Manual vs. Automated Testing: Which Skill Should You Learn First?
Learn manual testing first, and build a solid foundation before you automate. Manual testing teaches you what to test and why; automation teaches you how to repeat it at scale. A solid foundation in manual testing takes at least 2 to 3 months, and practical automation skills take at least another 2 to 3 months of dedicated coding. Reaching a professional level in automated testing typically takes one to two years, and top employers look for testers who can do both manual and automated testing. KEY FACTS l Manual testing means a person runs each check and judges the result; automated testing uses scripts to run checks repeatedly. l Automation can only check what someone has already decided to test, so test design comes first. l A solid manual testing foundation takes at least 2 to 3 months; practical automation skills need at least another 2 to 3 months of dedicated coding. l Reaching a professional level in automated testing typically takes one ...