Software Testing Interview Questions

Question	Answer
What is software testing?	Software testing is the process of evaluating and verifying that a software application or system performs as expected and meets the specified requirements.
What is the difference between verification and validation in testing?	Verification is the process of checking if the software meets the specified requirements, while validation is the process of checking if the software meets the user's needs and expectations.
What is a test case?	A test case is a set of conditions or inputs used to verify the behavior of a software application and ensure it functions as expected.
What are functional and non-functional testing?	Functional testing focuses on testing the features of the application, such as functionalities and business logic. Non-functional testing evaluates aspects like performance, security, and usability.
What is black-box testing?	Black-box testing is a method of testing where the tester does not have knowledge of the internal workings of the system, and only tests its functionality based on inputs and outputs.
What is white-box testing?	White-box testing, also known as clear-box or glass-box testing, involves testing the internal structures or workings of an application by having knowledge of its source code.
What is regression testing?	Regression testing is a type of software testing that ensures that recent code changes have not affected the existing functionalities of the application.
What is unit testing?	Unit testing is the process of testing individual units or components of the software to ensure they work as expected in isolation.
What is integration testing?	Integration testing is the process of testing the interactions between multiple software components or systems to ensure they work together correctly.
What is the purpose of a bug report?	A bug report is a document that provides detailed information about a defect or issue found in the software, including steps to reproduce, severity, and environment details.
What is a test plan?	A test plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the strategy, scope, objectives, resources, schedule, and activities involved in the testing process for a software application.
What is acceptance testing?	Acceptance testing is the process of evaluating a software application to determine if it meets the business requirements and is ready for release to the client or end-users.
What is performance testing?	Performance testing is a non-functional testing type that assesses how a system performs under different conditions, such as load, stress, and scalability tests.
What is load testing?	Load testing involves evaluating a system's performance under expected user load to ensure that it can handle the required number of users or transactions efficiently.
What is stress testing?	Stress testing is a type of performance testing that evaluates how a system behaves under extreme conditions or when it exceeds its capacity.
What is the difference between a defect and a bug?	A defect is an issue in the software that causes it to deviate from the expected behavior, while a bug is a specific instance of a defect, often caused by a coding error.
What is the purpose of smoke testing?	Smoke testing is a preliminary testing approach to check if the basic functionalities of an application work properly after a new build or code change.
What is exploratory testing?	Exploratory testing is an informal testing approach where testers actively explore the software to discover defects without predefined test cases, often using their creativity and experience.
What is a test suite?	A test suite is a collection of test cases grouped together to test a particular functionality, module, or feature of the application.
What is smoke testing?	Smoke testing is a preliminary testing process to check if the basic functionalities of a software build work correctly before it undergoes more rigorous testing.
What is sanity testing?	Sanity testing is a type of regression testing performed to ensure that the specific functionality of the application is working as expected after a code change or bug fix.
What is user acceptance testing (UAT)?	User acceptance testing is the final phase of testing where end-users validate whether the system meets their requirements and expectations before it is deployed.
What is exploratory testing?	Exploratory testing is a testing approach where testers actively explore the software to find defects without predefined test cases, using their skills and experience.
What is boundary value analysis?	Boundary value analysis is a testing technique that focuses on testing the boundaries between equivalence partitions, as errors tend to occur at the boundaries.
What is equivalence partitioning?	Equivalence partitioning is a technique that divides the input data into equivalent classes, where each class is treated the same for testing purposes, to reduce the number of test cases.
What is the difference between functional and non-functional testing?	Functional testing focuses on verifying that the software performs the functions it is supposed to, while non-functional testing evaluates aspects like performance, security, and usability.
What is a defect life cycle?	The defect life cycle refers to the stages a defect goes through from its identification to its resolution, including stages like new, assigned, resolved, and closed.
What is the difference between Alpha and Beta testing?	Alpha testing is done internally by the development team before the software is released to external testers, while Beta testing involves external users who test the software in a real-world environment.
What is static testing?	Static testing is the process of reviewing and analyzing the software's code, documentation, and design without executing the code to identify defects early in the development cycle.
What is dynamic testing?	Dynamic testing involves executing the code to validate the behavior of the application against expected outcomes, and it focuses on finding defects during runtime.
What is ad-hoc testing?	Ad-hoc testing is an informal testing technique where the tester explores the application without any formal test plans or cases, often relying on their experience to identify issues.
What is compatibility testing?	Compatibility testing verifies that the software works correctly across different environments, including various browsers, operating systems, and devices.
What is load testing?	Load testing is a performance testing technique that evaluates how well the system performs under a specific expected load of users or transactions.
What is stress testing?	Stress testing is a type of performance testing that evaluates how the system behaves under extreme conditions, such as excessive traffic or system overload.
What is scalability testing?	Scalability testing evaluates how well the system can handle increased load and scale up effectively without losing performance.
What is a test script?	A test script is a set of instructions or steps written in a programming language to automate the execution of tests and compare actual results with expected results.
What is the difference between a test case and a test scenario?	A test case is a specific set of conditions and actions to verify a particular functionality, while a test scenario is a higher-level description of the functionality or feature to be tested.
What is a traceability matrix?	A traceability matrix is a document that maps and traces the relationship between requirements and test cases to ensure all requirements are covered by tests.
What is test coverage?	Test coverage is a metric that measures the percentage of code or functionality covered by automated tests to ensure thorough testing of the application.
What is a risk-based testing approach?	Risk-based testing prioritizes testing activities based on the likelihood and impact of potential defects, focusing on areas with the highest risk to the system.
What is a test report?	A test report is a document that provides the results of the testing process, including information about the executed test cases, defects found, and test coverage.
What is a defect repository?	A defect repository is a centralized database or tool used to track and manage defects, including details like severity, status, and resolution progress.
What is test automation?	Test automation involves using specialized tools or scripts to automate the execution of test cases, reducing the manual effort required for repetitive tests and improving efficiency.
What is continuous testing?	Continuous testing is the practice of running automated tests continuously throughout the software development lifecycle to identify defects early and ensure quality in every stage.
What is the difference between stress testing and performance testing?	Stress testing evaluates how a system behaves under extreme load conditions, while performance testing assesses the system’s overall speed, responsiveness, and stability under expected load.
What is the purpose of the defect triage meeting?	A defect triage meeting is a session where developers, testers, and project managers assess and prioritize defects to determine their severity and decide on the necessary actions.
What is the role of a test lead?	A test lead is responsible for managing and coordinating testing activities, planning test strategies, allocating resources, and ensuring that testing is carried out effectively and efficiently.
What is an invalid test case?	An invalid test case is a test case designed to check the system’s behavior with invalid or incorrect inputs, which should ideally result in errors or rejection from the system.
What is exploratory testing?	Exploratory testing is an informal, unscripted testing approach in which testers actively explore the application, using their creativity and experience to find defects.
What is the purpose of negative testing?	Negative testing is designed to ensure that the software behaves correctly when invalid or unexpected inputs are provided, ensuring the system can handle errors gracefully.
What are some popular test automation tools?	Some popular test automation tools include Selenium, QTP (Quick Test Professional), JUnit, TestNG, and Appium.
What is the difference between a bug and a defect?	A bug is a flaw in the software caused by coding errors, whereas a defect refers to any deviation from the expected behavior, which can be caused by bugs, incorrect requirements, or other factors.
What is boundary value testing?	Boundary value testing is a technique where tests are designed to focus on the values at the boundaries of input ranges, as these are common areas where errors occur.
What is a mock object in testing?	A mock object is a simulated object that mimics the behavior of real objects in a controlled way during unit testing to isolate the unit under test.
What is a defect density metric?	Defect density is a metric used to measure the number of defects relative to the size of the software, often expressed as the number of defects per thousand lines of code (KLOC).
What is the purpose of pair testing?	Pair testing involves two testers working together on the same test case to increase effectiveness, share knowledge, and improve the quality of the testing process.
What is the purpose of the test execution phase?	The test execution phase is where testers execute test cases, compare the actual results with the expected results, and record the outcomes in a test report.
What is performance testing?	Performance testing is a type of testing aimed at determining how a system performs in terms of responsiveness and stability under a particular load.
What is load testing?	Load testing is a type of performance testing that evaluates how a system performs under expected user load, ensuring the system can handle the expected number of concurrent users or transactions.
What is stress testing?	Stress testing involves pushing the system beyond its normal load to determine how it behaves under extreme conditions, identifying failure points and recovery methods.
What is volume testing?	Volume testing checks how a system performs with a large volume of data, ensuring it can handle high quantities of data input without crashing.
What is scalability testing?	Scalability testing evaluates how a system can scale up or down based on increased or decreased workloads, ensuring the system can adjust to changing demands.
What is the purpose of stress testing?	The purpose of stress testing is to identify how the system behaves under heavy load, to discover the system’s breaking point, and to assess its ability to recover from failure.
What is a performance bottleneck?	A performance bottleneck is a point in the system that limits the overall performance, usually due to slow hardware, inefficient code, or resource limitations.
What is the difference between verification and validation?	Verification ensures that the product is built correctly according to specifications, while validation ensures the product meets the user’s needs and requirements.
What is the difference between load testing and stress testing?	Load testing measures the system's ability to handle expected traffic, while stress testing determines how the system behaves under extreme conditions beyond normal capacity.
What is a test plan?	A test plan is a detailed document that outlines the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing activities, including what will be tested, how it will be tested, and who will perform the tests.
What is regression testing?	Regression testing is performed to ensure that new code changes have not introduced any new defects in the existing functionality of the software.
What is the purpose of a test case?	A test case defines a set of conditions, inputs, actions, and expected outcomes used to verify if a particular feature or functionality works as expected.
What is a defect?	A defect is an issue, bug, or error in the software that causes it to behave incorrectly or deviate from its intended functionality.
What is the purpose of a test summary report?	The test summary report provides a high-level overview of the testing process, including the results, any issues found, and whether the product is ready for release.
What is a test suite?	A test suite is a collection of test cases that are grouped together for testing a specific functionality or module within a software application.
What is alpha testing?	Alpha testing is the first phase of testing performed by developers or QA teams to identify and fix issues before the software is released to a broader group of testers.
What is beta testing?	Beta testing is conducted by a group of external users who test the software in a real-world environment to uncover any bugs or usability issues before it is released to the public.
What is acceptance testing?	Acceptance testing determines if the system meets the business requirements and is ready for deployment, often conducted by the end-users or clients.
What is usability testing?	Usability testing assesses how easy and user-friendly a software application is by evaluating its design, functionality, and user experience from the perspective of the end-users.
What is security testing?	Security testing involves evaluating a software system for potential vulnerabilities, ensuring the system is protected against unauthorized access, data breaches, and attacks.
What is the difference between manual and automated testing?	Manual testing requires human testers to execute test cases, while automated testing uses tools and scripts to automatically execute the tests and compare the results.
What is a test environment?	A test environment is the setup where testing is performed, including hardware, software, network configurations, and any other resources required for testing.
What is continuous integration?	Continuous integration is a software development practice where code changes are automatically integrated and tested frequently in a shared repository, ensuring faster feedback and higher software quality.
What is the purpose of the test execution phase?	The test execution phase involves executing the test cases, comparing actual results with expected results, and logging defects if discrepancies are found.
What is the importance of test documentation?	Test documentation is important to ensure consistency, repeatability, traceability, and accountability in the testing process, providing a record of test cases, results, and defects.
What is a defect life cycle?	The defect life cycle refers to the various stages a defect goes through from its detection to its resolution, including identification, logging, prioritization, fixing, and closing.
What is the difference between a test case and a test script?	A test case is a detailed description of a specific test scenario, while a test script is a sequence of automated instructions designed to perform the test case.
What is black-box testing?	Black-box testing focuses on testing the functionality of the software without knowledge of its internal workings, validating the software's behavior against expected outputs.
What is white-box testing?	White-box testing is a testing technique where the internal structure, design, and implementation of the system are known and tested, focusing on code paths, logic, and structure.
What is gray-box testing?	Gray-box testing combines aspects of both black-box and white-box testing, where the tester has limited knowledge of the internal workings of the system but still tests for specific behaviors.
What is the purpose of a test closure report?	A test closure report is created after test execution and provides a summary of testing activities, including test results, issues encountered, and recommendations for improvement.
What is the difference between a test case and a test scenario?	A test case is a detailed set of steps to verify a particular feature or functionality, while a test scenario is a high-level description of the functionality or feature to be tested.
What is the importance of regression testing?	Regression testing ensures that new changes to the software have not introduced defects in previously working functionality, maintaining the overall integrity of the system.
What is the difference between a blocker and a critical defect?	A blocker defect completely prevents the software from functioning, whereas a critical defect significantly affects functionality but may not necessarily block the software.
What is the role of test metrics?	Test metrics help in evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the testing process, tracking progress, identifying bottlenecks, and improving the overall quality of testing.