Will manual testing vanish from the IT industry in the coming years?

Manual testing still plays a significant role in the IT industry, and it is unlikely to completely vanish in the foreseeable future. Both manual and automated testing have their own strengths and are often used in combination to ensure comprehensive testing coverage.

Here are a few reasons why manual testing is likely to persist:

1. Usability and User Experience Testing:

   • Manual testing is crucial for evaluating the user interface, user experience, and other aspects that require a human perspective. Automated tools may struggle to capture the nuances of user interaction and visual design.

2. Exploratory Testing:

   • Exploratory testing, which involves unscripted exploration to discover defects, relies on human intuition and creativity. While automation can follow predefined scripts, it may not match the adaptability and insight of a skilled human tester.

3. Early Stages of Development:

   • In the early stages of development or when dealing with rapidly changing requirements, manual testing is often more flexible and adaptable. It allows testers to quickly assess and validate functionalities without the need for extensive automation scripts.

4. Ad Hoc Testing:

   • Ad hoc testing, which involves unplanned testing to identify defects, is typically performed manually. Testers can quickly respond to emerging issues and provide immediate feedback during the development process.

5. One-Time or Short-Term Projects:

   • For small or short-term projects, the overhead of creating automated test scripts may not be justified. Manual testing offers a quicker and more cost-effective solution in such cases.

6. Non-Functional Testing:

   • Aspects like performance testing, security testing, and usability testing often require a human touch to make subjective evaluations or simulate real-world scenarios that may be challenging for automated tools.

7. Dynamic Environments:

   • In dynamic and rapidly changing environments, manual testing allows testers to adapt to evolving requirements, explore the application, and identify issues that may not have been covered by automated scripts.

While automation continues to grow and is essential for repetitive and regression testing, manual testing remains relevant for its flexibility, adaptability, and human-centric approach. Organizations often find a balance between manual and automated testing based on the nature of their projects, resources, and testing objectives.

It's essential for testers to stay updated on industry trends, learn automation skills, and understand when to apply manual testing for optimal results. The integration of both manual and automated testing is likely to persist for the foreseeable future in the IT industry.