Software Testing Methods

Bugs don’t just exist in the wild—they reside in software programs, too. These glitches causes a plethora of issues, from program crashes, to lost data, or even rocket launch errors, as in the case of the European Ariane 5.

That’s why programmers have to test software before releasing or using it to catch these virtual vermin. In general, they utilize three methods to test a software in development:

Black Box Method

In a black box test, the user is oblivious to the system’s architecture and has no access to the source code. In other words, he or she goes into the test completely blind. This allows developers to see their software from an end-user’s perspective.

White Box Method

White box testing, on the other hand, utilizes a tester who is familiar with the program’s underlying codes. His or her task is to conduct a thorough investigation of the internal logic and structure of the code—that is, to uncover hidden defects so they can be patched prior to release.

Grey Box Testing

Grey box testing uses elements from both the white and black box method. In it, the code is only partially known and the tester uses the program at a black-box or user-oriented level.

Of course, software testing can be time consuming, which is why many developers use automated testing tools to conduct multiple tests in record time, allowing them to catch as many bugs as possible before finalizing the code.