Testing

Question 1

What 2 things does testing ensure?

Answer 1

That the program works correctly without error

That the program meets the needs of the user

Question 2

What is a test plan?

Answer 2

A test plan is a formal document which details the tests to be performed on the software

Question 3

What 5 things does a test plan describe?

Answer 3

The scope of the testing
The tests to be performed
The reason for each test
The data to be used in tests
The expected outcome of each test

Question 4

What are the 3 types of test data?

Answer 4

Normal-use data
Borderline data
Invalid data

Question 5

What is normal-use data?

Answer 5

Data that is expected to be entered into the application

Question 6

What is borderline data?

Answer 6

Testing the boundary of acceptable data. Borderline data is still acceptable and it will be processed in the same way as normal data

Question 7

Give an example of borderline data

Answer 7

The user is asked to enter a username with between 1 and 10 characters. The borderline test data would be a username with 1 character and a username with 10 characters

Question 8

What is invalid data?

Answer 8

Data that the program rejects as invalid

Question 9

Give 3 reasons why a program reject data?

Answer 9

It is the wrong data type
It contains characters that are not allowed
The value falls outside the accepted parameters of the program

Question 10

Give an example of invalid data

Answer 10

If the user is asked to enter a username with between 1 and 10 characters, invalid test data would be a blank username, or a username with 13 characters

Question 11

What is black box testing?

Answer 11

The testers ignore how the program itself works in terms of code. They simply enter inputs and check if the outputs match their expectations

Question 12

What is an advantage with black box testing?

Answer 12

The person carrying out the test doesn’t need to know anything about the software, this makes finding it a lot easier to find testers

Question 13

What is a disadvantage with black box testing?

Answer 13

If the test fails, the tester doesn’t know why it failed

Question 14

What is white box testing?

Answer 14

Looks into the details of every algorithm in the software, and tries to test every possible path through that bit of code to ensures that it works correctly every time

Question 15

What is an advantage of white box testing?

Answer 15

If a test fails, you can quickly pinpoint exactly where the problem is and fix it

Question 16

What is a disadvantage with white box testing?

Answer 16

It can take a long time to run through all of the test data

Question 17

State 2 things about a successful test for black box testing

Answer 17

Fast and easy for the tester

No wasted time, the test is completed and the tester can move onto the next one in the plan

Question 18

State 3 things about a successful test for white box testing

Answer 18

Much slower to complete tests compared to black box testing
Some tests can be complicated and require knowledgeable testers
You get a detailed record of the correct data

Question 19

State 1 thing about a failed test for black box testing

Answer 19

Provides no insight into why the test failed, unless you can work out a pattern from which test data led to failures and which to successes

Question 20

State 1 thing about a failed test for white box testing

Answer 20

By looking at the trace tables, you can see exactly where the failure occurred and quickly fix it

Question 21

What is a trace table?

Answer 21

A technique used to test algorithms, in order to make sure that no logical errors occur whilst the algorithm is being processed

Question 22

What is iterative testing?

Answer 22

When, during program development, the programmer will write a portion of their code. They will then test the code they have just written to check that it is working as expected before moving onto developing the next part, and testing again

Question 23

What 2 types of errors are iterative testing looking for?

Answer 23

Syntax errors - mistakes in the grammar of the coding language
Logic errors - mistakes in the algorithms or logic flow of the program

Question 24

What testing method is used during iterative testing?

Answer 24

White box testing

Question 25

What is final testing?

Answer 25

Final testing is done after the project is thought to be complete

Question 26

What testing method is used during final testing?

Answer 26

Black box testing

Question 27

What are the 2 stages of final testing?

Answer 27

Alpha

Beta

Question 28

What is alpha testing?

Answer 28

When the software is released for use by in-house test engineers. They try their best to break it by doing unexpected things to it

Question 29

What is beta testing?

Answer 29

Where the software is released to a select group of hired or volunteer testers, unconnected to the development process to date. These “beta testers” use the program as intended and under realistic conditions.