Software Testing Glossary: Knowledge is Power

A software testing glossary can be a valuable tool for the software tester. It can help improve software testers skills by giving them a better understanding of the terms associated with software testing. When talking about the importance of a software testing glossary, it is paramount that one understands anything related to software is going to be very technical in its orientation. A software tester can make or break his or her reputation if they do not know the proper software testing glossary terms associated with their field. That is why it is so vital that you spend a lot of time memorizing what all the terms mean and how they apply to the different areas of software testing.

In this article we are going to look at two different mock scenarios that involve software testers so that you can see just how important it is to know software testing glossary terms.

Let’s say that a software company by the name of TotalTech is expanding their software development department in order to further compete in the software marketplace. Because of the expansion they are going to hire at least one more software tester to ensure that their new line of software products are ready to be put on the market for sale. Two individuals are interviewed for the position. For the sake of this scenario we will call them Person A and Person B. Person A is interviewed and the hiring manager can see by their resume that Person A has gone to college and has a bachelors in computer science. So far things are looking good for Person A. They have the right education to support someone who wants to be a software tester. The hiring manager asks Person A a series of questions which are all answered correctly except for one. The hiring manager asks Person “A” what they would do if they were asked to perform Customer Acceptance Testing. Hypothetically, person “A” stumbles around the answer, unsure of what the correct definition of the software testing glossary term is, and answers falsely.

Now it’s Person B’s turn to be interviewed. The hiring manager sees that Person “A” only has an associate’s degree in information technologies, but also is certified in software testing as well. As the interview progresses, the hiring manager is pleasantly surprised by Person B’s answers and knowledge. Then comes the moment when the hiring manager asks Person B the same question about Customer Acceptance Testing. Person B nails the answer without so much as a moment to think.

Can you tell who from this scenario got the job? Person A might have been more appealing on paper, but lacked the actual knowledge of software testing glossary terms needed to perform the job. On the other hand, Person B had less education, but a better understanding of what it took to be a software tester. It is most likely that the hiring manager went with Person B in this scenario. That’s why it’s so important to know the software testing glossary. Without that knowledge, you may find it difficult to have a career in software testing.