White-Box

Testing

Presented by
K.Madhavan
22D41A6243
Definition and Characteristics
Definition Characteristics

White-box testing, also known as glass-box testing, is White-box testing focuses on the internal workings of
a software testing technique that examines the the software, delving into the code, data structures,
internal structure, design, and implementation of a and algorithms to ensure they are functioning as
software system or application. intended.
Advantages of White-Box Testing
Improved Code Quality
White-box testing allows
developers to thoroughly examine
the internal structure and logic of
the code, leading to the
identification and resolution of
complex bugs and vulnerabilities.
Enhanced Testability
By understanding the program's
internal workings, white-box
testing enables the creation of
targeted test cases that cover a
wider range of scenarios and edge
cases.
Efficient Debugging
White-box testing provides
valuable insight into the program's
execution flow, making it easier to
locate and fix defects by
pinpointing the root cause of
issues.
Techniques in White-
Box Testing
White-box testing employs a variety of techniques to thoroughly examine the
internal workings of software. These techniques ensure comprehensive coverage
and validate the application's behavior under diverse conditions.
Statement Coverage

Code Analysis Thoroughness Identification

Statement coverage measures the It ensures that all executable Statement coverage helps identify
percentage of statements in the statements in the program are untested sections of the code,
source code that are executed tested, providing a basic level of which can then be targeted for
during testing. testing thoroughness. further testing.
Branch Coverage
Measure Completeness
Branch coverage evaluates whether all
possible branches of a control structure,
such as if-else statements, have been
executed during testing.
Ensure Thorough Testing
By achieving high branch coverage, you
can be more confident that your test cases
have thoroughly exercised the program's
logic and functionality.

Identify Edge Cases

Branch coverage helps expose edge cases and uncommon scenarios that may not be apparent
from just looking at the code.
Condition Coverage
1 Checking Boolean
Expressions
Condition coverage
ensures that all possible
outcomes of Boolean
expressions in the code are
tested, including true and
false conditions.
2 Handling Complex
Conditions
This technique is
particularly useful for
testing complex
conditional statements with
multiple logical operators,
ensuring comprehensive
testing of the code's
decision-making logic.
3 Combination of
Conditions
Condition coverage also
involves testing all
possible combinations of
conditions to verify the
correctness of the code's
behavior under various
scenarios.
Path Coverage
Understanding Program
Paths
Path coverage aims to ensure that
all possible execution paths
through the source code are tested,
providing comprehensive
validation of the program's logic.
Identifying Unique Paths
Testers analyze the control flow
graph of the program to identify
all unique execution paths, which
can range from simple linear
flows to highly complex
branching structures.
Generating Exhaustive
Test Cases
To achieve path coverage, the
testing team must design test cases
that exercise each unique path
through the program, verifying
that the software behaves as
expected along every possible
execution route.
Implementing White-Box Testing
Identify Key Components
Pinpoint the critical code modules, data structures, and control flows that require thorough testing
to ensure software quality and reliability.

Design Test Cases

Develop comprehensive test cases that exercise the internal logic and structure of the software,
covering various scenarios and edge cases.

Execute Tests
Meticulously execute the test cases, monitoring code execution, analyzing outputs, and gathering
data to identify defects and validate functionality.

Analyze Results
Thoroughly review the test results, identifying and documenting any discrepancies between
expected and actual behavior to guide the debugging and fixing process.
Challenges and Limitations
Complexity
Implementing white-box testing can be complex,
especially for large and intricate codebases.
Navigating the technical details and
interdependencies can be overwhelming.
Time-Consuming
Thoroughly exercising all possible paths and
conditions in the code can be a labor-intensive and
time-consuming process, which can impact project
timelines.
Access to Source Code
White-box testing requires access to the
application's source code, which may not always
be available, particularly in black-box testing
scenarios.
Specialized Skillset
Effective white-box testing requires a deep
understanding of programming concepts and
software architecture, limiting the pool of
qualified testers.