In today’s fast-moving software world, companies are always racing to launch new products that meet user needs, outshine the competition, and work without problems. But with tight deadlines and changing features, it’s easy for things to slip through the cracks.
That’s where a Quality Assurance (QA) tester comes in. Their job is to make sure the final product isn’t just working—but working well. QA testers are responsible for assuring quality and maintaining the software's quality throughout the development process, ensuring that every release meets high standards.
And it really matters. According to a study by the Consortium for IT Software Quality (CISQ), poor software quality cost U.S. companies over $2 trillion in 2020 alone. From buggy updates to security flaws, the risks are real—and expensive. Software quality assurance plays a crucial role in preventing these costly issues by implementing thorough testing and quality management practices.
In this blog, we’ll break down what QA testers actually do, why they’re such a vital part of any development process, and what can go wrong when you skip quality checks. Whether you’re building an enterprise tool or a simple app, understanding their role—and the discipline of software quality assurance that underpins their work—could save your team time, money, and a lot of headaches.
What is quality assurance in software development?
Quality Assurance (QA) in software development is a systematic process that ensures the final product meets defined standards of quality. Unlike software testing, which focuses on identifying bugs in code, QA encompasses the overall framework and strategy to prevent those bugs in the first place. Quality assurance processes and QA processes are essential for maintaining high standards throughout the software development lifecycle, ensuring that quality is built into every phase of software creation.
It includes setting up standards, guidelines, methodologies, and tools to ensure that every step of the development lifecycle prioritizes quality by integrating QA into every stage of the development cycle. QA testers are the professionals responsible for putting these systems into action — bridging the gap between development and real-world user expectations.
Key responsibilities of a QA tester
A Quality Assurance (QA) tester does a lot more than just click buttons or look for obvious bugs. They play a big role in making sure the final product is reliable, works the way it should, and gives users a smooth experience. Quality assurance testers are essential for catching errors, maintaining high standards, and ensuring software quality, reliability, and security.
Having a dedicated QA team or QA teams is crucial, as they meticulously examine specifications, prepare and execute test cases, identify defects, and collaborate with developers to deliver high-quality software. Think of them as the team members who double-check everything before it reaches the customer. Their job is all about paying attention to the small details that others might overlook.
Here are some of the main things QA testers are responsible for:
Writing test plans and test cases
Before any testing even begins, QA testers take the time to understand what the software is supposed to do. They look at the business requirements, talk to developers or product owners if needed, and then create detailed test plans. These test plans form the foundation for structured testing processes and guide all testing efforts throughout the project.
These plans include different scenarios that the software will go through so testers can be sure they’re checking every important feature. It’s a bit like making a checklist before going on a trip—you want to make sure you don’t miss anything important, which is why a well-defined testing process is essential.
Running different types of tests
QA testers then put those test plans into action. They might test things manually—clicking around in the app or website just like a regular user would—or they might use automation tools to run tests more quickly and repeat them as needed.
Either way, their goal is the same: to catch issues before users do. They’re testing how the software performs under different conditions, how the features and software functions work together, and whether anything breaks when something new is added.
Integration testing plays a key role in ensuring that different software functions and components interact correctly and seamlessly. Through thorough testing and rigorous testing processes—including both manual and automated methods—QA teams verify the software's functionality and reliability. To minimize post-release issues, it is essential to conduct extensive testing to ensure all software functions perform as expected under various conditions.
Finding and reporting bugs
When something doesn’t work properly, QA testers are the first to find it. But their job doesn’t stop there—they also write clear, detailed reports explaining what went wrong, how to recreate the issue, and sometimes even why it might be happening. These reports are managed using bug tracking tools like Jira or Bugzilla, which help organize bug fixes, streamline bug fixing, and facilitate communication between QA and development teams.
Constructive feedback from QA testers to developers during bug fixing is essential, as it not only helps resolve current issues but also supports continuous improvement and team learning. It’s all about being a second set of eyes and keeping communication open between teams.
Regression testing
Every time a new feature is added, or something in the code is updated, there’s a chance it could accidentally break something that used to work just fine. That’s why QA testers run regression tests. These tests make sure that older parts of the software still function after new changes are made. Without this step, software could become unstable over time, even if new features seem to work.
Working with the rest of the team
QA testers don’t work in a bubble. They’re constantly talking with developers, product managers, designers, and sometimes even customer support teams. QA testers work closely with developers and other team members to identify and resolve issues efficiently throughout the testing process.
They ask questions, raise concerns, and give feedback from a testing point of view. This teamwork helps the whole development process run more smoothly and ensures that the final product actually meets the original goals.
Thinking like a user
Perhaps most importantly, QA testers try to look at the software the way real users would. They test it on different devices, screen sizes, and browsers. Compatibility testing is essential to verify that the software functions correctly across multiple operating systems, ensuring a consistent and seamless user experience regardless of the platform.
They ask questions like: “Is this easy to use?” or “Would this make sense to someone who’s never used it before?” Developers might focus on how the code works—but QA testers focus on how the product feels to someone using it for the first time.
Difference between developer testing and QA testing
In the software development process, both developer testing and QA testing play important roles, but they serve different purposes and are handled by different team members. Understanding the distinction between these two types of testing is key to ensuring software quality and a smooth development process.
Developer testing
Often called unit testing, is typically performed by developers as they write code. The main goal here is to check that individual pieces of code—like functions or modules—work as intended. Developers create and run unit tests to catch errors early, making sure their code behaves correctly before it’s integrated with the rest of the application. These tests are usually limited in scope, focusing on specific code components rather than the software as a whole.
QA testing
On the other hand, QA testing is where dedicated QA testers step in. QA testers approach the software from a user’s perspective, conducting a broader range of tests that go beyond just the code. They create detailed test cases and plans that cover not only technical performance but also how different components interact, how the software meets business goals, and how it performs under various scenarios. QA testing includes functional testing, usability testing, security testing, and performance testing—areas that developer testing might not fully address.
While developer testing is essential for catching issues early in the development process, QA testing ensures the overall software quality by simulating real-world use and validating that the software meets user expectations. Both are crucial, but it’s the combination of these approaches that leads to robust, reliable software.
Skills and expertise required for a QA tester
A quality assurance tester brings a unique set of skills and expertise to the software development process, all aimed at ensuring software quality and reliability. To be effective, a QA tester needs more than just technical know-how—they must combine analytical thinking, communication, and adaptability.
Here are seven essential skills every quality assurance tester should have:
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Attention to detail: QA testers must spot even the smallest discrepancies or errors that could impact the software’s quality. This keen eye helps catch issues others might miss.
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Strong analytical skills: Understanding how different parts of a software system interact is crucial. Analytical skills help QA testers identify root causes of problems and assess the impact of bugs.
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Effective communication: QA testers need to clearly explain test results, describe issues, and suggest corrective actions to developers and managers. Good communication ensures everyone is on the same page.
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Technical proficiency: While not always required to code, QA testers benefit from understanding programming basics and being comfortable with testing tools and environments.
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Knowledge of testing methodologies and tools: Familiarity with various testing approaches—like manual testing, automated testing, and regression testing—enables QA testers to choose the right strategy for each project.
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Problem-solving abilities: When issues arise, QA testers must think creatively to troubleshoot, reproduce bugs, and find effective solutions.
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Domain knowledge: Understanding the industry or business context of the software helps QA testers anticipate user needs and spot domain-specific issues.
Adaptability is also key, as software development trends and tools are always evolving. A great assurance tester is always learning and staying up-to-date with the latest quality assurance practices to ensure software quality at every stage.
Tools and technologies used by QA testers
To deliver high-quality software, QA testers rely on a variety of tools and technologies that support comprehensive testing throughout the software development process. These tools help QA testers organize their work, automate repetitive tasks, and provide valuable feedback to development teams.
Here are some of the main categories of tools used by QA testers:
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Test management tools: Platforms like Jira and TestRail help QA testers create, organize, and track test cases, making it easier to monitor testing progress and manage test data across multiple projects.
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Test automation frameworks: Tools such as Selenium and Appium allow QA testers to automate repetitive test cases, ensuring efficient and consistent testing. Automated testing speeds up the process and helps catch issues early.
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CI/CD tools: Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery tools like Jenkins and GitLab CI/CD integrate testing into the software development pipeline. These tools automate the build, test, and deployment processes, ensuring that testing is a seamless part of every release.
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Performance testing tools: Solutions like LoadRunner and Apache JMeter enable QA testers to conduct comprehensive performance testing, simulating user interactions and evaluating how the software application performs under different loads.
By leveraging these testing tools, QA testers can conduct comprehensive testing, manage test cases and test data efficiently, and provide valuable feedback to development teams. This toolkit is essential for ensuring that every software application released meets the highest standards of quality and reliability.
Performance testing: ensuring speed and scalability
Performance testing is a vital part of quality assurance testing, focused on making sure software applications are fast, scalable, and responsive under real-world conditions. QA testers conduct performance testing to evaluate how well a software application handles user interactions, especially as the number of users or the amount of data increases.
There are several types of performance testing that QA testers use:
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Load testing: Simulates normal and peak user loads to see how the software performs under expected traffic.
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Stress testing: Pushes the software beyond its limits to identify breaking points and ensure stability during extreme conditions.
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Endurance testing: Checks how the software holds up over extended periods of use, revealing issues like memory leaks or slowdowns.
By conducting thorough performance testing, QA testers provide valuable feedback to development teams, highlighting areas for optimization and ensuring the software can handle growth. Tools like LoadRunner and Apache JMeter help QA testers simulate user interactions, analyze system performance, and identify bottlenecks.
Performance testing is essential for meeting user expectations—nobody wants to use slow or unreliable software. By making performance a priority, QA testers help development teams deliver high-quality software that’s ready for anything.
Why a QA tester is essential on a development team
So, why is a quality assurance tester needed on a software development team? It really comes down to this: software should work smoothly, look good, and make life easier for the people using it.
No one wants to download an app or use a program that crashes, freezes, or behaves unpredictably. QA testers play a key role in making sure that doesn’t happen. They are essential for the success of software projects by preventing bugs, improving usability, and delivering high-quality software.
Here’s why having a QA tester on the team isn’t just helpful—it’s absolutely necessary for ensuring fewer defects, a better user experience, and increased customer satisfaction:
1. Early detection of bugs saves time and money
Fixing a bug after a product is released can be expensive—not just in terms of money, but also in time, customer trust, and your team’s reputation. In fact, the cost to fix a bug after release can be 6 times higher than fixing it during development.
QA testers help catch these issues early when they’re easier (and cheaper) to fix. Think of them as your safety net—they make sure problems don’t slip through the cracks and cause chaos later.
2. QA improves user satisfaction
Users expect software to “just work.” If your product is full of glitches, people will leave bad reviews, stop using it, or switch to a competitor. But when it runs smoothly, loads quickly, and doesn’t crash—people notice.
QA testers make sure the user experience is solid, which leads to better reviews, happier customers, and more loyal users. A well-tested product simply builds more trust.
3. They bring a fresh set of eyes
Developers are deep in the code every day. Sometimes, they’re so close to the product that they overlook small (but important) issues. QA testers come in with a fresh perspective. They’re not thinking like coders—they’re thinking like users.
They ask, “What would happen if I click this?” or “Would this make sense to someone seeing it for the first time?” That outsider mindset helps catch things others might miss.
4. They make sure everything stays consistent
Whether someone is using your app on a phone, a tablet, or a desktop, the experience should be smooth and consistent. QA testers check that the design looks right, the buttons work, and the behavior is the same across different devices and browsers.
They also make sure the software meets quality standards, follows design rules, and sticks to industry best practices. This attention to detail keeps your product polished and professional.
5. They help reduce technical debt
Skipping quality checks might seem faster in the short term—but in the long run, it often leads to more problems and more rushed fixes. That’s what people call “technical debt”—extra work your team has to do later because something wasn’t done right the first time.
QA testers help you avoid that by catching issues early and keeping things clean from the start. The result? Fewer emergency patches, fewer late-night fixes, and more time spent building new features instead of fixing old ones.
QA in Agile and DevOps environments
Today’s software teams don’t build products the same way they did 10 or 15 years ago. Instead of working in long, drawn-out development cycles, most companies now follow Agile or DevOps methods. These approaches focus on moving fast, delivering updates often, and adapting quickly when things change. But speed means nothing if quality is left behind.
QA testers aren’t just extra hands brought in at the end. They play a core role in making sure speed doesn’t come at the cost of reliability. In Agile and DevOps teams, QA supports continuous improvement by enabling regular feedback, automation, and ongoing enhancement of app quality and team skills. Let’s look at how QA fits into both Agile and DevOps workflows.
QA in Agile
Agile is all about working in short, focused cycles called sprints, where teams plan, build, and release small chunks of software. In this setup, QA testers are part of the team from the very beginning—not an afterthought.
Here’s what QA testers do in Agile:
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Test during every sprint: Instead of waiting for the product to be “done,” testers validate new features as they’re built. This helps catch bugs quickly and keeps things moving.
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Join team meetings: QA isn’t just testing. Testers also participate in sprint planning, backlog grooming, and retrospectives. They help define what a “done” feature really looks like—functionally and from the user’s perspective.
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Collaborate daily: QA works side-by-side with developers, product managers, and designers to make sure everyone stays aligned. If something’s unclear or seems off, QA speaks up early, which helps avoid last-minute surprises.
QA in DevOps
DevOps is another modern approach that focuses on automation, integration, and rapid delivery. It breaks down the walls between development and operations teams so that updates can go live quickly and smoothly. Here, QA plays a huge role—especially in continuous testing.
Here’s how QA fits in:
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Supports CI/CD: DevOps teams often use Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipelines. QA testers write and maintain automated test scripts, often utilizing automated testing tools to streamline the process, that run every time new code is pushed. This way, problems are caught instantly before they reach production.
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Enables faster releases: Since automated tests run quickly and consistently, teams don’t have to wait for manual testing to finish. This helps them release updates more often without sacrificing quality.
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Promotes shift-left testing: “Shift-left” means moving testing earlier in the process. Instead of testing after everything is built, QA starts testing from day one—writing test cases while features are being designed or coded. This proactive approach finds bugs sooner, which saves time and reduces rework.
User acceptance testing is also a critical final validation step in DevOps workflows, ensuring the software meets user requirements before deployment.
What happens when QA is ignored?
You might be tempted to move fast and skip some testing to save time, but that shortcut can lead to big problems. When quality assurance (QA) is treated like an afterthought, the effects usually show up fast—and not in a good way. Neglecting QA can severely compromise the software's quality, resulting in unreliable or faulty products.
Let’s break down what can happen when QA isn’t taken seriously:
1. More bugs after launch
If software isn’t properly tested, users will be the ones to discover the bugs, and that’s never a good look. Issues like broken buttons, app crashes, missing features, or confusing user flows can all hurt your product’s reputation. And the longer these bugs go unnoticed, the more damage they cause.
2. Bad user reviews and feedback
People today have very little patience for buggy apps or software that doesn’t work right. Just a few negative reviews on the App Store or social media can hurt your brand. Worse, potential customers might choose a competitor instead—just because their product is more reliable.
3. More hotfixes and rushed patches
When bugs slip through to production, teams have to drop everything to fix them. That means late nights, missed deadlines, and a lot of stress. It also means your team spends less time building new features and more time cleaning up problems that could’ve been avoided with proper QA.
4. Customer support overload
Glitches and crashes lead to frustrated users, and those users will be calling, emailing, or messaging your support team. That increases your workload, response times, and operational costs. In some cases, it can even create long-term trust issues with customers.
5. Damaged brand reputation
You’ve worked hard to build a great product and a strong brand. But one avoidable outage, data leak, or broken feature can cause lasting damage. People remember bad experiences, and trust is hard to win back once it’s lost.
How to integrate QA into your dev team effectively
If your development team doesn’t have a strong quality assurance (QA) process in place, now’s the time to change that. Having a dedicated qa team is essential, as qa testers work closely with developers to ensure the software's functionality is thoroughly verified from the start.
QA isn’t something that should be saved for the final stages of development — it should be part of the process from day one. When QA is done right, it helps you release better software faster, with fewer bugs and happier users.
Here are a few practical steps to build or improve your QA workflow:
1. Hire skilled QA testers or partner with a QA service
You need professionals who understand your product and your tech stack. Look for QA engineers who are skilled in both manual testing (checking things from a user’s perspective) and automated testing (writing scripts to check functionality quickly and repeatedly).
Need a trusted QA partner? Devōt’s experienced testers are ready to jump in and support your team, on-demand and on point.
2. Set up strong feedback loops
Don’t let testers work in a silo. Encourage open and ongoing communication between developers, QA testers, product managers, and designers. When everyone shares feedback early and often, it’s easier to catch issues before they grow into bigger problems.
3. Invest in automation tools
Automated testing helps your team move faster without sacrificing quality. Tools like Selenium, Cypress, TestRail, and JUnit (depending on your tech stack) make it easier to run regression tests, load tests, and performance checks consistently. The goal is to make testing part of your everyday workflow — not just something you do before launch.
4. Build a quality-first culture
Make quality everyone’s responsibility, not just the QA team’s. From the initial planning stages to post-launch monitoring, your entire team should care about the stability, usability, and performance of your product. Celebrate clean releases and encourage testing-minded thinking across departments.
5. Make QA part of your sprints
In Agile development, QA should be embedded in each sprint, not tacked on at the end. Have testers involved in sprint planning, backlog grooming, and retrospectives. They should be testing new features as they’re being developed, providing feedback in real-time, and helping keep the release pipeline smooth and bug-free.
Conclusion
In software development, delivering a product that actually works the way users expect is everything. That’s where QA testers make a huge difference. They’re not just there to “catch bugs” — they’re partners in building something reliable, usable, and worth trusting.
Whether you’re running a startup or managing enterprise software, having a solid QA process in place can mean the difference between a smooth launch and a costly failure. Investing in QA isn’t just smart — it’s necessary for long-term success.
Ready to level up your QA process?
If you're serious about shipping high-quality software, QA can't be an afterthought. At Devōt, we help teams build better, faster, and more confidently by integrating expert QA testers into every step of your development process. Whether you need on-demand testing support or long-term QA strategy, we've got the tools, talent, and experience to help you succeed.
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