Black Box Testing
What is Black Box Testing
Black box testing is a technique of software testing which examines the functionality of software without peering into its internal structure or coding. The primary source of black box testing is a specification of requirements that is stated by the customer.
Black Box Testing is a software testing method in which the functionalities of software applications are tested without having knowledge of internal code structure, implementation details and internal paths. Black Box Testing mainly focuses on input and output of software applications and it is entirely based on software requirements and specifications. It is also known as Behavioral Testing.
In this method, tester selects a function and gives input value to examine its functionality, and checks whether the function is giving expected output or not. If the function produces correct output, then it is passed in testing, otherwise failed. The test team reports the result to the development team and then tests the next function. After completing testing of all functions if there are severe problems, then it is given back to the development team for correction.
What do you verify in Black Box Testing?
Black Box Testing mainly focuses on input and output of software applications and it is entirely based on software requirements and specifications. It is also known as Behavioral Testing.
Advantages of Black Box testing
- Testers do not require technical knowledge, programming or IT skills.
- Testers do not need to learn implementation details of the system.
- Tests can be executed by crowdsourced or outsourced testers.
- Low chance of false positives.
- Tests have lower complexity, since they simply model common user behavior.
Disadvantages of Black Box Testing
- Tests may be conducted at low scale or on a non-production-like environment.
- If a test fails, it can be difficult to understand the root cause of the issue.
- Difficult to calculate test coverage.
- Difficult to automate.
- Requires prioritization, typically infeasible to test all user paths.
Difference Between White Box Testing and Black Box Testing
| White Box Testing | Black Box Testing |
|---|---|
| White Box Testing (Unit Testing) validates internal structure and working of your software code | the main focus of black box testing is on the validation of your functional requirements. |
| To conduct White Box Testing, knowledge of underlying programming language is essential. Current day software systems use a variety of programming languages and technologies and its not possible to know all of them. | Black box testing gives abstraction from code and focuses on testing effort on the software system behavior. |
| White box testing does not facilitate testing communication amongst modules. | Black box testing facilitates testing communication amongst modules. |