Software Testing Interview Questions in Pune

Show answer

Define goals and three to five realistic tasks, such as 'Book a train ticket for next Friday'. Recruit participants who match real users. In the session, explain that you are testing the product, not them, ask them to think aloud, and avoid hinting even when they struggle. Record the screen with consent, note where they hesitate or fail, and finish with a short questionnaire. Then group findings by severity and frequency.

What are positive and negative test cases?

Show answer

Positive cases use valid inputs to confirm expected behaviour; negative cases use invalid inputs to confirm the system handles errors gracefully.

SQL: verify that row counts and totals match between a source table and a target table after a data load.

Database TestingMedium

Show answer

-- Compare counts and sums side by side; both columns must match SELECT (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM staging_orders) AS src_count, (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM dw_orders) AS tgt_count, (SELECT SUM(amount) FROM staging_orders) AS src_amount, (SELECT SUM(amount) FROM dw_orders) AS tgt_amount;

What is the difference between a high-level and a low-level test case?

Test Case DesignEasy

Show answer

A high-level test case states what to test without detailed steps or exact data, for example 'Verify user can reset password using registered email'. A low-level test case gives exact steps, test data and expected results for each step. High-level cases are quick to write and suit experienced testers or changing features. Low-level cases suit regulated projects, new team members and cases that will later be automated.

Why is orientation and screen size testing important?

Mobile TestingEasy

Show answer

Mobile users have many screen sizes, resolutions, notches and foldable screens, and they rotate their phones. Rotation can recreate the screen and lose entered data if not handled. Test portrait and landscape on key screens, small and large phones and tablets, and check text does not cut off, buttons stay reachable and the keyboard does not hide input fields. Check entered form data survives rotation.

How do you chain requests in Postman by passing a token from login to the next call?

Show answer

// Tests tab of the Login request const body = pm.response.json(); pm.environment.set('authToken', body.token); // Next request header: // Authorization: Bearer {{authToken}} // Postman replaces {{authToken}} with the saved value

What is exploratory testing?

Testing TypesMedium

Show answer

Learning, test design and execution at the same time, without scripted cases — time-boxed sessions with a charter (e.g. 'explore checkout with coupons'), noting bugs and ideas. Great for finding edge cases.

What is a test readiness review?

STLC and Test PlanningMedium

Show answer

A test readiness review is a checkpoint before formal test execution starts, where the team confirms everything needed is in place. It checks that the build is deployed and smoke tested, the environment and test data are ready, test cases are reviewed and approved, access and tools work, and entry criteria are met. It prevents wasted days when execution starts and testers discover a missing service or empty database.

What is the difference between PUT and PATCH?

Agile, SQL and API TestingEasy

Show answer

PUT replaces the whole resource with the data sent, so fields you leave out may be cleared or reset. PATCH applies a partial update and changes only the fields sent. For example, to change only a user's phone number, PATCH with just the phone field is enough, while PUT expects the complete user object. Testers check that PUT and PATCH behave as documented and that missing fields are handled correctly.

What are latent defects and masked defects?

Manual Testing BasicsMedium

Show answer

A latent defect exists in the software but has not caused a failure yet because the needed conditions have not occurred, such as a leap-year bug that appears only on 29 February. A masked defect is hidden by another defect, for example a broken discount calculation you cannot reach because the cart page crashes first. After the first bug is fixed, the masked one appears, which is one reason regression and retesting matter.

Write test cases for a calculator app.

Show answer

Basic operations, division by zero, decimals, large numbers, order of operations, clear and backspace, repeated operations and memory keys.

A screen reader announces 'button, button, button' on a toolbar. What is the bug and how do you report it?

Automation Basics for Manual TestersEasy

Show answer

The toolbar uses icon-only buttons without accessible names, so users hear the role but not the purpose. Report it with the page, the screen reader and browser versions, the exact announcement and the expected one, such as 'Bold, toggle button, not pressed'. Reference WCAG 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value. The fix is an aria-label or visually hidden text on each button, plus a tooltip that also helps sighted users.

What is the difference between quality assurance and quality control?

Manual Testing BasicsEasy

Show answer

Quality assurance is process-oriented and preventive: it sets standards, reviews and checklists so defects are not introduced in the first place. Quality control is product-oriented and detective: it checks the actual build through testing and inspection to find defects. For example, introducing a requirement review checklist is QA, while executing test cases on a release build is QC. Software testing is one activity inside quality control.

Write a Gherkin scenario for applying a valid coupon at checkout.

Show answer

Feature: Coupon at checkout Scenario: Valid coupon reduces the total Given I am logged in with 1000 rupees of items in my cart And the coupon 'SAVE10' gives 10 percent off When I apply the coupon 'SAVE10' Then the discount shown is 100 rupees And the order total is 900 rupees

What is colour contrast ratio and what values does WCAG require?

Show answer

Contrast ratio compares the brightness of text and its background, from 1:1 to 21:1. WCAG AA requires at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, which is about 18 point or 14 point bold. User interface parts such as input borders and icons need 3:1. AAA raises text to 7:1. Testers check this with a contrast checker or browser developer tools, including placeholder, disabled and hover states.

How do you test a web page with a screen reader?

Show answer

Turn on the screen reader, for example NVDA with a browser, and listen rather than look. Navigate by headings to check the structure is logical, by landmarks to find main regions and by Tab through controls. Each control should announce a clear name, role and state, such as 'Subscribe, checkbox, not checked'. Check images, form errors, dynamic updates like cart counts and dialogs. Note exactly what was announced in bug reports.

What is a test oracle?

Manual Testing BasicsMedium

Show answer

A test oracle is the source you use to decide whether a test result is correct, that is, the expected result. It can be a requirement document, a user story, an older version of the system, a calculation in a spreadsheet, a domain expert or common sense. For example, when testing a tax calculator, the official tax slab table is the oracle. Without a reliable oracle, you cannot say a test passed or failed.

How do you balance manual testing and automation work in the same sprint?

STLC and Test PlanningMedium

Show answer

I agree the split with the team at sprint planning. Testing new stories manually comes first because it blocks the sprint goal. I then automate the stable flows from the previous sprint, so scripts are not rewritten while features change. For example, I block two afternoons a week for automation and report progress in stand-up. If a release is at risk, I pause automation and tell the lead openly.

Explain SQL joins briefly.

Show answer

INNER returns matching rows, LEFT keeps all left rows, RIGHT keeps all right rows and FULL keeps all rows from both tables.

Write test cases for a signup form.

Show answer

Mandatory fields, email format, password rules, duplicate email, terms checkbox, captcha, confirmation email and field length limits.

How do you review test cases?

Show answer

Peer review for clarity, coverage of requirements, correct expected results, test data and traceability, then update and baseline them.

What is CSRF and how is it prevented?

Performance and Security BasicsHard

Show answer

Cross-site request forgery tricks a logged-in user's browser into sending an unwanted request to a site, such as changing their email, because the browser automatically includes cookies. Prevention includes anti-CSRF tokens in forms, SameSite cookie settings and re-authentication for sensitive actions. Testers check that state-changing requests fail when the token is missing or reused, and that such actions are not done through GET requests.

What is a hotfix?

Bug Life Cycle and JiraMedium

Show answer

An urgent patch released outside the normal schedule to fix a critical production defect, followed by regression testing and merge back to the main branch.

What is the difference between statement coverage and branch coverage?

Show answer

Statement coverage measures the percentage of code statements executed by tests. Branch coverage measures whether every decision outcome, true and false, has been executed. Branch coverage is stronger: for 'if (amount > 1000) applyDiscount()', one test with 1500 gives 100 percent statement coverage, but you need a second test with 500 to cover the false branch. 100 percent branch coverage implies 100 percent statement coverage, not the other way round.

What is the definition of done?

Show answer

A shared checklist for when a story is complete, usually including code review, tests passing, no open critical bugs and documentation updated.

What is mobile app testing and what extra checks does it need?

Mobile TestingMedium

Show answer

Test on real devices and OS versions, interrupts such as calls, battery, network changes, gestures, permissions and app store guidelines.

Write test cases for live order tracking in a food delivery app.

Show answer

Verify each status change appears in order: placed, accepted, preparing, picked up and delivered. Check the rider's location updates on the map at the expected interval. Test the estimated time updates when there is a delay. Verify notifications for each status. Check behaviour when the network drops and recovers, when the app is reopened, and when the order is cancelled midway. Confirm tracking stops after delivery and the rating screen appears.

Describe how you contributed in a sprint retrospective to improve quality.

Show answer

Model answer: Situation: our sprints kept ending with stories stuck in testing. Task: suggest a fix in the retrospective. Action: I showed that most stories reached QA in the last two days and proposed smaller stories, early test case sharing and developers deploying to QA daily. Result: the team tried it next sprint, and the number of stories carried over dropped from five to one.

Why should we hire you as a manual tester over someone with more automation experience?

Manual Testing BasicsMedium

Show answer

Answer with strengths and honesty. For example: I am strong at understanding requirements, designing test cases with techniques like boundary values and finding bugs through exploratory testing, which automation depends on to be useful. I also write SQL and test APIs in Postman. I am learning Playwright and have automated a few smoke tests, so I can grow into automation while adding value from the first week.

Write a SQL query to find duplicate records.

Show answer

SELECT email, COUNT(*) FROM users GROUP BY email HAVING COUNT(*) > 1;

How do you write test cases when only wireframes are available and the UI is not ready?

Show answer

Use the wireframes and the user story as the test basis. Write test scenarios and high-level cases for the flows, field validations, navigation and error states shown in the design. Note open questions, such as missing empty states or error messages, and clarify them with the designer. Keep exact UI text and steps light so they are easy to update. Once the build arrives, refine the cases and add any missing details.

What is the testing pyramid?

Testing TypesMedium

Show answer

A model with many fast unit tests at the base, fewer API or integration tests in the middle and a small number of UI tests at the top.

What is a sprint retrospective?

Show answer

A team meeting at the end of a sprint to discuss what went well, what did not and what to improve next.

What is the difference between a story, epic, task and bug in JIRA?

Bug Life Cycle and JiraMedium

Show answer

An epic is a large body of work; stories are user-facing slices of it; tasks are technical work items; bugs are defects.

What is error guessing?