Understanding Functional Testing Best Practices in an Agile environment from an Expert’s perspective
Tags: functionaltesting, agileenvironment, agilemethodology, softwaretesting
Published: 2022-09-21 07:13:23

Software testing makes sure that the quality of a software product or application is not compromised at any cost. Functional testing is one of the crucial software testing types that test the system users on one side and the interface between the application on another side. Functional testing ensures that the product or application is working as per the business requirements. Functional testing is carried out through a sequence of steps for optimal outcomes. 

In this article, you will know the [functional testing](https://www.testingxperts.com/blog/functional-testing) best practices that are applied in an agile environment.

**What is Functional testing?**

It is a testing method that verifies whether each of the application’s features and functions is developed as per the software requirements. Each function of the software application is tested by providing appropriate input and then the output is verified against the functional requirements.

**Following are the key steps carried out for the functional testing process in an agile environment explained through the medium of suggestive best practices:**

**1. Gathering of test requirements** The business team should arrange for product feature presentations. Through this, the communication gap is minimized between the team developing a specific application and the market requirements. A traceability matrix should be prepared that helps in showing the relationship from features to requirements up to issues. Traceability matrices should be maintained for any requirement changes.

**2. Planning the test activities:** The traceability matrix should be reviewed/approved. The functional gaps are reduced to a minimum in test plans due to the completeness of traceability matrices. The test plan should be reviewed with the development team.

**3. Develop a test strategy:** A consolidated functional test coverage matrix is prepared for various test cases that need to be executed. An extensive decision model can be utilized while deciding on each testing cycle and the test matrix. The test cases can be prioritized in the test plans to reduce the risk factors. The test strategy should be reviewed with the development team.	

**4. Executing tests:** A process should be set up to obtain intermediate product builds before the formal QA handover. A knowledge repository should be established of various problems that may be encountered during test execution/test environment setup and their possible solutions. 
The execution process should be carried out in a flexible manner. The development and other relevant teams should work collaboratively to make sure that the installation and configuration instructions are detailed enough.  

**5. Managing defects:** Standard templates should be used for defect verification and defect filing. Clear-cut criteria should be established for defining priority and defect severity and also train the trainers on the same. The suspicious defects should be strategically discussed before filing them. High-quality functional defects should be filed by testers rather than focusing on filing a large quantity of cosmetic defects.
The high-impact defects should be made visible so that the development team can work on the important priority defects. Also, collaborate with the development team.

**6. Reporting of test results:** Prepare a comprehensive test results report template in a spreadsheet format. The effort that has been spent during the testing for each feature and stage and the overall summary of the test cases executed is properly listed in the summary report sheet.  

**7. Collecting the test metrics:** A set of product/process metrics need to be identified so that it can be tracked on a continuous basis. Dashboards should be developed and shared for these metrics. Regression defects, re-opened 	defects, number of S1 and S2 bugs should be collected.	

**Conclusion:** If you are looking forward to implementing functional testing for your agile project, then do get connected with a premium software testing services company that will provide you with a pragmatic testing blueprint in line with your project specific requirements.

**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.