Software testing is one of the most critical components in development. It allows you to identify the slightest errors, which means you will get a high-quality product that users will like. White box testing is a special kind of testing that examines the structure of a program and derives test data based on the program’s logic or code. You may also know it by names such as box testing, open window testing, analytical testing, path testing, or structural testing. Today we want to talk more about what it is and how it improves your product.
What is it, and how does it work?
When most specialists create software, they develop different modules separately, then combine them into one. To check how correctly this connection is made, software testing by approach is used.
Such testing is performed in a specific order:
- all functions, components, and programs must be tested and identified first;
- the specialist creates a flow graph and defines/builds all possible paths in the flow graph;
- reveals all possible paths from the flow graph;
- writes test cases for each flow path;
- repeats test cases.
There are many reasons to test web applications, but the main one is that you can’t get outstanding results until you check how well your software works.
Main types of white box testing
There are several types of white language testing:
- unit testing;
- integration testing;
- system testing.
Each of these varieties has its characteristics. So, unit testing is a process in which all code is disassembled into small parts (modules), which are tested separately, independently of each other.
After unit testing ends, it’s time for integration testing. It is done to evaluate the conformity of a system or component to the specified functional requirements, which were determined during the project planning stage.
The last stage of white box testing is system testing. It means that specialists will have to evaluate the end-to-end specifications of the system. The tester must understand how the various components of an application work together in a complete integrated system or application.
Key Benefits of White Box Testing
While manual software testing allows you to understand how user-friendly your product will be, white box testing allows you to look deeper and understand how logically the code structure is built and how individual modules interact. Why is it so important?
How well you do white box testing determines whether your software can perform the necessary functions, how stress-resistant it is, and much more. For example, you decided to develop an eCommerce platform and created each module correctly, but you could not correctly connect them to the block with payment systems. In this case, the customer will be able to find the desired product and add it to the cart but will not be able to make a payment. In this case, you are likely to lose a client.
So, among the main advantages of this type of testing:
- allows you to find hidden errors;
- allows you to cover the code as much as possible;
- helps to optimize the code.
It is worth saying that this type of testing should be performed not only in software development but also in the future. So, if your project is popular and you want to add new features, then you should do it only with the help of this type of testing. The problem is that new modules can negatively affect the operation of old ones.
How to implement white box testing?
There are several methods to implement white box testing; among the most common are:
- operator coverage;
- cover of branches;
- track coverage;
- testing of operators;
- path coverage.
The choice depends on the characteristics of your software and the goals you want to achieve using this type of testing. A subject matter expert should determine it after examining the operation of your software.
Why is it essential to conduct such testing?
There are not so many real reasons to test web apps, but even so some projects cannot afford to perform all types of testing due to the limited budget of the project, especially when it comes to startups. Nevertheless, it would be best if you did not refuse white box testing because there are several essential aspects:
- the main goal is to check the health of the application;
- includes workflow identification;
- functionality of conditional loops;
- detection of security problems;
- covers most paths.
White box testing is a universal tool for checking software because it allows you to identify the number of possible errors within the modules and the software.
Conclusion
Software testing is often compared to the work of an editor. No matter how talented journalists are, they cannot do without an editor. The same applies to programmers. No matter how good specialists work on your project, errors are always possible due to the human factor, so it is imperative to conduct testing to identify them in time.
