Concepts
Functional Testing
Functional testing is carried out to verify that each feature of the software functions as intended, as per customer requirements. It tests overall usability, accessibility, and responsiveness in different environments.
- System Testing: This allows the developers to test the entire system as a whole, rather than just its individual components. It evaluates the system’s compliance with the specific requirements.
- Integration Testing: Often, large systems are divided into smaller, manageable modules for development as well as unit testing. Post this, it becomes crucial to ensure that these small units can operate collectively. That’s the objective of integration testing— to confirm that these smaller units, when combined, function correctly.
- End-to-End Testing: Stepping up from integration testing, End-to-End (E2E) testing considers the entire application, along with its integration with external interfaces. This type of testing ensures the correct functioning of the application flow from start to end.
Example: For a banking application, system testing will ensure that the system can handle and process transactions, secure customer data, and generate accurate reports.
Example: In an e-commerce application, one module may handle user registration, and another module might handle the purchasing process. Integration testing will ensure that the user registered through the first module can successfully make a purchase through the second module.
Example: In the same e-commerce application example, E2E testing would involve a user navigating the entire purchasing process, from logging in, adding items to the cart, checking out, confirming payment details, to completing the purchase order.
| Type | Focus Point | Example |
|---|---|---|
| System Testing | Compliance with specific requirements | Testing of handling and processing transactions, securing customer data, and generating accurate reports of a banking application |
| Integration Testing | Coherent functionality of system units | Ensuring a registered user can make a successful purchase in an e-commerce application |
| End-to-End Testing | Correct application flow from start to end | Monitoring the entire purchase process of a user in an e-commerce application |
Conclusion
While logical unit testing or component testing forms the crux of the agile development process, undeniably, there’s more to the string. By adopting a more holistic approach towards testing that encompasses system testing, integration testing, and end-to-end testing, we can ensure the overall functionality, efficiency, and reliability of a system.
By understanding and implementing these functional testing approaches, you are not only adhering to the core values of the Agile Manifesto, which emphasise value and customer collaboration, but also set a stronger preparation ground for yourself towards the Certified Scrum Professional for Developers (CSP-D) exam. In the final analysis, it rounds off to redefining your comprehension of agile practices and caring about the entire system, rather than its segregate components. Ultimately, the goal is to de-risk any software project through early and continuous feedback, aligning with the very agile principle of our study.
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True or False: In agile development, integration testing is performed only after all unit testing has been completed.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Integration testing in agile development is performed continuously, not at the end of the development cycle. It focuses on checking if units of software work well together.
Which of these is a popular practice for testing in Agile development beyond logical unit or component tests?
- a) Ad hoc testing
- b) Functional testing
- c) Integration testing
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: All these testing practices are commonly used in Agile development. They contribute to realizing user requirements, inter-component interactions, and the product’s actual use.
True or False: System testing involves testing the system as a whole and focusing solely on functions and features.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: System testing does focus on testing the system as a whole, but it’s not limited to functions and features. It also checks system behavior and aligns it with the system design.
In Agile development, which of the following is not a fundamental aim of responsiveness testing?
- a) To ensure the software is easy to use
- b) To confirm that the software changes happen without problem
- c) To determine the maximum amounts of users the software can handle
- d) To enhance the user interface
Answer: c) To determine the maximum amounts of users the software can handle
Explanation: This is the aim of performance or load testing, not responsiveness testing. Responsiveness testing primarily aims to ensure that the software responds quickly to changes.
True or False: Acceptance testing is important in Agile development as it ensures the system’s compliance with the business requirements.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Acceptance testing validates that the solution works for the user and verifies whether the system meets the business needs.
Which of these practices involves debugging code in Agile development beyond logical unit or component tests?
- a) Regression testing
- b) Load testing
- c) Stress testing
- d) Rapid testing
Answer: a) Regression testing
Explanation: Regression testing is performed after editing the code to ensure that changes have not produced new faults. Debugging is an element of regression testing.
True or false: In Agile development, exploratory testing is more important than automated testing.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Both exploratory and automated testing play vital roles in Agile development. While exploratory testing allows for additional learning and discovery, automated tests offer efficiency and reliability.
In Agile development, when is non-functional testing crucial?
- a) Only during the initial stages
- b) Only towards the end of product development
- c) Throughout the entire development process
- d) None of the above
Answer: c) Throughout the entire development process
Explanation: Non-functional testing, which includes security, usability, performance, etc., is vital throughout the Agile development process to ensure that the product meets the necessary standards.
True or False: In agile development, pair testing is a practice where two developers write and test code together.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Pair testing in agile development enables two individuals to combine their expertise and perspectives to find defects more efficiently.
Which of the following is NOT an example of functional testing in Agile development?
- a) Unit testing
- b) System testing
- c) Load testing
- d) Integration testing
Answer: c) Load testing
Explanation: Load testing is a type of non-functional testing. It is aimed at understanding the behaviour of the system under a specific load or at the point of saturation. It is not focused on functional behaviour but the performance aspect of the system.
Can someone suggest a good testing practice for agile development beyond unit tests?
Thanks for the informative post!
End-to-end testing can be very effective in agile environments. Anyone else using this?
Exploratory testing can uncover issues unit tests won’t catch. What tools do you use for this?
Appreciate the blog post!
How about Contract Testing? It ensures that services interact correctly. Pact is a great tool for this.
I find load and performance testing essential for agile development, especially for client-server applications.
Informative blog, thank you!