Black Box Testing – Ensure Your Software Works Properly
What Is Black Box Testing?
Have you ever come across black box testing? An interesting name for a software testing.
Actually, the name comes from engineering itself, where we deal with system that appears to be a real black box (you don’t know anything about its internal system). A black box is a system that receives a specific set of inputs and converts them into specific outputs. You have no insight into its internal working system; you can only interact with it and observe the results.
This was a short introduction to the testing and further in the blog we’ll discuss its main peculiarities, main types, the purpose of its use, its main differences in comparison with other types and of course how to start learning to use this exciting skill.
What we know about black box testing?
It is also known as closed testing or closed box testing that is aimed to ensure the programs work as intended without having information on its internal structures. This is a way to test your own programs, learn more about the software without coding experience (software testing).
Black box testing is a highly effective method because it evaluates a system from start to finish. Like how end-users don’t have any concern with the internal coding or architecture and simply expect a suitable response to their actions, a tester can simulate user behavior to verify if the system meets its expectations. This type of testing checks all essential subsystems, such as the user interface, web or application server, database, dependencies, and integrated systems during the process.
One example of the process can be brought in security technology – the Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), which tests products in staging or production phase and later provides feedback on compliance and security issues.
Types of black box testing
Black box testing can be performed in different ways. Here are some main types of this testing that can be used to ensure correct functioning of software systems.
1. Functional testing
This form of black box testing ensures that the software’s functions and features perform correctly and meet the specified requirements. Testers employ functional test cases to check the application’s inputs, outputs, and interactions, without considering the internal code.
2. Non-functional testing
Unlike functional testing, non-functional testing assesses characteristics of the software that are not related to its specific functions. It encompasses tests for performance, usability, security, scalability, reliability, and other quality attributes.
3. System testing
System testing is conducted on a program to verify its effective operation in various environments and scenarios. This testing ensures that users will have an optimal experience no matter where they run the program. It is a high-level test performed after the individual components have been validated.
4. Regression testing
Regression testing is conducted to confirm that recent changes or updates to the software have not negatively impacted its existing functionality. Testers use predefined test cases to ensure that new features or bug fixes have not caused new problems.
5. User Interface testing
UI testing concentrates on verifying the user interface elements of the software, including buttons, menus, forms, and layout. The objective is to ensure the UI is user-friendly, consistent, and operates correctly.
What is the purpose and main of black box testing?
This technique has several functions depending on what software you’re using and what are the users’ needs. You can use black box testing to:
- Identify potential bugs and errors
- Verify specifications
- Assess user experience
- Evaluate security
Let’s discuss a login functionality for a website. The tester has to verify whether the login feature works properly without having any knowledge on the underlying code. He will deal with login interface, trying and testing various combinations of valid and invalid usernames and passwords as inputs. And then he will wait for the system’s response – access or denial.
In black box testing, the tester disregards the internal logic of how the system processes functionality of the login feature based on inputs and outputs.
By employing various test cases and scenarios, the tester seeks to identify functional issues, such as incorrect login behavior, security flaws, or unexpected system responses.
Black box testing ensures that the system meets specified requirements and behaves as expected from a user’s perspective, without needing to understand the internal implementation details.
Black box testing enables organizations to deliver high-quality software that aligns with user expectations and specified requirements. When compared with other testing methods, like white box and gray box testing, it forms a thorough testing strategy for software development projects.
Now let’s compare it with the white box testing.
The different between white and black box testing
White box testing, also called clear box testing or structural testing, is a software testing method that involves inspecting and validating the internal code and logic of a software application.
Testers conducting white box testing have access to the application’s source code and utilize their understanding of the code’s structure to create and execute test cases. The objective is to verify the code’s correctness, identify logical errors, and ensure all code paths and conditions are comprehensively tested.
In white box testing, testers need to be familiar with programming, need to have respective skills and knowledge on programming while black box testing can be performed by those who are non-technical team members.
To cut it short, it turns out to be just the opposite of the testing already familiar to us. It is used for more deep examination and testing dealing with internal codes of the system. The name already proves the theory.
Who uses black box testing?
Many professionals in software development and testing utilize black box testing. This method is employed across various industries that rely on custom software, including technical fields, medical practices, and the finance sector.
Black box testing is mainly utilized by:
- Software testers use black box testing to assess applications to identify potential inconsistencies and flaws.
- Quality assurance analysts use black box testing to ensure that the software operates as designed, meets quality expectations, and meets usability standards.
- Software developers use black box testing to gain an external perspective and test that your code effectively meets user expectations.
But in case you wish to go deeper and develop skills that will lead to better practices here is the number of professional skills that you need to become a professional tester:
- Programming Knowledge
- Agile Testing
- Software Development
- Cross-Browser / Cross Platform Testing Skills
- Manual QA skills
For more information about how to take courses related to fields mentioned above, you can refer to Business Development Group where a number of professional courses with promising results are held both for beginners and professionals.
