QA stands for Quality Assurance, which is a systematic process used to determine if a product or service meets quality standards. Quality assurance includes two principles: "fit for purpose" (the product should be suitable for the intended purpose); and "right first time" (mistakes should be eliminated). QA is not limited to manufacturing and can be applied to any business or non-business activity, including design, consulting, banking, insurance, computer software development, retailing, investment, transportation, education, and translation.
In the context of software development, a QA tester is someone who works with software or a website to ensure it runs properly. They try to prevent faulty apps or other technology from getting to the customer by running a variety of manual and automated tests while the product is in development. QA testing is an essential part of the software development life cycle, and it ensures that an organizations product is as high-quality as possible.
A QA analyst is a technical professional who typically works in the quality assurance stage of a product development life cycle. In this role, they are responsible for ensuring that products meet the established standards of quality, including reliability, usability, and performance. They work closely with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to identify and resolve issues before a product is released to the public.
In summary, QA is a process used to ensure that a product or service meets quality standards, and it can be applied to any business or non-business activity. In the context of software development, QA testers and analysts play a crucial role in ensuring that products meet established standards of quality.
