Software Testing Fundamentals

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary objective of software testing?

To enhance the aesthetic design of a program.

To create more software features.

To reduce the total cost of software development.

To check how well something works. (correct)

Which example illustrates the need for thorough testing?

Implementing a new marketing strategy.

Conducting a survey to measure customer satisfaction.

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse due to inadequate wind testing. (correct)

Designing a new logo for a product.

Which of the following types of testing was not mentioned in the overview of software testing?

Usability testing. (correct)

White box testing.

Black box testing.

Performance testing.

What would be an example of a software defect?

Errors in user input processing. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to validate user input in forms during testing?

To guarantee correct data processing. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'black box testing' refer to?

Testing without knowledge of internal code structure. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of test reports in software testing?

To highlight and address any issues found during testing. Signup and view all the answers

What can be a result of not conducting adequate software testing?

Unforeseen problems in software functionality. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary advantage of automated testing?

Automated tests can run faster and more efficiently than manual testing. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common disadvantage of automated testing?

Writing the automated tests can be time-consuming and requires technical knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

In what context is automated testing considered black box testing?

When the tests check functionality without seeing the underlying code. Signup and view all the answers

What change must be made in the getSquare function for it to pass the test?

Change the return statement to return <code>num * num</code>. Signup and view all the answers

Why is automated testing considered more consistent than manual testing?

Automated tests are run in the exact same way once created. Signup and view all the answers

What should the software testing team do after detecting defects?

Prepare a report listing all detected defects. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an essential requirement before running automated tests?

Acquiring comprehensive knowledge of software development and programming languages. Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated if an automated test does not show any AssertionError message?

The function being tested has returned the expected result. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of black box testing?

Evaluating the functionality of the software without knowledge of the internal code. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about white box testing is true?

It requires knowledge of the internal logic of the code. Signup and view all the answers

Which skill set is most essential for a tester performing white box testing?

Software development knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between manual and automated black box testing?

Automated testing uses software to simulate user inputs. Signup and view all the answers

What is typically the first step a tester takes in white box testing?

Refer to the requirements document. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about black box testing?

It can identify the location of a defect in the code. Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario illustrates structural testing effectively?

Disassembling a device to check each internal component. Signup and view all the answers

When performing white box testing, what is an important aspect to test?

The various paths that the code can take during execution. Signup and view all the answers

What output will the code provide if the input is 0?

0 is zero Signup and view all the answers

What is an error that will occur when a non-numeric value is entered?

An error will occur causing the program to halt Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of automated testing as described?

To enable faster and more precise testing than manual methods Signup and view all the answers

What will happen if a decimal number is inputted into the initial code?

An error will occur because of the invalid input Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the assert keyword in the testing function?

It checks that a condition is true and raises an error if false Signup and view all the answers

What value should the function getSquare(num) return when num equals 4?

8 Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the behavior of the test function?

It checks if the output of getSquare(4) is 16 and raises an error if not Signup and view all the answers

What would be the correct response for a negative input in the initial code?

It will indicate that the number is a negative number Signup and view all the answers

What is the total number of test cases to be created according to the plan?

16 Signup and view all the answers

What type of inputs should throw an error in the Sub Function?

Two floats Signup and view all the answers

Which keyword is used to create tests in Python according to the document?

assert Signup and view all the answers

What should be verified when testing the Mul and Div functions?

Only whole numbers should provide valid outputs Signup and view all the answers

What is the expected error message when invalid inputs are provided?

Error: The calculator can only accept whole numbers Signup and view all the answers

In Python, where should the Expected Result of a test case be defined?

Within the assert statement Signup and view all the answers

What outcome is expected when the test for two floats is executed?

Throws a specified error Signup and view all the answers

What type of number combinations are explicitly tested in the Sub Function?

Two distinct whole numbers and error cases Signup and view all the answers

What is the first set of test data used for the subtract function?

The numbers 2 and 'cat' Signup and view all the answers

What should the assert statement for the second test case look like without the try part?

assert subtract(2, 'cat') raises an error Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion can be drawn if all tests pass?

The function may still have untested edge cases. Signup and view all the answers

What is the expected result when testing the case with data values 62 and 20?

42 Signup and view all the answers

Why is it essential to perform multiple tests on a function?

To detect new defects and address the pesticide paradox Signup and view all the answers

What happens if a new test fails but is written correctly?

It implies the subtract function cannot handle incorrect data types. Signup and view all the answers

What should be included in the code structure when adding a test for the subtract function?

Test data and assertion statements Signup and view all the answers

What is demonstrated by the error message functioning correctly?

Input validation is successfully implemented. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Software Testing

Software testing is a crucial part of ensuring a software product works as required, and produces accurate test reports to identify and solve issues.
Understanding testing helps create and implement a test strategy for quality software.
The process includes theoretical principles, common software issues, different testing types, and validating user input, as well as practical demonstrations of white-box and black-box testing.

Why Do We Need Testing?

Testing is essential to verify that software functions correctly.
It helps identify and resolve issues before release, reducing costs and improving user experience.
Examples include car safety tests, quizzes, and online forms, where appropriate testing prevents costly failures and maintains user trust.

Types of Software Defects

Software errors and bugs impact a product's usability.
Errors relate to the core functionality of the software, such as a cancel button not working or a navigation app crashing.
Other common issues include not getting correct feedback from the system (e.g., no confirmation email), incorrect calculation results, and control flow errors (skipping or repeating steps incorrectly).

Verification and Validation

Verification checks if the software is built correctly, meeting specifications.
Validation checks if the correct software has been built to meet user requirements.
Verification and validation are crucial activities in the software testing life cycle (STLC).
Example: Testing whether a product is correctly registered at a checkout machine is verification. Asking staff if the checkout machine is easy to use is validation.

The Seven Principles of Software Testing

Testing shows the presence of defects, not their absence.
Exhaustive testing is impossible.
Early testing saves time & money.
Defects cluster together.
Beware of the pesticide paradox (repeating tests becomes less effective).
Testing is context-dependent.
Absence of errors is a fallacy.

Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

The STLC outlines the phases involved in the software testing process.
The phases include requirements analysis, test planning, test case development, test environment setup, test execution and test closure.
These phases work together as a structured method to ensure software quality and meet client requirements.

Black-Box and White-Box Testing

Black-box testing focuses on user interaction with the software without looking at the code.
White-box testing involves analysing the code and testing its internal structures.
Both are important for verifying software and detecting defects in different situations.

Manual Testing

Manual testing involves interacting with the software as a user would.
It's a type of black-box testing technique
It is flexible, allows the tester to explore different aspects of the software and discover unexpected issues.
It can be time-consuming compared to automated testing

Automated Testing

Automated testing uses code to perform tests automatically and repeatedly, which is faster and more precise than manual testing.
It is a type of white-box testing; it requires a programmer to write code that directly tests the program's logic.
It can simulate user inputs and execute multiple tests at the same time.
Is useful for comprehensive testing and helps to ensure correctness.

Measuring Test Coverage

Test coverage indicates how much of the software has been tested by the tests.
Software testers use two common techniques: test coverage and code coverage.
Both methods are important in different situations
Test coverage assesses the number of requirements met and code coverage measures the number of code lines tested/covered.

The Calculator

This focuses on building tests for functions within a calculator program.
The tests include checking various inputs, including whole numbers and strings, to ascertain correct calculation outcomes and whether errors are returned as expected.
The main objective is to catch programming bugs as early as possible.

Test Plan Document

The document outlines the objectives, deliverables, and testing strategy to guide testing processes.
It's vital for effective testing documentation for software.
It should also indicate what will be tested, when and by whom.

Test Cases

Test cases define the individual steps to test each part of a piece of software
It helps to test the program with many different inputs.
Cases should include expected results and comments.

Test Reports

A written summary of the testing results
It outlines the tests that have been carried out, the status of each test (passed/failed/not run) and comments about any observed issues or errors.
It is the final document required for the testing process
Test reports are important for delivering feedback to software developers and other relevant stakeholders.

Test-Driven Development

Write the tests first, then write the code that makes the tests pass, then refactor and optimize.
Red-Green-Refactor methodology is a good testing process to deliver better quality software.
Supports development of quality software.

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Description

This quiz covers essential concepts in software testing, including objectives, types, defects, and the roles of automated testing. Understand the importance of validating input and the implications of inadequate testing. Test your knowledge of black box testing and the effectiveness of automated methods.