Stage 1 · Lesson 5 of 7
Functional and non-functional testing
checks what the system does: its features, business rules, inputs and outputs. Non-functional testing checks how well it does it. That covers speed under heavy use (performance), accessibility for people using keyboards or , and security.
It also covers ease of use (), working across browsers and devices (compatibility), and staying up without failing (reliability). Users judge both, so both are part of quality. A checkout that adds up correctly but takes twenty seconds still loses the sale.
Most of this roadmap covers functional testing and automation. You come back to performance, accessibility and security near the end, at awareness level.
Common trapassuming non-functional testing belongs only to specialists, when a tester who notices a (a spot the keyboard cannot leave) or a slow page adds real value.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come with the full roadmap. Unlock
Resources for this stage
Start with
- GuideFreeISTQB Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL) v4.0
ISTQB · Beginner
The free Foundation syllabus is the clearest single summary of testing vocabulary; read chapters 1 and 2
Keep handy
Also worth your time
The best-known explanation of balancing unit, integration and UI tests, with concrete examples
- Software Engineering at GoogleGo deeper
Free online; the testing chapters explain how a very large company decides what to test and at which size