Manual testing is the process of manually executing test cases on a software application, where a human tester interacts with the application to identify defects, bugs, or usability issues without relying on automated testing tools. In this approach, testers act as end users, running different scenarios to ensure the software behaves as expected. They compare the actual outcomes with the expected results, and if any discrepancies are found, they are documented and reported for further investigation. This process ensures that the software functions correctly and meets user requirements before being deployed.

Manual testing encompasses a variety of testing types, each serving a specific purpose. Functional testing ensures that the software’s features work according to the defined specifications. Usability testing focuses on the user experience, evaluating the ease of use and overall satisfaction with the application. Exploratory testing allows testers to explore the application without predefined test cases, relying on their intuition and experience to find unexpected issues. Regression testing checks if new code changes have affected existing functionality, ensuring that recent updates haven’t introduced new bugs.

While manual testing is often the first step in the testing process, particularly for small projects or in the early stages of development, it remains crucial even in larger projects. This method provides a flexible and detailed examination of the software, allowing testers to quickly adapt to changes, explore edge cases, and evaluate how the software feels from a user’s perspective. Unlike automated tests, manual testing allows for creativity and the application of human intuition, which can uncover issues that might not be easily detected through scripted tests.

However, manual testing has its limitations. It is a time-consuming process and can be prone to human error, especially when dealing with large, repetitive tasks. As a project grows in complexity or scale, automated testing becomes more practical, as it can run repetitive tests faster, more consistently, and with greater accuracy. Despite these drawbacks, manual testing remains a valuable tool in ensuring the overall quality of software, particularly when human judgment and creativity are essential for identifying non-obvious defects.