10 Mobile testing Interview Questions and Answers for qa engineers

1. What experience do you have in Mobile Quality Assurance testing?

During my time at XYZ company, I was responsible for the quality assurance testing of various mobile applications. One notable project was a mobile banking application that underwent rigorous testing at every stage of development.

1. I worked closely with the development team to create and execute test plans for each sprint, ensuring that all features were thoroughly tested before release.
2. I also conducted regression testing after each release, which involved testing all previously working features to ensure that new updates didn't disrupt their functionality.
3. Additionally, I conducted exploratory testing to catch any unexpected bugs or usability issues that the test cases may not have covered.
4. Through my efforts, the mobile banking application was released with 99.9% bug-free functionality and had a 4.5-star rating on the App Store.

Furthermore, I have experience with automated testing tools such as Appium, which helped to increase our testing efficiency and allowed us to catch bugs faster.

Overall, my experience in mobile quality assurance testing has enabled me to understand the importance of thorough and efficient testing to ensure the success of mobile applications.

2. Describe your process for testing a mobile application.

My process for testing a mobile application involves the following steps:

1. Identify Test Scenarios: I start by identifying the features and functionalities of the application and create test scenarios to ensure that each feature works as intended.
2. Prepare Test Environment: I set up the test environment by configuring devices and emulators, creating test accounts, and installing the test version of the application.
3. Execute Test Cases: Once the test environment is set up, I execute the test cases and record the results. I use automated testing tools for repetitive tests such as login, registration and other parts of the application that need to be checked on multiple devices
4. Track and Report Issues: If any issues are found during testing, I track and report them in a bug tracking system. This helps the development team to prioritize and fix the issues before release. I make use of tools like Jira and Trello.
5. Perform Regression Testing: After fixes are made, I perform regression testing to ensure that the changes made haven't negatively impacted other features of the application. I use manual and automated testing tools here.
6. Final Testing: Once all the issues are resolved, I conduct the final testing to ensure that the application meets all necessary requirements and is ready to be deployed. I typically use checklist during this step to ensure nothing is missed out.
7. Record and Analyze Results: Finally, I record and analyze the testing results and prepare a detailed report to be shared with the project stakeholders. This report indicates the number of test cases, bugs found, design errors, UX issues, and app behavior on different versions of devices.

By following this process, I have achieved a 98% pass rate in my mobile testing in the last year, which has delighted the project stakeholders and resulted in the timely and successful release of the applications.

3. How do you keep up-to-date with the latest trends in mobile testing?

As a mobile testing professional, it's important to stay informed about the latest trends and advancements in the industry. Here are some of the ways I keep myself up-to-date:

1. Attending industry conferences and events: Attending events like Mobile World Congress and Mobile App Europe allows me to learn about the latest technological developments in the mobile testing field. For instance, at the Mobile World Congress 2023, I learned about the latest advancements in AI-powered testing and how it can be used to enhance mobile app testing

2. Reading industry publications: I regularly read reliable industry publications like Mobile App Daily, App Quality Alliance (AQuA), and the 2023 State of Mobile Report to stay informed on the latest industry news and trends. These publications provide valuable insights on the latest mobile testing practices and methodologies.

3. Engaging with industry peers: Participating in industry forums and communicating with other professionals in the field is a great way to keep up-to-date with the latest mobile testing trends. I am an active member of several professional mobile testing groups on LinkedIn, which allows me to stay updated on industry developments and share best practices with other professionals.

4. Continuous learning: I make sure to take advantage of the numerous online courses and tutorials available to improve my knowledge and skills in mobile testing. For example, I recently took an online course on mobile security testing which helped me understand how to identify and fix security vulnerabilities in mobile apps.

5. Experimenting with latest tools: I actively experiment with latest tools available for mobile testing. For example, I recently tried out the latest version of Appium tool, which helped me automate the testing process and increase the efficiency of the testing process by 40%.

Overall, staying informed about the latest trends and advancements in the mobile testing industry is crucial to being a successful mobile tester. By learning from industry experts, testing peers, and continually seeking new knowledge, I am confident that I stay up to date with the latest trends and advancements in mobile testing.

4. What tools do you use for testing mobile applications?

1. I primarily use Appium for mobile application testing. Appium is an open-source automation tool that supports both iOS and Android platforms. Using Appium, I can write test scripts in various programming languages like Java, Ruby and Python. It also provides cross-platform support, which is great for testing our application across multiple platforms.
2. I have also used Robotium, which is another widely used automation tool for mobile application testing. With Robotium, I was able to automate test cases for Android-based applications. It’s easy to learn and has a simple API, which makes it user-friendly. In my previous job, we were able to reduce our testing time by 50% by using Robotium.
3. I have experience using JMeter to conduct load testing for applications. I used JMeter to simulate hundreds of virtual users to test application performance under heavy load. In one project, we used JMeter to test an e-commerce application and found out that the application was unable to handle the load of more than 200 virtual users. We were then able to optimize the code to handle the load of more than 500 virtual users and saw a 25% increase in the application response time.
4. I have also worked with Charles Proxy to test the application in different network conditions. Using Charles Proxy, I was able to simulate different network speeds and test how the application behaved in those conditions. In one project, we found that the application was not able to handle slow network speeds and would display an error message. By using Charles Proxy, we were able to fix the issue and improve the application behavior under slow network conditions.

In summary, I use a variety of tools to test mobile applications. My experience with Appium, Robotium, JMeter and Charles Proxy has allowed me to write automation scripts, conduct load testing and simulate different network conditions to improve application performance, and increase user satisfaction.

5. Can you explain how you would approach and test an application across multiple devices?

Testing an application across multiple devices is a crucial aspect of mobile testing. I would begin by creating a comprehensive test plan that includes all the popular devices with varying screen resolutions.

1. The first step would be to identify the devices with the most significant market share and prioritize them for testing.
2. Next, I would ensure that the application is compatible with various platforms such as iOS, Android, and Windows, among others.
3. To ensure that the application is stable across different devices, I would perform both functional and non-functional testing.
4. During functional testing, my first priority would be to ensure the application is working as expected. All features must operate accurately on all devices.
5. Non-functional testing would include performance, security, and compatibility testing. An example of performance testing would be to determine the application speed and response time across different devices.
6. For security testing, I would simulate different scenarios to check how the application protects user data and sensitive information.
7. Compatibility testing would check if the application is compatible with the available hardware and software configurations of different devices.
8. Defect management is also crucial in testing an application across multiple devices. I would utilize tools such as JIRA, Bugzilla, and Rally to report and track bugs.
9. Finally, I would document the entire testing process and results in a detailed report, which would include specific facts and figures such as the number of devices, operating systems, and versions tested, the number of defects identified and resolved, and the overall test coverage.

By following this approach, I am confident of providing a thoroughly tested application across multiple devices that operates smoothly with high user satisfaction.

6. What are the common challenges you have faced during mobile testing?

During my experience in mobile testing, I faced several common challenges that I learned to overcome.

1. Device Fragmentation:

With the rise of different device manufacturers and operating systems, testing on multiple platforms became challenging. To overcome this challenge, I used cloud-based testing tools like BrowserStack, enabling me to test on real devices without owning all of them. This approach allowed me to identify issues across multiple devices quickly.

2. Network Connectivity:

Testing on different environments without the proper network connectivity often led to inaccurate results. I used network emulators like Network Link Conditioner (NLC) to simulate different network environments and test bandwidth and responsiveness of the mobile application. This approach helped me identify and fix network issues proactively.

3. Testing Environment:

Often, the testing environment could not replicate the conditions under which the mobile application will be used. To overcome this challenge, I made sure to test the application in a real-world scenario. For example, a mobile banking application was tested by making real transactions instead of just creating test accounts.

4. Automation:

Implementing test automation required knowledge of scripting languages, test frameworks, and tools like Appium. To overcome this challenge, I learned to rely on Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) approaches to write more effective and efficient automated test scripts. This approach resulted in a 50% reduction in testing time and increased testing coverage by 80%.

5. User Interface:

Mobile app users have high expectations for seamless and intuitive user experience. To deliver a great user interface, a testing strategy needs to cover everything from visual design to gestures to launcher icons. To overcome this challenge, I collaborated with UX designers to understand the rationale behind the design while creating test cases. This approach led to a 30% reduction in application bugs and an improved user experience.

7. How do you prioritize your testing efforts?

As a mobile tester, prioritizing my testing efforts is crucial to ensure the project is completed on time, and the released product is of high quality. To do this, I follow a systematic approach of evaluating the risks and assigning priorities accordingly.

1. I start by reviewing the project requirements and identifying the critical functionalities that are essential for the product. From there, I create a list of testing scenarios and prioritize them based on the impact on user experience and functionality.
2. Next, I assess the risk of each scenario by considering factors such as the complexity of the feature or its criticality to the overall functionality of the application. The features with a higher risk of failure are given higher priority.
3. During the testing process, I rely on data-driven decision-making to back my prioritization decisions. For example, I analyze the bug reports and prioritize the resolution of critical issues that most frequently impact the user experience.

Throughout my career, I have successfully prioritized testing efforts in several mobile applications, resulting in a reduction of critical defects by up to 50% and a smoother release process.

8. How do you ensure that your tests cover all features in a mobile application?

As a mobile tester, it's crucial that I ensure all features of an application are covered in my tests. My process includes:

1. Understanding the requirements: Before beginning testing, I thoroughly review the product requirements to understand all of the features that should be present in the application.
2. Creating test scenarios: With the requirements as my guide, I create detailed test scenarios that test each feature of the application.
3. Coordinating with the development team : Once I have created the test scenarios for the app, I review them with the development team to make sure that all of the features are included.
4. Ensuring test coverage: During testing, I track my test progress and ensure that each test case is executed. I also use bug reports to identify areas of the application that may require additional testing.
5. Tracking metrics: I track defect rates and application performance to know if the tests have covered all the features needed.

In a recent project, I was tasked with testing a new mobile app. By using this process, I was able to successfully test all features of the application and found zero critical defects during launch. This not only saved time and money but also ensured that the application provided the expected level of user experience.

9. What was the most significant bug you have found and how did you go about finding it?

One of the most significant bugs I have found was a critical issue in the payment gateway of a mobile application I was testing. Users were unable to complete their transactions, resulting in a loss of revenue for the company.

To find the bug, I first replicated the user journey and followed the payment flow step by step. I observed that the application was not communicating properly with the payment gateway API and was sending incorrect data. I created test cases to simulate the different scenarios that could cause the issue and performed a thorough investigation to pinpoint the root cause.

After several rounds of testing and debugging, I discovered that the issue was caused by a recent update to the application's codebase, which introduced a bug in the payment processing logic. I provided a detailed report of my findings to the development team, including steps to reproduce the issue and suggested solutions to fix the problem.

Once the bug was fixed, I retested the payment gateway and confirmed that the issue had been resolved. As a result, the company was able to increase their revenue by 25% in the following month.

10. What steps do you take to ensure the quality of a mobile application before release?

As a mobile tester, ensuring the quality of a mobile application before release is of utmost importance. Here are the steps I take:

1. Requirements gathering: I closely work with the development team, project manager, and clients to understand the requirements of the application. Setting clear expectations and understanding the end goal is vital to ensure that the application meets the clients' needs.

2. Test planning: Based on the requirements, I create a comprehensive test plan that outlines the test cases, devices, and platforms to be tested. This helps in ensuring complete test coverage.

3. Test case design: I create detailed test cases that cover all the functionalities and user scenarios of the application. These test cases are designed to identify bugs, errors, and inconsistencies in the application.

4. Test execution: I perform functional, integration, regression, and usability testing on different devices and platforms. This helps in identifying major and minor bugs. Additionally, I also perform performance testing to ensure the application can handle expected user traffic.

5. Bug reporting: I report all the bugs and issues discovered during testing. Each issue is documented with essential information such as steps to reproduce, screenshots, and log files, which makes it easier for developers to identify and resolve the bugs.

6. Bug verification and validation: Once the developers fix the bugs, I perform regression testing to ensure that the bugs are indeed resolved. I also verify if the changes made to the application do not impact the existing functionalities of the application.

7. Test closure: I create a detailed report that highlights the test results, coverage, and defects found. The report is used to evaluate the success of the testing process and helps in continuous improvement.

By following the above steps, I have been able to ensure the release of high-quality mobile applications across various industries. I have a track record of achieving a 95% defect removal efficiency, which has helped in increasing stakeholder confidence in the applications I have tested.

Conclusion

Congratulations on familiarizing yourself with the top 10 mobile testing interview questions and answers in 2023! Now that you feel comfortable with the interview process, it's time to prepare your application. One critical step is to write an engaging cover letter that emphasizes your skills and experience. Be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on writing a standout cover letter for QA engineers. Additionally, crafting a strong CV is crucial in setting yourself apart from other candidates. Refer to our guide on writing an impressive resume for QA engineers to help you create a compelling document. Finally, if you're looking for remote QA engineer jobs, Remote Rocketship is here to help. Check out our job board dedicated to remote QA engineer positions and find your next opportunity today. Good luck in your job search!