Conducting experiments for a fine-tuned software is a must. Each application must perform in real-life scenarios under many different probabilities. Users will need the system to work on-time, every-time under all circumstances. For this to come true, rigorous app testing of application is a no brainer. In the time of automation, functional testing is a laborious process as it requires unit testing, interface testing, regression testing and so on.
So, it becomes imperative for a software development company to ensure the best software and application testing to pick out bugs and rectify errors before deployment. Let’s get it checked in these 5 simple steps.
What is Functional Testing?
It is a process of software testing that rigorously tests a software to meet all functional requirements mapped by development team. It includes many phases and milestones before the actual software is released for users. It is a business-critical activity that helps in building a robust application.
It comes in two varients, the automated testing and the manual testing. In manual testing, first thing we need to focus is on functionality testing. Any functionality is tested by providing inputs, observing its output and comparing the actual results with the expected ones. Therefore, Functional testing is required because if your product functions are not working properly a user will be dissuaded to utilize it prompting lower efficiency.
1. Know your customer
Before taking any project, it is imperative to understand the product overview, customer and their business. This will help in understanding the requirements and setting right expectations for customers. Once you get an overview of product, you will be able to create a picture, flowchart, and design for the product. Best practice is to understand the functionality, need to create picture for that specific requirement in your mind.
2. Ask questions
It is granted that while understanding the requirement, one will pose many questions. You should prepare a list of questions or queries and get it resolved from SME, BA, Business Team or any other concerned silos. Probing questions will stabilize the system.
You might also have questions like for which browsers and OS we need to test the application, if you have clear information then you can test it under best and worst circumstances.
Example: If you are testing any e-commerce website that has a product page with 1000 of the product displaying on it. You might have questions it’s not possible to display 1000 product on a single page. You should get it clarified to BA that, it is possible to decrease the number of product loading on page?
3. Thinking should be broader and context dependent
While you are exploring the requirements, you need to think out of the box. Only thinking about functionalities related to portal development will spoil the chances for user interactions. It will inevitably hamper further development of the software with user inputs and limit the scope if expansion.
For testing, your thinking and approach should be context dependent. For examples, if you are testing Enterprise Portal Software, your approach and thinking would be different. On the other side if you are going to test eCommerce Portal Software your approach would be different.
4. Focus on business scenarios along with test scenarios
Prepare testing scenarios that focus on positive, negative and happy functionalities. Testing an application that correspond with actual business problems and real-time issues will go a long way for satisfying user experience. Ensure that it co-relates with business expectations and processes to save software from nasty surprises.
5. Communication
For every tester, communication plays a vital role for any scenario discussion or any production issue with clients. In order to give your views in better way in front of business team, you need to have good and clear communication. Communication is not only limited to communicate but it also includes verbal and writing skills with your business team.
There is one more important part of communication is bug reporting, Extensive bug report is must to fill the gap between developer and QA. When QA and Developers are working from different location and QA raising any issue, in that case following things must be included in bug reporting:
- Summary should be precise and easy to understand
- Steps to reproduce the issue should include each and every step in details with test data which will help developer to replicate the issue on their local machine.
- Expected and actual result must be clear.
- Send Attachments of Screenshot and screen recording of critical issues
- Browser and OS configuration must be there on which you are testing.
- It would be significant help to the developer if you provide server log to them so they can easily identify the root cause for the issue.
Takeaway
In constantly changing technology, customer wants such products that can be implemented and upgraded faster than their competitors. Their expectations for upgraded software testing services should be realized with new features for implementation in short span of time, but must be user friendliness and bugs free. So, Testing functionality of an application or software is like building a roadmap for growth and sustainability.
This blog has been written by our Associate QA Consultant Bhumil Raval.
