Black Box and White Box Testing
1. Introduction
Software testing is a critical phase in the development lifecycle, ensuring that
applications function correctly and securely. This report presents an analysis of
Black Box and White Box Testing methodologies applied to two distinct systems:
a university's Course Registration System and a banking application's User
Authentication Module.
2. Black Box Testing: Course Registration System
2.1 Objective
The purpose of Black Box Testing in this context is to evaluate the functionality of
the Course Registration System, ensuring that students can register for courses,
view schedules, and drop classes without errors.
2.2 Testing Approach
Black Box Testing methodologies applied include:
- Requirements-Based Testing: Validating compliance with functional
requirements
- Positive and Negative Testing: Ensuring correct handling of valid and
invalid inputs
- Boundary Value Analysis: Testing scenarios at input limits, such as
maximum and minimum course limits
- Equivalence Partitioning: Categorizing inputs and testing representative
values
- State-Based Testing: Assessing transitions between states, such as course
registration status changes
2.3 Test Scenarios
- Course Registration:
_ Register for a valid course
_ Attempt to register for a full course
_ Try registering with missing prerequisites
_ Exceed the maximum course limit
- View Schedule:
_ View schedule for a registered student
_ View schedule with no registered courses
_ Ensure correct course timings are displayed
- Drop Classes:
_ Successfully drop a registered course
_ Attempt to drop a course not registered
_ Drop courses until no remaining courses
- Error Handling:
_ Invalid course selection
_ Attempting actions with expired session
_ System crash or response delay handling
3. White Box Testing: User Authentication Module
3.1 Objective
The objective of White Box Testing for the banking application's User
Authentication Module is to ensure secure and efficient functionality of login,
password validation, and access control mechanisms.
3.2 Testing Approach
White Box Testing techniques applied include:
- Path Coverage: Ensuring all execution paths within functions are tested
- Condition Coverage: Validating both true and false outcomes of decision
branches
- Statement Coverage: Verifying execution of all code lines at least once
- Function Coverage: Testing each function independently to confirm
expected behavior
- Loop Testing: Examining loop behavior under various iteration conditions
3.3 Test Scenarios
- Login Function:
_ Successful login with valid credentials
_ Attempt to log in with incorrect credentials
_ Input edge cases (empty username/password, long inputs, special
characters)
_ Account lockout after multiple failed attempts
- Password Validation:
_ Check password complexity requirements (length, special
characters, uppercase, digits)
_ Test password reset functionality
_ Verify old passwords cannot be reused immediately
- Access Control:
_ Verify role-based access (e.g., user vs. admin permissions)
_ Attempt unauthorized access to restricted areas
_ Check session expiration and automatic logout behavior
- Security Vulnerabilities:
_ SQL Injection testing
_ Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities
_ Brute force attack mitigation
4. Conclusion
The Black Box Testing approach ensures that the Course Registration System
functions correctly for students by validating user interactions and expected
outputs. Meanwhile, the White Box Testing strategy enhances the security and
efficiency of the User Authentication Module by rigorously analyzing internal logic
and vulnerabilities. Together, these testing methodologies contribute to the
overall reliability, usability, and security of software applications.
