The Complete Software Tester

The content of this course is equally useful for beginners, or working test analysts who wish to enhance their skills

What you’ll learn
Learn about the fundamentals of Software Testing and why it’s equally important for safety and business
Acquire testing skills by understanding the techniques used to create your tests. These can be applied to create test cases with full system coverage
Learn how to analyse design documentation and create Test Cases, Test Scripts and the required Prerequisites to start you tests
Run your tests duting the test ececution phase and see how defect management works, using case studies of how testing fits into several project methodologies
This course will give you confidence and knowledge for your job interviews.

Requirements
There are no pre-requisites for this course, just a desire to learn about software testing

Description
If you are looking to start a test career or you simply want to enhance your test skills, then this course is for you because there is something for everyone.The course is divided into 5 subjects,1. Introduction to Software Testing –· How to Become a Tester:Becoming a software tester typically involves gaining a strong understanding of software development life cycles (SDLC), coding fundamentals, and the methodologies used in testing. Formal education in computer science or IT can help, but many testers also come from non-technical backgrounds. Certifications like ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board) or Certified Software Tester (CSTE) are valuable for building credibility and skills. Learning about various testing tools and developing strong analytical skills are crucial steps.· Importance of Testing for Safety and Business:You will understand why testing is essential for ensuring software quality, stability, and reliability. From a safety perspective, rigorous testing helps prevent bugs that could lead to catastrophic failures, especially in sectors like healthcare, aviation, and financial services. From a business standpoint, releasing error-free software ensures user satisfaction, reduces costs for fixing issues post-launch, and helps businesses maintain their reputation. It also aids in legal compliance in certain industries.2. Test Analysis and Preparation · Analyzing Design Documents:In the preparation phase, testers analyze various design documents such as requirement specifications, architectural diagrams, or user stories. The goal is to understand the system’s functionality, identify areas where defects are likely to occur, and determine how the system should behave in different scenarios.· Creating Test Cases and Test Scripts:Test cases outline specific conditions under which the system should be tested, and the expected outcomes. They ensure that both positive and negative scenarios are covered. Test scripts (particularly for automated testing) are precise sequences of instructions that execute test cases automatically. Both are critical for structured, repeatable testing, and they help ensure consistency and thoroughness during testing.3. Discover how to manage the test phase· Test Execution:This phase involves running the test cases and scripts developed in the preparation stage. Testers may manually test the software or use automated tools. During execution, they observe the system’s behavior and compare it to expected outcomes.· Defect Management:When testers identify discrepancies between expected and actual results, these are logged as defects (or bugs). Effective defect management includes prioritizing the bugs, assigning them to developers for resolution, tracking their progress, and retesting the system once fixes have been made. Popular tools for defect management include JIRA, Bugzilla, and TFS (Team Foundation Server).· Test Reporting:After testing, comprehensive reports are generated. These detail the number of test cases executed, how many passed or failed, the severity of defects, and any risks identified. Test reports are shared with stakeholders to inform them of the product’s readiness for release and any critical areas that need further work4. Testing Techniques and Methods (Tips and Tricks)Get to hear the tricks of the trade with 4 popular test techniques such as :Techniques· Boundary Value Analysis (BVA)Boundary Value Analysis is a technique where test cases are designed to focus on the values at the boundaries of input ranges. This technique is based on the principle that errors are most likely to occur at the edges of input data ranges rather than in the middle.· Equivalence Partitioning (EP)Equivalence Partitioning involves dividing the input data of a software application into partitions or groups of equivalent data. The idea is that if one test case in a group passes, the others in that group should also pass since they are treated as equivalent.· Decision TablesDecision tables are a structured way of representing and testing complex business rules or logic. A decision table lists inputs (conditions) and corresponding outputs (actions) in tabular form, covering all possible combinations of inputs to ensure that all scenarios are accounted for.· State Transition TablesState transition tables represent how a system transitions from one state to another based on inputs or events. They are particularly useful for testing applications where the behavior of the system depends on its current state, such as workflows, user sessions, or state machines.· How These Techniques Help TestersAll of these techniques help testers by improving test coverage and efficiency. They provide structured approaches to identifying edge cases, reducing redundancy, and ensuring that complex behaviors (like business rules or state transitions) are thoroughly tested. This leads to a more systematic and risk-based approach to testing, allowing testers to focus their efforts on the most critical areas of the application.Test MethodsYou will also be learning about some of test methods you will use as a software tester, such as· Static TestingStatic testing involves reviewing code, design documents, and other project artifacts without actually executing the software. Techniques like code reviews, walkthroughs, and inspections are used to identify defects early in the development cycle, reducing overall project costs.Its purpose is to catch errors early, improve code quality, and ensure alignment with project requirements without running the software· Security TestingSecurity testing focuses on identifying vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and risks within a system that could lead to unauthorized access, data breaches, or other malicious activities. It includes techniques like penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and ethical hacking.Its purpose is to ensure the system is protected from security threats and complies with data protection standards, safeguarding user and business data.· Performance TestingPerformance testing evaluates how well a system performs under specific conditions, such as high user loads, to ensure it meets speed, scalability, and stability requirements. It includes load testing, stress testing, and endurance testing.Performance testing and show you if the application can handle expected (and beyond) user traffic, performs efficiently under different conditions, and remains stable over time.· Test AutomationTest automation involves using automated tools to run tests, compare actual outcomes with expected results, and report on defects. It is commonly used for regression testing and repetitive tasks to improve speed, consistency, and coverage.Automation saves time, increases testing efficiency, and provides faster feedback by automating repetitive and high-volume test cases that would be time-consuming to execute manually.5. Project and Test Methodologies and how Testing Activities fit into them.You will learn about the most widely used methodologies in software development and testing:· The V Model: Understand the structured, step-by-step approach that emphasizes verification and validation at each stage of development.· Waterfall: Explore the traditional, linear methodology where testing is a separate phase following development.· Agile: Dive into the flexible, iterative model where testing is continuous throughout the development process.· Scrum Sprints: Learn how testing fits into short, focused development cycles within the Agile framework.· Hybrid: Discover how organizations combine methodologies to suit their specific project needs.· RAD (Rapid Application Development): Find out how testing adapts to fast-paced, prototype-based development models.Why Take This Course?This course is packed with real-life test information, created after extensive consultation with industry experts. Our team has over 70 years of combined software testing and management experience, ensuring that the knowledge shared is practical and relevant. Additionally, several lessons feature guest speakers who bring specialist insights to their subjects, further enriching your learning experience.What Makes This Course Unique?The 5 sections of this course are laser-focused and free from unnecessary fillers, making your learning journey efficient and purposeful. By the end of this course, you’ll have a broad and complete understanding of software testing, covering multiple methodologies and real-world applications. This range of testing skills will give you greater confidence during job interviews and help you become a versatile software tester, capable of adapting to any project environment.This course is designed to help you become a complete software tester—from mastering the testing methods to understanding how testing fits into the broader development lifecycle. Let’s get started on the path to building your testing expertise!

Overview
Section 1: Introduction and Test Basics

Lecture 1 Introduction and Course Description

Section 2: Introduction to Software Testing

Lecture 2 Getting Started

Lecture 3 Testing as a Career

Lecture 4 Testing for Safety

Lecture 5 Testing for Business

Lecture 6 How you can add value with your testing

Section 3: Test analysis and Preparation

Lecture 7 Beginning Test Analysis

Lecture 8 Identifying Your Tests

Lecture 9 Completing Test Analysis

Lecture 10 Creating Test Cases

Lecture 11 Completing Your Test Cases

Lecture 12 Understanding Test Prerequisites

Lecture 13 More About Prerequisites

Lecture 14 Test Environment Prerequisites

Lecture 15 Creating Test Scripts

Lecture 16 Adding Test Steps to a Test Script

Lecture 17 Completing Your Test Scripts

Section 4: Test Execution, Defect Management and Reporting

Lecture 18 Starting the Test Execution Phase

Lecture 19 Running Your Test Scripts

Lecture 20 Testing for Defects

Lecture 21 Completing Your First Test

Lecture 22 Logging a Defect

Lecture 23 Re-Testing a Fixed Defect

Lecture 24 The Defect Management Process

Lecture 25 Reporting Test Script Progress

Lecture 26 Test Reporting – Defects

Lecture 27 Introspective (Lessons Learned)

Lecture 28 Regression Tests

Lecture 29 The Testing Life Cycle

Section 5: Testing Methods and Techniques :- Tips and Tricks (Subtitled)

Lecture 30 Boundary Testing

Lecture 31 Equivalence Partitioning

Lecture 32 Equivalence Partitioning Example

Lecture 33 Decision Tables

Lecture 34 State Transition Tables

Lecture 35 Static Testing

Lecture 36 Security Testing Explained

Lecture 37 Security Testing – How You can Help

Lecture 38 Performance Testing

Lecture 39 Introduction to Test Automation

Lecture 40 Recommending Automation Options

Section 6: Project and Test Methodologies

Lecture 41 The V-Model – Project Activities

Lecture 42 The V-Model – Testing Phases & Activities

Lecture 43 Project and Test Methodology – Waterfall

Lecture 44 The Waterfall Team Project Team

Lecture 45 Project Methodologies – Agile

Lecture 46 The Agile Team

Lecture 47 Agile & Scrum – Managing Sprints

Lecture 48 Agile – Completion of Sprints

Lecture 49 Project Methodologies – Hybrid

Lecture 50 Project Methodologies – Starting a Hybrid Project Approach (Case Study)

Lecture 51 Project Methodology – Completing a Hybrid Project Approach (Case Study)

Lecture 52 Course Summary and Some Great Tips

This course is of value to either a complete beginner of testers who have limited experience. It is also very useful for someone who had not worked in multiple projects as it teaches you a a broad spectrum of testing.