Functional testing vs non-functional testing

 

Software testing has become the most important factor in the software development process.There has to be an effective testing strategy put in place in order to deliver high-quality software products. If an application doesn’t function properly, then the likelihood to uninstall is 71%. 

The number clearly projects the significance of carrying out software testing activities in a strategic and result-oriented manner.Functional and non-functional testing are the two most important types of software testing.

Both these types play a very important role in the application evaluation process and serve distinct purposes, which are key for the effective functioning of the application. 

What is functional testing?

It is a software testing technique where a software system is validated against the functional requirements/specifications. Each function of the software application is verified to ascertain whether the application works in conformance with the specification and requirements. 

It is a process that checks whether a piece of software is acting inline with pre-determined requirements.

The correctness of internal functions is checked in functional testing. It uses black-box testing techniques because the focus is on application specification rather than actual code. The interface of the application is tested in order to ensure that all user requirements are in line with the working application.          

What is non-functional testing?

It is a software testing technique where the attributes of a software system are verified such as performance, memory leaks or robustness of the system. Applications become more reliable and usable through the conduction of non-functional testing. The performance of the functions is tested in this testing type in order to ascertain how well the application works.

The reading speed of the software system is tested as per non-functional parameters. Product behavior can be studied through this testing technique. The number of people that can work simultaneously on any software can be determined by non-functional testing.

 Functional testing vs Non-functional testing:

Functional testing	Non-functional testing
Each function/feature of the software is verified	Performance, reliability, usability of a software application is verified
It can be done manually	It is really difficult to perform manually
Customer’s requirements are the focal point	Customer’s expectations are the focal point
Software actions are validated	Performance of the software is validated
It is performed before non-functional testing	It is performed after non-functional testing
What the product does is described in this testing type	How the product works is described in this testing type
Unit testing, smoke testing, user acceptance testing, integration testing, regression  testing etc., are some of the types of functional testing	Usability testing, accessibility testing, security testing, volume testing, performance testing, load testing, stress testing etc., are some of the types of non-functional testing
It is based on business requirements	It is based on performance requirements
It tests whether the actual results are in accordance with the expected results	It checks the speed of the software and response time under specific conditions
Risk factors of the product are reduced by taking feedback from customers	The expectations of the customer can be known to the tester by taking feedback from customers

 

Conclusion: The above differences give a brief idea about the significant roles functional and non-functional testing plays in the software development life cycle. Gain specific insights on the practicality of both these testing types and how it impacts your software development projects from a constructive viewpoint. 

Get connected with some of the best testing consultants and experts who can help you in charting out a viable software testing strategy that works perfectly for your project.

 About the author: I am a technical content writer focused on writing technology-specific articles. I strive to provide well-researched information on the leading market savvy technologies.