In general software projects, which statement best describes a typical end to end QA testing process followed in many companies, from requirement understanding to test closure?

Introduction / Context:
When interviewers ask about the QA testing process in your previous company, they want to see whether you understand the complete life cycle of testing rather than just individual techniques. This conceptual question captures a general, widely used sequence of activities in end to end quality assurance, independent of any specific organisation or methodology.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The context is a typical software development project with a separate QA function.
- The company follows recognisable phases such as planning, design, execution and closure.
- Both functional and regression testing are included in the process.
- Exact company names and tools are not relevant; only general steps are assessed.

Concept / Approach:
A sound QA process starts with understanding business and system requirements. From there, testers prepare a test plan describing scope, strategy, resources, entry and exit criteria. Next, they design detailed test cases and prepare test data and environments. Execution follows, where test cases are run and results are recorded. Any deviations from expected results are logged as defects, triaged and tracked to closure. Regression testing is performed to ensure that fixes and new features do not break existing functionality. Finally, QA prepares summary reports and participates in go live and retrospective activities.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Look for an option that clearly shows a logical flow from requirements to closure. Step 2: Confirm that the option includes planning, test case design and environment or data setup. Step 3: Check that the option mentions execution, defect logging and regression testing. Step 4: Ensure that the option ends with formal reporting or closure activities rather than stopping at execution only. Step 5: Option a satisfies all these points, making it the correct description of a typical QA process.

Verification / Alternative check:
As an alternative check, compare option a with standard testing life cycle models such as the test process defined by ISTQB. You will find similar stages: test planning and control, analysis, design, implementation, execution, evaluating exit criteria and reporting, and closure activities. Option a lines up closely with that model, which verifies that it is a sensible and industry aligned summary.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b removes critical elements such as requirements and planning and suggests a very risky and incomplete approach. Option c focuses only on a small part of non functional testing and ignores functional coverage. Option d removes the independence of QA, which is against best practices for objective quality assessment, so these options are not acceptable descriptions of a full process.

Common Pitfalls:
In practice, teams sometimes compress or skip early stages such as proper planning and analysis, leading to gaps in coverage later. Another common pitfall is weak defect tracking, where issues are not followed through to closure. By remembering the full life cycle described in option a, you can structure answers in interviews and also improve day to day testing discipline.

Final Answer:
Understanding requirements, planning tests, designing test cases, setting up environments and data, executing tests, logging and tracking defects, performing regression testing and finally preparing test summary and closure reports.