This is a type of black-box testing that is based on the specifications of the software that is to be tested. The application is tested by providing input and then the results are examined that need to conform to the functionality it was intended for. Functional testing of a software is conducted on a complete, integrated system to evaluate the system's compliance with its specified requirements.
There are five steps that are involved while testing an application for functionality.
Step 1: The determination of the functionality that the intended application is meant to perform.
Step 2: The creation of test data based on the specifications of the application.
Step 3: The output based on the test data and the specifications of the application.
Step 4: The writing of test scenarios and the execution of test cases.
Step 5: The comparison of actual and expected results based on the executed test cases.
An effective testing practice will see the above steps applied to the testing policies of every organization and hence it will make sure that the organization maintains the strictest of standards when it comes to software quality.