Quality Assurance (QA) Interview Questions and Answers
Here are some common QA interview questions and their answers.
1. What is Quality Assurance?
Quality Assurance (QA) is a systematic process of ensuring that developed software meets specified requirements. It involves planning, implementing, monitoring, and improving processes to achieve high-quality software. QA often follows the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle.
2. Difference Between Quality Assurance and Software Testing?
| Feature | Quality Assurance (QA) | Software Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Processes and procedures to ensure quality | Product verification to find defects |
| Orientation | Process-oriented | Product-oriented |
| Activity Type | Preventive | Corrective |
| Objective | Deliver high-quality software | Find and report bugs |
| Methods | Process reviews, inspections | Black box, white box testing |
3. Difference Between Build and Release?
- Build: A software version given to the testing team by developers.
- Release: A software version delivered to end-users by the testing and development teams.
4. Define Bug Leakage and Bug Release.
- Bug Leakage: A bug not detected during testing but found by end-users after release.
- Bug Release: Releasing software knowing that bugs are present (often due to time constraints or low priority bugs).
5. Solutions for Software Development Problems.
- Clearly defined requirements
- Realistic schedules
- Thorough testing
- Effective team communication
- Using prototypes for early feedback
6. Types of Documents in Software Quality Assurance.
- Requirement Document: Specifies software functionalities.
- Test Metrics: Quantitative measures of testing effectiveness.
- Test Plan: Outlines the testing strategy.
- Test Cases: Specific steps to test individual functionalities.
- Traceability Matrix: Links requirements to test cases.
- Test Scenarios: High-level descriptions of test areas.
7. What is Test-Driven Development (TDD)?
In TDD, test cases are written *before* the code. The development cycle involves writing a failing test, then writing code to pass the test, and refactoring the code.
8. What is a Traceability Matrix?
A traceability matrix maps requirements to test cases, ensuring that all requirements are covered by testing.
9. Responsibilities of QA vs. Programmers.
| QA | Programmer | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Process quality | Product quality |
| Role | Ensures processes deliver quality | Implements processes to build quality |
10. Difference Between Verification and Validation.
| Feature | Verification | Validation |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | During development | After development |
| Testing Type | Static | Dynamic |
| Methods | Reviews, inspections | Execution-based tests |
| Objective | Confirm process adherence to requirements | Confirm product meets requirements |
11. Key Challenges Faced During Software Testing.
- Unstable application
- Time constraints
- Prioritization of tests
- Testing the entire application thoroughly
- Regression testing
- Lack of skilled testers
- Changing requirements
- Resource limitations
12. Difference Between Retesting and Regression Testing.
| Feature | Retesting | Regression Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Verify bug fixes | Verify that changes haven't broken existing functionality |
| Timing | After bug fixes | After any code changes |
| Test Cases | Failed test cases | Previously passed test cases |
| Automation | Often manual | Often automated |
13. Role of QA in Software Development.
The QA team is responsible for overseeing the quality of the software development lifecycle. This includes planning, testing, and monitoring processes to ensure the final product meets requirements.
14. Dimensions of Risk in QA.
- Schedule: Unrealistic deadlines
- Client: Unclear requirements, frequent changes
- Human Resources: Lack of skilled personnel
- System Resources: Insufficient hardware, software, or tools
- Quality: Potential for defects
15. What is Testware?
Testware refers to all the materials and resources used in software testing, including test plans, test cases, scripts, data, and any other items necessary for planning and executing tests.
16. What is Monkey Testing?
Monkey testing is a type of black-box testing where random inputs are fed into the system to observe its behavior and check for crashes or unexpected behavior. No formal test cases are needed. It's often automated using scripts to generate random input. This is useful in stress and load testing.
Types of Monkeys:
- Smart Monkeys: Have some knowledge of the application; understand navigation, input validity, and can report bugs effectively.
- Dumb Monkeys: Have no application knowledge; provide completely random inputs and might reveal environmental or hardware issues.
17. Difference Between Preventive and Reactive Approaches.
| Approach | Preventive | Reactive |
|---|---|---|
| Also Known As | Verification | Validation |
| Focus | Preventing defects (Quality Analysis) | Identifying defects (Quality Control) |
| Timing | Early in the SDLC | After development |
18. What is a Quality Audit?
A quality audit is a systematic examination of a quality system to verify that processes conform to standards and requirements. It can be performed internally or externally.
19. What is a Test Plan?
A test plan documents the overall testing strategy, including what will be tested, how it will be tested, who will do the testing, and the schedule. It guides the testing process.
20. How to Decide When Testing is Sufficient?
There's no single answer; it depends on several factors:
- Meeting deadlines
- Achieving a predefined pass rate for test cases
- Risks are within acceptable limits
- High-priority bugs are fixed
- Acceptance criteria are met
21. How to Design Test Cases?
Two main approaches exist:
- Black Box Testing: Testing based on specifications without knowledge of internal code structure.
- White Box Testing: Testing that considers the internal code structure and logic.
22. What is Ad Hoc Testing?
Ad hoc testing is informal, unstructured testing done without formal plans or documentation. It relies on the tester's experience and intuition to find defects.
23. Difference Between Monkey Testing and Ad Hoc Testing.
Both are informal, but ad hoc testing requires tester knowledge of the application, while monkey testing involves random inputs regardless of application knowledge.
24. Difference Between Ad Hoc and Exploratory Testing.
| Feature | Ad Hoc Testing | Exploratory Testing |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | Unplanned | Planned, but flexible |
| Documentation | Minimal or none | Some documentation is required |
| Goal | Find bugs quickly | Learn the application, find bugs |
25. Different Levels of Software Testing.
- Unit Testing: Testing individual modules or components.
- Integration Testing: Testing the interaction between modules.
- System Testing: Testing the entire system as a whole.
- Acceptance Testing: User or client validation of the system.
26. What is a Bug Life Cycle?
A bug life cycle describes the stages a defect goes through, from its initial discovery to resolution. Common states include: New, Assigned, Open, Fixed, Retest, Reopen, Verified, Closed, Duplicate, Rejected, Deferred.