Manual Software Testing is considered to be an easy way of Testing, compare to Automation Software Testing, and somehow it is easier but at the same time, Manual Software Testing could be more reliable and tougher when it comes to brain storming and applying different methods and approaches as a Manual Software Tester. Other day, talking to a Manual Software Tester, I heard, he uses Three different approaches when manually testing a software, and he believes them to be very effective, let’s see what these approaches are.
Child Approach: Interestingly, this is a smart approach to test a software as a Child, do what a Child will do if he finds a laptop and play it like a toy. He might use all the buttons randomly to see the output of them. He might key in the data in any opened software, that would never be expected from an adult.
It is same as giving a cell phone to a baby, and in few seconds, baby can do what you never expected, and your phone’s Software and Hardware both will be tested at the same time.
As a Manual Software Tester, while Testing a Software, he can play around with different input methods, like using the numbers at login instead of email address, would try random data at search to see the results. This approach can Test an application at best to save it from similar such threats from hackers.
Common Approach: This is a common approach applied by a Manual Software Tester, more like testing as per users’ requirements, if this software gives expected output according to user requirement. For example, key in username or email at login, typing in correct method of password, looking for relevant data at search and so on. This approach is used to ensure the smooth functions of an application or software.
Experts Approach: In this approach, Manual Software Tester would try all those tricky stuffs that a hacker can try to bring down the website or software, for example, using codes in the search and inputs, using an invalid email address etc. In this method vulnerabilities of the software are identified.
Above idea reflects the out of box thinking of a Manual Tester, this is where Manual Testing still consider better when it comes to Penetration testing or Security Testing.