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Non-Functional Testing in Manual QA
Non-functional testing focuses on evaluating the performance, usability, security, and other aspects of a software application that are not directly related to specific functions or features.Key Objectives of Non-Functional Testing
PerformanceTest the software’s responsiveness and stability under normal and peak conditions.
Usability
Assess how user-friendly and intuitive the system is.
Security
Ensure the software is free from vulnerabilities and safe from potential attacks.
Compatibility
Verify that the system works across different devices, browsers, and operating systems.
Reliability
Confirm that the system consistently performs without failures over time.
Scalability
Ensure that the system can handle growth, such as an increase in users or data.
Types of Non-Functional Testing
Performance TestingMeasures how well the application performs under various conditions, such as load and stress.
Subtypes:
Load Testing
Evaluates how the system behaves under expected normal load conditions (e.g., 100 users).
Stress Testing
Tests how the system handles extreme conditions, such as an unexpected spike in traffic or resources being pushed to their limits.
Scalability Testing
Assesses how well the system can scale and handle increasing numbers of users or data.
Example: Testing an e-commerce website’s checkout process under both normal and heavy traffic conditions to ensure the system can handle high numbers of users without crashing.
Usability Testing
Subtypes:
Load Testing
Evaluates how the system behaves under expected normal load conditions (e.g., 100 users).
Stress Testing
Tests how the system handles extreme conditions, such as an unexpected spike in traffic or resources being pushed to their limits.
Scalability Testing
Assesses how well the system can scale and handle increasing numbers of users or data.
Example: Testing an e-commerce website’s checkout process under both normal and heavy traffic conditions to ensure the system can handle high numbers of users without crashing.
Usability Testing
Focuses on the user experience (UX) of the software and evaluates whether it’s intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable to use.
Details: Usability testing looks at ease of navigation, design, layout, and how users interact with the system. Testers evaluate whether the software is user-friendly and provides a smooth experience.
Example: Testing a mobile app’s onboarding process to ensure new users can quickly understand how to use the app without confusion.
Security Testing
Ensures the application is secure and protected against unauthorized access, data breaches, and other vulnerabilities.
Vulnerability Testing
Identifies security flaws and weaknesses in the application that could be exploited.
Penetration Testing
Simulates an attack to find weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers.
Authentication Testing
Ensures proper user authentication and role-based access control.
Example: Testing an online banking application to ensure sensitive information, like user passwords and financial data, is encrypted and protected.
Vulnerability Testing
Identifies security flaws and weaknesses in the application that could be exploited.
Penetration Testing
Simulates an attack to find weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers.
Authentication Testing
Ensures proper user authentication and role-based access control.
Example: Testing an online banking application to ensure sensitive information, like user passwords and financial data, is encrypted and protected.
Compatibility Testing
Verifies that the software works across different environments, such as devices, browsers, and operating systems.
Browser Compatibility Testing: Verifies that the web application works across various web browsers (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari).
Device Compatibility Testing
Tests how well the application works on different devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
Operating System Compatibility:
Ensures the software works on different operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux).
Example: Testing a website to ensure it displays correctly on various browsers and mobile devices.
Reliability Testing
Browser Compatibility Testing: Verifies that the web application works across various web browsers (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari).
Device Compatibility Testing
Tests how well the application works on different devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
Operating System Compatibility:
Ensures the software works on different operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux).
Example: Testing a website to ensure it displays correctly on various browsers and mobile devices.
Reliability Testing
Ensures the software remains stable over time and doesn’t experience unexpected crashes or failures.
Details: Reliability testing checks if the application operates consistently under different scenarios without errors or system failures. It focuses on the system’s dependability and uptime.
Example: Testing a cloud service to ensure it remains operational for an extended period and can handle continuous usage without crashing.
Scalability Testing
Details: Reliability testing checks if the application operates consistently under different scenarios without errors or system failures. It focuses on the system’s dependability and uptime.
Example: Testing a cloud service to ensure it remains operational for an extended period and can handle continuous usage without crashing.
Scalability Testing
Assesses the system’s ability to handle increased workloads or more users without performance degradation.
Details: Scalability testing ensures that the system can efficiently scale up or down depending on demand, whether it’s more users or additional data.
Example: Testing an online shopping platform to verify that it can support a growing user base during peak shopping seasons (Black Friday).
Details: Scalability testing ensures that the system can efficiently scale up or down depending on demand, whether it’s more users or additional data.
Example: Testing an online shopping platform to verify that it can support a growing user base during peak shopping seasons (Black Friday).
Process of Non-Functional Testing
Requirement AnalysisReview non-functional requirements, such as performance, security, and usability, to understand how the software should behave in these areas.
Test Plan Development
Develop a test plan focusing on the non-functional aspects that need to be tested, such as load, security, or usability.
Test Case Design
Design test cases for each non-functional aspect, such as stress tests, security checks, and compatibility scenarios.
Test Execution
Perform the tests manually or using testing tools. For example, testers might run the application under stress conditions or evaluate its usability through user interviews.
Defect Reporting
Report any issues related to non-functional aspects, such as slow performance, security vulnerabilities, or poor user experience.
Re-testing
After issues are resolved, testers verify that the fixes are effective and that no new problems have been introduced.
Advantages of Non-Functional Testing
Improves User ExperienceEnsures that the application meets the user's expectations for performance, usability, and reliability.
Prevents Security Breaches
Helps identify vulnerabilities before the application is released, reducing the risk of data breaches.
Optimizes Performance
Helps ensure the application can handle real-world usage conditions, preventing crashes and slowdowns.
Ensures Cross-Platform Usability
Confirms that the software works across different devices, operating systems, and browsers.
Challenges of Non-Functional Testing
ComplexityNon-functional testing often requires specific tools and techniques that can be more complex to implement, especially for things like performance or security testing.
Time-Consuming
Testing aspects like load, scalability, and security can take significant time, particularly for large applications or systems.
Resource Intensive
Some types of non-functional testing, such as performance and security, may require considerable system resources or specialized tools.
Common Tools for Non-Functional Testing
Performance TestingJMeter: A popular open-source tool for performance testing, used for load and stress testing.
LoadRunner: A performance testing tool used to simulate virtual users for load and stress testing.
Usability Testing
LoadRunner: A performance testing tool used to simulate virtual users for load and stress testing.
Usability Testing
Crazy Egg: Provides heatmaps and visualizations to assess how users interact with an application.
Lookback: A tool for user testing, interviews, and collecting feedback.
Security Testing
Lookback: A tool for user testing, interviews, and collecting feedback.
Security Testing
OWASP ZAP: An open-source security testing tool for finding vulnerabilities in web applications.
Burp Suite: A security testing platform used for penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.
Compatibility Testing
Burp Suite: A security testing platform used for penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.
Compatibility Testing
BrowserStack: A cloud-based tool for testing websites across different browsers and devices.
Sauce Labs: A platform for cross-browser and cross-device testing in real-time.
Sauce Labs: A platform for cross-browser and cross-device testing in real-time.