Should Software Testers Learn How To Code? Pros and Cons
The better you know code, the better you can test code. But does that mean coding is a requirement for a software testing career? That’s a question I’ve asked for years.
The short answer: It all depends. Different kinds of testing require different skills. You don’t need coding knowledge to be a successful QA tester, but your career options might be limited without it. As developments like AI change the role of testers, code skills are becoming more important.
But there are some downsides to it. Testers who learn how to code might focus too much on it and lose sight of certain defects. Sometimes, it’s better to test an app purely from a user perspective.
Read on to learn about the pros and cons of coding skills for testers and options for learning how to code.
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What is the difference between code knowledge and code understanding for testers?
First, let’s define what coding knowledge means. If a tester is able to code, they are able to create programming code in one or more languages, resulting in a working product or feature. An understanding of coding, on the other hand, means the tester can read and comprehend code, but not necessarily create a working product.
Why the distinction? Testers should understand what programming code is and the basics of how it operates. Testers, however, don’t always need to develop working code. They can have highly successful QA careers without ever writing a line of code in any language. I can record a codeless test script and then edit the results to meet my needs, but I cannot code anything from scratch. While testers who learn code might open up additional career benefits, not all are interested in writing code.
Software testing and software coding are two very separate disciplines. Testers focus on how a human uses an application rather than how the code functions. They look at the usability or customer experience aspects of the code. Developers are interested in how each component functions and interacts with others.
What are the advantages of coding knowledge for testers?
The software testing job market is shifting. Today’s testers require coding knowledge to take part in test automation or API testing. To be a successful member of a DevOps team, testers really must do more for the team than execute regression testing and manage defects.
Without coding skills, a software tester’s career might be limited to manual testing and using codeless test automation tools. Knowing programming languages allows testers to transition to other roles, such as SDET (software development engineer in test).
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Benefits of software testers learning coding skills include:
- Better collaboration with developers: Coding knowledge helps testers speak the developers’ language. They can explain defects more effectively, leading to faster resolution.
- Opportunities in more testing domains: Being able to code opens up doors to other kinds of testing, such as security and API testing.
- Ability to participate in code building and reviews: These situations are great for showcasing coding skills and contributing to the team.
- Better awareness of logical disconnects in app workflows: With a solid understanding of code logic, testers can find defects deeper in the application.
The ability for a tester to code working software can also benefit those who tire of QA. These testers open career paths in development and technical QA roles. Additionally, as many organizations adopt DevOps and continuous testing methods, coding becomes essential. Coding skills are required not only to write software, but also to create automated unit and integration tests.
What are the downsides of testers learning to code?
The advantages of testers learning how to code certainly outweigh the disadvantages. Consider the knowledge gains and expansion in possible career paths.
However, as a long-time professional tester, there are some disadvantages for testers learning how to code. You can chalk these up to the differing viewpoints of developers and testers.
Potential disadvantages of software testers learning code include:
- Overlooking defects: Testers with deep coding knowledge might focus too much on internal logic, potentially missing defects related to the application’s external behavior.
- Disconnected from user experience: As testers dive deeper into technical details, they can lose touch with how customers experience products.
- Devs poaching testers: Testers with coding skills might be asked to do more development tasks, leaving less time for testing.
- Over-reliance on automation: Code-proficient testers might lean too heavily on automated tests and neglect exploratory and manual testing.
Consider the primary goal of software testing. Software testers aim to protect the customer experience. A defect is anything that annoys a customer, like a feature that doesn’t work as expected or a visual bug that makes navigation difficult. For developers, defects are failures in code components, regardless of how they look in the UI. If a code-competent tester starts thinking like a developer, they will likely miss some UI defects or UX inconsistencies. This can be considered a betrayal of the unspoken pact between testers and customers.
Another distinct disadvantage is that a tester who knows how to code may get borrowed from the testing team — potentially to never return. This means that already short-handed testing teams may lose talented team members when they are asked to support development. Poaching code-competent testers to serve dev goals harms the overall testing effort.
What effect is AI having on software testing?
The rise of AI and vibe coding has a twofold impact on the role of testers and their need for coding knowledge. On one hand, testing AI-generated code presents new challenges, as it may not always be reliable. At the same time, AI offers new opportunities for testers to learn how to write code.
While AI can rapidly produce vast amounts of code, the output is often flawed. Testers must scrutinize this AI-generated code for logical defects, security vulnerabilities and performance issues. This means testers must know what good code looks like and how to debug potential issues.
AI-driven development can also increase complexity and create unpredictable edge cases. Testers who can analyze code structures and identify risks will become more valuable to organizations.
Generative AI is also becoming a powerful assistant in testers’ code-writing. Thanks to vibe coding, anybody can describe their desired functionality in natural language — and AI generates the underlying code. This doesn’t eliminate the need for coding knowledge, but rather increases it. Testers can use Gen AI to generate automation scripts or create a list of edge cases.
The upshot of this shift is that testers can focus on strategic aspects of test design and QA, leaving repetitive tasks to AI. This boosts tester productivity and allows them to tackle more sophisticated challenges.
Which types of testing require coding knowledge?
The usefulness of coding depends largely on the type of testing a tester focuses on. Without coding knowledge, testers can still succeed in these areas:
- Manual functional testing
- Exploratory testing
- Usability and UX testing
- Accessibility and localization
These tests require little to no coding, relying more on human intuition, critical thinking and a keen eye for detail. Accessibility testing, localization and UX testing often have their own special requirements, such as language or design skills, but testers usually won’t have to code.
Where coding knowledge for testers does become necessary, however, is in the following practices:
- Automated testing
- API testing
- Security testing
- Performance testing
- Integration testing
- DevOps
Test automation requires writing test scripts in languages like Python, Java and Ruby, and using tools like Playwright and Selenium. Likewise, API and security testing often require testers to analyze, understand and write code.
How can QA testers learn how to code?
Software testers who want to learn coding have many effective training options. Larger software development organizations typically offer internal training. Online and educational programs also give testers an outlet to learn how to code.
Here are some ways testers can learn how to code:
- Guidance from the development team
- Automated testing, starting with codeless test automation tools
- Internal training
- Online courses
- Open source projects
- Coding bootcamps
Which programming languages are the most valuable for software testers?
The popularity of some coding languages can change from time to time, making it difficult to know where to start. JavaScript is popular in automated testing tools, along with Python and Cucumber. Ask the development team or a dev lead for suggestions. You will also need to decide whether to learn web or mobile development, or both.
I learned coding from a few brave developers who enjoyed teaching. For me, learning code within an existing application is easier than coding from scratch in a bootcamp or programming course.
By learning from a developer on my team, I was able to add to the overall value I provided to the team. It also helped me learn more about the applications I tested. I personally learn better from necessity, but other testers might prefer other methods. Testers learning code should find opportunities to practice and keep their skills fresh.
Many programming bootcamps are expensive, but they offer support and career placement options. Some testers might prefer the structure and schedule of a bootcamp. If bootcamps are not an option, try online courses from organizations such as Udemy or Coursera. Most online courses cost less than bootcamps. Testers can complete coursework at their own pace. Courses offer a larger variety of languages than the internal training available at most organizations.
Whatever path a tester chooses, it’s best to start with the internal programming training options available within their organization. Additionally, focus on learning test automation tools. If the organization has a test automation suite, testers can ask to get involved — there’s often a lack of knowledge with these tools.
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Do software testers really need to know how to code?
While not always a requirement, learning to code is becoming increasingly beneficial for testers. My recommendation for anyone seeking a successful, long-term testing career is to get started and see where it leads. After a few years as a tester, you’ll likely start to recognize the parts of the job that interest you most. At that point, you can either hone your skills to specialize in a certain niche or take courses to expand your skillset — for example, by learning to code.
One thing is certain: Learning to code helps testers remain relevant in a changing field. Whether that means transitioning to a developer or SDET role, or simply improving your technical skills to become a more effective tester, even a little knowledge can go a long way.
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