Manual testing refers to the process of manually evaluating software or

applications to identify defects, bugs, or issues. It involves human testers

carefully executing test cases without the use of automation tools. Manual testing
relies on the tester's intuition, experience, and attention to detail to assess
various aspects of the software's functionality, user interface, performance, and
usability.

Here are key aspects of manual testing:

Test Scenarios and Test Cases: Test scenarios and cases are designed based on
requirements and specifications. Testers execute these cases step by step to
validate the software's behavior against expected outcomes.

Exploratory Testing: In manual testing, testers have the flexibility to explore the
application and perform ad-hoc testing based on their intuition and domain
knowledge. This can help uncover unexpected issues.

User Experience Testing: Manual testing often includes evaluating the user
experience (UX) and user interface (UI) aspects of the software, such as usability,
accessibility, and visual design.

Now, why do we use automation instead of manual testing? Automation testing

involves using specialized tools and scripts to perform test cases automatically,
reducing the need for manual intervention. Here are some reasons why automation is
preferred in certain scenarios:

Efficiency and Speed: Automated tests can be executed much faster and repeatedly
compared to manual testing. This accelerates the testing process, especially in
large projects or when frequent regression testing is required.

Repeatability: Automated tests ensure consistency in testing. Once created, they

can be run consistently without human error, ensuring that all test cases are
executed precisely as designed.

Regression Testing: Automation is particularly effective for regression testing,

where tests need to be rerun frequently to ensure that new code changes haven't
introduced new defects or broken existing functionality.

Large-Scale Testing: For complex applications with large test suites, automation
can handle extensive testing more effectively than manual testing, saving time and
resources.

Consistency: Automated tests produce consistent results, reducing the variability

inherent in manual testing due to different testers' interpretations and
approaches.

Cost and Resource Optimization: Although automation requires upfront investment in

tooling and script development, it can significantly reduce testing costs in the
long run by saving time and effort.

Parallel Execution: Automation tools can execute tests in parallel across different
environments or configurations, which is impractical with manual testing.

However, manual testing remains valuable for certain aspects of testing, such as
exploratory testing, usability testing, and scenarios that are difficult to
automate. A balanced approach, combining manual and automated testing based on
project needs and priorities, often yields the most effective testing outcomes.