What is the difference between QA, QC and testing?
FundamentalsJunior
In shortQA improves the process so fewer bugs are made, QC checks the product for bugs, and testing is the main activity inside QC.
Model answer
The three terms are related but focus on different things:
| Focus | Goal | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality assurance (QA) | The process | Prevent defects | Agreeing that every user story needs acceptance criteria before development |
| Quality control (QC) | The product | Detect defects | Checking a finished build before release |
| Testing | The product | Find defects and give information | Running checkout test cases on build 4.2 |
A simple way to remember it: QA asks “Are we working in a way that produces quality?” and QC asks “Does this product have quality?” Testing is the main hands-on activity of QC.
For example, in a shopping app team, QA might mean introducing requirement reviews and a definition of done. QC and testing mean actually installing the new build and trying to add items, apply coupons and pay.
In real life, job titles mix these up. A “QA Engineer” usually spends most of the day testing, but a good one also helps improve the process, which is real QA.
Learn more: What Is Software Testing?
What they're looking for
That QA is process-focused and preventive, QC is product-focused and detective, and testing is a part of QC.
Common mistakes
- Treating all three as synonyms.
- Not being able to give an example of a QA activity that is not testing.