What kind of code do QA engineers write?

Quality Assurance (QA) engineers typically focus on creating code related to test automation. Test automation involves writing scripts or code to automate the execution of test cases, allowing for the efficient and repetitive testing of software applications. The type of code that QA engineers write can be broadly categorized into two main areas:

1. Test Automation Code:

   • Scripting Languages: QA engineers often use scripting languages such as Python, Ruby, JavaScript, or Java for writing automation code. The choice of scripting language depends on the testing tools and frameworks being used.
   • Test Scripts: QA engineers create test scripts that simulate user interactions with the software, verify expected outcomes, and identify defects. These scripts automate repetitive and manual testing tasks.
   • Automation Frameworks: QA engineers design and implement automation frameworks, which are structures that provide guidelines and practices for creating and organizing automated test scripts. Frameworks help maintain consistency and scalability in test automation projects.
   • Integration Code: Automation scripts may involve integrating with other tools, services, or databases to set up test data, interact with APIs, or validate the behavior of integrated components.

2. Supporting Code for Testing:

   • Test Data Generation: QA engineers may write code to generate test data dynamically or extract data from various sources to create realistic and diverse test scenarios.
   • Data Validation Code: Code is written to validate the correctness of data during testing, ensuring that the application processes and displays data accurately.
   • Custom Test Utilities: QA engineers may develop utility functions or tools that enhance the efficiency of testing. These utilities can include logging mechanisms, custom assertions, or tools for managing test environments.
   • Continuous Integration (CI) Scripts: QA engineers often contribute to the CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment) pipeline by writing scripts that trigger automated tests upon code changes and generate reports.

The specific coding tasks of QA engineers depend on the testing tools and frameworks used within the organization. Some popular test automation tools include Selenium, Appium, JUnit, TestNG, Cypress, and others. QA engineers may also work with tools that support behavior-driven development (BDD) frameworks like Cucumber or Behave, where test scenarios are written in a natural language format.

It's important to note that while QA engineers primarily focus on test automation code, they may also collaborate closely with developers to understand the application code, review code changes, and provide input on testability considerations. This collaboration ensures a holistic approach to quality throughout the software development life cycle.