software Definition of Software Testing: What is it, and why is it important?
Purpose of Testing: What goals does testing aim to achieve (e.g., finding defects, ensuring quality, meeting requirements)? Testing Terminology: Understanding terms like "test case," "test suite," "bug," "defect," "failure," "error," "test data," etc. Verification vs. Validation: Knowing the difference between building the product right vs. building the right product. The Testing Process: Stages of testing (planning, design, execution, reporting, etc.).
Principles of Software Testing: Understand key principles like "Testing shows the presence of defects, not their absence," "Exhaustive testing is impossible," "Early testing," "Defect clustering," "Pesticide paradox," "Testing is context-dependent," "Absence-of-errors fallacy."
Types of Software Testing:
Levels of Testing: Unit Testing Integration Testing System Testing Acceptance Testing (including User Acceptance Testing or UAT) Testing Techniques/Types: Black Box Testing (functional testing): Examples include Equivalence Partitioning, Boundary Value Analysis, Decision Table Testing, State Transition Testing, Use Case Testing. White Box Testing (structural testing): Examples include Statement Coverage, Branch Coverage, Path Coverage. Grey Box Testing (combination of both)
Other Testing Types: Regression Testing Performance Testing (Load, Stress, Endurance) Security Testing Usability Testing Accessibility Testing Compatibility Testing Exploratory Testing Ad-hoc Testing
The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and Testing:
Different SDLC Models: Waterfall, Agile (Scrum, Kanban), V-Model, etc. Testing in Different SDLCs: How testing is integrated into each model. The importance of "shift left" (testing earlier in the development process). Benefits of Early Testing: Cost savings, reduced risks, improved quality. Defect Management:
Defect Life Cycle: The process from identifying a defect to its resolution and closure. Defect Reporting: Writing clear, concise, and informative bug reports.
Test Documentation:
Test Plan Test Cases Test Scripts Test Reports Possible Question/Task Formats:
Multiple Choice Questions: Testing knowledge of definitions, principles, and types. Short Answer Questions: Explaining concepts, comparing testing techniques, justifying testing strategies. Scenario-Based Questions: Analyzing a situation and recommending appropriate testing types and techniques. Identifying potential risks if testing is skipped. Bug Report Writing: Creating a well-written bug report based on a given scenario. Test Case Design: Developing test cases for a specific feature or functionality. Case Studies: Analyzing a project and identifying potential testing issues. Explain why testing is crucial for building robust, reliable software. Describe the differences between Black Box and White Box testing techniques. Explain the benefits of implementing automated testing. My Approach to Preparing:
Review Core Concepts: Refresh my understanding of the fundamental definitions, principles, and types of testing. Study SDLC Models: Understand how testing fits into different SDLCs. Practice Scenario Analysis: Work through example scenarios to identify appropriate testing strategies. Review Bug Report Examples: Ensure I can write clear and informative bug reports.