Functional testing
Encyclopedia
Functional testing is a type of black box testing
that bases its test cases on the specifications of the software component under test. Functions are tested by feeding them input and examining the output, and internal program structure is rarely considered (Not like in white-box testing).
Functional testing differs from system testing
in that functional testing "verif[ies] a program by checking it against ... design document(s) or specification(s)", while system testing "validate[s] a program by checking it against the published user or system requirements"(Kaner, Falk, Nguyen 1999, p. 52).
Functional testing typically involves five steps:
Black box testing
Black-box testing is a method of software testing that tests the functionality of an application as opposed to its internal structures or workings . Specific knowledge of the application's code/internal structure and programming knowledge in general is not required...
that bases its test cases on the specifications of the software component under test. Functions are tested by feeding them input and examining the output, and internal program structure is rarely considered (Not like in white-box testing).
Functional testing differs from system testing
System testing
System testing of software or hardware is testing conducted on a complete, integrated system to evaluate the system's compliance with its specified requirements. System testing falls within the scope of black box testing, and as such, should require no knowledge of the inner design of the code or...
in that functional testing "verif[ies] a program by checking it against ... design document(s) or specification(s)", while system testing "validate[s] a program by checking it against the published user or system requirements"(Kaner, Falk, Nguyen 1999, p. 52).
Functional testing typically involves five steps:
- The identification of functions that the software is expected to perform
- The creation of input data based on the function's specifications
- The determination of output based on the function's specifications
- The execution of the test case
- The comparison of actual and expected outputs
See also
- Non-functional testing
- Acceptance testing
- Regression testingRegression testingRegression testing is any type of software testing that seeks to uncover new errors, or regressions, in existing functionality after changes have been made to a system, such as functional enhancements, patches or configuration changes....
- System testingSystem testingSystem testing of software or hardware is testing conducted on a complete, integrated system to evaluate the system's compliance with its specified requirements. System testing falls within the scope of black box testing, and as such, should require no knowledge of the inner design of the code or...