Black box testing
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Dynamic black-box testing involves testing software without knowledge of its internal code by entering inputs, observing outputs, and checking results. The document discusses techniques for effective dynamic black-box testing including reducing test cases using equivalence partitioning, identifying boundary conditions, using various data values and states to find bugs, and applying repetition and high loads. It also covers using exploratory testing when requirements are not available and the approaches of test-to-pass and test-to-fail.
Black box testing
- 1. Black-Box Testing Topics covered: – – – – – – – What is dynamic black-box testing? How to reduce the number of test cases by equivalence partitioning How to identify troublesome boundary conditions Good data values to use to induce bugs How to test software states and state transitions How to use repetition, stress, and high loads to locate bugs A few secret places where bugs hide
- 2. Dynamic Black-Box Testing: Testing the Software While Blindfolded Testing software without having an insight into the details of underlying code is dynamic black-box testing It's dynamic because the program is running you're using it as a customer would. And, it's black-box because you're testing it without knowing exactly how it works with blinders on. Entering inputs, receiving outputs, and checking the results. name commonly used for dynamic black-box testing is behavioral testing.
- 3. Dynamic Black-Box Testing: Testing the Software While Blindfolded (cont..) To do this effectively requires some definition of: – – – what the software does namely a requirements document or product specification. A good product spec will provide you with these details. Next step is to start defining the test cases. Test cases are the specific inputs that you'll try and the procedures that you'll follow when you test the software.
- 4. Example of Test Case
- 5. USE EXPLORATORY TESTING IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SPEC A professional, mature software development process will have a detailed specification for the software If you are stuck in code-and-fix model, you may not have a software spec to base your tests on. That's not an ideal situation for a software tester Can use a workable solution known as exploratory testing: – – – simultaneously learning the software designing tests and executing those tests.
- 6. USE EXPLORATORY TESTING IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SPEC (Cont..) Need to treat the software as the specification Methodically explore the software feature by feature. Take notes on what the software does Map out the features, and Apply some of the static black-box techniques Analyze the software as though it is the specification In this situation, finding any bugs would be a positive thing
- 7. Test-to-Pass and Test-to-Fail There are two fundamental approaches to testing software: – – test-to-pass and test-to-fail
- 8. Test-to-Pass and Test-to-Fail (Cont..) Test-to-pass, you really assure only that the software minimally works. Don't push its capabilities Apply the simplest and most straightforward test cases. When designing and running your test cases, always run the test-to-pass cases first.
- 9. Test-to-Pass and Test-to-Fail (Cont..) After assurance that the software does what it's specified to do in ordinary circumstances It's time to put on attempt to find bugs by trying things that should force them out. Designing and running test cases with the sole purpose of breaking the software is called testing-to-fail or error-forcing.
- 10. Equivalence Partitioning Selecting test cases is the single most important task that software testers do. Equivalence partitioning is the process of methodically reducing the huge (infinite) set of possible test cases into a much smaller, but still equally effective set. Equivalence partitioning, sometimes called equivalence classing
- 11. Equivalence Partitioning (cont..) Calculator example – – When looking for equivalence partitions, think about ways to group: – – – It's impossible to test all the cases of adding two numbers together. Equivalence partitioning provides a systematic means for selecting the values that matter and ignoring the ones that don't. similar inputs similar outputs and similar operation of the software. These groups are your equivalence partitions.
- 12. Equivalence Partitioning (cont..) An equivalence class or equivalence partition is a set of test cases that tests the same thing or reveals the same bug What is the difference between 1+999999.. and 1+13? In the case of 1+13, it looks like a standard simple addition, a lot like 1+5 or 1+392. 1+999... is way out there, on the edge. Enter the largest possible number and then add 1 to it, something bad might happen possibly a bug.
- 13. Example of Equivalence Partitions • • • Windows filename can contain any characters except / : * ? " < > |. Filenames can have from 1 to 255 characters. Creating test cases for filenames: • Will have equivalence partitions for valid characters, invalid characters, valid length names, names that are too short and names that are too long.
- 14. Equivalence Partitioning (cont..) The goal of equivalence partitioning is to reduce the set of possible test cases into a smaller, manageable set that still adequately tests the software. taking on risk because choosing not to test everything need to be careful how you choose your classes If you're new to testing, always get someone with more experience to review your proposed classes. Equivalence partitioning can be subjective Two testers who test a complex program may arrive at two different sets of partitions That's okay as long as the partitions are reviewed