Do testers have to write code??

A very common question that a software Testing aspirant has is… Do testers have to write code??

Before we answer this question, a complete insight into a various software testing role is necessary to understand.

Software QA is typically divided into two categories,

1. Quality Analyst: QA verifies the functionality and completeness of the test. QA verifies the software only after the development phase. QA role is not as technical as a developer and may not require coding.
2. SDET(Software Design Engineer in Test): While SDET on other hand is one who understands the inner workings of the product. They understand database concepts, programming languages, etc. and they also participate in product design, data design, and user interfaces. SDETs have to work during the development phase and require a coding knowledge. So the role of an SDET is more challenging, and it involves job of both, developer as well as a Tester. Automation Testers (who use tools like QTP, Selenium) can also be classified as SDET.