Types of Testers: A Comprehensive Guide 

Testing is a world of adjectives where each type of testing comes with its own title. 

I am sure you have heard of titles like Functional Tester, Automation Tester, Performance Tester, etc. These are popular specializations. 

However, there are unique modes in which all these categories of testers operate. 

There’s no one-approach-fits-all in the testing world. Each specialization has its’ own unique skills, perspectives, and values. While distinctly unique, at the end of the day, each of these testers contributes to the overall quality of the product. 

In this article, we’ll explore various tester role types, their key responsibilities, skills, and how each of them contributes to creating a better testing process. 

As a tester, it will also help you identify where you fit and how you can collaborate effectively with other testers. If you are someone who manages testers, knowing this distinction will also help you build a holistic testing team.

Spoiler Alert: Most testers have a blend of two or three types within them. 

Let’s dive into each of these roles in detail. 

1. Analytical Tester
2. Technical Tester
3. Administrative Tester
4. Social Tester
5. Customer Savvy Tester
6. AI Tester
7. Developer (Supportive Tester)

Analytical Tester

The Sherlock Holmes of the testing world

They create models, diagrams, mindmaps, design documents, spreadsheets, and combinatorics to dissect and understand the product better. 

The tests are then designed on their basis. 

Analytical testers focus on test design. They meticulously plan their tests, analyze requirements, and create comprehensive tests covering a wide range of scenarios. 

They also focus on analyzing and pinpointing the root causes behind any issue.

Top Skills – Analytical Testers:

• Test Design: Creating detailed and structured tests for systemic coverage of product layers.
• Risk Analysis: Identifying and mitigating potential risks and prioritizing testing accordingly.
• Exploratory Testing: Investigating software functionality with a focus on exploration and discovering the unknowns.
• Note-taking: Keeping records of testing notes, findings, and bugs.

Technical Tester

The programming ninjas of the testing world

They love writing code to test the application. They integrate testing assertions into their automation workflow, developing frameworks and scripts to accelerate the feedback loop.

Technical testers focus on writing code that automates repetitive tasks or test steps, enabling teams to execute test suites quickly and efficiently.

Some of the typical tasks performed by technical testers:

• Test Script Development: Writing scripts that execute various test cases.
• Test Maintenance & Execution: Ensuring test scripts are always updated.
• CI Integration: Seamlessly incorporating tests into the CI/CD pipeline.
• Automation Framework Development: Building frameworks and utilities to support automated testing.
• Result Analysis: Analyzing automation results to identify issues.

Top Skills – Technical Tester:

• Testability and Automatibility: Develop tools that ensure smoother testing and automation.
• Clean Coding: Write simple, efficient, and elegant code.
• Design Patterns: Use established patterns such as Page Object Mode, Singleton, etc. to design test solutions.
• Automation Design: Craft effective automated tests.
• Programming Fundamentals: Basics of coding principles, and paradigms.
• Tools and Platforms: Expertise in tools like Selenium, JUnit, Jenkins, etc.

Administrative Tester

Project managers of the testing world

They break down testing as a set of tasks to be completed efficiently and effectively.

They focus on the overall testing strategy, execution, and reporting. They handle test planning, scheduling, and people allocation. They ensure that all testing activities are aligned with the business goals and timelines. 

They make sure that the relevant testing artifacts are created, updated, and maintained over time.

Some tasks performed by administrative testers include:

• Test Strategy: Define the overall test approach.
• Test Estimation: Plan and negotiate the time and people needed for testing.
• Test Reporting: Generate detailed reports on high-level test progress and results.
• Test Planning: Schedule and coordinate testing activities.
• Managing Overall Testing Activities: Align and manage the entire testing process and tasks.
• Metrics & Reviews: Define relevant metrics and review them over time.
• Standards & Compliance: Ensure compliance and industry standards are met.
• Defining Workflows: Create efficient workflows for the testing process.

Top Skills – Administrative Tester:

• Requirement Engineering: Understand and explore requirements.
• Test Strategy and Planning: Develop comprehensive test plans.
• Test Management: Oversee test execution and progress.
• Estimation: Predict testing tasks and their synchronization.
• Planning: Schedule and resource allocation.
• Note-taking: Document plans, progress, and issues.

Social Tester

Network and communication hub of the testing world

They love interacting with people, building relationships, and fostering collaboration. They thrive on conversations, and understanding the internal as well as external sides of software development. 

You can think of them as social butterflies — fluttering between technology and the people developing it.

Social testers focus on sharing opportunities and collaborating with other tester types, as well as developers ensuring a holistic approach to testing.

Top Skills – Social Testers:

• Writing: Clear and concise written and visual communication.
• Listening: Understand the perspectives and needs of others.
• Persuasion: Convince stakeholders and influence them about the need for thorough testing.
• Questioning: Ask the right questions at the right time to the right people.
• Storytelling: To communicate testing stories effectively.
• Communication: Articulation of thoughts, ideas, and plans.

Customer Savvy Tester

Advocates of the customers

They put themselves in users’ shoes to understand their needs, personas, emotions, and actions. They advocate for fine-tuning user experiences.

They don’t just test the software, they feel it. This superpower helps them uncover issues that really matter to the end customer. 

They focus on understanding user scenarios and advocating for issues that could impact the user.

Top Skills – Customer Savvy Tester:

• User Touring: Investigate the software from a user’s journey perspective.
• Bug Advocacy: Advocate the importance of fixing user-impacting challenges.
• Requirement Engineering: Ensure requirements reflect user needs.
• Note-taking: Document user scenarios and test results.

AI Tester

the cutting edge of modern testing and industrial revolution 5.0

They leverage artificial intelligence to assist and enhance testing processes and outcomes.

They focus on developing precise models and strategies for implementing AI in testing, as well as educating their teams on AI tools and use cases.

Some of the typical tasks performed by AI testers:

• Develop Precise Models for Testing: Create and train AI models on the right data.
• Coach Team about AI Tools: Educate team on AI tools and applications.
• Creating “AI in Testing” Strategy: Define how AI will be used in testing, what would be the benefits as well as risks.
• Defining Smart Prompts for Testing Tasks: Create effective AI prompts for usage with the team.
• Developing Utilities for Testing & Automation via AI: Build AI-powered testing tools.
• AI Ethics & Governance: Ensure ethical use of AI in testing.

Top Skills – AI Testers:

• Basics of AI and ML: Understand fundamental AI and machine learning concepts.
• Models and LLMs: Knowledge of various AI models and large language models.
• LLM Syndromes: Understand the limitations and challenges of LLMs.
• AI Testing Tools: Proficiency in AI-based testing tools.
• AI Ethics: Ensure ethical considerations in AI usage.
• Prompt Engineering: Craft efficient prompts for AI models using appropriate prompt engineering techniques.

This also is a great opportunity to tell you about a tool that an AI tester would want to know about.

Testsigma is a low-code Gen-AI powered test automation tool that allows testers to automate web, mobile, desktop app, and API testing in the same platform. It makes test automation faster and more efficient with its robust test automation features. The Gen-AI capabilities provide intelligent suggestions that help scale your tests. The key areas of Testsigma where AI plays a major role are,

• AI-powered auto healing reduces your test maintenance efforts by up to 70%
• Makes your test automation 10x faster in terms of test creation and execution
• Get smart test case suggestions via prompts and ensure 100% test coverage
• Provides detailed and automated test reporting for every test run

There’s more: have a quick look into how Testsigma’s AI-driven low-code testing

Developer as Tester

Supportive testers

Developers aren’t primarily responsible for testing, but they play an equally crucial supportive role. They write unit tests and help testers with testability as well as automatibility. They contribute to unit tests as well as CI workflows.

Good developers focus on writing testable code and supporting the testing process through unit testing and design considerations.

Top Skills – Developer as Tester

• Unit Testing: Writing tests for individual units of code.
• Design Thinking: Designing features with testability in mind.
• Collaboration: Working closely with testers to ensure seamless integration and testing.

Holla! That’s all!

While reading this article, you must have resonated with each tester type. We adapt to different roles in different conditions and contexts. Each role then brings valuable skills and perspectives, ensuring that the software testing process is in-check. 

By recognizing, leveraging, and upskilling on these diverse talents, you can develop yourself as a well-rounded tester. 

Happy testing!