A key step in the process is testing the software for correct behavior prior to release to end users.
Large scale engineering projects that rely on manual software testing follow a more rigorous methodology in order to maximize the number of defects that can be found.
[1] A rigorous test case based approach is often traditional for large software engineering projects that follow a Waterfall model.
[5] A computer can follow a rote sequence of steps more quickly than a person, and it can run the tests overnight to present the results in the morning.
Depending on the type of application to be tested, and the automation tools that are chosen, this may require more labor than a manual approach.
In addition, some testing tools present a very large amount of data, potentially creating a time-consuming task of interpreting the results.
They rely on recording of sequences of keystrokes and mouse gestures, then playing them back and observing that the user interface responds in the same way every time.