Feature Testing- What It Is and How It Works?

As the tech sphere develops quickly, businesses must ensure their software and systems perform effectively. Feature testing is essential for organizations to find and fix potential issues in any new feature before the product gets to the users. Join us on this exciting journey to learning the various aspects of feature testing. 

What is Feature Testing?

Feature testing is essential to the development lifecycle because it helps identify any bugs, errors, or problems that might occur when using a particular feature. Feature Test is important when creating something new. It helps spot any issues that could arise when using a certain feature. 

Feature testing is essential in delivering high-quality software. Some examples of tests during feature testing include:

• Checking if a button works correctly, 
• Verifying data inputs are processed accurately or 
• Ensuring that different components interact seamlessly.

Next time you use a feature in an app or website and everything seems to work smoothly, remember that dedicated testers spent time testing that feature. That’s why you get a seamless user experience.

How feature tests work – Manual and Automated

Feature tests ensure that an app’s feature does what it should when it’s up and running.

Manual testing involves a human tester executing test cases to verify the software’s functionality. This approach is often used in the early stages of development when the features still need to be fully developed and still need to be stable for automation. 

For example, let’s consider a scenario where we have developed a login feature for a web application. In manual testing, a tester would have a test plan to test the login feature thoroughly. It would include testing the login with valid and invalid credentials, all UI elements, and any other apt test. 

Automated testing involves an automation tool executing test cases to verify the software’s functionality. The following discussion presents an example of automated feature testing using Testsigma, a no-code test automation tool. 

We aim to automate the data-driven functionality in Testsigma, which enables us to input data sets along with the values. First, we give that data to be tested. 

The image below shows the test data profile used to run the test case. I have taken the Data Set as Things, and the Values are -The Guide, Gel Pen, and KIA, for example.

In the below-shown image, you can see the extracted test data using @|parameter|- Thing [Data set- CAR; KIA-Value]  in the test steps, and it is automated. You can also see the test case executed successfully and verified. 

This illustrates the ease with which automation can build any feature.

So why wait? Give Testsigma a try and enjoy stress-free feature testing!

Automate your feature tests for web, mobile, desktops and APIs, 5x faster, with Testsigma

Advantages of Feature Testing

Here you go:

1. Feature testing can be useful for finding any issues in the software before it goes public, ensuring it’s user-friendly and easy to use. 
2. Feature testing can help spot inconsistencies and logic gaps in the application. 
3. With Feature testing, testers can give feedback on specific features and suggest changes or improvements. 
4. Believe it or not, feature testing can save us some development time and money.

Verifying the functionality of a feature before its release allows for more timely and cost-effective changes or fixes.

How to Effectively Test a Feature?

Let me tell you some tricks to do it effectively.

1. Establish clear goals: Before starting a feature test, it is important to understand what the feature should do (functional requirements) and why. This should be clearly documented to ensure the proper use and measurement of the results.
2. Identify user scenarios: Identifying the user scenarios associated with the feature is also important to ensure that all possible expansions are tested.
3. Create a test plan: To ensure all possibilities are considered when considering the results.
4. Set up the environment: Set up the test environment with the feature installed and configured.
5. Execute the tests: In this step, you should execute the tests outlined in the Test plan. When testing, the first iteration will always be manual; once the feature is stable, it can be automated. 
6. Document the results: For future use, you should detail the results to properly understand, communicate, and track any issues or successes.
7. Re-test based on results: If any issues occur during the testing, run more tests to address them and document the results.
8. Report the results and review: Once you’re done, report and review the results to ensure the feature works as expected.

Summary

To wrap it up, feature testing is a must for software development. It lets you test the user experience and uncover areas for improvement specific to a feature. Only when a feature is thoroughly tested can integration and system testing be done successfully.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you perform feature testing?

Feature testing involves thorough testing of a feature. It begins with a careful examination of the requirements, followed by test case creation and a focus on feature functions, UX, performance, and security during the testing.  

What do features mean in software testing?

Features in software testing refer to a software application’s specific characteristics or functionalities that can be tested for quality assurance. They cover a range of behavior and activities that the application should be capable of performing as expected. For example, consider Facebook, a social media application, here for feature testing. Some of the features of this application could include:

1. Signing up: You must create an account as the first step, where you must give your personal information – name, email, password, etc.

2. News Feed: This is like your own personalized magazine that shows posts, pics, and updates from your friends and the pages you follow.

3. Messaging: You can slide into your friends’ DMs and group chats here.

4. Sharing Photos and Videos: You can upload and share your favorite pics and videos with your friends on your profile.