QA basics

What is the primary goal of Quality Assurance (QA) in software development?

• Identifying and fixing defects

• Ensuring that the software meets customer requirements

• Preventing defects from occurring

• Improving software performance

Which of the following is NOT a fundamental principle of software testing?

• Exhaustive testing is possible

• Defect clustering

• Pesticide paradox

• Early testing

Answer explanation

Exhaustive Testing is IMPOSSIBLE: It is practically impossible to test every possible input, condition, or scenario in a software system due to its complexity, variability, and size. Instead, testing efforts should be focused on areas of higher risk and importance.

Early Testing: Testing activities should begin as early as possible in the software development lifecycle to detect defects sooner and minimize the cost and impact of fixing them. Early testing helps identify issues before they propagate further into the development process.

Defect Clustering: This principle suggests that defects tend to cluster or concentrate in specific areas or components of the software. By focusing testing efforts on these high-risk areas, testers can maximize the likelihood of finding significant defects.

Pesticide Paradox: The pesticide paradox states that if the same tests are repeated over time without modification, they may become less effective at finding new defects. To avoid this, testers should regularly review and update test cases to ensure thorough coverage and effectiveness.

What is the purpose of a test plan?

• To document user requirements

• To track defects found during testing

• To execute test cases

• To define the scope and approach of testing activities

Answer explanation

A test plan is a document that outlines the approach, objectives, scope, resources, and schedule for testing a software application or system. It serves as a blueprint or roadmap for the testing process, providing guidance to testers, developers, project managers, and other stakeholders involved in testing activities. A well-defined test plan ensures that testing efforts are organized, systematic, and aligned with project goals and requirements.

Which testing technique involves executing test cases derived from the software's specifications, requirements, or user documentation?

• Black-box testing

• White-box testing

• Smoke testing

• Regression testing

Answer explanation

Black-box testing is a software testing technique where the internal workings, structure, or implementation details of the system under test are not known to the tester. In black-box testing, the tester focuses solely on the external behavior and functionality of the software without considering its internal code, architecture, or design. The name "black-box" comes from the analogy of treating the software as a black box, where the tester cannot see inside and can only observe its inputs and outputs. Black-box testing is often contrasted with white-box testing, where the tester has knowledge of the internal code and uses this knowledge to design test cases. In black-box testing, test cases are derived from the software's specifications, requirements, or user documentation. The tester interacts with the software using various inputs and evaluates the outputs or responses to ensure that the software behaves as expected.

What is the primary objective of regression testing?

• To verify that new code changes have not adversely affected existing functionality

• To test individual software components in isolation

• To validate the overall system performance

• To ensure that all requirements are implemented correctly

Answer explanation

Regression testing is a software testing technique used to ensure that recent changes or enhancements to a software application have not adversely affected existing functionality. It involves retesting the unchanged parts of the software, along with the modified or newly added features, to verify that the overall system behaves as expected after the changes. The primary goal of regression testing is to detect and prevent regressions, which are unintended side effects or defects introduced by code modifications. These regressions may occur due to changes in code, configuration, dependencies, or environment settings. Regression testing helps ensure that the software maintains its integrity and continues to function correctly throughout the development lifecycle.

What is the purpose of boundary value analysis in software testing?

• To identify defects in the software's user interface for various screen resolutions

• To verify the behavior of the software input domains at its limits

• To test the integration between different system components

• To assess the performance of the software under heavy load

Answer explanation

Boundary value analysis (BVA) is a software testing technique used to identify defects at the boundaries of input domains. It focuses on testing input values at the edges or boundaries of valid and invalid ranges, as these are often where defects are more likely to occur. BVA is based on the principle that errors are more likely to occur at the extremes of input ranges rather than in the middle.

Which type of testing focuses on evaluating the software's user interface and user experience?

• Integration testing

• Usability testing

• Performance testing

• User acceptance testing

Answer explanation

Usability testing is a type of software testing that evaluates the ease of use, intuitiveness, and user-friendliness of a software application from the perspective of end-users. The primary goal of usability testing is to assess how well users can interact with the software to accomplish their tasks efficiently, effectively, and satisfactorily.

What are the main objectives of load testing?

• To assess the software's ability to handle a large volume of transactions

• To identify security vulnerabilities in the software

• To verify that the software meets specified functional requirements

• To assess how the system performs when subjected to high volume of concurrent users

• To identify performance bottlenecks, limitations, or scalability issues in the system

Answer explanation

Load testing is a type of software testing that evaluates the performance and behavior of a system under specific expected load conditions. The purpose of load testing is to assess how the system performs when subjected to typical and peak usage loads, such as a high volume of concurrent users, transactions, or data processing.

Which testing technique involves testing individual software components in isolation?

• Integration testing

• Unit testing

• System testing

• Acceptance testing

Answer explanation

Unit testing is a software testing technique where individual units or components of a software application are tested in isolation to ensure that they function correctly. A unit is the smallest testable part of the software, typically a function, method, procedure, or class.

What is the purpose of smoke testing?

• To test the software's functionality in a production environment

• To ensure that critical functions of the software work correctly

• To evaluate the software's performance under heavy load

• To verify that all requirements are implemented correctly

Answer explanation

Smoke testing, also known as build verification testing (BVT) or sanity testing, is a preliminary level of testing performed on a software build or release to quickly determine whether it is stable enough for further testing. The term "smoke testing" originates from the electronics industry, where a device would be turned on and checked for smoke coming out, indicating a major failure.