A QA tester is responsible for quality assurance within a company. In this article we will discus some of the QA tester tasks.
Generally QA testers test products and software to ensure that they meet the required standards. QA testers may also be responsible for creating and maintaining test plans, as well as writing and executing test cases. To be successful in this role, one must have strong attention to detail and be able to work well under pressure.
1. Test design
Test design involves planning how you are going to test a product. Depending on the product or software, this can range from very quick and simple to extremely complex.
For example, if you were testing a video game, you would first need to figure out what functions the game has, how the player interacts with it, and what the expected outcomes are. This would be the function of the game. You would then need to figure out how to simulate player inputs and outputs, thus allowing you to determine whether the game is functioning properly about the expected outcomes.
This, however, is only a fraction of the complexity involved in test design. Depending on the industry you work in and the level of quality expected, your test design may range from simple test cases for a web app to complex proof-of-concept designs for medical devices.
2. Requirements gathering
Before you can begin creating and executing test cases, you will need to gather requirements. Those may come from various sources, including:
- The customer or client
- The developer or programming team QA, if there is already a version of the product available
3. Test planning
Once you have all the requirements, you will need to plan how you are going to test the product. This will include defining the goals of the testing, as well as the features or functions you plan on testing.
4. Test case development
Once you have planned the testing, you will need to develop the test cases. A test case will be a set of instructions or procedures for how to exercise a feature or functionality of the product to verify if it’s working as expected.
5. Test execution
For each test case you’ve developed, you will need to execute it. This is where the tester will find out if the product is behaving as expected. Depending on the product and your role, you may need to either fix or report any bugs or issues you encounter.
6. Defect management
Once you’ve found bugs or issues in the product, you’ll need to track and manage them. This includes assigning bugs to developers, as well as updating them as they go through various states, such as verification, confirmation, and closure.
7. Reporting
In addition to the above, you will also need to report your findings and results to the customer, developer, or team responsible for the product you’re testing.
8. Process improvements
Even after you’ve finished testing one project, your testing skills and abilities can continue to improve if you find ways to improve the testing process itself. This can include things like introducing automation or changing the way you work as a team.
Overall, QA tester tasks are an important role in the software development process. QA testers are responsible for ensuring that the software meets all the requirements and works as expected. They also play a vital role in identifying and reporting any bugs or issues. QA testers need to have strong attention to detail and be able to work methodically. If you think you have what it takes to be a QA tester, don’t hesitate to apply for the role.