Manual software testing is the process of manually testing software by a human tester to identify bugs and issues. It is often used in conjunction with automated testing to provide a comprehensive testing approach. There are several benefits to manual testing, including:
- Flexibility: Manual testing allows for a wide range of testing scenarios and conditions to be tested. Testers can test the software in ways that may not be possible with automated testing, such as testing the usability and user experience.
- Detection of subtle bugs: Manual testing can detect subtle bugs that automated testing may not pick up. Human testers can often spot issues that may not be obvious, such as visual inconsistencies or usability problems.
- Improved understanding of the software: By manually testing the software, testers can gain a deeper understanding of how the software works and how it is intended to be used. This can help identify potential issues and improve the overall quality of the software.
- Ability to test non-functional requirements: Manual testing can be used to test non-functional requirements such as usability, performance, and security.
- Cost-effective: Manual testing can be less expensive than automated testing, especially for small projects or projects with a limited budget.
- Better ROI: Manual testing can provide a better return on investment as the manual tester can use their knowledge to test the software in more real-world scenarios and generate more accurate results as they can think more critically.
- Better testing coverage: Manual testing can provide better testing coverage as the human tester can think more creatively and explore different software paths.
- Better testing documentation: Manual testing results in better testing documentation, as the human tester can take notes, screenshots, and other forms of documentation during the testing process.
However, it is important to note that manual testing can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. It is often used in conjunction with automated testing to provide a comprehensive testing approach.
