A tester (or QA engineer) is a professional with a set of skills that allow them to systematically identify errors in the operation of mobile apps and other digital products. QA engineers take on several key responsibilities:
Finding problems that prevent the product from performing its core functions.
Analyzing conditions that could have led to the discovery of the errors found.
Systematizing testing results and creating reporting documentation to help developers fix all problems as quickly as possible.
A qualified tester should not only understand how the product works but also be able to develop potential scenarios that end users may encounter. In other words, if programmers overlook a certain issue, QA engineers do everything possible to address it before release or within a major update.
Types of Testing
The product's specificity dictates the testing type and the development team's priority goals. For example, QA engineers often rely on manual testing services when it comes to a simple service with few features. This approach allows them to examine the product and analyze its UX from the perspective of an ordinary user.
On the other hand, when specialists are interested in quick and accurate results, they prefer to use automated testing. This method is ideal for functions that require repeated verification because all actions are performed by program code, not humans.
In addition to this, QA engineers most commonly perform the following types of testing:
Functional testing.
Product security testing.
Product performance testing.
UI testing.
Compatibility testing.
It is also worth noting that the type of testing may depend on the timing of the research. This could be alpha testing of the first functional version of a particular service, pre-release testing of the product, beta testing, or application testing after introducing new features.
Key Advantages of Effective Testing
Tester work can guarantee the stable operation of complex products on a large scale. For example, if it's an app for managing personal finances and monetary transactions, the security of each operation is crucial. Only testing can show that such a product will flawlessly perform its core functions when interacting with a vast audience.
A fresh perspective on the created product. Developers may overlook various errors in their code when trying to implement a multifunctional service. To prevent the target audience from discovering these minor bugs, testers use specialized tools to analyze the product and identify errors that the developers may not have noticed.
Testing allows reaching the final version of the product faster. Regardless of your target audience, they are unlikely to want to update your service several times a day. QA engineers help developers prepare a more complete version of the product for release so users don't have to worry about frequent updates and unexpected errors.
Conclusion
Effective systematic testing can mean the difference between a successful digital product and a failed service that will deter potential customers with malfunctioning buttons or other difficulties. This process is an integral part of executing any of our projects. It ensures the flawless operation of mobile apps after release and protects our clients from additional expenses associated with fixing sudden critical bugs.