A type of software testing called functional testing checks the basic functions of an app against a set of rules that have already been made. Functional tests use Black Box Testing to check if a certain input leads to the desired result, without looking at any other information. The results are either “tests pass” or “tests fail.”
Why functional testing to be done?
Functional testing is crucial since without it you might not be sure whether your application performs as it should. Even if an app might pass non-functional testing and operate in other ways, it is not really working if it does not offer the expected key results by the end user.
What is the difference between Functional Testing and Other Types of Testing?
Functional tests make sure that certain functional needs are met. Non-functional tests, on the other hand, can check things that aren’t functional, like the app’s quality, performance, security, or ability to grow. Another way to say this is that functional testing checks to see if important functions work, while non-functional tests focus on how the functions work.
Types of Functional Testing: Some Examples
If you want to test your app, you might want to do different kinds of useful tests.
Doing unit tests
Unit testing splits the result you want into smaller pieces that can be tested to see if a few inputs, or even just one, can produce the result you want. Each unit test is meant to cover only one piece of code (a function, method, object, etc.) and make sure it works. This makes them some of the simplest tests to write and run quickly.
Testing for Smoke
Smoke testing is done to make sure that the most important parts of the app work the way they’re supposed to. It is the first step in the testing process and is not meant to be complete. Smoke tests make sure that the app works in the most basic ways. If it isn’t, there’s no need to move on to more thorough testing. The app can go back to the development team to be looked over again.
Testing for Sanity
In some ways, sanity testing is similar to smoke testing because both are meant to make sure that basic functions work and to avoid trying broken software in more depth. The main difference is that logic tests are done later in the process to see if a change to the code worked as planned. It’s a “sanity check” on a certain change to see if the new code works pretty much the way it should.
Testing for integration
Integration testing checks to see if groups of different software parts work properly together. Some modules may have already passed tests on their own, but this kind of testing is needed to make sure that everything works as it should when different modules are needed to work together.
Testing for Regression
Regression testing makes sure that adding new code doesn’t break things that already work. To put it another way, did your new code make your app’s quality “regress,” or go backwards? Regression tests look at the changes that were made and make sure that the program keeps working correctly and remains stable.
Testing for UI/UX
The application’s graphical user interface is tested as part of UI/UX testing. UI elements like menus, buttons, text areas, and more are tested to make sure they work properly so that app users have the best experience possible. UI/UX testing is also called visual testing, and it can be done by hand or by a computer.
Functional testing can also be broken down into black box testing. White box testing, component testing, API testing, system testing, and production testing.
How to Do Tests for Functionality
Make sure that the outputs you want are produced. For example, make sure that each mathematical function works as it should. The final result is always correct, that the formula history is shown properly, and so on.
If you want to learn more about how to make a functional test. Check out this full guide on how to write an automatic functional test.
Methods for Functional Testing
To make a test suite for this, you could use a number of functional testing methods, such as:
In boundary value tests, what happens if inputs are received outside of certain limits? For example, if a person enters a number that is too big (if there is a limit) or tries to enter something that isn’t a number,
After a person makes a choice, like clearing the history, decision-based tests check the results.
User-based tests check how parts of an app work together. For example, if the calculator’s history was saved in the cloud, this type of test would make sure it worked.
It’s possible to do ad-hoc tests at the end to try to find bugs that other tests missed by breaking the app and seeing how it reacts.
Equivalence testing, alternate flow testing, positive testing, and negative testing are some other popular functional testing methods.
Why test data is useful
When you use test results, you can do the following:
Allows you to find coding mistakes: Test data can help experts find coding mistakes quickly, before a program is released. Besides that, it can help make programs safer.
Sets the stage for more testing: Test data lays the groundwork for creating more data tests. It checks the simplest inputs first, then moves on to the program’s use.
Finds code that is duplicated or repeated without reason. Test data can help programmers find code that is duplicated or repeated without reason. This can help make code lighter and the site run faster.
Offers versatility in managing apps: Gathering test data can give designers versatility in handling a lot of apps. Especially ones that run on multiple platforms.
What kinds of test data
Invalid test: An invalid test checks for files or commands that aren’t allowed. When you give a program invalid input, it checks how it reacts, including the message it shows the user.
Boundary conditions: These check how different numbers show up when put together in different ways.
Huge test: A huge test checks to see if the data is ready for other types of testing, like load and speed testing. This is the last step in the test data phase.