Functional vs non-functional requirements in Software Engineering - Practice Questions

Challenge - 5 Problems

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

Identify the Functional Requirement

Which of the following is an example of a functional requirement for a banking app?

A The app must allow users to transfer money between accounts.

B The app should load within 2 seconds on a 4G network.

C The app must be available 99.9% of the time.

D The app interface should be easy to navigate for new users.

💡 Hint

Functional requirements describe what the system should do.

Functional requirements specify specific behaviors or functions of the system, such as money transfer. The other options describe qualities or constraints, which are non-functional.

📋 Factual

intermediate

Definition of Non-Functional Requirements

What do non-functional requirements primarily describe in a software system?

A Specific tasks the system must perform.

B The user interface design details.

C The programming language used to build the system.

D The qualities and constraints like performance and security.

💡 Hint

Think about qualities like speed, reliability, and security.

Non-functional requirements describe how the system performs and constraints it must meet, such as speed, security, and usability.

🚀 Application

advanced

Classify Requirements for a Website

Given these requirements for an e-commerce website, classify each as functional (F) or non-functional (NF):

• Users can add items to a shopping cart.
• The website must load within 3 seconds.
• Users can create and manage their accounts.
• The website must be accessible on mobile devices.

Which option correctly pairs the requirements?

A Add to cart - F, Load time - F, Manage accounts - NF, Mobile access - NF

B Add to cart - F, Load time - NF, Manage accounts - F, Mobile access - NF

C Add to cart - NF, Load time - F, Manage accounts - NF, Mobile access - F

D Add to cart - NF, Load time - NF, Manage accounts - F, Mobile access - F

💡 Hint

Functional requirements describe actions users can perform. Non-functional describe qualities like speed and accessibility.

Adding items and managing accounts are functions the system must perform. Loading speed and mobile accessibility are qualities, so non-functional.

🔍 Analysis

advanced

Impact of Non-Functional Requirements

Why are non-functional requirements critical to the success of a software product?

A They describe the marketing strategy for the product.

B They define the core features users interact with directly.

C They ensure the system meets quality standards like reliability and usability.

D They specify the programming language and tools to be used.

💡 Hint

Think about qualities that affect user satisfaction and system stability.

Non-functional requirements ensure the system is reliable, usable, and performs well, which are essential for user satisfaction and product success.

❓ Comparison

expert

Distinguishing Functional and Non-Functional Requirements

Consider the following statements about software requirements:

1. Functional requirements describe what the system should do.
2. Non-functional requirements describe how the system performs its functions.
3. Functional requirements are always measurable.
4. Non-functional requirements can include constraints like security and performance.

Which of these statements are correct?

A Only 1, 2, and 4 are correct.

B Only 1 and 4 are correct.

C Only 2 and 3 are correct.

D All 1, 2, 3, and 4 are correct.

💡 Hint

Consider if functional requirements are always measurable and the role of non-functional requirements.

Statements 1, 2, and 4 are true. Functional requirements describe what the system does. Non-functional describe how it performs and include constraints. Functional requirements are not always measurable.