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Black Box Testing – Understanding

the Basics

This article highlights the basics of black-box

testing when to perform black-box testing and
what are the bene?ts of using this form of the
testing. It also gives insights into the various
techniques used to perform black-box testing.

What is black box testing?

The black box is a powerful technique to check
the application under test from the user’s
perspective. Black box testing is used to test the
system against external factors responsible for
software failures. This testing approach focuses
on the input that goes into the software, and the
output that is produced. The testing team does
not cover the inside details such as code, server
logic, and development method.

Black box testing is based on the requirements

and checks the system to validate against
prede?ned requirements.

C
+
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Various parameters checked in black box testing

are:

Accurate actions performed by users

System’s interaction with the inputs
The response time of the system
Use of data structures Issues in the
user interface
Usability issues
Performance issues
Abrupt application failure, unable to
start or finish

Types of Black Box Testing

There are many different types of Black Box
Testing, some of them are given below:

Functional testing – This is a type of

black box testing which is related to
the functional requirements of a
system; Functional testing is
concerned only with the functional
requirements of a system and covers
how well the system executes its
functions.
Non-functional testing – This black
box testing type is not related to
testing of specific functionality, Non
functional testing is concerned with the
non-functional requirements and is
designed specifically to evaluate the
readiness of a system according to the
various criteria which are not covered
by functional testing.
Regression testing – Regression
Testing is performed after code fixes,
upgrades or any other system
maintenance to check the new changes
has not affected any existing
functionality.

Black box testing example:

A simple login screen of software or a web
application will be tested for seamless user
login. The login screen has two ?elds, username
and password as an input and the output will be
to enable access to the system.

A black box testing will not consider the

speci?cations of the code, and it will test the
valid username and password to login to the right
account.

This form of testing technique will check the

input and output.

A user logged in when inputs a present

username and correct password
A user receives an error message when
enters username and incorrect
password

The black box testing is also known as an

opaque, closed box, function-centric testing. It
emphasizes on the behavior of the software.
Black box testing checks scenarios where the
system can break.

For example, a user might enter the password in

the wrong format, and a user might not receive
an error message on entering an incorrect
password.

When we do Black Box testing?

Unlike traditional white box testing,

black box testing is beneficial for
testing software usability.
The overall functionality of the system
under test
Black box testing gives you a broader
picture of the software.
This testing approach sees an
application from a user’s perspective.
To test the software as a whole system
rather than different modules.

Various approaches to black-box

testing
There are a set of approaches for black-box
testing.

Manual UI Testing: In this approach, a tester

checks the system as a user. Check and verify
the user data, error messages.

Automated UI Testing: In this approach, user

interaction with the system is recorded to ?nd
errors and glitches. Testers can set record
demand as per schedule.

Documentation Testing: In this approach, a

tester purely checks the input and output of the
software. Testers consider what system should
perform rather than how. It is a manual approach
to testing.

What are Black Box testing

techniques?
There are various test case design techniques
applied for black-box testing:

1. Boundary Value Analysis

2. Equivalence partitioning
3. State Transition Testing
4. Decision Table Testing
5. Graph-Based Testing
Z. Error Guessing Technique

1- Boundary Value Analysis

It is the widely used black-box testing, which is

also the basis for equivalence testing. Boundary
value analysis tests the software with test cases
with extreme values of test data. BVA is used to
identify the [aws or errors that arise due to the
limits of input data.

For example: Taking inputs for a test case data

for an age section should accept a valid data of
anything between 1-100. According to BVP
analysis, the software will be tested against four
test data as -1, 1, 100, and 101 to check the
system’s response using the boundary values.

2- Equivalence partitioning

This test case designing techniques checks the

input and output by dividing the input into
equivalent classes. The data must be tested at
least once to ensure maximum test coverage of
data. It is the exhaustive form of testing, which
also reduces the redundancy of inputs.

For example: Taking inputs for a test case data

for the example mentioned above will have three
classes from which one data will be tested.

Valid class: 1 to 100 (any number), Invalid class:

-1 (checking the lowest of lowest), Invalid class:
101(highest of highest).

[Also Read: What is Boundary Value Analysis and

Equivalence Partitioning?]

3- State Transition Testing

This testing technique uses the inputs, outputs,

and the state of the system during the testing
phase. It checks the software against the
sequence of transitions or events among the test
data.

Based on the type of software that is tested, it

checks for the behavioral changes of a system in
a particular state or another state while
maintaining the same inputs.

For example, A login page will let you input

username and password until three attempts.
Each incorrect password will be sent the user to
the login page. After the third attempt, the user
will be sent to an error page. This state transition
method considers the various states of the
system and the inputs to pass only the right
sequence of the testing.

4- Decision Table Testing

This approach creates test cases based on

various possibilities. It considers multiple test
cases in a decision table format where each
condition is checked and ful?lled, to pass the test
and provide accurate output. It is preferred in
case of various input combinations and multiple
possibilities.

For example, A food delivery application will

check various payment modes as input to place
the order — decision making based on the table.

Case1: If the end-user has a card, then the

system will not check for cash or coupon and will
take action to place the order.

Case2: If the end-user has a coupon will not be

checked for a card or cash and action will be
taken.

Case3: if the end-user has cash, the action will be

taken.

Case4: If the end-user doesn’t have anything,

then action will not be taken.

5- Graph-Based Testing:

It is similar to a decision-based test case design

approach where the relationship between links
and input cases are considered.

6- Error Guessing Technique:

This method of designing test cases is about

guessing the output and input to ?x any errors
that might be present in the system. It depends
on the skills and judgment of the tester.

Comparison testing

This method uses the two different versions of

the same software to compare and validate the
results.

How to do Black Box testing?

When you get the basic understanding of black-
box testing then the next question which comes
up in mind is: How to perform the Black box
testing? Below you can check the steps to
perform this testing:

The first step to black-box testing is to

understand the requirement
specifications of the application under
test. An accurate and precise SRS
document should be there.
The next step is to evaluate the set of
valid inputs and test scenarios to test
the software. The goal is to save time
and get good test coverage.
Prepare the test cases to cover a
maximum range of inputs.
The test cases are run in the system to
generate output, which is validated with
the expected outcome to mark pass or
fail.
The failed steps are marked and sent to
the development team to fix them.
Retest the system using various testing
techniques to verify its recurring nature
or to pass it.

The black box testing can be easily used to

check and validate the entire software
development life cycle. It can be used at various
stages such as unit, integration, acceptance,
system, and regression to evaluate the product.

What are the beneVts of Black Box

testing?
The tester doesn’t need any technical
knowledge to test the system. It is
essential to understand the user’s
perspective.
Testing is performed after
development, and both the activities
are independent of each other.
It works for a more extensive coverage
which is usually missed out by testers
as they fail to see the bigger picture of
the software.
Test cases can be generated before
development and right after
specification.
Black box testing methodology is close
to agile.

Conclusion
Black box testing helps to ?nd the gaps in
functionality, usability, and other features. This
form of testing gives an overview of software
performance and its output. It improves software
quality and reduces the time to market. This form
of testing mitigates the risk of software failures
at the user’s end.

Also Read:

White Box Testing – Step by Step Guide on

Everything you Need to Know

Black Box vs White Box Testing Techniques –

Understand the Differences

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Join The Discussion

Dai Software Reply

11th Februar y 2021 at 3:59 pm

very interesting , good job and thanks for

sharing such a good information

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