{"id":11429,"date":"2017-07-10T15:14:39","date_gmt":"2017-07-10T09:44:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cigniti.com\/blog\/?p=11429"},"modified":"2018-05-29T12:48:31","modified_gmt":"2018-05-29T07:18:31","slug":"can-functional-testing-ensure-software-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cigniti.com\/blog\/can-functional-testing-ensure-software-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"How can Functional Testing ensure Software Quality?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A recent post by Mashable.com<\/a> lists down the most exciting games coming up in 2017. So, you have this thrilling range of games – Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Destiny 2, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, Assassin\u2019s Creed, and much more. While the game gets loaded on the user\u2019s device, it is expected to create an impact and perform seamlessly. Any glitch in its functionality can be detrimental for its survival in the user\u2019s choice list. Functional Testing enables testers and developers to ensure that the features and functionalities of an application are in sync and at par with the developer\u2019s expectations to achieve the desired user experience.<\/p>\n

Digital Transformation has reinforced the need for flexible and agile testing approach, as updates happen in real-time to meet user experience. Functional Testing needs to take the agile approach to ensure efficiency of the application and desired experience. An apparel portal is expected to deliver a desirable experience, where the user must get a 360-degree view of the fashion line and get the look and feel. If there is a glitch in this experience, the user is going to turn you off and move to another application. Functional Testing, thus, must ensure that all failure paths are mended.<\/p>\n

What to expect from Functional Testing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The underlying objective of Functional Testing is to check and ensure that the application has the ability to seamlessly perform the fundamental activities. This is absolutely critical as the developers define a scope for an application and if the user is unable to experience the same, it could be disastrous. For instance, a financial services application (Mobile Wallet) proposes that the user will be able to scan a QR code and pay for a service. However, if there is a glitch and the payment doesn\u2019t go through, there will be a major disappointment and the user will refrain from going back to that application.<\/p>\n

Functional Testing with automation ensures to cut down any such hiccups and brings business sustainability to the application. Ultimately, the application is expected to make money and sustain in the turbulent marketplace. While Performance Testing assures that the application brings enhanced user experience, Functional Testing ensures basic deliverables from the application.<\/p>\n

There are some quintessential objectives that Functional Testing and Regression Testing are expected to achieve \u2013 Precision, Interoperability, Compliance, and rendering secure interface. Encapsulating the key deliverables of an application, functional testing enables an application to perform seamlessly and deliver its key performance parameters \u2013 deliver with precision and ensure secure transactions.<\/p>\n

How can Functional Test Automation supplement the testing process?<\/h3>\n

Research and analysis suggests some interesting findings on automating Functional Testing. A report by Forrester on Functional Test Automation (FTA) states, Functional testing is one of the most crucial, time-consuming, and expensive steps in continuous testing \u2014 so it\u2019s necessary to automate this testing, and to automate it at higher levels than most Agile teams achieve today. In fact, our Agile survey shows FTA adoption levels between 42% and 45%, and we know that automation is lower in the general development market. On the other side, developers are getting more involved with FTA; 16% say that they use UI and API functional test automation. <\/em><\/p>\n

Furthermore, a functional software test automation tool helps teams to design, develop, and manage the automation of functional tests for an application, even while the application is running across various platforms. It\u2019s similar to driving on 2-3 lanes (or more) at a time.<\/p>\n

A tool helps to test various functionalities such as User Interface with UI Test Automation and even interact with the Application Programming Interface (API) with API Test Automation. This is essential to ensure the interconnectivity of the application. Similar to the other superseding benefits of Test Automation, FTA offers faster feedback, better results, cost-effectiveness, and absolute elimination of manual errors due to automation.<\/p>\n

Digital enterprises need faster turnaround and need to speed up to the market. So, automation at every level of testing and development is essential. According to a Forrester report on FTA, Manual testing should account for less than 20% of the overall testing activity; automated testing should account for more than 80%.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Value Functional Testing brings for software development <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Every aspect of software testing is expected to bring value to the software development process \u2013 speed up the process, help deliver a better software, and ensure superior quality. These are some key objectives that Functional Testing is expected to achieve.<\/p>\n