Functional testing is a type of software testing that validates if each function of software application operates according to the specified business requirements. This type of testing is also called as black box testing, since it is not concerned about the source code of the application. Each functionality of a software application is tested with different set of data inputs verifying the output result is as expected by comparing the actual results with the expected results. Functional testing can be performed by Manual and Automation approach.
Automated Functional Testing is a technique that executes test cases automatically using some specific code. Automated functional testing helps to maintain the quality of any software application while getting new features to market quickly. Automated functional testing involves writing scripts that verify your application’s behavior from end users perspectives. It also plays a significant role in helping you to ensure that no regressions have been introduced with recent changes, and that your product business requirements are met.
There are various tools that allow automated functional testing which will be discussed later in this article. Below are the different types of automated functional testing can be performed.
- Unit Testing
- Smoke Testing
- Integration Testing
- API Testing
- Regression Testing
- User Acceptance Testing
Why Automation Testing?
Any software application is developed to be tested before release the application to end-users and deploying into Product. It is the responsibility of the software testing team to perform various kinds of testing activities from functional to non-functional aspects to ensure the effectiveness, efficiency, and better user experience of the overall application.
Though testers conduct testing activities in both ways Manual and Automation. Manual testing is performed by a human sitting in front of a computer carefully going through application screens, trying different usage and input combinations, comparing the results to the expected & actual behavior and noting down their observations. Whereas, Automation testing is performed to increase the effectiveness, efficiency and coverage of your software testing by automate the repetitive and time-consuming manual testing activities. Automation testing can be done by using open source or commercial automated testing tools to test applications quickly and efficiently with minimal human intervention. Automation Testing reduces a lot of manual work, provides accurate results, and saves up a lot of time, which results in the faster delivery of the application.
Manual Testing vs. Automation Testing
Software testing is performed to discover defects in software application during SDLC. The key difference between manual and automation testing are as below:
| Manual Testing | Automation Testing |
| A human tester write and executes test cases | In automation testing, automation tools are used to execute the test cases |
| Functional Testing can be done manually only. This functional testing is performed by human resources, so it is time-consuming | Functional and Non-functional (Performance, Load, Security Scanning) can be done in Automation testing. It is much faster than the manual testing |
| It is repetitive and error-prone , since human can make an error | Automation testing is performed by automated tools that make it efficient and accurate |
| BVT (build verification testing) is time-consuming and tough in manual testing | It’s easy to build verification testing |
| This testing use standards template, checklist, guidelines, and stringent process for drafting test cases. | Frameworks like keyword, hybrid, and data drive to accelerate the automation process. |
| The process turnaround time is higher than the automation testing process (one testing cycle takes lots of time). Easy to start functional testing without any tools | It completes a single round of testing within record time. So, a process turnaround time is much lower than a manual testing process. It depends on automation testing tools & framework, so require more time to setup & configure tools. |
| The main goal of manual testing is user-friendliness or improved customer experience. | Automation testing can only guarantee a positive customer experience and user-friendliness. |
| It is best for usability, accessibility, exploratory and ad-hoc testing | It is widely used for performing testing, load testing and regression testing. |
How to define scope of Automation Testing
During initial requirement gathering and analysis phase, we must check for the feasibility of automation testing and identify the application business functionalities to be tested Manually or Automated. Here are the key points to consider while identifying the scope of Testing Automation:
- What is the scope and objective of the application?
- What is the project timeline to perform testing activities?
- What is the budget of the testing and what different kind of testing to be performed?
- What are the modules that can be automated?
- What are the total effective costs and the team size?
- What are the different test scenarios to be automated, and which is the approach to be taken?
Automation Test Methodology
Automation testing strategy follows the various phases as below:
- Determination the scope of Test Automation
- Selecting the Right Automation Tool
- Test Plan, Design, and define Test Strategy
- Setup Test Environment
- Test Scrip development & Execution
- Defect Management & Maintenance
Key Benefits of Automated Testing
There are so many benefits of Automation Functional testing, but we are discussing here some of the most important benefits.
- Speed up the testing process – Automation testing speed up the test execution and reduce the overall testing cycle time. This helps developers have more time to fix the defects by properly addressing the root of the issues.
- Increase test coverage – With automated testing, organizations can increase the numbers of test scenarios and test execution cycles to build a robust software application with defined project timeline. It helps to provide the overall test coverage to bring test automation.
- Reduce the test execution time – Automation testing reduces the test execution cycles and helps to minimize the testing efforts in overall test execution by running the multiple cycles in a single day. It also help to faster time to market of any softeware product.
- Decrease dependencies on testers– Developing the Automated Regression Test Suite may lead to reduce the dependencies of testers, and human distractions like illness, holidays will affect overall project timelines. Automation Test suite can be scheduled as per project plan using automation testing tools.
- Improve the quality – Automation testing improve the software application overall quality by increasing the Test coverage and number of test execution cycle. Automation testing bring the more feedback to developers to build a robust application by increasing multiple execution cycle on defect fixes.