Funktsionaalteste

Funktsionaalteste is a term used in Estonian software engineering to refer to functional tests. These tests verify that a software product’s functions operate in accordance with its functional requirements, focusing on what the system should do from the user’s perspective. They assess features, inputs and outputs, business rules, data handling, and interfaces, and are typically based on specifications, use cases, and user stories.

The approach is generally black-box: testers do not rely on the internal implementation but instead evaluate observable behavior. Functional testing can be applied at various levels, most commonly system and integration testing, and it often aligns with user acceptance testing. Design techniques commonly used include equivalence partitioning, boundary value analysis, decision tables, and state-transition testing to cover combinations of inputs and rules.

Process and artifacts commonly include test planning, design of test cases, selection of representative test data, test execution, and defect reporting. Each test case is traced to a requirement to ensure coverage, and a suitable test environment is established to reflect real-world usage. Regression testing is frequently performed to confirm that changes do not affect existing functionality.

Automation and tools play a significant role in functional testing, with frameworks and scripts used to automate repetitive or high-risk functions. Nevertheless, exploratory functional testing remains important for discovering unexpected behavior and edge cases.

Relation to other testing: functional testing is one pillar of quality assurance, alongside non-functional testing such as performance, security, and usability testing. Potential limitations include ambiguities in requirements and gaps in test coverage, underscoring the need for clear specifications, prioritization, and collaboration with stakeholders.