Functional Testing in Software Development Using Quality Assurance Services
Wed Oct 18 2023
Introduction
Functional Testing is extensively performed to test and verify whether each component and function of the software application is working correctly based on specified requirements. These quality assurance testing services do not consider the application’s source code but consider various vital components, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, smoke and regression testing, and more. Functional testing in software development also checks the tool’s user interface, application programming interface, database, server, and security. Quality assurance specialists can conduct this testing manually and automatically.
Actors
01
The Quality Assurance Team
A group of professionals who carry out functional testing, overseeing and implementing the quality assurance process with proper planning, management, and execution.
02
Software Development Team
Professionals who create and design software applications using their coding skills and implement them successfully. After building the software, they send it for testing its features and functionality. They collaborate closely with the testing team to understand the requirements and resolve issues.
03
Software Application
The software product or tool developed by the development team needs testing.
04
The End User
The target audience, client, or customer who will use the software after downloading and installing it. They may also purchase the subscription license for the SaaS application.
Pre-Conditions
Preparing the Software Code for Testing
Before commencing functional testing, you must put the software code in a testable environment and state. It indicates that the software development team has completed the coding process and is submitting the application for the testing phase.
Establishing the Test Environment
Configuring the testing environment in quality assurance testing services is crucial to ensure that the production environment works closely with the testing mechanism. The process includes establishing software, hardware, and network configurations alongside database and other critical components. You must verify whether the software is tested in an environment where it will be deployed.
Determining the Test Goals
Identifying and determining testing goals is an integral part of functional testing that focuses on validating the application functionalities based on expectations. Test objectives help you conclude whether all the features are appropriately integrated and working perfectly. It also allows service quality assurance engineers to proficiently rectify errors and unexpected scenarios.
Creating Test Scenarios
Software quality assurance services involve creating a list of all possible test scenarios to test and verify a particular feature. You can identify how the feature will be used using such test scenarios. For instance, if you implement a payment gateway functionality, the test scenario will be integrating multiple currency options, managing different bank card types, and successfully sending real-time notifications.
Build Test Data
You need to build test data that triggers normal conditions on test scenarios. You can automate test data using a script or tool or manually enter test data.
Design Test Cases Define and Document Them
You must design the test cases based on test inputs to get the desired outputs. Also, a quality assurance services company helps you to clearly and comprehensively define and document the test cases, which includes detailed test scenarios, expected outcomes, and acceptance criteria.
Post-Conditions
Early Bug Detection and Resolution
Thorough functional testing detects bugs and other defects in the early stages of the software development lifecycle. It systematically tests each function and feature of the application, identifying the issues before its final release. Early bug detection and fixing help to improve software stability and reduces development cost and time.
Ensures Correct Functionality
Quality Assurance Services and functional testing ensure that each software’s feature and functionality behaves as expected and aligns with the requirements. Testers and quality assurance specialists verify that the software works hassle-free to increase user satisfaction and reliability.
Enhances User Experience
Since the software performs as intended, it leads to an improved and seamless user experience by providing business-centric and customer-centric features and an intuitive user interface. It increases user adaptability and engagement, leading to positive reviews and software success.
Validating Business Requirements
Software quality assurance services and functional testing ensure the product meets specific business requirements. Testers ensure the developed application resonates with the business's and stakeholders' goals. It nullifies risks related to users abandoning the software.
Fortifying Software Security
Authorization and authentication are a few functional testing elements that fortify software security. When software works as intended, it prevents security vulnerabilities and data breach risks, protects against unauthorized access, and more.
Optimizing Performance
Functions like load testing and stress testing help to enhance and optimize software performance with increased stability under different conditions. Service quality assurance experts identify and address performance bottlenecks to deliver a high-quality, responsive application.
Facilitating Automation and Continuous Improvement
You can automate functional testing, expediting development and minimizing errors. The automation can prove beneficial for test regression and scenarios requiring frequent validation. It also enables faster feedback and propels agile development methodologies. It provides valuable insights into the software's quality and the development process's effectiveness. The feedback helps to make informed decisions for continuous improvement.
Supporting Compliance
Functional testing enables organizations to adhere to compulsory industry standards and regulatory compliance. It saves them from paying legal penalties and ensures data integrity, maintaining their reputation.
Main Flow
Planning the Quality Assurance Test
The service quality assurance manager formulates a comprehensive and strategic plan with their QA team about how to perform software functional testing. The team reviews vital application requirements and design documents to understand the expected software behavior, determine test scenarios and functional specifications, develop test cases, and prioritize them to evaluate their business impact.
Execution of Functional Tests
Quality Assurance Services deals with the execution of functional tests to validate different aspects of application features. It helps to verify individual components and perform integration, system, and acceptance testing to meet different user expectations.
Defect Identification and Reporting
After the test execution, quality assurance testing services help to discover anomalies and deviations from the expected behavior. All identified issues and concerns are reported to the software development team for quick, apt resolution. The QA team prepares detailed documentation of all steps to reproduce actual and desired behavior. The defects are prioritized based on their severity, and communication with the development team is done on the same.
Verification of Defect Fixes
Once the software development team rectifies and fixes all concerned issues, the QA team has to verify each resolution and re-perform the test cases to know the outcome. The QA team sends the confirmation that all defects have been correctly addressed and re-run tests if the fixes have brought new issues. Also, the status must be updated based on verification results.
Test Documentation Update
Quality assurance services help maintain and update test documentation throughout the testing process to reflect changes and new findings during functional testing. You can upgrade test cases based on additions and modifications and ensure that all documentation accurately represents the software’s current state.
Test Closure
After completing all test cases and addressing all issues, with software acceptance criteria fulfillment, service quality assurance professionals conclude the functional testing phase. They generate a test closure report containing all the details about test activities, insights, and results. The software quality is appropriately accessed, and suggestions for improvement are made based on the new learnings.
Alternative Flow
- Significant Defect Detected During the Tests - Advanced quality assurance services detect critical defects, impacting the software’s performance, functionality, and overall quality. The flaw is immediately reported to the development team to rectify the issue.
- Failing of Test Automation Process - Sometimes, automated quality assurance testing services must stop because the test automation process fails. The issue is prioritized and resolved quickly to proceed further with the testing.
- Missing Out Critical Errors - There are instances where the QA team needs to identify critical defects, and the logical errors still need to be solved. This may lead to unnecessary delays in software development and release.
- Redundant Testing - Sometimes, the QA team performs redundant testing, arriving at no conclusive results.
Conclusion
Functional testing is an indispensable aspect of quality assurance services that ensures that software behaves according to user expectations and requirements. It methodically validates each function and feature of the software, including all its vital components. The quality assurance team focuses on improving the overall quality and reliability of the software. However, continuous and seamless collaboration between developers and testers is necessary to achieve that end, paving the way for successful software functional testing and building a high-quality product.
Suggested TechStack
is a free and open-source platform offering an extensive range of tools and libraries that support web browser automation. It allows users to write Node.js and Ruby on Rails test scripts with a single interface. It enables you to author functional testing with a playbook tool.
You can perform automated functional testing using this tool without monitoring the systems. It conducts tests for web and desktop applications, including frontend software using the VB scripting language.
If you use any programming language tool to build your software, you can use this free and open-source framework to write and execute test cases.
As the name suggests, it is widely used to test SOAP and web services. It simplifies functional, regression, and load testing with a streamlined graphical user interface and code-free test environment.
Cucumber is the best viable alternative for Ruby language as this free and open-source tool focuses on enhancing user experience. It is quick and easy to set up and execute. The tool allows the QA team to reuse the code in the test due to its writing style.
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