What is White Box Testing?
White box testing is a software testing methodology that evaluates the internal working and code of an application. It aims to evaluate the software’s efficiency and correctness.
Unlike the black box testing approach, white box testing digs deeper into the code structure, logical paths, and control flows of an application. White box testing ensures that each line of code operates as intended.
White box testing is beneficial in identifying hidden errors, enhancing code security, and improving overall software quality.
How does white box testing work?
In white box testing, the programmers have complete visibility of the code. The testers use their knowledge to validate this.
Generally, white box testing has the following steps:
- Examine the source code: Software testers understand the source code for its flow, logic, and intended functionality.
- Determine input and outputs: Testers identify input paths and expected outputs for each logic path in the code.
- Test case development: Testers create test cases to cover specific conditions, branches, and loops within the code.
- Execute tests: Here, testers run the test cases using tools or manually. Here they compare the actual output with the expected one.
- Analyze and fix: Any anomaly or bug identified during testing is documented and addressed by developers to improve code quality.
What are the different names for white box testing?
White box testing is also known as
- Clear box testing
- Glass box testing
- Open box testing
- Transparent box testing
- Code based testing
What are the key components of white box testing?
The key components of white box testing are as follows:
| Key Components of Whitebox Testing | |
| Component | Description |
| Statement coverage | Ensures that each line or statement in the code is executed at least once during testing. |
| Branch coverage | Examines each possible decision point in the code, verifying that all logical branches are tested. |
| Path coverage | Tests all possible paths within a module to provide comprehensive coverage of the code structure. |
| Loop testing | Validates that all loops function correctly, preventing errors such as infinite loops. |
| Condition coverage | Focuses on testing each logical condition to confirm it produces the expected result under different scenarios. |
Key definitions related to white box testing
- Code coverage: It is a term used to gauge how much code has been tested.
- Static testing: It refers to testing the code without executing it. It is generally done through code review or inspection.
- Dynamic testing: This is performed by running the code and observing the outcomes.
- Control flow: The order in which function calls, statements, and instructions are executed in a program.
