Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: In software testing, there are several testing practices we follow which help us in validating how the developed software is functioning as per the customer requirements and user expectations. Two of such testing practices include functional testing and usability testing.
While functional testing is about how useful the software is, usability testing helps us understand whether users can easily and comfortably use the developed software.
Functional Testing:
Functional testing involves verification of all expected functionality (features) of the system which helps determine whether they are working as intended, or not. What we identify during functional testing is whether functions are working as intended or not, rather than how the functions are working.
Testing procedures, success criteria, and expected results for each functional requirement of the software are clearly defined in form of test cases document before performing the testing process. Testing covers available functionality at the required level (basic, intermediate, or advanced).
Usability Testing:
While it is important to cover all the features of the software during the functional testing, it is equally important to identify how easy it is for users to interact with the developed software. Usability testing involves verifying whether users can easily interact with all components of software and operate them as expected, or not.
Test procedures, success criteria, and expected results for each usability requirement of the system are clearly defined in form of test cases document before performing the testing process. Testing covers available main features at the required level (basic, intermediate, or advanced).
It is equally important to verify whether the developed software is usable by end-users as well as technical support staff and whether they are able to use it efficiently or not. Thus both functional and usability testing practices are required to be performed for the conduction of successful software testing.
Differences Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing:
Let’s find out the major Differences Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing:
1. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – What is the Difference?
Functional testing is performed to verify whether the software application is performing tasks correctly or not, whereas it is usability testing that ensures that users can easily interact with different components of developed software applications or systems.
2. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Scope and Importance
Functional testing is performed to verify the functionality for different components of developed software applications or systems. In contrast, usability testing involves verification of various aspects such as ease of use, learnability, error handling, the time required, etc.
3. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Where and When
Functional testing is performed during the initial phases of the software development lifecycle, whereas usability testing is performed at the late stages (after functional testing) to ensure that users can easily interact with all components of the developed software application or system.
4. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Test Cases Documentation Procedure
While it is important to identify test cases for functional testing, it is equally important to define test scenarios that are based upon user requirements and success criteria before carrying out the usability testing.
5. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Tester Qualification Requirements
Qualified professionals should carry out the testing activities in accordance with established procedures as well as defined standards.
6. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Process Flow
While functional testing is performed along with the development process of software applications, usability testing is carried out at the end of the development lifecycle once software applications have been developed and deployed in the production environment.
7. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Why One Should Be Carried Out Before Other?
Functional testing is performed during the initial development lifecycle of software applications, whereas usability testing is carried out at the end of the development lifecycle as it ensures that software meets user requirements and expectations.
8. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – How to Write?
While a functional testing document is written so that it can be used for the execution of test cases that are performed to verify the functionality, a usability testing document should include various scenarios and steps on how users interact with different components of developed software applications.
9. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Tool Support
Usability testing tools support is available with certain functional testing tools, whereas there is no such tool support for usability testing.
10. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Definitions
While usability refers to the effectiveness of software applications in terms of how a user interacts with them, functional testing on the other hand indicates that a particular module or component performs the function as per customer requirement.
11. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Techniques
Usability testing is performed based upon defined scenarios, whereas functional testing is carried out to verify that software performs the tasks correctly. Besides, techniques such as Process Modeling and System Modeling are used for user requirements analysis while usability testing can be performed using User Interface Analysis Methods.
12. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Requirements Validation Technique
While functional testing verifies that software application performs the tasks correctly, usability testing ensures that users can easily interact with all components of the developed application or system.
In comparison to functional testing, usability test is subjective as it relies on the experience of a single user to judge how good the software is.
13. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Difference in Requirements Validation Technique
As functional testing verifies that software application performs the tasks correctly, usability testing ensures that users can easily interact with all components of the developed application or system. Moreover, while executing functional testing, we need to define test scenarios that are based upon user requirements and success criteria before carrying out the usability testing.
14. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Validation Technique Used in Both Processes
There is a difference between both techniques as while functional testing verifies that the software application performs the tasks correctly, usability testing ensures that users can easily interact with all components of the developed application or system. Besides, in the case of functional testing different test scenarios are defined which are based upon user requirements and success criteria before carrying out the usability testing.
15. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Validation Technique Used in Both Processes
While user-based functional testing can be carried out to verify the proper functioning of a software application or system, usability testing is based upon the experience of users who interact with developed software. Moreover, while executing functional testing test scenarios are defined first which will form the basis of all further activities including designing test scripts, recording actual results, and reporting.
16. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Validation Technique Used in Both Processes
While usability testing focuses on user experience, the efficiency of the developed software application or system, functional testing is used to verify that software performs the tasks correctly.
17. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Tools Required for Both Validation Techniques
While usability testing is carried out on the basis of user experience, functional testing is done to ensure that system carries out tasks correctly. Both techniques can be performed through a variety of tools including use case test analysis tool, front-end interface design prototype and back-end performance testing software.
18. Difference Between Usability Testing and Functional Testing: – Time Required for Execution
While usability testing is subjective in nature, functional testing is used to verify the proper functioning of a software application or system. In comparison to functional testing, usability test is time-consuming as it relies on the experience of a single user to judge how good the software is.
