April 7, 2025
As user experience and reliability become paramount, software testing has become a dynamic and essential field in the tech industry. The software testing market in India is projected to grow by $24.49 trillion between 2024 and 2029, reflecting an 11.4% CAGR. As a result, the demand for highly skilled software testers is at an all-time high and is projected to grow by an impressive 17% from 2023 to 2033.
To navigate this thriving landscape, you must be well-prepared for interviews that assess your technical prowess and problem-solving abilities. As a software tester, your expertise in various testing techniques, tools, and methodologies will be scrutinized in interviews. This is why preparation is key. Whether you're a fresher looking to enter the field or an experienced tester aiming to refine your skills, mastering common software testing interview questions is crucial for making a lasting impression.
In this guide, we will explore over 70 software testing interview questions and answers, categorized by your experience level, to equip you with the knowledge needed to excel in software testing interviews and advance your career in this dynamic field.
Before we proceed, let’s understand why software testing interview questions are crucial for hiring managers. You see, recruiters ask them for a variety of reasons, all of which contribute to finding the best candidate. These questions aren't just designed to test your knowledge but also to assess your problem-solving skills, thought processes, and ability to handle real-world scenarios.
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Now that you understand what recruiters are looking for, it's time to finally explore some software testing interview questions for freshers to give you a solid foundation as you prepare for your next interview.
As a fresher, one of the best ways to prepare for a software testing interview is by understanding the fundamental concepts and principles of testing. Recruiters ask these questions to assess your grasp of core testing concepts and how well you articulate your thoughts. Let’s discuss some common software testing interview questions to help you build confidence and excel in an entry-level software testing interview.
Sample Answer
“Software testing is the process of systematically evaluating a software application to ensure it works as intended and meets the specified requirements. It involves executing the software to identify defects, bugs, or discrepancies between the actual and expected results. Through testing, we verify the functionality, performance, security, and usability of the software. Contrary to popular belief, software testing is not just about finding flaws; it’s about ensuring that the software delivers the expected user experience and performs reliably under different conditions.”
Sample Answer
“To become an effective software tester, one needs to have a strong attention to detail. They must be able to spot even the smallest discrepancies or issues in the application. Critical thinking is also important – the ability to analyze situations and think through possible causes of defects helps identify problems that may not be immediately obvious. Good communication skills are essential because they'll need to document and explain bugs to developers clearly. Patience and perseverance go hand in hand because testing can sometimes be repetitive and time-consuming. Finally, curiosity is key; being eager to explore how systems work and find areas that could fail or perform poorly will drive software testers to deliver thorough testing.”
Sample Answer
“Software testing is crucial because it ensures the product meets functional and non-functional requirements, ultimately leading to a higher-quality product. It helps to identify and fix issues early, reducing the cost of fixing defects later in the process. Without proper testing, there’s a risk of releasing a product that’s flawed or doesn’t work as expected, which can lead to a poor user experience and damage to a company’s reputation. Testing also contributes to developing reliable software by ensuring the system performs under various conditions, is secure, and is error-free. It provides confidence to both developers and stakeholders that the product is ready for release.”
Sample Answer
“Some widely-used software testing tools include Selenium, an open-source tool primarily used for automating web browsers. JUnit and TestNG are popular testing frameworks for Java that allow testers to create and manage tests, particularly for unit and integration testing. Appium is another tool for automating mobile applications across platforms like Android and iOS. Another one is Jira, which is commonly used for bug tracking and project management, while Postman is great for API testing. Cucumber is another tool, primarily used for behaviour-driven development, allowing for easy collaboration between developers and testers.”
Sample Answer
“In my opinion, one of the most common mistakes is inadequate test planning. Without a solid plan that outlines test cases, testing environments, and timelines, it becomes difficult to ensure comprehensive coverage, which could lead to overlooked bugs. Another issue is insufficient communication between testers, developers, and business analysts. If requirements are misunderstood or miscommunicated, it can result in tests that don’t fully align with the intended functionality. Skipping exploratory testing is another common mistake. While automated and manual tests are important, exploratory testing can often uncover bugs not covered by predefined test cases. Ignoring non-functional testing, such as performance and security testing, is also problematic as it may result in a functional application that still fails under load or is vulnerable to security breaches. Finally, not maintaining or updating test cases as the application evolves can lead to outdated tests that don’t reflect the current state of the software, leaving potential bugs undetected.”
Sample Answer
“There are several types of software testing, each serving a distinct purpose to ensure the quality and functionality of the application. Some of the most common ones include:
Each of these testing types focuses on a specific area of the software, ensuring the final product is of high quality and meets both functional and non-functional requirements.”
Sample Answer
“The different levels of testing refer to the stages at which testing is performed during the software development lifecycle. These levels include:
These testing levels ensure the software is thoroughly tested from individual units to the complete system, ensuring quality at each stage.”
Sample Answer
The primary difference between manual and automated testing lies in how the tests are executed and the tools used. While manual testing involves a human tester who manually executes the test cases without using any automation tools, automated testing uses scripts and testing tools to perform the tests automatically. Manual testing is a more flexible and exploratory approach where the tester can dynamically adjust the tests based on the software's behaviour. In contrast, automated testing is efficient for repetitive tasks like regression testing, where the same tests are run multiple times. Finally, manual testing is ideal for cases where the functionality is new, changes frequently, or requires human intuition, such as usability testing or user interface (UI) testing. In contrast, automated testing is especially valuable for large-scale applications requiring frequent updates or extensive test coverage.”
Sample Answer
“Manual testing encompasses a variety of approaches, each with a specific focus. Some of the most common types of manual testing are:
Each type of manual testing serves a different purpose but collectively ensures that the software meets its requirements and performs well in real-world conditions.”
Sample Answer
“These three types of testing are based on the level of knowledge a tester has about the internal workings of the application.
In summary, black-box testing focuses on external behaviour, white-box testing focuses on internal logic, and gray-box testing combines elements of both approaches for a more nuanced perspective.”
Sample Answer
“Regression testing is the process of re-running previously executed test cases after changes have been made to the software, such as bug fixes, updates, or new features, to ensure the changes haven’t introduced new issues or negatively impacted the existing functionality. It’s important because software systems evolve, and as developers change the codebase, there’s always a risk that new defects may surface in previously stable parts of the application. By performing regression testing, testers ensure the software remains reliable and functions as intended after updates, helping maintain the overall quality and stability of the application.”
Sample Answer
“Functional testing focuses on testing the functionality of the software, ensuring it behaves according to the specified requirements. This type of testing verifies if features and functions are working as expected, such as testing login functionality, user registration, or payment processing. On the other hand, non-functional testing evaluates aspects of the software that are not directly related to its functionality but are equally important for the user experience. These include performance (e.g., load testing), usability, security, scalability, and compatibility. While functional testing ensures the software does what it’s supposed to, non-functional testing ensures that it does so efficiently and effectively under various conditions.”
Sample Answer
“Yes, I’m aware of the principles of software testing. They are:
These software testing principles guide the testing process and ensure testing activities are effective.”
Sample Answer
“A traceability matrix is a document that helps map and track the relationship between requirements and test cases. It acts as a reference to ensure each requirement has corresponding test cases designed to verify its functionality. This matrix helps testers make sure that all aspects of the software are being adequately tested, and it’s also used to track the coverage of requirements throughout the testing process. The primary purpose of a traceability matrix is to ensure no requirements are left untested, help maintain complete test coverage, and give stakeholders visibility into the testing progress. It also serves as a crucial tool for test reporting and auditing.”
Sample Answer
“Verification and validation are two important concepts in software testing, but they focus on different aspects of the software development process.
The key difference is that verification focuses on ensuring the product is built correctly. At the same time, validation checks whether the product actually solves the problem it was intended to address.”
Sample Answer
“The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a systematic process followed to ensure software is thoroughly tested before it is released. It includes several phases that help plan, execute, and report testing activities.
Each phase ensures software is rigorously tested to meet quality standards, and the cycle continues iteratively throughout the development process.”
Sample Answer
“Yes, I have experience using automated testing tools, and I’ve found them invaluable for repetitive testing tasks. I’m an avid user of tools like Selenium, JUnit, and TestNG, which I commonly use for automation in web application testing. In my opinion, some of their advantages are:
Conversely, automated tools also have some disadvantages:
In short, while automated testing tools offer many advantages regarding efficiency and scalability, they are best suited for repetitive and high-volume tasks. They must be complemented by manual testing for more dynamic, human-centred evaluations.”
Sample Answer
“A test case is a set of actions, pre-conditions and post-conditions, and expected results designed to verify an application’s specific feature or functionality. It’s an essential component of the testing process, ensuring the software behaves as expected and meets the defined requirements.
The main components of a test case typically include:
Test cases are crucial in ensuring comprehensive coverage of all the software’s functionalities and help provide a structured approach to testing. They serve as the foundation for both manual and automated testing efforts.”
Sample Answer
“The number of test cases I can write in a day depends on the complexity and scope of the application being tested. I can typically write around X test cases in a day for simple functionality. If the feature is more complex or requires multiple conditions, it might be closer to Y test cases. When it comes to executing test cases, the number can again vary depending on the execution time of each test case. For basic tests, I can execute around Z test cases in a day. I might execute N test cases for more intricate tests where setup or data preparation is needed. For me, quality always takes priority over quantity, so I focus on ensuring each test case is comprehensive and thoroughly tested.”
Sample Answer
“Prioritizing test cases is crucial, especially when working under tight deadlines. I generally follow a risk-based approach to prioritize them. This involves focusing on the most critical or frequently used areas of the application by end users. Typically, I prioritize the test cases based on factors such as:
By focusing on these aspects, I ensure that the most important parts of the application are thoroughly tested, even if time is limited.”
Sample Answer
“Test coverage parameters describe the extent to which the source code is tested. Test coverage techniques ensure that all aspects of the software are tested properly. The primary techniques I know are:
Each technique helps to identify areas of the code that may not be properly tested and ensures comprehensive coverage during the testing phase.”
Sample Answer
“In software testing, test scenarios and test scripts are essential for ensuring comprehensive test coverage, but they serve different purposes.
Both test scenarios and test scripts are important: scenarios provide the structure, and scripts deliver the detailed execution needed to validate the system.”
Sample Answer
“Test data refers to the input values or datasets used during testing to validate the behaviour of an application. Its purpose is to simulate different user actions and help verify that the software handles various input scenarios correctly. Test data is crucial for:
Test data must be carefully chosen to cover all scenarios the application might encounter, ensuring all functionalities are properly tested.”
Sample Answer
“A test plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the strategy and approach for testing a software product. It includes important details such as the scope of testing, objectives, resources, schedule, test deliverables, and the types of tests to be performed. The test plan serves as a roadmap for the entire testing process, ensuring all team members are aligned with the goals and tasks. Its significance lies in providing structure and clarity, helping ensure testing is thorough and efficient while setting clear expectations for timelines and responsibilities. A well-crafted test plan ensures that no essential aspect is overlooked and makes it easier to track progress during testing.”
Sample Answer
“The test pyramid is a concept in software testing that emphasizes the importance of balancing different types of tests in a testing strategy. It suggests that most tests should be focused on the unit testing level, where individual components or pieces of code are tested. These tests are faster, easier to execute, and tend to catch issues early in development. The middle layer of the pyramid represents integration testing, which verifies that different modules or components of the software work well together. The top layer of the pyramid is reserved for end-to-end testing, where the entire system is tested as a whole from the user’s perspective. The pyramid's key idea is to have a larger number of low-level tests (unit tests) and fewer high-level tests (end-to-end tests), ensuring a good balance between coverage and speed.”
Sample Answer
“In software testing, a bug refers to a flaw or issue in the software that causes it to behave unexpectedly and unintentionally. Bugs can occur for various reasons, including coding errors, incorrect logic, or miscommunications between the development and testing teams. A bug can manifest as a feature not working properly, a crash, incorrect outputs, or any other malfunction that prevents the software from meeting its requirements. Identifying bugs early in the development process is crucial, as they can affect the user experience and overall functionality of the software. Testing plays a significant role in uncovering these bugs before the software reaches end-users.”
Sample Answer
“The terms bug and defect are often used interchangeably, but they do have slight differences in the context of software testing. A bug is a software code flaw or issue that causes unexpected or incorrect behaviour. It can be traced back to programming mistakes or overlooked logic during development. On the other hand, a defect is a broader term that refers to any issue that prevents the software from meeting its specified requirements, whether due to a coding problem (bug), poor design, or even ambiguous requirements. A defect typically directly impacts the quality of the product and might not always be linked to a coding error—it could stem from any phase of the software development lifecycle.”
Sample Answer
“Defects are typically categorized into three main types based on how they relate to the specifications or requirements:
These categories help prioritize defects for resolution, ensuring that the most critical issues are addressed first while maintaining alignment with customer expectations and requirements.”
Sample Answer
“A/B testing is a method used to compare two versions of a product, feature, or user interface to determine which performs better based on specific criteria. This could involve testing different layouts, colour schemes, or functionalities to see which version achieves the desired outcome, such as higher user engagement or better conversion rates. The primary goal of A/B testing is to gather data-driven insights to make informed decisions about what works best for the users and ultimately improve the overall user experience. It is typically used in web development, mobile apps, and marketing campaigns to fine-tune features before launching them to a broader audience.”
Sample Answer
“An API or Application Programming Interface is a set of rules and protocols that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. It defines how requests should be made, what data is required, and how responses should be structured. APIs allow systems to interact without needing to understand their internal workings, which helps build complex applications by connecting various services and components.”
Sample Answer
“API testing is the process of testing the functionality, reliability, and security of APIs. The goal is ensuring the API works as intended, handles errors properly, and meets performance expectations. During API testing, testers test endpoints to validate that the input data produces the expected output, confirm that the API responds with correct status codes, and check how the API handles various inputs, including edge cases. This type of testing is crucial for ensuring the backend logic and data exchanges are functioning correctly without the need for a user interface. It typically involves verifying authentication, data integrity, error handling, and response times.”
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Now that we’ve covered a comprehensive set of beginner-level software testing interview questions and answers, we move into more advanced technical areas.
As you progress in your software testing career and move into intermediate-level roles, you’ll be expected to have a deeper understanding of the testing process, tools, and methodologies. Employers will look for candidates who can think critically, handle more complex scenarios, and manage the intricacies of testing in real-world projects. Here are some common software testing interview questions you might face.
Sample Answer
“No, I don’t think developers should do that. While they should certainly be involved in the testing process, especially when it comes to unit testing their own code, it's not ideal for them to test the software solely.
Instead, the ideal approach is collaborative, where developers perform initial unit tests to verify their code, and testers validate the overall product to ensure it meets the specified requirements and functions well across various environments.”
Sample Answer
“Retesting refers to the process of running the same test cases after a defect has been fixed to verify that the defect has been successfully resolved. The key aspect of retesting is using the same conditions and test cases, ensuring the fix has worked as intended without introducing new issues. It's crucial because it confirms that the problem was effectively addressed and that no regressions have occurred due to the changes made to the code. However, retesting only focuses on the fixed defect and does not check other areas of the application that the fix may have impacted.”
Sample Answer
“Testing metrics are critical for measuring the effectiveness and progress of the testing process. Some of the key testing metrics include:
These metrics can help the testers gauge how the testing process is going and determine what further steps to take.”
Sample Answer
“When I encounter an issue while testing, I follow a structured approach to resolve it.
Throughout this process, communication is key to ensuring that the resolution is effective and that any necessary follow-up actions are taken promptly.”
Sample Answer
“When working under tight deadlines, I prioritize testing activities based on a few key factors. First, I look at the core functionality of the software and focus on testing the most critical paths that impact the user experience. These include features essential to the system's operation or those that the end-users will most heavily use. Next, I consider the risk factor. I prioritize testing areas that are more prone to bugs or have undergone recent changes, as they are more likely to contain defects. In situations where time is very limited, I may automate the repetitive and time-consuming testing tasks to meet deadlines without compromising quality.”
Sample Answer
“Static testing and dynamic testing are two critical types of testing in software development, but they differ in how and when they are applied. Static testing refers to the process of reviewing and analyzing the software's code, documentation, and design without actually executing the code. On the other hand, dynamic testing involves executing the code to validate its functionality. Static testing is mostly done early in the development phase and focuses on identifying issues like syntax errors, inconsistencies, or logical flaws in the design. In contrast, dynamic testing is more about ensuring the software works in real-time, detecting runtime errors, logical issues, and functionality problems. In short, static testing prevents issues by catching them early, while dynamic testing ensures that the software performs well in the real world.”
Sample Answer
“Exploratory testing is an approach where testers actively explore the software without predefined test cases or scripts. It’s essentially a hands-on, ad-hoc method where testers interact with the application to identify defects by leveraging their creativity, knowledge, and intuition. Testers basically use their understanding of the system and apply their experience to figure out the best way to break or challenge the system. There is no set plan for the tests; the tester adjusts the testing process as they uncover new information. One of the key benefits of exploratory testing is that it is flexible and allows for real-time learning about the software. It’s particularly effective for identifying unexpected issues, inconsistencies, and usability problems that standard test cases might not cover.”
Sample Answer
“Integration testing is the process of testing the interaction between individual software components or modules after they’ve been unit-tested. On the other hand, system testing is a higher-level testing process where the complete software system is tested as a whole. While the main goal of integration testing is to ensure different parts of the application work as expected when they come together, system testing involves verifying the system against the specified requirements to ensure all components work together seamlessly in an end-to-end manner. In short, while integration testing is about verifying the interaction between parts, system testing is about validating the entire system’s functionality and readiness for deployment.”
Sample Answer
“Quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to two distinct practices in software testing. Quality assurance is a proactive process that focuses on improving the development and testing processes to prevent defects before they happen. On the other hand, quality control is a reactive process that focuses on identifying and resolving defects in the finished product. While QA is more about building a framework that facilitates the delivery of high-quality products, QC is more about the actual testing of the finished products to catch defects before they are released.”
Sample Answer
“Test automation refers to using software tools to perform testing tasks without human intervention. The main idea behind automation is to execute repetitive test cases automatically, which significantly speeds up the testing process and makes it more efficient. Tools like Selenium, QTP, and Appium are commonly used to automate various types of tests, such as regression, performance, and load testing.
The advantages of test automation include:
Test automation is particularly valuable in projects with frequent updates and complex functionalities, where manual testing would be too slow and error-prone.”
Sample Answer
“When choosing the right automation framework for my project, I consider several factors:
Several other factors I pay close attention to include the framework’s ease of reporting, logging, customization, and scalability.”
Sample Answer
“TestNG is a testing framework inspired by JUnit but designed to overcome some of its limitations. It's primarily used for managing and organizing tests, especially in complex testing scenarios. With TestNG, testers can configure test execution, group tests, define test dependencies, and even run tests in parallel, which is particularly useful in large-scale projects. It's a versatile framework that provides advanced features like parameterization, parallel test execution, and test configuration management.
Though both are often used together in a test automation strategy, TestNG is the framework that handles test logic, reporting, and configuration. At the same time, Selenium deals with browser-specific actions like clicking buttons, filling out forms, or verifying content on the web page.”
Sample Answer
“Boundary value analysis is a software testing technique that tests the boundary values of input domains. This method is based on the assumption that errors are most likely to occur at the boundaries of input ranges rather than in the middle. For example, if a system accepts an age input from 1 to 100, boundary value analysis would test the edges of this range: 1 and 100. It would also test the values just outside the boundary, like 0 and 101, and values just inside the boundary, like 2 and 99. Its primary aim is to ensure the system behaves as expected when faced with extreme or edge-case inputs, which is often where defects or unexpected behaviour can surface.”
Sample Answer
“Load testing is a type of performance testing that evaluates how well a website can handle a specific traffic volume, typically simulating several users accessing the site simultaneously. It’s designed to check the website’s behavior under expected and peak load conditions. The goal of load testing is to ensure the website remains responsive and performs well under varying traffic loads. It helps identify performance bottlenecks, such as slow page loading times or server crashes, which could occur if too many users try to access the website simultaneously.”
Sample Answer
“Mobile application testing presents several unique challenges compared to traditional desktop or web application testing. Some of the most common challenges include:
Mobile testing requires a more nuanced approach and requires testers to be creative and strategic in their test planning.”
Sample Answer
“Alpha testing is the first phase of testing where the software is evaluated by the development team or a specialized internal testing group before being released to external testers. This phase focuses on identifying any major bugs or issues within the system. It’s typically done in-house, often in a controlled environment, and aims to ensure the software is stable enough for real-world use.
On the other hand, beta testing takes place after alpha testing. It involves releasing the software to a limited group of external users or customers who can test it in real-time. This phase is focused more on gathering user feedback, identifying any remaining issues that weren’t discovered during alpha testing, and then resolving them.”
Sample Answer
“There are several key best practices that govern the process of writing effective test cases. These include:
By adhering to these practices, test cases become more effective, traceable, and reliable, improving the overall quality of the software.”
Sample Answer
“A latent defect is a defect that exists in the software but doesn’t immediately manifest itself under normal conditions or testing scenarios. It may only appear when certain conditions are met, such as specific user actions or an unusual configuration. Essentially, it’s a defect that is dormant until a particular situation triggers it, making it difficult to detect during the initial phases of testing. A masked defect, on the other hand, refers to a defect hidden or obscured by another defect. When one issue causes the system to behave in a way that prevents the tester from seeing the original problem, the first defect ‘masks’ the second one. Masked defects are often discovered only when the underlying issue is fixed, revealing the defect that had been hidden behind it.”
Sample Answer
“A defect report should be structured to provide enough information for developers to understand, reproduce, and fix the issue. Some of the essential components of a defect report include:
A well-documented defect report ensures defects are efficiently tracked and resolved promptly.”
Sample Answer
“I once encountered a challenging bug during testing that caused the application to freeze on certain devices intermittently. Initially, it was difficult to replicate the issue consistently, which made troubleshooting quite complex. I started by gathering as much data as possible from users experiencing the problem, including the device model, OS version, and exact actions they were performing when the issue occurred. I then reproduced the issue in a test environment by mimicking the conditions as closely as possible.
After extensive debugging and reviewing the logs, I found that the issue was related to a specific resource handling error that occurred under certain conditions but only on older device models. I then worked with the development team to modify the code to efficiently handle resource allocation, ensuring that older devices were properly supported. Once the fix was implemented, I retested it across all affected devices and confirmed that the issue no longer occurred.”
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Moving forward, let’s explore the software testing interview questions recruiters ask when you grow further in your career and interview for more experienced positions.
As an experienced software tester, the expectations from you during an interview are much higher compared to when you were a fresher or at an intermediate level. At this stage, the focus is not just on your ability to write test cases or identify bugs but on your strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and how you manage complex testing scenarios. Let’s dive into some advanced software testing interview questions and break them down with clear, comprehensive answers to help you prepare better.
Sample Answer
When testing requirements change, I first communicate with the respective stakeholders to understand the nature and scope of the changes. I carefully review the updated documentation or specifications to identify which test cases or areas of the application will be affected. Once I understand clearly, I revise the test plan, re-evaluate the test cases, and modify the test scripts. For minor changes, I update only the impacted test cases. If the changes are significant, I conduct a risk assessment to determine which areas are most critical to test. Lastly, I ensure there’s time for regression testing to confirm that the changes haven’t introduced any new defects into the system.”
Sample Answer
“There’s really no way to know for sure how much testing is enough since it’s practically impossible to test the software or product exhaustively. An absence of errors rarely means no errors; rather, it signifies that the test is ineffective in detecting further defects. However, I generally stop testing when the following conditions are met:
In essence, testing is sufficient when the major requirements have been met, critical defects have been resolved, and the risk of any potential issues is minimized.”
Sample Answer
“While shift left testing refers to the practice of moving testing activities earlier in the software development lifecycle, shift right testing focuses on testing later in the lifecycle, often after the software has been deployed. Shift left testing involves testing as early as possible—often during the planning and design phases or even as developers write code. On the other hand, shift right testing involves continuous testing, such as testing in production or using feature flags for controlled testing in real user environments. Shift left testing’s main goal is to catch and resolve bugs early before they propagate, reducing overall costs and time in the long run. In contrast, shift right testing aims to identify issues that might not have been caught earlier, particularly performance or security issues that only manifest under real-world conditions.”
Sample Answer
“Smoke testing is a high-level, basic check to verify whether the software's core functions are working as expected. Sanity testing, however, is a more specific type of testing that typically follows after a bug fix or patch. The idea in smoke testing is to ‘test the smoke’—meaning if the essential parts of the application are functioning, the build is considered stable enough for further detailed testing. Conversely, sanity testing is focused on verifying that particular functionalities, or the recent fixes, are working correctly and haven't introduced new issues. While smoke testing is broad, sanity testing is narrow and focused on verifying specific areas or features, often without re-running the entire suite of tests.”
Sample Answer
“An object repository is a centralized location where objects used in automated testing are stored. These objects refer to the elements of a web or mobile application that automation scripts interact with, such as buttons, text fields, checkboxes, and links. Instead of embedding the properties of these objects directly in each test script, they are stored in an object repository.
This approach makes the tests more maintainable and reusable. If there is a change in the application’s UI—say, the name of a button changes—only the object repository needs to be updated, not every individual test case. This significantly reduces the maintenance effort, especially in large test suites. It also improves the scalability of test automation, as changes to the object properties don’t require revisiting and editing multiple scripts. This leads to cleaner, more efficient automation that’s easier to update as the application evolves.”
Sample Answer
“Positive testing focuses on validating that the system works as expected under normal or expected conditions. It involves providing valid inputs and ensuring the software responds as it should. Negative testing, on the other hand, intentionally provides invalid, incorrect, or unexpected inputs to the system to see how it handles these situations. For instance, in a form submission, entering a valid email address and submitting the form would be positive testing, whereas entering an invalid email address or leaving a required field blank would be negative testing. Both types of testing are necessary to ensure that the software works under normal conditions and handles edge cases or unexpected scenarios appropriately.”
Sample Answer
“Test-Driven Development is a software development practice where tests are written before the actual code. The process follows a repetitive ‘Red, Green, Refactor’ cycle.
TDD’s goal is to improve code quality, reduce bugs, and ensure each new functionality is thoroughly tested as it’s developed. By writing tests before code, developers are forced to think about how their code will behave, leading to better software design and fewer defects in the long run.”
Sample Answer
“Testing a login feature involves ensuring all aspects of the authentication process work correctly. Some key test cases to consider include:
These test cases ensure the login feature is functional and secure, handling a variety of scenarios.”
Sample Answer
“Entry criteria define the conditions that must be met before testing begins. These criteria ensure that the software is testable and that the testing process can be conducted smoothly. Common entry criteria include:
On the other hand, exit criteria specify the conditions under which testing is considered complete. These criteria help determine whether the testing objectives have been met and if the software is ready for release. Common exit criteria include:
Both entry and exit criteria provide clear boundaries for testing and ensure that testing is organized and efficient.”
Sample Answer
“Risk-based testing is a testing strategy where the focus is placed on testing the most critical and high-risk areas of the software. The approach involves identifying potential risks in the software and prioritizing test cases that address those risks. Risks can be identified based on factors like the complexity of the functionality, past defects, or the likelihood of failure. The main purpose of risk-based testing is to allocate limited testing resources efficiently by prioritizing testing efforts where they matter most.
For example, a new feature handling sensitive user data may be considered a high-risk area and would be tested more thoroughly than a less critical one. Similarly, complex algorithms or integrations with third-party services may pose higher risks and should be tested extensively.”
Sample Answer
“Yes, I have extensively worked with Selenium to automate web application testing. It is one of the most widely used tools for automated testing and has proven to be highly effective in various projects. One of its key benefits is that it supports multiple browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari, which makes it my first choice for cross-browser testing. Another advantage is its ability to work with different programming languages, such as Java, Python, and C#, allowing me to choose the language I am most comfortable with. Selenium integrates seamlessly with frameworks like TestNG and JUnit, enabling better test management and execution. Its open-source nature makes it accessible and cost-effective without any licensing fees. Lastly, Selenium allows for the automation of functional and regression tests, significantly speeding up testing cycles and increasing productivity, especially in agile development environments.”
Sample Answer
“The bug life cycle describes the defect’s various stages, from discovery until its resolution. It typically starts when a tester or a user reports a bug and is initially in the New state. Once the defect is logged, it gets assigned to a developer or a team, marking it as Assigned. The developer then investigates and starts working on fixing the issue so it enters the Open state. After the bug is fixed, the developer sends it for Retesting to verify that the fix works and does not cause any new issues. If the defect is resolved and passes retesting, it is marked as Closed. Sometimes, if the defect is deemed irrelevant or not reproducible, it can be Rejected. Additionally, during the process, the defect may move back and forth between states, depending on whether the fix works or if additional issues are found. The goal is to ensure all defects are either fixed or adequately addressed before the product is released.”
Sample Answer
“The severity of a bug refers to its impact on the application and determines the priority for fixing it. There are typically four levels of severity:
Every tester must be able to correctly classify the bugs in the software and be able to document the process and results in a bug report.”
Sample Answer
“Bug leakage refers to a defect that escapes from the testing phase and reaches the production environment, meaning it wasn’t identified during the testing process. This typically happens when the test coverage is insufficient or the test cases don’t account for all possible scenarios. On the other hand, bug release is a defect that is acknowledged by the team and intentionally allowed to be released to production because it’s either low-priority, doesn’t affect the core functionality, or can be addressed in a later patch. While bug leakage is unintentional and undesirable, bug release happens when the team consciously decides the defect is not critical enough to delay the release.”
Sample Answer
“Debugging is a critical process in software development, and it can be approached in different ways depending on the issue’s complexity. Some common categories of debugging include:
Often, a combination of these methods is used to diagnose and resolve issues efficiently.”
Sample Answer
“Achieving a completely bug-free program is practically impossible. While we can strive for high-quality, reliable software by following best practices in coding, testing, and review processes, software will always have inherent limitations. Some bugs might be subtle, and others may only appear under specific conditions that are hard to replicate. Additionally, the complexity of modern software systems, including dependencies on external libraries, hardware, and unpredictable real-world usage patterns, increases the likelihood of bugs.
Even with exhaustive testing and code reviews, new issues might still arise once the software is deployed in the real world. That’s why software testing focuses on minimizing defects, ensuring the software behaves as expected under various scenarios, and resolving the most critical issues. The goal is not perfection, but rather reducing risks and ensuring the software delivers a reliable user experience.”
Sample Answer
“The average age of a defect refers to the time that passes from the defect being introduced into the system to when it is identified and fixed. This metric is not constant and can vary significantly based on the project, the complexity of the defect, and the testing methodology in place. Typically, defects discovered early in the development lifecycle tend to have a shorter average age, as they are found and addressed during unit or integration testing. However, defects identified later in the cycle, such as during system testing or even after deployment, tend to have a longer average age. The concept of defect age helps measure the effectiveness of the testing process and the speed at which defects are being caught.”
Sample Answer
“Defect cascading occurs when a single defect triggers a series of other defects in a software system. It happens when the initial problem causes other components or processes to fail, often resulting in a ripple effect. For example, if a module in a software application is faulty, it might cause downstream components that rely on it to behave unpredictably, leading to additional defects. This can escalate quickly if the initial defect is not addressed, causing delays and increasing the cost of fixing the issues. To mitigate defect cascading, performing thorough testing, especially integration and system testing, is essential to ensure that modules interact correctly and do not inadvertently introduce failures across the system.”
Sample Answer
“DevOps is a set of practices and cultural philosophies that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). Its goal is to shorten the development lifecycle and provide continuous delivery with high software quality. DevOps automates software development and IT team processes, including infrastructure management, deployment, and testing. This allows for faster delivery of features, improved collaboration, and quicker problem resolution.
While Agile focuses more on the development process and iterative delivery, DevOps goes a step further by integrating development with operational processes, ensuring the software is continuously built, tested, and deployed consistently and efficiently. The key difference is that DevOps addresses the entire lifecycle, including deployment and monitoring, whereas Agile primarily focuses on the development and testing phases.”
Sample Answer
“When testing a pen, the approach would depend on its intended functionality and the user’s expectations.
Once the pen metaphorically checks out on each of these software testing techniques, it can be rolled out for production and launched in the market.”
Sample Answer
“While automated testing offers many advantages, such as speed, repeatability, and consistency, it cannot fully replace manual testing. Automated tests are excellent for repetitive tasks, regression testing, and large-scale test execution where speed is critical. However, manual testing is still crucial for exploratory testing, user experience testing, and situations where human intuition is needed to identify complex issues.
Manual testing allows testers to think creatively and simulate real-world scenarios that automated scripts might miss. Therefore, while automated testing is a powerful tool that increases efficiency, it should complement manual testing rather than replace it entirely.”
Sample Answer
“When troubleshooting this issue, the first step is to gather detailed information about the error. I would begin by checking the crash logs to understand what part of the code or module caused the crash when the orientation changes. This can provide insight into whether the issue is related to UI elements, layout constraints, or some internal logic not properly handling orientation changes.
Next, I would verify if the crash happens consistently across all devices or only on certain ones. This helps in understanding if it's a device-specific issue, perhaps related to screen size or OS version.
After that, I would test the app on different screen sizes to see if layout issues are causing the crash, such as overlapping UI elements or unhandled UI components. I would also check if the app uses hardcoded dimensions or constraints that might not adjust correctly when the orientation changes.
When rotating the device, I would also test the app’s ability to retain data, such as form fields or user sessions. This helps confirm that the app’s state management is working as expected when switching between portrait and landscape modes.
Finally, I would test whether any third-party libraries or services integrated into the app could be causing the issue. Sometimes, crashes occur if these services are not properly configured to handle orientation changes. Based on my findings, I would then collaborate with the development team to implement the necessary fixes and verify that the app works correctly in both portrait and landscape modes.”
Sample Answer
“When adding an item to my cart, the test cases I would use include:
These test cases cover various scenarios related to adding items to the cart, helping me ensure the functionality works as intended.”
Sample Answer
“Yes, sure. I’m very thorough with the different defect priority and severity classifications.
Landing a software testing role in 2025 requires more than just technical knowledge. While understanding theoretical concepts and practical testing methods is vital, communicating your problem-solving abilities and work ethic and showcasing your expertise can make or break your chances. The software testing interview questions outlined throughout this blog represent just a fraction of what you could encounter in an interview, but the real key to standing out lies in how you approach them.
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