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Python TutorialSoftware Testing
4.7 Rating 69 Questions 45 mins read10 Readers

Functional testing is a black box technique involving generating a desired outcome for a set of tests or functions being performed by referring to a Business Requirement document. It do give testers validation about the concerned software but also helps in minimizing the risk a particular software can render to its potential user base if launched without proper testing. The methodologies used for functional testing are smoke testing, component testing, integration testing, system testing, regression testing, user acceptance testing, usability testing etc.. Generally, functional testing is an amalgamation of the following steps:
Test goals of functional testing basically revolve around the features to be tested as a project. Typical testing goals for functional testing include seeking validation of whether an application is working perfectly fine or not as per the business requirement, how errors and defects are handled in the application, and how unexpected screen scenarios are dealt with by it.
Test scenarios refer to the description given for a variety of functionalities and features that will be a part of the final release. Under functional testing, we jot down a list of all the plausible including the most important test scenarios for a particular feature or functionality. For example, for a project that deals with payments and finances, a list of test scenarios involving card details, managing cards and deleting expired or invalid cards, multiple currencies, and notification for successfully completed transactions and failed transactions, the remaining balance in the account, etc. needs to be displayed. So, these will account for the plausible as well as the most important test scenarios here.
The next step is about test data - either you can look for test data or create it. However, creating test data can be a little tricky. You need to simulate conditions of normal use that depend on the test scenarios. Later, you can enter data from any of the database files such as a CSV file, an Excel spreadsheet, an SQL database, or an XML file. You can also take the help of a data tool or script such as a flat file or something. Each of these sets of input values is in some way or the other associated with the expected output that the input will be generating or is likely to generate.
Creating test cases based on outcomes of test inputs that are different from each other. For instance, in your payment application of yours, if you try to enter a credit card with irrelevant or expired credit card details, then an error message should be displayed on the screen.
The second last step is to execute all the test cases. Run them on your application and draw a comparison between the expected outcomes and actual results. If the gap is too wide, then the feature has miserably failed and it should be labeled as a defect or a fault.
Last but not least, you are supposed to work on the spotted defects or faults. Once you identify it, make sure that you record it somewhere where everyone on the team can track it. The necessary changes should be done to the application. Later, the test case should be executed once again to make sure that the defect is resolved completely.
The process of functional testing generally involves a deep understanding of the documentation done in the form of test planning. It involves writing cases for tests along with their requisite resource specification (even for unforeseeable circumstances). It involves identifying lucrative inputs and scrutinizing the data that is to be entered to achieve the desired outcome for a particular test. As per the specified input values, it determines whether the software is working fine or not. And in case, it isn't, then the tester needs to do a proper root cause analysis followed by logging the bug and assigning them to be corrected. Once, the bugs are fixed by the team, the tester needs to retest and pass the test case.
Functional testing is a black box technique involving generating a desired outcome for a set of tests or functions being performed. Non-functional testing, on the other hand, is a black box technique involving generating a desired outcome for a set of expectations laid out by the client. While functional testing can be easily performed via automation as well as manual testing tools, non-functional testing can only be carried out with tools that prove to be effective during functional testing. Manual testing is seamlessly performed when the features are being tested, as happens in functional testing. When it comes to nonfunctional testing, manual testing becomes a daunting task as reliability, scalability, and speed are the limited input parameters used. Functional testing involves techniques such as the integration testing technique, the regression testing technique, smoke testing technique, the system testing technique, the unit testing technique, the usability testing technique, and the user acceptance technique. On the other hand, non-functional testing involves techniques such as the compatibility testing technique, the load, stress, volume testing technique, the performance testing technique, and the security technique.
Writing test cases is of paramount importance when it comes to functional testing. Here, the use of both - writing skills, as well as in-depth software testing skills, is required. The language used for writing the test cases should be lucid. Apart from that, there should be a clear understanding of what the client needs to have on the screen. No assumptions should be made by the tester. Each doubt should be cleared. The input data should hold some value and should come with a wide scope. The test cases should feature any and every requirement. Nothing should be missed and nothing should be skipped. In order to do this, testers keep a traceability matrix for every requirement (especially the functional and the non-functional ones such as compatibility, UI, etc.) and record the progress made. On top of that, testers should not refrain from test cases. Apart from keeping redundancy at bay, high-priority cases should be taken into account first, followed by the medium-priority test cases and then the low-priority ones.
Focusing on the release, quality-based test cases can be made so that it becomes seamless for the developer and the tester to analyze the project.
When it comes to functional testing, two different test techniques are used that has different basis:
Under the requirement-based testing technique, functional testing is executed keeping in mind the requirements established on the basis of the identified risks. In addition to that, it is made sure that the requisite critical test paths are incorporated into the testing process via this testing technique.
Under the business process-based testing technique, functional testing is given a brand-novel business outlook. For the execution of this type of testing technique, business knowledge is explored and used for performing tests successfully.
Given our fast-paced world, it is important to make sure that the tested application can be used by disabled people and changes their lives for the better. Accessibility testing is testing for a user base with disabilities. This implies that specially-abled people should be able to make use of the application in a hassle-free manner, thus making them a part of the remarkable technological revolution. A couple of software such as the special input keyboard, the screen magnification software, the screen reader software, and the speech recognition software is put to use for accessibility testing.
This analysis is used for checking the boundary values that are mentioned in an equivalence class partition. The analysis is put to use in order to spot the errors or the defects near the boundaries and hence, divert from looking at the values in the range. For instance, if an input field can take in at least eight characters and at max 12 characters, then the stipulated valid range will be 8 to 12. Herein, less than seven characters and more than 13 characters will be the stipulate invalid range. Henceforth, the defects or errors will be spotted for the exact boundary value as well as the valid and the invalid partition values.
A smoke test is usually executed when an application's build is received. Under smoke testing, testers are expected to look out for critical paths without which an application might get crashed or gets blocked. However, no emphasis is to be laid on the functionality as such since that particular build can be accepted or dropped in case of a crashed application.
A staple in functional testing interview questions for 3 years of experience, be prepared to answer this one. Bug refers to spam, unwanted error, mistake, or a flaw occurring within the software hindering its output delivery. From the time a bug or defect is spotted till the time it is resolved properly, a bug is said to undergo various stages and processes within the realm of the application. This is termed the 'bug cycle' or the 'bug lifecycle'.
Sometimes, even after knowing the bugs, software or an application is launched. This is because these known bugs have a low defect priority or defect severity. Another thing that can happen after the software is released is a bug leakage. This happens when a customer can identify a bug and not the testing team.
When a bug is spotted, it is first logged in via a bug-tracking tool that has a specified format. The developer then gets these bugs and toggles their status as 'open'. Now, they can be reviewed, reproduced, and worked upon till it is completely eradicated. Later on, debugging is done either with the help of backtracking, as a brute force, a cause elimination, via fault tree analysis, or by slicing of the program. Once fixed, the status is toggled back to 'fixed'. If not, then labels such as 'can't be fixed' or 'cannot reproduce' are used. Then, it is the Quality Audit or QA manager that executes regression implying the verification of the bugs with more actions.
Regression testing, also known as generic testing, is all about checking if an application misbehaves after the incorporation of a new feature. On a whole, the novel functionality shouldn't mess up with the normal working of the application. Retesting, also called planned testing, is testing after successfully completing the test cases that had failed during their last execution. On a whole, verification of defects is carried out here. Keeping in mind the project, regression testing can be simultaneously carried out with retesting. However, retesting can only be performed before the regression when it's a high-priority case. Regression is done only for the tests that have got successfully completed whereas retesting is for failed tests. Regression testing can be carried out via automation since manual testing can consume too much time and money. However, automation cannot be carried out for retesting.
In order to continuously process improvement in the process of software testing, the 'Plan, Do, Check and Act' or 'PDCA' cycle stands out to be of paramount importance. It can be carried into these four enlisted processes:
The first step is to plan out what objectives this project must meet, the goal it will be achieving and the initiatives that will be taken to garner customer satisfaction.
The first step gets to be implemented here. The customers are rendered better services and hence are more satisfied with the application or the software than ever before. Thus, it is important to have a solid plan for execution purposes.
Next step is to check the progress done so far. In addition to that, you can get to know how accurately your plan has been implemented.
Acting upon the fetched results can help the application in achieving future goals more quicker and in a more efficacious manner.
An 'exit criteria' is a set of parameters, standards, or conditions that are to be met in software testing. These parameters, standards, or conditions describe the mutually-agreed novel features or functionalities that should be incorporated to successfully complete the tests listed for a project. A strong 'exit criteria' marks a smooth and early exit from software testing and allows the testers to hand over the release sooner to the clientele.
No. We know that testing is done once the test input data is obtained, the specified requirement list is fulfilled, and the test environment is set. So, system testing cannot be done as per one's own whims and fancies at any random stage or phase. It can only be conducted when everything is set in place.
The software testing term - Alpha is conducted by both the developers of the software and the testers. Many times, Alpha is conducted by the one who purchases the software or application, or by the team of people who do outsourcing without any aid from the software developers or the testers.
The software testing term - Beta is conducted by a set of users before the actual release of the application or the software. Beta testing is usually conducted with the help of end-user testing.
The software testing term - Gamma is done to check the last-minute details just before the final release. It is conducted by the ultimate user on his device. Before performing Gamma testing, all the firsthand in-house tests are omitted.
Defect triage is a methodology by which prioritization of defects takes place based on the amount of time it will consume to fix it, the risk associated, and the defect severity. It is through a defect triage meet-up that various stakeholders associated with the concerned project such as the development team, project manager, testing team etc. come together.