Prioritizing test case automation requires work, particularly when it includes accelerating procedures while still considering client needs. For instance, the client could request that you start testing using an existing prototype, but your engineers would prefer to work on a new one or test a feature that is still in the works to uncover flaws as soon as possible.

1. Functional testing: What is it?

Functional testing is done to ensure that the web application performs in line with the functional specifications or needs. To ensure that a web application satisfies the criteria, you must test each function.

As a result, functionality testing may be done using two standard methods:

1.1 Testing based on requirements

 It consists of all functional specifications that serve as the foundation for all tests that must be run.

1.2 Business-scenario-based testing 

It provides details on how the system will be viewed in the context of business operations.

A significant portion of the SDLC process involves testing and quality assurance. Even if we are not often involved with all sorts of testing, we need to be aware of them as testers.

2. Types of Functional Testing

2.1 Unit Testing

The minor testable components of an application, known as units, are separately and independently examined for proper operation as part of the unit testing phase of software development. Software developers and  QA employees use this testing approach during the development phase.

2.2 Smoke Testing

Before a release, following a build, the program undergoes a preliminary inspection known as “smoke testing.” Before critical testing is implemented, this form of testing identifies fundamental problems in an application.

2.3 Regression Testing

Regression testing is a technique used in software testing to verify that an application still performs as intended after any modifications, updates, or enhancements to the code. The general stability and efficiency of the current features are ensured via regression testing.

2.4 Sanity Testing

A fast check to determine if something makes sense on the most fundamental surface level is known as a “sanity test.” For instance, you should confirm that taxes are correctly calculated while testing a mobile app’s checkout and payment features.

2.5 Cross-Browser Testing

Each browser renders a web app differently based on its rendering engine. If your app is performing as expected on Chrome, it’s not necessary that it will perform in the exact same way across other browsers like Firefox, Internet Explorer, etc. There are multiple tools available on the market that can be used to perform automated browser testing.

3. Tools for Automation Functional Testing

 

3.1 Selenium

Selenium, an open-source tool for software testing and browser automation, was the first automation tool used. Selenium is a tool used by developers for functional and parallel testing, cross-browser testing, and writing tests in a variety of languages. Selenium prepared the ground for automation. Automated functional testing is a must since it is reliable and consistent.

3.2 Appium

The foundation of Appium is the notion that recompiling your app or integrating an SDK should not be necessary in order to test native apps. And that you ought to be able to use the frameworks, tools, and test techniques that you like. Appium is an open-source project that has chosen its tools and design in order to foster a thriving contributing community.

3.3 Cypress

Cypress is a front-end testing tool for the current web that is entirely JavaScript-based. It seeks to overcome the challenges that QA engineers or developers have when testing an application. Cypress is a more developer-friendly tool that functions directly in the browser and makes use of a novel DOM manipulation approach.

3.4   Unified Functional Testing (UFT)

Software that offers functional and regression test automation for software applications and environments is called Micro Focus Unified Functional Testing (UFT), originally QuickTest Professional (QTP).

UFT has a graphical user interface and supports scripting and keyword interfaces. It specifies a test method and controls the application’s objects and controls using the Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) scripting language. UFT enables programmers to test the interface, service layer, and database layer functions of software from a single console.

3.5 Tricentis Tosca

Tosca automates functional testing across all levels of contemporary enterprise architectures, streamlining end-to-end testing. The layers range from API to BI and data warehouses, to the web, mobile, and custom/packaged app UIs. While providing continuous testing within your CI/CD process, it is intended to embrace and expand your current tests.

4. Advantages

The different benefits of functional testing are described below:

• This testing replicates or is a copy of the actual system, i.e., it is a copy of the product in a real-world setting. Testing is concentrated on the requirements according to client usage, such as system requirements, operating systems, browsers, etc.

• Ensures that all of the application’s features are operational while also producing a bug-free software product.
• To reduce the likelihood of any danger in the product, risk-based testing is carried out.

5. A Process for Automated Functional Testing

The seven phases that make up the automated functional testing method are listed below.

5.1 Plan for automation functional Testing

• The first step is to define the scope of the project.
• Which steps will you automate in the process? 
• How much of a percentage of automation is possible for the project?
• How much time will it take to automate the project?
• How many automation testers will be involved in the project?

This is also the stage where factors like resources, staff, and experience are considered in order to create a strong strategy.

5.2 Decide which automation tool to use.

You should start thinking about whatever tool(s) you want to employ now that your plan is in place. The tools that you will use should be able to fulfill the objective of automated functional testing.

There are many popular open-source automation testing tools available. For example, Selenium webdriver and Cypress are widely used by MNCs for automated functional testing of web applications. 

Also, Appium and Xcui are popular open-source automation testing tools available for mobile applications.

5.3 Create a framework for your testing.

A collection of standards or rules called a testing framework is used to develop and design test cases. They provide applications that are being tested with a standardized test language and reporting structure, and they can lower test maintenance costs.

5.4 Managing the Test Environment

A software and hardware configuration known as a testing environment is used by testing teams to carry out test cases. In other words, it enables test execution with the specified networks, software, and hardware.

The test environment, or test bed, is set up to meet the needs of the application being tested. On rare occasions, a test bed may combine a test environment with the test data that it uses.

Software testing success is ensured by setting up the proper test environment. Any errors in this procedure might cost the client more money and effort.

5.5 Designing the testing script(s).

Make sure you have your scripts prepared before the beginning of the tests because the scripts will be used to run the tests themselves. They must be written in accordance with the requirements of the project.

All test data, wherever required, should be provided in the test scripts.

5.5 Run the tests.

This is the easiest action to take. All you have to do is execute the tests precisely as you intended to!

5.6 Examine the outcomes.

It’s time to examine the test results now that they have been completed. You can determine from the data whether there are flaws and whether more testing is required. While analyzing the results, the original result (which is yielded by the test run) is compared with the expected results, and the number of test cases that pass or fail is obtained.

Conclusion

Automating many test cases may require extensive maintenance, which will cost money that you might not have. Instead, concentrate on automating only useful tests using a risk-based approach.

Regression tests often include several test cases, so many engineers prefer automating them. In these situations, it may be advantageous to divide these test cases into smaller suites and automate the suite that best fits the release requirements.

 

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