Manual testing is a fundamental aspect of software testing where testers manually execute test cases without the use of automation tools. This process involves the tester playing the role of an end user and using most of the application's features to ensure correct behavior.

1. Human Involvement:

   • Manual testing requires human intervention to execute test cases and verify the outcomes.
   • Testers use their intuition and experience to identify potential issues that automated tests might miss.

2. Test Case Execution:

   • Testers follow a set of predefined test cases to validate the functionality of the software.
   • Each test case is designed to check a specific aspect of the software's functionality.

3. Exploratory Testing:

   • Testers often perform exploratory testing, where they explore the application without a formal test plan to discover defects.
   • This approach relies on the tester's creativity and experience.

4. Defect Identification:

   • The primary goal of manual testing is to identify defects or bugs in the software.
   • Testers document these defects and communicate them to the development team for resolution.

5. User Experience Evaluation:

   • Manual testing allows testers to assess the user experience and usability of the application.
   • Testers can provide feedback on the application's look and feel, navigation, and overall user satisfaction.

Let's consider a simple example of manual testing for a login feature of a web application.

Objective: Ensure that the login feature works correctly with valid and invalid credentials.

Steps:

1. Open the web application in a browser.
2. Navigate to the login page.
3. Enter a valid username and password.
4. Click the "Login" button.
5. Verify that the user is redirected to the dashboard page.
6. Log out and return to the login page.
7. Enter an invalid username and password.
8. Click the "Login" button.
9. Verify that an error message is displayed.

Expected Results:

• Step 5: The user should be successfully logged in and redirected to the dashboard.
• Step 9: An error message should be displayed, indicating incorrect login credentials.

Task: Perform manual testing on a simple calculator application to verify its basic arithmetic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).

Steps:

1. Open the calculator application.
2. Perform the following operations and note the results:
   • Addition: 5 + 3
   • Subtraction: 10 - 4
   • Multiplication: 6 * 7
   • Division: 20 / 5
3. Verify that the results are correct.

Solution:

• Addition: 5 + 3 = 8
• Subtraction: 10 - 4 = 6
• Multiplication: 6 * 7 = 42
• Division: 20 / 5 = 4

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting to clear previous results before starting a new calculation.
• Not verifying the results against expected outcomes.

Manual testing is a crucial part of the software development process, providing a human perspective that automated tests cannot replicate. It helps ensure that the software is not only functional but also user-friendly and free of defects. As you progress through this course, you'll gain a deeper understanding of manual testing techniques and how they fit into the broader testing landscape.