Software testing isn’t magic — it’s a craft. Even experienced testers sometimes make mistakes that can affect the quality of the product. What are the common pitfalls that QA professionals face, and how can they be avoided? Let’s break them down with real-life examples and practical solutions.
Lack of Requirement Testing
Requirements are often treated as sacred: they come in, and we start working. But what if they’re inaccurate from the start? Bugs emerge after the release, and fixing them feels more like firefighting.
Example:
You’re asked to test a registration form. According to the requirements, the name input field should only accept letters. You check it, and it works perfectly. But later, it turns out that a user named “Anna-Maria” cannot register, and your product manager is baffled: “Isn’t a hyphen a letter?”
How to Solve It:
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The more details you clarify upfront, the fewer surprises will appear later.
Skipping Automation
When deadlines are tight, writing automated tests might seem like a luxury you can’t afford. But here’s the paradox: without automation, you’ll find yourself endlessly repeating the same tasks, like in the movie Groundhog Day.
Example:
Every week, you manually verify how the “Add to Cart” process works. It doesn’t seem too hard, but it takes an hour. After a couple of months, you realize these repetitive tests are eating up all your time.
How to Solve It:
Don’t shy away from automation. Write the test once, and you won’t have to think about the routine again.
Ignoring UX Testing
You’ve checked everything against the checklist, and the product works flawlessly. But suddenly, users get lost in the interface, can’t find the right button, and… leave for competitors.
Example:
You’ve tested the interface for hotel booking. The functionality is perfect, but users complain that the “Book Now” button blends into the background and is hard to find.
How to Solve It:
Look at the interface through the eyes of the user. Test scenarios like “I don’t understand anything” and “Where do I make a purchase?”
Relying on Perfect Test Data
If you always test with perfect data, expect surprises in production. Real users won’t input “John Doe” and a flawless phone number. Their data will be messy and full of unexpected cases.
Example:
Your tests show that the form processes data perfectly. But as soon as a customer enters a phone number with spaces or an extra character, the system crashes.
How to Solve It:
Use realistic data. Your tests should include unexpected spaces, strange characters, and even typos.
Ignoring Console Errors
The scenario: the product works visually, but the console is full of red flags. You ignore them, and a couple of months later, they turn into a disaster.
Example:
You’re testing a landing page. Everything looks great, but the console keeps showing errors like “Uncaught TypeError.” A month later, the landing page stops working due to a bug in the old code.
How to Solve It:
Don’t ignore the console. It’s like warning lights on your car dashboard, signaling that something needs attention.
Misunderstanding Your User
A product designed for everyone often ends up being suitable for no one. Don’t try to please everyone; instead, understand who your target audience is and what they care about.
Example:
You’re testing an app for senior citizens, but the developers included tiny fonts and complex navigation. The result: older users can’t figure it out and go back to paper-based solutions.
How to Solve It:
Consider the needs of your audience. Use larger fonts, increase text contrast, and simplify navigation to make key features easily accessible. Test the app with representatives of the target audience to identify pain points and adjust the design before release.
Narrow Test Coverage
Happy path scenarios are great, but real life isn’t limited to smooth journeys. People click the wrong things, input unexpected data, and do things you never anticipated.
Example:
You tested the login process, and it works perfectly. But when a user enters a space in the email field, everything breaks.
How to Solve It:
Don’t limit yourself to the main scenario. Add tests for edge cases, input errors, and unexpected behaviors.
https://medium.com/@yuliashaifele/common-qa-mistakes-that-can-ruin-your-testing-process-38b1d1d0b134a>