Software Testing Basics: Manual Functional Testing FAQs

Manual functional testing is the backbone of software QA. It offers immediate insight into whether an app works, and whether it works as expected or designed. Learn more about this foundational layer of testing. 

What is manual functional testing and how does it differ from automated functional testing?

Manual functional testing is a process in which testers verify the functionality of software applications to ensure they behave as expected by executing test cases without the use of automated tools. It differs from automated functional testing, which uses software tools to execute tests automatically, comparing predicted outcomes to actual results. While manual testing allows for intuitive insights and real user interactions, automated testing for frequently run tests that rarely change provides efficiency and can reduce tester fatigue. Both manual and automated functional testing play an important role in software quality assurance.

What are some best practices for manual functional testing?

Effective manual functional testing hinges on well-defined processes and meticulous planning. Best practices include: 

• Thoroughly understanding and documenting the software’s requirements.
• Creating detailed test plans. 
• Designing test cases that cover all functionalities. 
• Clearly documenting test cases and test run results.
• Prioritizing tests based on application complexity and criticality. 
• Testing throughout the SDLC and across the devices and environments your customers use.

Incorporating exploratory testing, where testers dynamically explore software functionalities without predefined test cases, can also uncover unexpected issues.

How can manual functional testing be made more efficient and effective?

To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of manual functional testing, exercise strategic planning and careful resource allocation. Streamline the test process by prioritizing critical test scenarios and incorporating exploratory testing techniques to enhance coverage and uncover more defects in less time. Checklists and heuristics can guide testers through complex test scenarios, ensuring consistency and thoroughness. Incorporating tools for test management and bug tracking, even in manual contexts, improves organization and communication, while regular training and cross-functional team reviews foster a culture of quality and continuous improvement.

Software QA and testing expert Amy Reichert says, “Efficient software testing is critical to application success and customer satisfaction, even if the perception is that it’s less valuable than development or design… Create an efficient testing team with lean processes and you’ll return a long-term and positive ROI by adding significant, measurable business value.” In a recent blog post, she outlines practices for efficient testing.

“Efficient software testing is critical to application success and customer satisfaction, even if the perception is that it’s less valuable than development or design… Create an efficient testing team with lean processes and you’ll return a long-term and positive ROI by adding significant, measurable business value.”

Amy Reichert, Software QA and testing expert

What are the advantages and disadvantages of manual functional testing?

Manual functional testing offers several advantages, including flexibility in test execution, the ability to quickly adapt to changes in test cases, and the potential for intuitive insights that automated testing may overlook. Manual test case execution allows testers to evaluate content while executing the tests, where they can uncover UX-related defects that may not have a test case (such as unintended color or layout changes). 

Disadvantages include the potential for human error and difficulty in executing repetitive tasks consistently. Manual testers have limited capacity and may not be able to provide adequate coverage for time-consuming, large-scale tests. As the scale of testing increases, manual testing becomes less cost effective. 

What are some common tools and techniques used for manual functional testing?

While manual functional testing primarily relies on human testers, several tools and techniques can aid the process. Test case management tools help organize and track test cases and results, while bug tracking systems provide a place for testers to record defects and systematically track remediation efforts. Techniques like boundary value analysis, equivalence partitioning and error guessing can guide testers in creating effective test cases. Exploratory testing complements these techniques by allowing testers to apply their creativity and intuition.

How can manual functional testing integrate with automated functional testing?

Integrating manual and automated functional testing draws on the strengths of both approaches to enhance overall software quality. Automation can handle repetitive, data-intensive testing scenarios or processes with long run times, freeing manual testers to focus on more complex and user-centric tests. A hybrid approach enables continuous testing throughout the development lifecycle, with manual testing providing insights and feedback on new features, changes to a portion of an app, or areas where automation is impractical. Careful planning and communication between manual and automated testing teams ensure a cohesive strategy that capitalizes on the benefits of both means of testing. 

What is the role of manual functional testing in the software development process?

Manual functional testing plays a crucial role in the software development process, providing developers with immediate feedback on an application’s functionality. It tests new features, evaluates the user experience and validates bug fixes in contexts that mirror real-world user interactions. Manual testing also complements automated testing by covering areas that are difficult to automate, such as visual elements and complex user interactions. It ensures that the software not only meets technical requirements, but also delivers a positive user experience.

How can manual functional testing be used to ensure the quality of a software product?

Manual functional testing ensures software quality by meticulously verifying that each feature works according to the specified requirements. Through comprehensive test plans and cases, testers walk through various scenarios to identify any deviations from expected behavior. This hands-on approach reveals defects and user experience issues that automated tests might miss. 

What are some real-world examples of manual functional testing in action?

Functional testing is deeply integrated into many processes where humans validate that software works as expected. Yesterday morning, a colleague asked if I could test a landing page for her – I opened the page, made sure that all the information was correct, then filled out the form to make sure it worked and got a confirmation email. Manual functional testing can take a variety of forms to determine whether or not an app or device functions properly – particularly after something has changed. For example, makers of a Bluetooth speaker may want to test whether devices connect properly after a major OS update.  

Other examples include user acceptance testing (UAT), where end users validate whether an application meets their needs. Another example might include exploratory testing in early-stage product development, where testers with a deep understanding of the customer base experiment with features in different ways to uncover unexpected behaviors. Manual testing is also prevalent in game development, where the variety of hardware configurations and the importance of the player experience make manual evaluation essential.

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What are some common challenges faced when conducting manual functional testing and how can they be overcome?

Common challenges in manual functional testing include maintaining consistency across test executions, managing the extensive time and effort required, and ensuring comprehensive coverage. Solutions involve adopting a structured approach with detailed test plans and documentation, leveraging tools for test management, and using techniques like pairwise testing to maximize coverage with minimal tests. Regular training and knowledge-sharing among testers can help ensure consistency, while integrating automation for repetitive tasks can free up resources for more complex manual tests. Augmenting internal resources with a crowdtesting partner can help ensure adequate coverage when an organization needs to scale quickly. 

What are the acceptance criteria for each functional requirement?

Acceptance criteria are predefined requirements or conditions that a software product must meet to be accepted by a user, customer or other stakeholders. These criteria ensure that an app delivers its intended value and functionality. Acceptance criteria can vary widely, depending on the scope, purpose and specific aspects of the software being tested. Criteria must be clearly defined and agreed upon before testing begins to ensure objective, comprehensive evaluation. Some acceptance criteria for different types of manual functional tests include: 

• User acceptance testing (UAT): The software must meet all the business requirements that end users or clients have specified. It should perform all expected functions in real-world scenarios, matching the user’s workflow and needs. 
• Integration testing: Different components or systems that work together must do so seamlessly, without data loss or errors when exchanging data.  
• System testing: The complete, integrated software system must function in accordance with the overall requirements, such as meeting performance benchmarks and security standards as well as compatibility with target environments or platforms.
• Sanity testing: After minor changes or fixes, the app should function as expected in key areas affected by those changes, without introducing new issues.
• Smoke testing: An app launches successfully and core features work as expected. 
• Feature testing: A feature behaves as expected under various scenarios, including edge cases.
• Regression testing: Any changes to the software have not introduced defects or broken any functionality. 

What is the expected outcome of each functional test?

The outcome for each functional test is typically expressed as a pass or a fail, based on the predetermined acceptance criteria and what is expected at each step of a process. Ideally, a test case will detail the expected result in a given scenario. If an app behaves as expected in those conditions, it passes. If not, it fails. Failures call for research and analysis to pinpoint the root cause and identify corrective action.

For example, to test a banking app, a tester may validate whether a user can log in and access accounts. Next, the tester may attempt to check all account balances. If the tester can log in and see all accounts, the test passes. Maybe the test reveals that while checking and savings accounts are visible, loan accounts aren’t showing up as expected – a partial failure that requires further investigation. 

How are functional tests designed and executed?

To design functional tests, QA professionals create test cases that outline the steps to follow for testing, identify the input data and any configuration or setup requirements, and define the expected outcome for the test. Test cases should cover all the requirements, use cases and user stories that describe how the application is expected to function. Clear acceptance criteria for each test ensure all team members understand whether a test has passed or failed. 

To execute tests, most groups organize test cases based on factors such as criticality, risk and dependencies. Before executing the tests, QA staff should review the test cases to ensure clarity, correctness and completeness. Each test case should include defined steps and expected outcomes, and align with the test objectives. Testers then follow the steps outlined in each test case, documenting whether each test passes or fails and how the application performs. For tests that fail, testers include supporting evidence that allows developers to easily recreate the bug so they can troubleshoot and remediate the issue. Once a problem has been addressed, it may be retested to verify that the bug has been fixed.  

Who is responsible for conducting functional testing?

Quality assurance teams typically handle manual functional testing, but it can also involve developers, business analysts and end users, particularly during UAT phases. A crowdtesting partner can take on the burden of most manual functional testing to free up internal teams for more strategic projects. 

How are the results of functional testing documented and reported?

QA teams typically document functional test run results in a test management system, describing the test environment, outcome, pass/fail status and details about how the test was conducted. When testers discover defects, they’re typically logged in a bug tracking system. These defect reports include a unique identifier for the defect, a brief description of the issue, details on the bug’s severity and priority, and steps to reproduce the issue. Once testing is complete, a test summary report provides an overview of all testing activities and outcomes. Thorough and accurate reporting supports informed decision-making, efficient defect resolution and overall project success.

How are functional tests maintained and updated as software changes over time?

Maintaining and updating tests as software evolves over time can ensure the ongoing quality and relevance of the testing process. Software changes—whether through new features, bug fixes, updates or enhancements—can impact existing test cases. Some steps to keep software tests up to date: 

• Review and analyze the changes to the software. 
• Assess the test coverage — what areas of the test suite do the changes impact?
• Revise existing test cases to align with the software changes.
• Retire any test cases that are irrelevant or obsolete. 
• Create test cases for new features or significantly changed functionalities.
• Document any changes to the test case to maintain a detailed, version-controlled record of test cases, provide a clear history of testing activities and make it easy for QA teams to find specific versions of test cases.

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