The Role of Manual Testing in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Manual testing, a process of meticulousness and attention to detail, is the art of finding errors and flaws in software without software testing automation tools. In this process, QA manual testers, with their keen eye for detail, carry out test cases by hand while considering the end user’s viewpoint.

Manual software testing, a cornerstone of software quality, guarantees that the program operates according to the client’s particular needs. As a result, software manual testers must manually create test reports and plan and execute test cases for all of the application’s essential functions.

Testers, through the process of manual testing, must determine whether or not the software’s predicted and observed output differs; any discrepancies are identified as faults. After fixing these issues, the developer must submit the software for retesting. 

Manual software testing services remain crucial to software development testing, even with increasing automation testing. It is necessary to test freshly generated software because it can unearth visible and hidden software flaws. Although it requires a lot of work, it is essential. 

It ensures that all of the software’s essential functions operate flawlessly and lays the groundwork for automated testing. This article covers the function of manual testing in software development.

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC): What is it?

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a detailed strategy for software organizations. It outlines how to create, maintain, upgrade, and replace a particular piece of software and a plan for improving software quality and the overall development process.  

What makes SDLC Crucial?

Managing software development can be difficult due to evolving requirements, technological advancements, and cross-functional cooperation. The software development lifecycle (SDLC) methodology offers a methodical management structure with defined deliverables at each process level. As a result, all parties involved have a plan to accomplish the goals and needs of software development upfront. The following are some advantages of SDLC:

• Enhanced transparency of the development process for all parties concerned
• Effective planning, scheduling, and estimate
• Better cost estimation and risk management
• Methodical software delivery and increased client satisfaction

Types of Manual Testing 

1. Testing in Black Boxes

With black box testing, QA testers must manually test without being able to see the internal code structure. However, software testers do not need to understand internal program routes and implementation specifics.

Black box testing determines whether the software meets user-provided requirements and standards. Testers ignore the program’s internal structure and concentrate only on its inputs and outputs.

2. White Box Examination

The reverse of black-box testing is white-box testing. Manual testing requires understanding the internal architecture, structure, and codebase. In contrast to black-box testing, white-box testing allows software manual testers to see the code.

White box testing validates the flow input and output rather than the application’s functional needs. This software testing aims to enhance the application’s usability and design while bolstering its security.

3. Exploratory Testing

Exploratory testing is a form of manual, on-the-fly testing in which QA testers do not create test cases beforehand. Instead, they generate test cases as they go, considering every potential test case before the test is executed. 

This process facilitates the rapid execution of software testing and the creation of unconventional test cases, making it particularly effective in agile software development methods. Therefore, exploratory testing is successful in agile software development methods. 

It encourages research, learning, and exploration of the application at issue while assisting testers in breaking free from a pattern of predetermined test procedures. Because of this, individual testers in exploratory testing are given more autonomy and accountability, and they must concurrently design and implement testing features. 

Manual Testing’s Role in the Current SDLC

Manual software testing services are a crucial component of the modern SDLC, ensuring the reliability and quality of software products. It plays a significant role in various stages of the SDLC, from requirements gathering to maintenance, by providing a human perspective on the software’s functionality and user experience.

1. Thorough Test Coverage

Manual testing is essential to attaining complete and in-depth test coverage across various software application domains. Manual testers carefully plan and conduct tests in multiple scenarios, verifying how the program behaves in different settings. This lessens the possibility of missing essential situations.

2. Recognising Complicated Issues

Compliance with regulatory norms and procedures is crucial in regulated businesses, including healthcare, finance, and aerospace. Manual testing ensures adherence to industry-specific norms and confirms compliance with regulatory frameworks. 

Manual testers help businesses manage complicated regulatory environments by conducting thorough audits, reviewing documentation, and conducting compliance testing.

3. Verifying the User Experience

Manual testers help improve the software’s user experience (UX) design by identifying pain points in the user journey and developing empathy for the end users. This results in increased customer satisfaction and improved user engagement.

4. Confirming Adherence to Regulatory Guidelines

Manual testing thrives when it finds intricate flaws that automated testing frameworks can miss. These experts deeply examine every software component to identify potential weaknesses, improving the software’s dependability and durability in practical settings.

Benefits of Manual Testing 

1. Visual and Perceptual Verification:

Manual testers can assess UI elements for layout, aesthetics, and overall user experience.

2. Early Defect Detection 

Manual testing lowers development expenses over time by enabling the early detection and correction of defects.

3. Examining Complicated Situations

Manual testing handles intricate situations requiring human emotions, judgment, or decision-making.

Conclusion

In conclusion, manual testing plays a crucial role in the SDLC. It guarantees that the program is usable and functional and satisfies client and business requirements. Manual testing provides the personal touch required to verify 

• usability, 
• accessibility, 
• and design elements, 
• even though automation can increase efficiency. 

Manual testing is still essential for producing high-quality software because it covers areas that automation cannot.