What is non-functional testing?
Non-functional testing checks how well a system works, such as its performance, security, accessibility and reliability.
A feature can work functionally and still fail users if it is slow, insecure, inaccessible or unstable. Non-functional testing measures those qualities against agreed targets.
These qualities often regress gradually, which is why continuous non-functional testing in the release pipeline is increasingly common.
Example
The search feature returns correct results, but non-functional testing shows it takes 4 seconds at peak traffic, above the 1-second target.
Best practices
- Set measurable targets for each quality
- Automate checks that can run every release
- Track trends, not just pass or fail
- Prioritise by user and business impact
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