These are the top manual testing interview questions asked by organizations in a manual testing job interview.

Here are the answers to the top 50 frequently asked questions related to manual testing during job interviews:

1. What is manual testing?

Manual testing is the process of executing test cases and evaluating software applications manually to identify defects, bugs, or other issues before the software is released.

2. What are the advantages of manual testing?

Manual testing allows for exploratory testing, human intuition, and ad hoc testing. It is effective for small projects, has a lower initial cost, and is ideal when there are frequent changes in requirements.

3. What are the disadvantages of manual testing?

Manual testing can be time-consuming, repetitive, and prone to human errors. It requires skilled testers and is not suitable for large or complex projects.

4. What is the difference between verification and validation in manual testing?

Verification ensures that the software meets the specified requirements, while validation ensures that the software meets the user's expectations and needs.

5. What is a test case?

A test case is a set of conditions or actions that are performed to determine whether a particular feature or functionality of the software is working correctly.

6. How do you write a test case?

A test case typically includes a test case ID, description, steps to execute, expected results, and actual results. It should be clear, concise, and cover all possible scenarios.

7. What is the difference between positive and negative testing?

Positive testing is performed to validate that the software behaves as expected with valid inputs, while negative testing is done to check how the software handles invalid or unexpected inputs.

8. What is smoke testing?

Smoke testing is a preliminary test performed to ensure that the critical functionalities of the software are working properly before conducting detailed testing.

9. What is regression testing?

Regression testing is performed to verify that recent changes or enhancements in the software have not introduced new defects or impacted existing functionalities.

10. What is usability testing?

Usability testing focuses on evaluating the user-friendliness of the software by measuring how easily users can learn, navigate, and perform tasks within the application.

11. What is exploratory testing?

Exploratory testing is an informal and unscripted testing technique where testers actively explore the software to find defects, learn its behavior, and understand its functionality.

12. What is the purpose of a test plan?

A test plan outlines the scope, objectives, and approach for testing a software application. It includes test objectives, test strategies, test environment, and test schedules.

13. What is a defect life cycle?

The defect life cycle includes the stages of a defect from identification to closure. It typically involves steps like defect logging, triaging, assignment, fixing, retesting, and closure.

14. What is the difference between severity and priority?

Severity refers to the impact of a defect on the system, while priority indicates the urgency or importance of fixing the defect.

15. What is a test script?

A test script is a set of instructions or commands that testers follow to execute a specific test case. It includes the steps, input data, and expected outcomes.

16. What is the difference between functional and non-functional testing?

Functional testing focuses on testing the functional requirements of the software, ensuring that it performs as intended. Non-functional testing involves evaluating aspects like performance, security, usability, and reliability.

17. What is black box testing?

Black box testing is a testing technique where testers assess the functionality of the software without knowledge of its internal structure or code. It focuses on inputs, outputs, and the expected behavior.

18. What is white box testing?

White box testing, also known as structural testing, involves examining the internal structure and implementation of the software to ensure that it is working correctly.

19. What is a test environment?

A test environment is a setup or configuration of hardware, software, and network resources where testing is conducted. It should mimic the production environment as closely as possible.

20. What is a test plan and what does it typically include?

A test plan is a document that outlines the scope, objectives, and approach of testing a software application. It typically includes test objectives, test strategies, test environment, test schedules, and resource requirements.

21. What is the difference between a test case and a test scenario?

A test case is a specific set of conditions and steps to test a particular functionality, while a test scenario is a collection of test cases that covers a broader set of functionalities or user workflows.

22. What is boundary testing?

Boundary testing involves testing the software with input values at the extreme boundaries or limits of valid and invalid ranges to ensure proper behavior.

23. What is the difference between system testing and integration testing?

System testing verifies that the integrated system meets the specified requirements, while integration testing focuses on testing the interfaces and interactions between system components.

24. What is the difference between ad hoc testing and exploratory testing?

Ad hoc testing refers to informal testing without any specific test cases or plans, while exploratory testing is focused on exploring the software to learn its behavior, find defects, and understand its functionality.

25. What is the purpose of a test log?

A test log is used to record the details of test execution, including test case ID, description, steps performed, actual results, and any defects or issues encountered during testing.

26. What is the difference between quality assurance and quality control?

Quality assurance focuses on preventing defects by ensuring that proper processes, standards, and procedures are in place. Quality control involves detecting defects through testing and inspections.

27. What is a test deliverable?

A test deliverable is any work product produced during the testing process, such as test plans, test cases, test scripts, test reports, and defect logs.

28. What is the difference between a test strategy and a test plan?

A test strategy is a high-level document that defines the overall testing approach, objectives, and methodologies, while a test plan is a detailed document that outlines the specific activities and schedules for testing.

29. What is compatibility testing?

Compatibility testing ensures that the software can run on different hardware, operating systems, browsers, or other platforms as intended, without any issues or conflicts.

30. What is performance testing?

Performance testing involves evaluating the responsiveness, stability, scalability, and resource usage of the software under different load and stress conditions.

31. What is the difference between alpha and beta testing?

Alpha testing is performed by the development team to validate the software before releasing it to external users, while beta testing involves testing the software in a real-world environment by end users.

32. What is the purpose of a test closure report?

A test closure report summarizes the testing activities, including the test coverage, defects found, and the overall assessment of the quality of the software after completion of testing.

33. What is the difference between static and dynamic testing?

Static testing involves reviewing documents, code, and other artifacts to identify defects without executing the software, while dynamic testing involves executing the software to find defects.

34. What is the role of a test lead?

A test lead is responsible for planning, coordinating, and managing the testing activities, including test design, execution, and reporting. They also ensure that the testing team meets project deadlines and objectives.

35. What is a test execution report?

A test execution report provides an overview of the test execution progress, including the number of test cases executed, passed, failed, and any defects or issues encountered during testing.

36. What is risk-based testing?

Risk-based testing is a testing approach where testing efforts are prioritized based on the potential impact and likelihood of failure for different features or functionalities.

37. What is the difference between sanity testing and regression testing?

Sanity testing is a quick, high-level test to verify that the critical functionalities are working after a minor change, while regression testing is more comprehensive and verifies the impact of changes on existing functionalities.

38. What is the role of a test environment manager?

A test environment manager is responsible for setting up and maintaining the test environment, including hardware, software, databases, and configurations required for testing.

39. What is the difference between positive and negative testing?

Positive testing focuses on testing valid inputs and expected behavior, while negative testing focuses on testing invalid inputs, error handling, and unexpected behavior.

40. What is the difference between a defect and an issue?

A defect refers to a deviation from the expected behavior or a flaw in the software, while an issue is a broader term that can encompass defects, enhancements, feature requests, or any other problem related to the software.

41. What is the purpose of a test summary report?

A test summary report provides a summary of the testing activities, including the test coverage, test results, and an overall assessment of the quality of the software at the end of testing.

42. What is the difference between smoke testing and regression testing?

Smoke testing is a preliminary test to ensure the critical functionalities are working before in-depth testing, while regression testing is performed to validate that recent changes have not introduced new defects or impacted existing functionalities.

43. What is a test data and why is it important?

Test data is the set of inputs or data used to execute test cases. It is important because it ensures that a wide range of scenarios are covered during testing and helps in identifying defects or issues.

44. What is the difference between a test plan and a test strategy?

A test plan is a detailed document that outlines the specific activities, schedules, and resources for testing a software application, while a test strategy is a high-level document that defines the overall testing approach, objectives, and methodologies.

45. What is equivalence partitioning?

Equivalence partitioning is a testing technique where input values are divided into groups or partitions that are expected to exhibit similar behavior, allowing for efficient test coverage.

46. What is the difference between test coverage and test effectiveness?

Test coverage measures the extent to which the software has been tested against the specified requirements, while test effectiveness measures the ability of the tests to identify defects or issues.

47. What is a test harness?

A test harness is a set of tools, utilities, or frameworks used to automate the execution of test cases and manage the test environment.

48. What is the purpose of a traceability matrix?

A traceability matrix is a document that maps the requirements to the corresponding test cases. It helps ensure that all requirements are covered by the tests and aids in tracking the test coverage.

49. What is usability testing?

Usability testing focuses on evaluating the user-friendliness of the software by measuring how easily users can learn, navigate, and perform tasks within the application.

50. What is the difference between manual testing and automated testing?

Manual testing is performed manually by human testers, executing test cases and evaluating the software's behavior. Automated testing involves using tools and scripts to execute test cases and compare actual results with expected results.