15 Functional testing types

 Software quality requires a multi-faceted approach

Software testing is often about the bigger picture and not the details. Teams must be familiar with the different types of specialty and functional testing in order to maximize quality assurance efforts. It is crucial to be able to identify when to use different techniques such as unit testing, integration testing, and system testing in order to release high-quality software products.

Once the team is familiar with functional testing, they can allocate resources and time where necessary. Even if the team uses automated and manual testing, it's not easy to attain a high level of coverage. Functional tests are used to ensure that digital products meet all requirements, from code-level up to the entire system. To ensure high-quality products and a positive user experience, you should spread testing throughout the software development cycle.

Quality-conscious organizations can use specialized testing methods that combine non-functional and functional types of testing to improve their quality. Applause is a specialist in digital testing programs that are specific to a platform or purpose. These programs include many functional tests that can achieve extraordinary results.

We'll first discuss the various types of functional testing that are part of an overall strategy. Then we'll dive into each one.

Software testing strategy

Functional testing's ultimate goal is to make sure that software meets user expectations and conforms to specifications. Although the goal sounds straightforward, functional testing can be complex. It involves multiple types of functional testing, each with its own priorities and requirements.

Types of functional testing

Unit testing. You must ensure that each component works independently before you can test the entire program. Unit testing validates a unit's function, making sure that all inputs result in the desired output. This type of testing provides the foundation for complex, integrated software. Unit testing can lead to higher quality code and speed up the development process when done correctly. Unit tests are often automated by developers.

Functional testing, such as component, integration, and system testing, validates the ability to work with other components. The testing strategy may also depend on the interoperability of the app. Acceptance testing might be done by an organization that does system testing. However, acceptance testing might not be performed by the organization if it is doing system testing. Alpha, beta, and production testing are examples of builds that are used in production environments. Depending on the app's stability, the scope of changes or the timeline set by the business, you might choose between these types of functional testing.

Component testing. Component testing is also known as module testing. It checks the functionality of individual components within an application. Component testing is similar to unit testing. It evaluates one part of the software separately from the whole system. One difference between component testing and unit testing is that component testing is performed by developers in a white box format to ensure that program modules run. The latter is done in black boxes by testers to validate specific objects or parts. To simulate interactions between dependent components, QA professionals might use a stub or driver if other components depend on the component under testing.

Smoke testing. Smoke testing is a form of acceptance testing. It provides an initial test that the software and its critical functionality are safe. The build can then be subject to further testing if the smoke tests pass. Also known as build verification testing, smoke testing is used to verify that new functionality or critical functionality meets its objectives. Tests that fail to pass can lead to additional development work.

Sanity testing. Sanity testing is a type of regression testing. QA professionals conduct sanity tests on stable builds in order to verify new functionality and bug fixes. Although similar to smoke testing, which provides a gate test that a build is ready to be tested further, sanity testing does not require scripting and targets only the code area that has been changed.

Regression testing. Functional tests may fail once, but that doesn't guarantee they will pass every time. Regression tests are used to verify that the software works as it should when developers change code or commit new features. Regression testing is a way to ensure that a product remains stable while new features are added or removed. Automated regression tests are common.

Integration testing. Unit testing and integration testing are often combined. Integration testing is used by QA professionals to verify that each module of code works together as a whole. Modern applications are built on microservices. These self-contained applications are specifically designed to perform a particular task. Without these microservices being able to communicate with one another, the application will not work as it should. Integration testing ensures that these components work together seamlessly.

API testing. API testing is becoming more popular as users expect apps to work together. API testing validates that API connections and responses work as intended. This includes how the API handles data and permissions.

UI testing. QA professionals can interact with the graphical interfaces of software programs through UI testing. This includes testing UI controls such as buttons, menus, and text input in order to ensure the best user experience.

System testing. System testing allows QA professionals to test the entire software package as a whole. Functional testing is a method of validating the entire software package in order to ensure it meets all requirements. If necessary, testers can give feedback on the functionality or performance of the website or app without knowing how it was programmed. This allows teams to create test cases that can be used in the future. End-to-end testing also refers to system testing.

White-box testing. White-box testing is when the software's code, design, and internal infrastructure are visible to the tester or developer. This method includes various types of functional testing, such as unit, integration, and system testing. The white-box approach to testing software includes predefined inputs and expected outcomes, as well decision branches, loops, and statements within the code.

Black-box testing. Black-box testing is a testing method that does not allow the code, paths, or infrastructure to be visible. This allows testers to verify expected outputs against certain inputs. Black box testing is when QA professionals don't inspect the code before testing. Black-box testing allows an organization to test the software the same way that a customer would. Black-box testing can include a range of functional and non-functional testing types depending on the purpose of the test.

Acceptance testing. Acceptance testing's sole purpose is to verify that the user can meet the business goals. Acceptance testing does not focus on specific features. It examines the entire application flow and the end-user experience. Beta testing and User Acceptance Testing (UAT), subsets in acceptance testing, allow end users to analyze the final product. The organization can then evaluate the feedback and make adjustments.

Alpha testing. Alpha testing is another subset of acceptance testing. It involves the use of internal team members to assess the product. The members of this team should have a good understanding of the project, but they shouldn't be directly involved in testing or development. Alpha testing is a quick way to identify major bugs in software before it is released to the public.

Beta testing. Beta testing is conducted with selected end users after the product has been tested internally and any bugs have been fixed. Beta testing is a soft launch. It allows you to gather feedback from real users with no prior knowledge about the app. Beta testing allows you to get feedback from objective users who might interact with the app in a different way than you planned. This may help you identify critical bugs before releasing it to a wider user base.

Production testing. The product is now live and available to all users. You no longer have control over everything, from the environment to the number using it. Continuous testing and shift-right testing are part of production testing. This allows users to report defects quickly and efficiently. Production testing allows the organization to test in a variety of environments beyond what is required. Production testing allows the organization to confirm product functionality, and stability.