Grey Box Testing

Grey Box Testing Techniques

Matrix Testing

The matrix testing comes under grey Box testing, and it defines all of the used variables of a particular program. Variables are elements through which values travel inside the program therefore, they should be as per the requirement because otherwise, it will reduce the readability of the program and hence the speed of the software. Matrix Testing is a technique that removes unused and uninitialized variables by identifying the used variables from the program.

Regression Testing

It is a technique that is used to check whether the modification in any part of the software has caused any side effects to any other part of the software. During the confirmation testing, if any defect gets fixed and that part starts working as intended, there is still a chance that the fixed defect may have introduced a different defect somewhere else in the software. Regression testing takes care of such types of defects by testing strategies like retest risky use cases, retest within a firewall, etc.

OAT

OAT stands for Orthogonal Array testing. The main objective of using OAT is to cover the maximum code with minimum test cases. Test cases are designed in such a way that they can cover maximum code as well as the GUI functions with a smaller number of test cases. It is very helpful in testing complex applications.

Pattern Testing

It is a testing technique that is applicable on those software that are developed from the same pattern of previous software. In such softwares, there is a possibility that the same type of defects can occur. Pattern testing is used to determine the reasons for the failure so that they can be fixed in the next software. 

Also read  V Model in Software Engineering

Grey Box Testing Strategy

In order to perform grey box testing, it is not necessary that the tester needs to have access to the source code. A test can be designed based on the knowledge of the algorithm, architecture, internal states, or other high-level description of the software behavior. It uses all of the straightforward techniques of black-box testing for function testing. The test case generation is based on the requirements and preset all the conditions before testings the program by assertion method.

Steps to perform Grey Box Testing

The following steps should be followed in the same sequence in order to perform grey box testing:

• Select and identify the inputs from the Black box and White box testing inputs.
• Identify the expected outputs from the selected inputs
• Identify all of the major paths that are to be traversed during the testing period.
• identify the sub-functions which are part of the main function to perform deep-level testing
• Identify the inputs for the subfunctions
• Identify the expected outputs for the subfunctions
• Include executing a test case for the subfunctions
• Include the verification of the correctness of the result.

Advantages 

• It is done by taking the user's perspective.
• Testers do not require high programming skills.
• Users and developers have clear goals while doing the testing
• It is non-intrusive
• Developers have more time to fix the defects
• It has the benefits of both black box and white box testing
• It is unbiased that is, it avoids conflicts between tester and developer
• It is much more effective in integration testing

Disadvantages

• When performing grey testing in distributed systems, the defect associated is difficult.
• Complete white box testing is impossible because the source code is inaccessible.
• It is not suitable for algorithmic testing
• The test cases are difficult to design
• Because of the limited access to the internal structure, we have limited access for code path traversal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Grey box testing technique is a combination of which software testing techniques?

Grey box testing combines black box and white box testing techniques.
 

Why is grey box testing known as grey box testing?

Grey box testing is known as grey box testing as in this, the software program is like a semitransparent or grey box inside which a tester can partially see.
 

What are the best-suited applications for grey box testing?

Grey box testing is best suited for web-based applications.

Conclusion

In this article, we have extensively discussed what Grey box testing is, the different types of techniques used in grey box testing, and the steps to perform grey box testing.

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