Software testing is a systematic process used to evaluate whether a software system behaves as expected and satisfies defined requirements.
Testing is the practice of executing software under controlled conditions to verify its behavior. It's not just about finding bugsβit's about validating that the software meets business requirements, performs reliably, and delivers value to users. Testing activities include planning, test case design, execution, defect reporting, and verification.
When you buy a phone, manufacturers test it for battery life (endurance testing), camera quality (functional testing), performance with 100+ apps open (load testing), and screen responsiveness (performance testing). Each test prevents thousands of customer complaints.
Imagine you're testing a banking application. A user reports that their account balance decreases twice after a single transaction. How would you approach this problem?
π‘ Testing is about ensuring quality before customers experience problems. It's proactive risk management.
Interviewers assess whether candidates understand testing as verification and risk-reduction, not just bug finding. They want to see systematic thinking.