Functional Testing: Testing that each feature does what the requirements say it should.
Example
You check that applying a valid coupon reduces the order total by the correct amount.
Why Functional Testing matters for IT interns
Most of the manual testing interns do is functional testing.
Where you will hear it
You will hear this term in testing and quality discussions, from test planning to bug reports. If someone uses it and you are not sure what they mean in your project, it is completely fine to ask; every team uses terms a little differently.
Related terms
- Automation Testing: Using code and tools to run tests automatically instead of by hand.
- Bug: A problem where the software doesn’t behave the way it is supposed to.
- Defect: A flaw where the software doesn’t meet its requirements.
- Manual Testing: Testing software by hand — using it like a real user and checking the results — without automation scripts.
- Priority (in bug tracking): How soon a bug should be fixed, based on business needs.
- QA (Quality Assurance): The work of making sure software meets the expected quality, through testing, reviews and improving how the…
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Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is Functional Testing?
Testing that each feature does what the requirements say it should.
What is an example of Functional Testing?
You check that applying a valid coupon reduces the order total by the correct amount.
Why does Functional Testing matter for IT interns?
Most of the manual testing interns do is functional testing.
Explore more internship terms
The IT Internship Glossary explains 199 terms you will hear before and during your internship, with simple definitions and real examples.
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About the author
Dhaivat has 16+ years of experience in the IT industry, working on AI and cloud technologies, project delivery, and engineering leadership. He has interviewed and mentored many interns, wrote The Lost Intern, and runs the non-commercial Career Impact Initiative, mentoring students for free.