Compatibility Testing – Ensures software works on different devices and platforms
  • Security Testing – Checks for vulnerabilities and data protection
  • Recovery Testing – Verifies how the app recovers from crashes
  • Usability Testing – Ensures app is user-friendly
  • Cookies Testing – Validates cookie creation, expiry, and behavior

✅ Final Thoughts

Using the right types of software testing helps teams build secure, fast, and high-quality software. Static and dynamic testing together cover both the visible functions and hidden logic of the system.