Manual Testing Vs Automation Testing

 

Criteria	Manual Testing	Automation Testing
Definition	Testing conducted manually by human testers, who execute test cases without the use of automation tools.	Testing conducted using automation tools and scripts to execute test cases, validate outcomes, and compare results with expected behavior.
Execution Speed	Slower execution due to manual intervention at each step of the testing process.	Faster execution as tests are automated and can run unattended, allowing for rapid feedback.
Human Involvement	High human involvement required for test case execution, observation, and analysis.	Minimal human intervention needed once test scripts are developed and configured.
Repetitive Tasks	Suitable for scenarios with limited test cases or where human judgment is essential.	Ideal for repetitive tasks, regression testing, and scenarios with a large number of test cases.
Resource Intensive	More resource-intensive as it requires dedicated testers to execute and monitor tests.	Less resource-intensive once test scripts are developed, as they can be run repeatedly without manual intervention.
Accuracy	Prone to human error, inconsistency, and fatigue, potentially leading to missed defects.	Offers higher accuracy and repeatability, reducing the likelihood of human errors and improving test coverage.
Scope of Testing	Manual testing is suitable for exploratory testing, ad-hoc testing, and scenarios requiring human judgment.	Automation testing is best suited for regression testing, performance testing, and scenarios requiring repetitive execution.
Initial Setup Time	Faster to start testing as it does not require scripting or automation tool setup.	Requires initial setup time for scripting, tool configuration, and test environment setup.
Maintenance Effort	Low maintenance effort as changes can be accommodated quickly by updating test cases manually.	Requires ongoing maintenance effort to update test scripts and adapt to changes in the application under test.
Cost	Generally lower initial cost as it requires fewer tools and resources.	Higher initial investment due to the need for automation tools, training, and infrastructure setup.
Test Coverage	Limited test coverage compared to automation, as manual testing is time-consuming and may not cover all scenarios.	Offers extensive test coverage, allowing for thorough validation of application functionality and behavior.
Flexibility	Provides flexibility to explore application features, scenarios, and user interactions based on tester intuition.	Less flexible in terms of adapting to unexpected scenarios or changes without script modification.
Feedback Cycle	Longer feedback cycle due to manual execution and analysis of test results.	Shorter feedback cycle as automated tests provide instant feedback on application behavior.