What is Manual Testing?
Manual Testing is the process of manually executing test cases without using any automation tools. Testers validate software functionality, usability, and user experience by performing tests step by step.
What is Automation Testing?
Automation Testing uses automated tools and scripts to execute test cases. It is efficient for repetitive tests, regression testing, and large projects.
Objectives
- Manual Testing: Identify defects and validate functionality
- Automation Testing: Reduce human effort and accelerate testing
Advantages
- Manual: Flexible, easy for exploratory testing
- Automation: Faster execution, repeatable tests, accurate results
Limitations
- Manual: Time-consuming, error-prone, repetitive tasks
- Automation: Requires initial setup, technical skills, and maintenance
Testing Process Comparison
- Manual Testing: Test planning → Test case creation → Execute manually → Report defects → Retest
- Automation Testing: Tool selection → Script development → Execute scripts → Report defects → Maintain scripts
️ Example
Example: Testing login functionality manually versus automating login test scripts using Selenium WebDriver.
Best Practices
- Use Manual Testing for exploratory and UI tests
- Use Automation for regression and repetitive tests
- Combine both approaches for optimal coverage
- Maintain clear test documentation
