Manual testing techniques are structured approaches that help testers design effective test cases and uncover defects without relying on automation tools. These techniques ensure comprehensive coverage and improve the quality of software. Some of the most widely used manual testing techniques include:
Equivalence Partitioning (EP): This technique divides input data into partitions or classes where the system behaves similarly. Testers select one representative value from each partition, reducing the number of test cases while maintaining coverage. For example, if an input accepts values from 1 to 100, partitions could be below range, valid range, and above range.
Boundary Value Analysis (BVA): Errors often occur at the edges of input ranges. BVA focuses on testing values at the lower and upper boundaries and just outside them. For instance, if the valid range is 1–99, test cases would include 0, 1, 99, and 100.
Exploratory Testing: Testers explore the application without predefined scripts, using creativity and experience to identify defects. This technique is useful for discovering unexpected issues and improving usability.
Error Guessing: Based on experience, testers anticipate areas where the application might fail, such as entering special characters or extremely large inputs.
Use Case Testing: This technique validates real-world scenarios and end-to-end workflows, ensuring that features work together as intended.
These techniques form the foundation of manual testing, helping testers systematically identify defects and ensure software reliability.
Boundary Value Analysis (BVA)
Boundary Value Analysis is a widely used black-box testing technique that focuses on testing the values at the edges of input ranges. The principle behind BVA is that most defects occur at the boundaries rather than in the middle of the input domain. Developers often make mistakes when handling conditions like >=, <=, or off-by-one errors, making boundary testing critical.
Decision Table Testing
Decision Table Testing is a powerful black-box testing technique used to validate complex business logic where multiple conditions influence the outcome. It provides a structured way to ensure that all possible combinations of inputs and their corresponding actions are tested.
The Future of Manual Testing in the Age of AI
The software testing landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation. While automated testing and AI-powered tools are becoming more prevalent, manual testing continues to hold a significant place in ensuring software quality. Rather than replacing manual testing, AI is transforming its role and making it more strategic
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