Software Testing Fundamentals and Methodologies

Labor Day starts with $70+ in savings on Coursera Plus. Save 40% for 3 months.

Software Testing Fundamentals and Methodologies

This course is part of Microsoft Junior QA/Software Tester Professional Certificate

Instructor: Microsoft

1,707 already enrolled

Included with

10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

10 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Distinguish QA, QC, and testing roles while applying organizational QA procedures.
Compare static vs. dynamic testing techniques across fundamental STLC phases.
Sequence Waterfall, V-Model, and Agile phases to map appropriate testing activities.
Integrate testing into Scrum sprints by defining acceptance criteria and demonstrating tests.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Test Tools
Category: Test Planning
Category: User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
Category: System Testing
Category: Development Environment
Category: Quality Assurance
Category: Integration Testing
Category: Software Testing
Category: Software Quality Assurance
Category: Software Quality (SQA/SQC)
Category: User Story
Category: Verification And Validation
Category: Software Development Life Cycle
Category: Unit Testing
Category: Systems Development Life Cycle
Category: Functional Testing
Category: Test Case
Category: Quality Control
Category: Behavior-Driven Development
Category: Acceptance Testing

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Build your Support and Operations expertise

This course is part of the Microsoft Junior QA/Software Tester Professional Certificate

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Professional Certificate.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate from Microsoft

There are 10 modules in this course

In this foundational course, you will build a robust understanding of software quality assurance and the critical role testing plays within the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). Designed for learners with basic digital literacy, this course bridges the gap between how software is conceptualized and how it is verified for real-world reliability. You will explore the fundamental differences between Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Control (QC), and testing while learning to map these activities to different layers of web applications. You will gain hands-on experience using industry frameworks like Waterfall, V-Model, and Agile, and learn to distinguish between static and dynamic testing techniques, sequence essential STLC phases, and integrate quality checks into Scrum sprints. By course end, you will define acceptance criteria and demonstrate tests within your own Atlassian Jira workspace. Tools such as Jira Cloud (Free Tier), Microsoft Azure DevOps (free Microsoft account), and standard Office tools (Excel/Word, free web versions using Microsoft Outlook account) are used throughout.

Explore the core philosophy of software testing, learn the seven fundamental principles that guide QA professionals, and clarify the distinct responsibilities between QA, QC, and UAT.

What's included

2 videos1 reading2 assignments1 ungraded lab

2 videosTotal 10 minutes

Roles in the SDLC: QA, QC, UAT6 minutes
Identifying QC vs. QA in Practice4 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

The 7 Fundamental Testing Principles10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 20 minutes

Hands-on Activity: Draft a QA SOP15 minutes
Knowledge Check: Distinguish Roles and Principles5 minutes

1 ungraded labTotal 15 minutes

Adopting the Testing Mindset15 minutes

Look under the hood of modern web applications to understand how data flows across different layers, and learn how to align your testing strategies with front-end, back-end, and database architectures using a mock application.

What's included

2 videos2 readings2 assignments1 ungraded lab

2 videosTotal 7 minutes

Layers of a Web Application4 minutes
Tracing Data Flow Using Browser Developer Tools3 minutes

2 readingsTotal 11 minutes

Why Web Architecture Matters to QA3 minutes
Mapping QA Activities to Web Layers8 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 20 minutes

Knowledge Check: Map Testing to Web Layers5 minutes
Graded Assignment: QA Foundations15 minutes

1 ungraded labTotal 15 minutes

Inspect Web Layers & Map Testing15 minutes

Dive into the core methodologies of testing by comparing static reviews with dynamic execution, and explore the four primary levels of testing used to validate software from code to customer.

What's included

3 videos1 reading1 assignment

Understand the difference between testing what the software does (functional) and how well it does it (non-functional) by executing real tests on a mock app, and map these to the Software Testing Life Cycle.

What's included

2 videos1 reading1 assignment1 ungraded lab

Testing in the wrong environment can lead to false positives or disastrous production outages. Learn how to navigate and select the correct environments—from Development to Test to Staging—for your testing activities.

What's included

3 videos3 assignments

Explore the foundational, sequential models of software development. Learn how testing fits into the rigid phases of Waterfall and how the V-Model attempts to integrate testing earlier in the lifecycle.

What's included

4 videos1 reading1 assignment1 ungraded lab

4 videosTotal 24 minutes

How Software Actually Gets Built7 minutes
The Waterfall Model Explained5 minutes
Guided Setup: Task Alignment on a Jira Board8 minutes
ADO Translation: Kanban Boards in Azure DevOps4 minutes

1 readingTotal 5 minutes

The V-Model of Software Testing5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 5 minutes

Knowledge Check: Waterfall and V-Model5 minutes

1 ungraded labTotal 20 minutes

Complete the Phase Alignment Board20 minutes

Transition from traditional models to the fast-paced world of Agile and CI/CD. Learn how continuous development drastically shifts the tester's role from a final gatekeeper to an integrated team collaborator.

What's included

1 video2 readings2 assignments

Discover how to shift testing left by defining what "Done" actually means. You will write Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) criteria for a user story, then immediately apply those criteria by executing a manual test on a mock app.

What's included

3 videos2 readings1 assignment1 ungraded lab

3 videosTotal 16 minutes

Testing at the Speed of Sprints5 minutes
Guided Setup: Jira Configuration and Backlog Import6 minutes
ADO Translation: Navigating Backlogs in Azure DevOps6 minutes

2 readingsTotal 13 minutes

The Definition of Done (DoD)4 minutes
Writing BDD Acceptance Criteria9 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 5 minutes

Knowledge Check: DoD and Acceptance Tests5 minutes

1 ungraded labTotal 20 minutes

Import Data, Write BDD and Test20 minutes

Learn how to effectively communicate software quality to business stakeholders. You will practice preparing and executing demonstrations of passing (and failing) tests during the critical Sprint Review ceremony.

What's included

1 video2 readings2 assignments

Synthesize your foundational QA knowledge by developing a comprehensive test strategy and Agile test plan for a new web feature. You will establish QA processes, define test coverage, write Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) criteria, and execute a live test against a mock application containing known defects to prove sprint readiness.

What's included

1 video2 readings1 assignment1 ungraded lab

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Microsoft

421 Courses2,831,942 learners

Offered by

Microsoft

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Frequently asked questions

To access course materials, assignments, and earn a Certificate, you'll need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. Eligible learners may also have the option to start with a Free Trial. Some courses may also offer a Full Course, No Certificate option. This lets you access course materials, submit required assessments, and receive a final grade, but you won't be able to earn or purchase a Certificate.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.