Top 100 Manual Testing Interview Questions and Answers

Manual Testing Interview Questions and Answers

This world of cybersecurity is continuously enhancing with the latest cybersecurity trends.  In this continuously changing cybersecurity world, manual testing has become an integral part of the highly essential process in software development, confirming that applications functionalize precisely prior to release.  In case you are planning for a manual testing interview, this could be life-changing if you take the comprehensive guide to help you with the Top 100 Manual Testing Interview Questions and Answers through this amazing blog post.

Basic Manual Testing Interview Questions

1: What is Software Testing?

The process of assessing and confirming that a software program satisfies its specifications and operates as intended is known as software testing. It entails running the program to find any errors or flaws.

2: What is Manual Testing?

Software testers who use manual testing carry out test cases by hand without the aid of automation technologies. Ad-hoc testing, usability testing, and exploratory testing all require it.

3: Why is Manual Testing Important?

Finds usability problems that automation would overlook.

Facilitates exploratory testing without the need for preset scripts.

Improves the user experience.

Beneficial for minor projects that undergo frequent modifications.

4: What are the Different Types of Manual Testing?

Functional Testing,

Non-functional Testing,

Smoke Testing,

Sanity Testing,

Regression Testing,

Exploratory Testing,

User Acceptance Testing (UAT), etc.

5: What is the Difference Between Manual and Automated Testing?

Aspect	Manual Testing	Automation Testing
Execution Method	Performed manually by testers	Uses tools and scripts for execution
Speed	Slower due to manual execution	Faster execution with automation tools
Accuracy	Prone to human errors	More accurate and reliable
Cost	Lower initial cost but high effort	Higher initial cost but cost-effective long-term
Best for	Exploratory, usability testing	Regression, load, and performance testing

Intermediate Manual Testing Interview Questions

6: What is SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle)?

The planning, development, testing, and deployment of software is known as the SDLC. The primary stages consist of:

Requirement Analysis,

Design,

Development,

Testing,

Deployment,

Maintenance, etc.

7: What is STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle)?

The STLC is the procedure used for testing, and it consists of:

Requirement Analysis,

Test Planning,

Test Case Development,

Environment Setup,

Test Execution,

Test Closure, etc.

8: What are the Different Levels of Testing?

Unit Testing – Testing separate parts.

Integration Testing – Examining how different components interact.

System Testing – Assessing the entire system.

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) – Confirming that the program satisfies corporate needs.

9: What is the Difference Between Test Case and Test Scenario?

Test Case	Test Scenario
A detailed set of instructions to test a specific feature	A high-level description of what needs to be tested
Includes steps, inputs, expected results	Focuses on end-to-end testing without detailed steps
Example: Verify login with valid credentials	Example: Check login functionality

10: What is a Test Plan?

A test plan can be termed a document that details the testing strategy, objectives, schedule, resources, and scope of testing for a particular project.

11: What is Smoke Testing?

Smoke testing can be defined as a preliminary test to verify that the critical operations of an application are functioning prior to proceeding with detailed testing.

12: What is Sanity Testing?

Before carrying out more thorough testing, sanity testing is a fast test to ensure that recently added functionality or bug patches are operating as intended.

13: What is Regression Testing?

Regression testing ensures that updates to an application’s code don’t interfere with its current functioning.

14: What is Ad-hoc Testing?

Ad-hoc testing is a non-formal testing procedure that is carried out without the use of formal test cases. It seeks out unforeseen flaws.

15: What is Exploratory Testing?

Without using pre-written test cases, exploratory testing enables testers to examine the application and find flaws using their instincts and experience.

Advanced Manual Testing Interview Questions

16: What is a Defect Life Cycle?

The various phases a problem goes through are represented by the defect life cycle (bug life cycle), which includes:

New – Defect identified.

Assigned – Assigned to a developer.

In Progress – The Developer is working on fixing it.

Fixed – The bug is fixed.

Retest – The Tester verifies the fix.

Closed – Bug is resolved or marked as duplicate/rejected.

17: What is the Difference Between Verification and Validation?

Verification	Validation
Ensures that the product is designed correctly	Ensures that the product meets the user’s requirements
Involves reviews, walkthroughs, inspections	Involves executing test cases
Example: Reviewing requirement documents	Example: Checking login functionality in a real system

18: What are the Key Components of a Good Test Case?

Test Case ID

Test Description

Pre-conditions

Test Steps

Expected Result

Actual Result

Status (Pass/Fail)

19: What is Boundary Value Analysis?

Testing the limits of input values (such as min/max) is the main goal of the testing method known as boundary value analysis, or BVA.

20: What is Equivalence Partitioning?

Equivalency To cut down on the number of test cases, partitioning separates input data into valid and invalid partitions.

Situational & Behavioral Manual Testing Questions

21: How do you Prioritize Test Cases?

First, high-risk functionalities

Traits that are most commonly used,

Attributes that have a significant business impact.

22: What Would You Do If You Find a Critical Bug Just Before Release?

Report the bug right away.

Consult with interested parties.

Consider potential workarounds.

If needed, recommend postponing the release.

23: Have You Ever Found a Bug That Was Hard to Reproduce? How Did You Handle It?

Keep track of every step that led to the bug.

Take screenshots and record log files.

Experiment with various test settings.

Work together with developers.

24: How Do You Handle Conflicts with Developers About Defects?

Give detailed bug reports.

Present proof (logs, screenshots).

Talk about and make clear the requirements.

Keep your demeanor professional.

25: How Do You Ensure Test Coverage?

Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM)

Test case reviews

Exploratory testing

Advanced Manual Testing Concepts

26: What is the Difference Between Functional and Non-Functional Testing?

Functional Testing	Non-Functional Testing
Tests the functionality of an application.	Tests the performance, security, usability, etc.
Focuses on “what” the system does.	Focuses on “how” the system performs.
Example: Login feature validation.	Example: Checking system response time.

27: What is Usability Testing?

Usability testing assesses a software application’s usability. It contributes to better accessibility, navigability, and ease of use.

28: What is Compatibility Testing?

An application’s compatibility across various browsers, operating systems, devices, and network contexts is guaranteed by compatibility testing.

29: What is Performance Testing?

Performance testing assesses how quickly, responsively, and steadily an application operates under various load scenarios. It consists of:

Load Testing,

Stress Testing,

Soak Testing.

30: What is Security Testing?

To make sure an application is safe from risks like hacking, data leaks, and unauthorized access, security testing finds weaknesses in the program.

31: What is Risk-Based Testing?

Test cases are ranked according to the probability and significance of faults in crucial capabilities in risk-based testing.

32: What is an Alpha and Beta Test?

Alpha Testing: Carried out by internal testers prior to program release.

Beta Testing: Conducted prior to the formal launch by actual users.

33: What is the Difference Between Retesting and Regression Testing?

Retesting	Regression Testing
Tests a fixed defect	Tests existing functionality after changes
Performed on specific test cases	Covers a broader scope
Example: Verifying a fixed login issue	Example: Checking if recent code changes break any existing functionality

34: What is a Test Strategy?

A high-level document that outlines the entire testing technique, goals, scope, and resources needed is called a test strategy.

35: What is an Entry and Exit Criteria in Testing?

Entry Criteria: Requirements that must be fulfilled before testing starts, such as the preparation of test cases and requirement documentation.

Exit Criteria: Requirements that must be fulfilled (e.g., all critical defects rectified, test cases completed) before testing is finished.

Defect Management Questions

36: What is Defect Severity and Defect Priority?

Defect Severity	Defect Priority
Impact of the defect on the application	The urgency of fixing the defect
Example: Crash on login is high severity	Example: A minor UI issue may be low priority

37: How Do You Log a Defect in a Bug Tracking Tool?

Step to reproduce,

Expected vs. actual result,

Screenshots/ logs,

Environment details, etc.

38: What is a Showstopper Bug?

A serious flaw that stops additional testing or application use is known as a showstopper bug.

39: What is a Defect Triage?

The process of reviewing, ranking, and assigning faults for repair according to their impact and severity is known as Defect Triage.

40: What is the Difference Between a Bug, Defect, and Error?

Term	Definition
Bug	Found during testing before release
Defect	Found in production by users
Error	A mistake in code by the developer

Test Case Design Techniques

41: What is the Difference Between Positive and Negative Testing?

Positive Testing	Negative Testing
Tests valid inputs	Tests invalid inputs
Ensures the system works as expected	Ensures the system handles errors correctly
Example: Entering a correct password	Example: Entering special characters in a username field

42: What is Decision Table Testing?

To guarantee thorough test coverage, decision table testing employs a table to depict various input situations and their anticipated results.

43: What is Pairwise Testing?

In order to maximize test coverage, pairwise testing is a combinatorial technique that evaluates several combinations of input variables.

44: What is Error Guessing?

Without documented test cases, error guessing uses a tester’s intuition and experience to identify flaws.

45: What is Use Case Testing?

Utilizing business use cases or real-world scenarios, use case testing assesses how the application behaves

SQL and Database Testing Questions

46: What is Database Testing?

Database testing guarantees that the data validity, integrity, and structure of the database satisfy the needs of the application.

47: Explain what is software testing

Software testing is the process of evaluating a software application to ensure it meets stakeholder requirements, functions correctly, and is free of defects. It involves assessing the software’s performance, features, quality, usability, and completeness. Ultimately, software testing serves as a quality control measure to verify that the product meets expected standards.

48: How Do You Verify Data Integrity in a Database?

Verify the integrity of the references (foreign keys).

Verify the consistency of the data across tables.

Use SQL queries to make sure the data is retrieved accurately.

49: What is ACID in Database Testing?

ACID stands for:

Atomicity – Transactions are all-or-nothing.

Consistency – Data remains valid before and after transactions.

Isolation – Transactions occur independently.

Durability – Data is permanently stored.

50: What is the Difference Between JOIN and UNION?

JOIN	UNION
Combines data from multiple tables	Merges results from multiple queries
Works on related tables with foreign keys	Works on separate result sets
Example: INNER JOIN	Example: UNION ALL

Agile and Testing Methodologies

51: What is Agile Testing?

Agile testing integrates testing into continuous development and delivery, adhering to Agile principles.

52: What is Scrum in Agile?

Scrum is an Agile methodology that consists of:

Sprint planning

Daily stand-up meetings

Sprint reviews

Retrospectives

53: What is the Role of a Tester in an Agile Team?

Take part in the sprint planning process.

Work together with business analysts and developers.

Conduct exploratory testing.

If necessary, automate repetitious processes.

54: What is the Difference Between Waterfall and Agile?

Waterfall	Agile
Sequential development	Iterative development
Testing happens after coding	Testing happens continuously
Changes are difficult to implement	Changes can be incorporated easily

55: What is Continuous Testing?

Frequent software testing in CI/CD pipelines is known as continuous testing, and it guarantees quick response and quality enhancement.

More on Agile and Testing Methodologies

56: What is Kanban in Agile?

An Agile technique called Kanban emphasizes process visualization and continuous delivery. It tracks tasks in various stages, such as To Do, In Progress, Testing, and Done, using a Kanban board.

57: What is Sprint in Agile?

In Agile, a sprint is a time-boxed development cycle that lasts one to four weeks and involves designing, developing, testing, and delivering a set of features.

58: What is the Difference Between Scrum and Kanban?

Scrum	Kanban
Iterative development in fixed sprints	A continuous flow of work
Defined roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner, Team)	No defined roles
Time-boxed sprints	No fixed timeframes
Best for structured projects	Best for continuous development and maintenance

59: What is the Definition of Done (DoD) in Agile?

A checklist known as the Definition of Done (DoD) makes that a feature is finished, tested, and prepared for release.

60: What is Exploratory Testing in Agile?

In Agile, exploratory testing is carried out without pre-established test cases in order to actively explore the program and find unforeseen flaws.

Test Management and Reporting Questions

61: What is a Test Case?

A test case is a document that includes test procedures, input information, and anticipated outcomes to confirm a certain application operation.

62: What is a Test Scenario?

Without going into specifics, a test scenario provides a broad overview of what has to be tested.

63: What is a Test Suite?

To test a particular module or functionality, a series of linked test cases is called a test suite.

64: What is Test Execution?

The process of running test cases to see if an application satisfies requirements and functions as intended is known as test execution.

65: What is a Test Summary Report?

A report that summarizes tests is called a test summary report.

Total test cases executed,

Passed/ failed test cases,

Bugs found and fixed,

Test environment details,

Recommendations.

66: What is a Test Closure Report?

At the conclusion of the testing process, a test closure report is created to record important discoveries, lessons discovered, and the efficacy of the test.

67: What is a Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM)?

To guarantee thorough test coverage, RTM is a document that associates test cases with requirements.

68: What is a KPI in Software Testing?

Key Performance Indicators, or KPIs, are used in testing to gauge its efficacy. Examples:

Defect detection percentage,

Test case execution rate,

Test coverage percentage.

69: What is an Incident Report in Testing?

Unexpected problems that arise during testing, such as system crashes and test environment failures, are documented in an incident report.

70: What is Defect Leakage?

When a bug is overlooked during testing but subsequently discovered in production, this is known as defect leaking.

Real-Time Testing Scenarios

71: How Do You Test an E-commerce Website?

Check the checkout, registration, and login procedures.

Test the product’s filtering and search capabilities.

Verify transactions using the payment gateway.

Test for security and performance.

72: How Do You Test a Login Page?

Enter both valid and invalid login information.

Verify the operation of the captcha and forgotten password.

Check for error messages and session timeouts.

73: How Do You Test a Mobile Application?

Test across many operating systems and devices.

Verify the availability of the network (WiFi, 4G, offline mode).

Conduct usability and gesture-based testing.

74: How Do You Handle a High-Severity Bug?

Report the bug right away using precise instructions and supporting documentation.

Ask developers for a speedy solution.

Conduct regression and retesting tests.

75: How Do You Test an API Manually?

Send API requests using Postman or similar technologies.

Verify the answer status codes, such as 200, 400, and 500.

Check the security headers and data format (XML, JSON).

Non-Functional Testing Questions

76: What is Load Testing?

An application’s performance under anticipated user load is assessed through load testing.

77: What is Stress Testing?

Stress testing examines how an application responds to harsh circumstances, such as heavy traffic or CPU pressure.

78: What is Scalability Testing?

Scalability testing evaluates an application’s capacity to manage growing user or transaction volumes.

79: What is Usability Testing?

Usability testing evaluates an application’s ease of use and intuitiveness for end users.

80: What is Accessibility Testing?

People with impairments can use a website or application thanks to accessibility testing (e.g., screen readers, keyboard navigation).

Behavioral and Soft Skills Questions

81: How Do You Handle a Situation Where Developers Disagree with a Reported Bug?

Present unambiguous proof (logs, screenshots).

Show the problem by reproducing the bug.

If required, escalate while being professional.

82: How Do You Prioritize Testing When You Have Limited Time?

Test the most important features first.

To concentrate on regions with a high impact, use risk-based testing.

Prior to conducting more in-depth tests, conduct smoke and sanity testing.

83: How Do You Stay Updated with Testing Trends?

Keep up with blogs and forums (such as TestGuild and the Ministry of Testing).

Enroll in online courses on Coursera and Udemy.

Participate in conferences and testing communities.

84: What Would You Do If You Found a Critical Bug Just Before Release?

Report it right away with supporting documentation.

Together with stakeholders, evaluate the business impact.

If you are unable to postpone the release, propose workarounds or hotfixes.

85: How Do You Communicate a Test Report to Non-Technical Stakeholders?

Make use of plain, untechnical terminology.

Give high-level overviews of the coverage and outcomes of the tests.

Add graphic reports, such as graphs and charts.

Miscellaneous Manual Testing Questions

86: What is the Role of a Test Lead?

To guarantee effectiveness and quality, a test lead organizes, directs, and monitors the testing procedure.

87: What is a Testing Center of Excellence (TCoE)?

A committed group called a TCoE works to standardize and enhance testing procedures throughout a company.

88: What are the Common Testing Metrics?

Test case pass rate

Defect density

Mean time to detect/fix defects

89: How Do You Ensure 100% Test Coverage?

Use RTM (Requirement Traceability Matrix).

Perform exploratory and boundary testing.

90: What is the Future of Manual Testing?

AI-driven testing

Automation and DevOps integration

Pay attention to exploratory testing and usability.

91: Not Having a Clear Understanding of Basic Testing Concepts

Many applicants fail because they are unable to articulate the basics of testing, such as defect life cycle, test cases, SDLC, and STLC.

Be ready to explain these ideas using straightforward language and examples.

92: Giving Generic Answers Without Real-World Examples

Interviewers are looking for real-world examples, not abstract definitions.

Always tie your responses to real-world situations or prior experiences.

93: Not Prioritizing Test Cases Effectively

Many applicants overlook risk analysis and business effects when asked to rank test situations.

Prioritize important features first, such as security, payment, and login.

94: Ignoring Negative and Edge Case Testing

Some applicants ignore the fact that many flaws result from unexpected inputs and solely concentrate on positive exam situations.

👉 Tip: Make sure your method always incorporates exploratory testing, equivalency partitioning, and boundary value analysis (BVA).

95: Describe a Time You Found a Critical Bug Before Release. How Did You Handle It?

Describe the process you used to find and report the bug.

Explain how you collaborated with the developers to resolve the issue.

Emphasize any different approaches you proposed.

96: Tell Me About a Time You Disagreed with a Developer About a Defect.

Describe how you backed up your assertion with proof.

Demonstrate your ability to stay rational and professional.

If appropriate, describe how you made concessions to fix the problem.

97: How Do You Handle Stressful Situations in Testing?

Describe how you remain composed under duress.

Talk about any methods you employ for setting priorities.

Give an example of a circumstance you handled well under pressure.

98: How Do You Keep Up with the Latest Testing Trends?

Talk about testing the blogs, forums, and classes you attend.

Discuss any new qualifications or educational opportunities you have had.

Highlight any new testing tools you recently learned, if any.

99: What Would You Do If a Manager Asked You to Skip Testing Due to a Tight Deadline?

Describe the dangers of avoiding testing.

Offer substitute strategies, such as risk-based testing.

Demonstrate that you value quality while remaining adaptable.

100: Is manual testing still a good career in 2025?

Yes! Even though automation testing is becoming more popular, exploratory, usability, and UI/UX testing still require manual testing.