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Object Oriented Testing

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 OO Testing
• Class Testing: Equivalent to unit testing for
conventional SW.
– The concept of a unit changes in the OO context.
– The class or object is the smallest testable unit.
– Testing must focus on each method of the class and the
state behavior of the class.
– It is important to consider the state of the class because this
will effect the behavior, methods, of the class.
– It is often difficult to determine the state of the object.
• You may have to introduce new methods to look at the state
variables for testing purposes.

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 OO Class Testing Example
• A bank account class.
– It may have methods to open the account, deposit
funds, withdraw funds and close the account.
– The states of the account include
• open with positive balance,
• open with negative or zero balance and
• closed.
– How the methods behave depends on the state of
the account.
• An account with a zero or negative balance will not allow
the customer to withdraw funds.
• If positive it might allow customer to go to overdraft once.
• You could introduce a new method to determine the if the
account is open or closed and if balance is positive.
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 OO Testing
• Integration Testing: Because OO SW
does not have a hierarchical control
structure, conventional top-down or
bottom-up integration strategies are not
applicable.

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 Two approaches for OO
Integration testing
• Thread-based testing-
– integrate the set of classes required to respond to
one input or event of the system.
– Each thread is integrated and tested individually.
• Use-based testing –
– first construct and test the classes which use very
few (if any) server classes (these are called the
independent classes).
– The next step is to test the next layer of classes,
the dependent classes, that use the independent
classes.
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 Validation Testing
• Conventional black-box testing derived
from the analysis model can be used to
test the OO software.
• Use cases are a good place to look
when developing test cases.

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 Test cases and the Class
hierarchy
• Methods that are redefined in a subclass
must be tested because it represents a new
design and new code.

• Methods that are inherited must also be

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• Random Testing: When a variety of
different operation sequences are
randomly generated.
– Keep in mind the behavior life sequence of
the class.

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• Partition testing: Very similar to
equivalence class partitioning for conventional
SW. Partition the input and output of the class
and design test cases to exercise each class.
• 3 Examples:
– State-based
– Attribute-based
– Category-based
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• State-based partitioning:
– Look at the states for the class.
– Determine which operations change the
state of the class and which do not and
design test cases to exercise the class.
– Test each method, while object is in each
state.
– Design test cases to do this.

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• Attribute-based partitioning:
– Look at the attributes of the class.
– Partition methods into those that use the
attribute, modify it and those that do not
use it.
– Design test cases for each partition.

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• Category-based partitioning:
– Look at the methods for the class.
– Partition the methods into categories
based on their function.
– Examples:
• initialization operations, computational, queries
and termination operations.
– Design test cases for each partition

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 Student Registration Example
• A student registration class.
– The methods include adding a class, dropping a
class, transferring to a different section of the
class and list classes.
– A student must first be registered with the
university (opened as a student).
– Holds can be placed on a student and this effects
whether he/she can register for a class.
– There are limits on how many credit hours a
student may register for.
– A student may graduate (close a student).
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 Student Registration Example
• Random testing may generate:
– register, add class, transfer, add class,
drop class, add class, hold, release hold,
add class, …

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 Student Registration Example
• State-based partitioning :
– States:
• Registered
• Hold
• Full Load
• Partial Load
• Freedom
– Events:
• Register, Add, Drop, List, transfer, Hold,Release,
Graduate
– Added methods:
• Display Hold
• Display credits
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 OO Test Case Design
• Given the differences between conventional
and OO SW, test case design is slightly
different.
• OO test cases should be defined in the
following way:
– Each test case should be uniquely identified and associated
with the class to be tested.
– The purpose of the test should be stated.
– The following list should be developed for each test:
1. List of object states to be tested.
2. List of messages and operations (methods) to be tested
3. List of exceptions that may occur as the object is tested.
4. List of external conditions (think about system testing) that
may change.
• Anything else needed for the test?
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 OO Test Case Design
• Instead of testing each component, you will
test each class.
• Make sure you identify the class you are
testing.
• You must test each method, in each state for
the class.
– This information will be included in the
purpose/condition.
• If needed, add methods to check state of the
object.
– You could use the result of these methods in your
expected outcome.

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