Introduction

Ensuring the quality and usefulness of a product is crucial in the field of software development. Functional testing is useful in this situation. A critical phase in the software testing process, functional testing compares the functionality and behavior of the program to predetermined requirements. We will examine the fundamentals of functional testing, when and how to start it, and some of the top functional testing tools on the market in this post.

Functional Testing: What Is It?

Software functionality is tested by comparing each component and feature of the program to predefined standards. This process is known as functional testing. Ensuring the software operates as planned and accurately carries out its intended functions is the goal. This procedure entails entering different test cases, examining the output, and contrasting the outcomes with what was anticipated. To guarantee a flawless user experience, functional testing looks for errors, contradictions, and inconsistencies in the software's behavior.

What is the Best Time to Begin Functional Testing?

The following steps are usually included in the functional testing process:

Requirement analysis: It's critical to comprehend the features, specs, and user requirements of the product. This provides the groundwork for writing test cases that are successful.

Create thorough test cases that cover a range of scenarios and functionality using test case design. Use cases, user stories, and functional requirements can all be used to design test cases.

Test Execution: Run the software through the prepared test cases. This is giving inputs and examining outputs to make sure the software acts as it should.

Reporting Defects: During the test execution process, any deviations or discrepancies found are recorded as defects. The development team gets notified of these problems so they can be fixed.

Regression testing: It's critical to make sure that modifications or new additions don't damage already-existing functionalities. Regression testing, which retests previously tested features, aids in this verification.

Test Closure: The testing phase is over when every test case has been run and all errors have been fixed. To provide an overview of the testing procedure and results, a thorough test report is produced.

When Should Functional Testing Begin?

Functional testing can begin at many phases in the lifecycle of software development:

Unit testing: is the first stage of software testing, during which separate program units are tested separately. Prior to integration, it makes sure that every component of the software functions as intended.

Integration Testing: To make sure the components work together and interact without a hitch, they are assembled and tested collectively after completing unit testing.

System Testing: This stage involves testing the software program as a whole to make sure all of its parts function as a unit to fulfill the requirements.

Acceptance Testing: Following the completion of successful system testing, acceptance testing is carried out to ascertain whether the program satisfies user needs and is prepared for deployment.

Top Functional Testing Resources

Selenium

a popular open-source program for automating web apps. It is versatile for testing web applications because it supports a wide range of programming languages and browsers.

TestNG with JUnit: 

These well-liked testing frameworks offer an organized method for creating and running tests for Java applications.

Cucumber: 

Cucumber, which is well-known for its behavior-driven development (BDD) methodology, enables test cases to be written in simple language, which makes it simpler for stakeholders who are not technical to comprehend.

Postman: 

Postman is mostly used for API testing; it provides an easy-to-use interface for creating and running API tests.

JIRA: 

JIRA is frequently used for issue tracking, including defect reporting and management during functional testing, even if it is not solely Automation testing with selenium platform.

Conclusion

A crucial stage in the Selenium automation testing process is functional testing, which guarantees that programs function as intended and satisfy requirements. Development teams can improve user pleasure and business success by improving the quality and stability of their software by knowing what functional testing comprises, when to start it, and which tools are appropriate for the job.