The Best Software Testing Books List

In the ever-developing world of information technology, the learning process in software testing is constant. We come across new and advanced systems often, and there seems to be something new appearing every day. Before you even begin a career in software testing, you will be aware that it involves some complex science and the process includes many different aspects, actions, and information. You might want to be a manual tester or plan to only work in automated testing, but both of these need a certain level of skill and knowledge that will eventually help you be a good quality assurance engineer.

A good tester has to be flexible and adapt to the changing environment. To help you to build a good foundation and stay ahead of the game, we have selected a list of some of the best books on the testing process. Listed in ascending publication date, these books can supply a complete theoretical knowledge and also help with project samples, tools, and the techniques you will need for your projects.

Top 10 Software Testing Books

Software Testing Technique (2nd edition)

Software Testing Technique is a proper reference book for someone aspiring to move towards a career of testing. It explains all terminologies and core methods of bug detection. The book is easy to understand, so can help any level of training. It also demonstrates how testing companies might implement specific processes for developing software.

Author: Boris Beizner
Published: June 1990
View on: Amazon

Testing Computer Software (2nd edition)

Testing Computer Software is a popular book by Cem Kaner to help you learn about testing software in ‘real-world’ conditions. It contains written tests, plans, cases, an introduction to errors, and also background verification testing. It is an ideal choice for people who are about to try testing and for those wanting learn about the black box testing technique.

Author: Cem Kaner, Jack Falk and Hung Q. Nguyen
Published: April 1999
View on: Amazon

Testing Object-oriented System: Models, Patterns, and Tools

This book by Binder, a leading expert in testing object-oriented systems, is a useful guide that teaches how to design and automate test suites according to the object-oriented system. The book is comprised of 37 test design templates and 15 mini-templates of test oracle strategies. It discusses a number of test design techniques to help with creating the most appropriate test models. The book will be a help when practicing integration and regression testing with object-oriented programming.

Author: Robert V. Binder
Published: November 1999
View on: Amazon

Software Testing

The book ‘Software Testing’ covers all testing types. Functional testing is discussed, as is localization tests, usability testing, web application, security control, and more. This book is perfect for beginners looking for help with figuring out the most common tools used for testing.

Author: Ron Patton
Published: November 2000
View on: Amazon

Lessons Learned in Software Testing: A Context-Driven Approach

A second recommended book lead by Cem Kaner. It is first choice for newcomers because it can help prevent common mistakes made by those at the start of their careers. It explains how to organize working processes for better efficiency and discusses real circumstances that can occur in testing. The lessons are aimed at helping, organizing, managing and controlling projects.

Author: Cem Kaner, James Bach and Bret Pettichord
Published: December 2001
View on: Amazon | Publisher’s page

How to Break Software: A Practical Guide to Testing

This book can help a QA tester develop a broader scope of what testing actually is. Here they realize that the process is not about an easy and standard set of actions but that they have to be open-minded and dig right into the roots. It explains that some algorithms need to be followed, but urges testers not to follow outdated specifications.

Author: James A. Whittaker
Published: May 2002
View on: Amazon | Publisher’s page

The Art of Software Testing (2nd edition)

The Art of Software Testing is an informative book that helps you understand how to be successful in testing. It is aimed at both professional QA engineers and newcomers, and contains all the guidelines and methods for debugging, suggestions for writing good test cases, code inspections, and more.

Author: Glenford J. Myers
Published: June 2004
View on: Amazon

Software Testing: A Craftsman’s Approach (3rd edition)

In his book, Paul C. Jorgensen looks to explain the intricate process of tests through proper formulas. The book consists of two parts. In the first, math theory is presented briefly in the context of testing and the rest of the book is focused on the distinct process of testing, through functional, integration, structural, system, and more.

Author: Paul C. Jorgensen
Published: February 2008
View on: Amazon

Agile Testing: A Practical Guide for Testers and Agile Teams (1st Edition)

The book, Agile Testing, discusses practical testing projects that work on agile software development methodologies. The authors collected real examples of agile projects and explain the primary roles of team members on the software testing development cycle. The book records all ten agile principles and presents a proper explanation of exploratory testing.

Author: Lisa Crispin and Janet Gregory
Published: January 2009
View on: Amazon | Book homepage

Beautiful Testing: Leading Professionals Reveal How They Improve Software

Beautiful Testing provides both theoretical and practical knowledge. It explains why testing can be regarded as an art, a view jointly agreed by 27 leading developers and testers who shared their ideas and experiences in this book. Beautiful Testing gives you descriptive information with fundamental ideas, images of implementation, and mini-maps of testing processes.

Author: Tim Riley and Adam Goucher
Published: November 2009
View on: Amazon | Publisher’s page

Finally

The above set of books and their brief descriptions will hopefully help you to know what to expect from any them. Whichever textbooks to choose to help prepare you for, or enhance your career as a tester, the main advice is to continually learn and develop your skills in this fast moving industry.