Surface texture parameters can provide a link between texture, its processing and function. Recent surveys and industrial experience have shown that the ISO 25178 areal surface texture parameters have not received the level of traction in industry that was predicted when introduced despite the fact that the areal parameters were predicted to have more functionally relevant characterisations than the ISO 4287 profile parameters. The objective of the paper is to enable more functionally relevant specifications of surface texture to be taken up by industry and the scientific community by increasing the knowledge of the ISO 25178 texture and novel feature parameters, and their potential use, as well as knowledge about methods for establishing functionally relevant surface texture specifications. In the paper, existing methods for functional tolerancing of surface texture are reviewed and discussed, examples of applications are given and a direction for continued research is presented. © 2020 The Authors