Part 3 test design tech Flashcards
Why is exhaustive testing often impractical?
Because the number of potential test cases can be astronomically high, making it infeasible to test all combinations.
What are two main test strategies and their strengths?
Partitioning: Effective for single-point bugs, though expensive.
Random Testing: Quick and cheap for range bugs, but less effective for single-point bugs.
What is the pesticide paradox in testing?
If the same tests are repeatedly executed, they become less effective at finding new bugs.
What is the goal of combinatorial testing?
To systematically reduce the number of test cases while maintaining sufficient coverage of the input space.
What is brute force testing, and why is it challenging?
Brute force testing tries all input combinations but is tedious, error-prone, and difficult to manage.
What are the key steps in category partition testing?
Identify features to test.
Identify parameters and environmental elements.
Define characteristics (categories) for each parameter.
Generate test cases based on these categories.
How does category partition testing reduce test cases?
By focusing on representative categories instead of all possible input combinations.
What is an equivalence class in testing?
A group of inputs treated similarly by the program, reducing the need to test every value in the class.
What is boundary value analysis?
A technique that focuses on testing the edge values of equivalence classes where errors are more likely.
Provide an example of equivalence classes for getMonthName(int month).
Valid: 1–12.
Invalid: Less than 1 and greater than 12.
What is pairwise combination testing?
A method that ensures all pairs of parameter values are tested at least once to reduce the number of test cases.
Why is pairwise testing effective?
Because not all parameter interactions are equally important, and pairwise testing captures most faults efficiently.
What role do constraints play in pairwise testing?
Constraints eliminate impossible or irrelevant parameter combinations, further reducing test cases.
Why are automated tools recommended for pairwise testing?
Generating efficient combinations manually is nearly impossible for complex systems.
Provide an example of pairwise testing reducing test cases.
Testing font, display mode, and screen size together ensures every font value is paired with all display modes and screen sizes without testing every combination.
