Over the years I've seen, heard, and been in many conversations about the tools testers must learn . So many specific tools mentioned in that time, but I prefer an answer like this: Learn the tools that are important for your context. Perhaps that sounds like a cop-out, because it means testers will have to think about what they're doing, why they're doing it, the results they want to get from it, ways that they might get those results, the relative trade-offs of alternative approaches, how deep to go, the amount of time its worth investing, when to invest it, and so on. Tough. There are easier alternatives. For example, just learn whatever tools someone on LinkedIn said that someone else on Linked said that someone else on LinkedIn said that someone else on LinkedIn said that ... But that's a merry-go-round anyone would soon want to get off. If you were asking the question and urged me to be specific I'd point you to My Favourite Tool . If you read it and...