Software Engineering Micro Specialization | Software Engineering - Advanced White-Box Testing Techniques by Prakhar Chauhan | Learn Smarter
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Software Engineering - Advanced White-Box Testing Techniques

The module focuses on advanced white-box testing techniques, specifically emphasizing Condition Testing, Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC), Path Testing, Dataflow Testing, and Mutation Testing. These techniques are crucial for ensuring thorough testing of complex software systems, especially in safety-critical environments. Each technique is designed to systematically enhance test case design and effectiveness, thereby improving the reliability and quality of software.

Sections

  • 1

    Software Engineering - Advanced White-Box Testing Techniques

    This section explores advanced white-box testing techniques in software engineering, focusing on methods like Condition Testing, Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC), Path Testing, Dataflow Testing, and Mutation Testing.

    Learning Practice

  • 2

    Module Overview

    This module focuses on advanced white-box testing techniques essential for enhancing software reliability and effectiveness.

    Learning Practice

  • 3

    Lecture 56: Condition Testing

    This section covers Condition Testing, an advanced white-box testing technique, which focuses on evaluating complex boolean expressions in software to detect logical errors.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.1

    Learning Objectives

    This section outlines the key learning objectives for understanding advanced white-box testing techniques, specifically focusing on Condition Testing.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.2

    Topics Covered

    This section discusses advanced white-box testing techniques, particularly focusing on Condition Testing and its various coverage types.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.2.1

    The Inadequacy Of Simpler Coverage For Compound Conditions

    This section discusses the limitations of basic coverage criteria in identifying errors in complex boolean expressions and introduces Condition Testing as a necessary technique.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.2.2

    Condition Testing: Drilling Down Into Logical Expressions

    Condition Testing is a critical white-box testing technique focused on thoroughly evaluating the logical expressions in software to uncover errors that simpler coverage methods may miss.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.2.3

    Types Of Condition Coverage: Increasing Rigor

    This section discusses various types of condition coverage in white-box testing, emphasizing the need for rigorous testing techniques to identify logical errors within compound boolean expressions.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.2.3.1

    Basic Condition Coverage (Bcc)

    Basic Condition Coverage (BCC) is a criterion in white-box testing that ensures each individual condition in a compound boolean expression is evaluated to both true and false.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.2.3.2

    Branch/condition Coverage (Bcc + Decision Coverage)

    Branch/Condition Coverage (BCC) is an advanced white-box testing technique that combines basic condition coverage and decision coverage to enhance the rigor of testing complex logical expressions in software.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.2.3.3

    Modified Condition/decision Coverage (Mc/dc)

    Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC) is a stringent white-box testing criterion designed to ensure that each condition within a compound boolean expression independently influences the decision outcome.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.2.4

    Practical Derivation Of Test Cases For Condition Testing (Bcc Example)

    This section focuses on condition testing and its application in deriving effective test cases to ensure robust error detection in complex boolean expressions.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.2.5

    Advantages And Limitations Of Condition Testing

    This section covers the benefits and drawbacks of Condition Testing in software engineering, focusing on its role in detecting logical errors and its limitations.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.2.5.1

    Advantages

    This section explores the advantages and limitations of Condition Testing, an advanced white-box testing technique.

    Learning Practice

  • 3.2.5.2

    Limitations

    This section discusses the limitations of Condition Testing, highlighting its constraints in ensuring independent influence and addressing complex logical conditions.

    Learning Practice

  • 4

    Lecture 57: Mc/dc Coverage

    This section defines Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC) and explains its importance in ensuring software reliability, particularly for safety-critical applications.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.1

    Learning Objectives

    This section outlines the key learning objectives of the course module on advanced white-box testing techniques, focusing particularly on Condition Testing.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.2

    Topics Covered

    This section covers advanced techniques in white-box testing, focusing on Condition Testing and its limitations, advantages, and practical applications.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.2.1

    The Imperative For Mc/dc

    MC/DC is a critical testing framework for ensuring reliable software in safety-critical systems by evaluating the independent influence of conditions.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.2.2

    Precise Definition Of Modified Condition/decision Coverage (Mc/dc)

    Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC) is a rigorous white-box testing criterion ensuring that each condition in a compound boolean expression independently affects the overall decision's outcome.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.2.3

    The Principle Of Independent Influence

    This section introduces Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC), emphasizing the principle of independent influence to ensure comprehensive testing of boolean expressions in safety-critical software.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.2.4

    Relationship To Other Coverage Criteria

    This section explores the relationship between various white-box testing criteria, emphasizing the importance of advanced metrics like Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC) over simpler ones.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.2.5

    Application Context And Industry Mandates

    This section outlines the importance of advanced white-box testing techniques and their application in various industry contexts, specifically focusing on safety-critical systems requiring robust testing standards like Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC).

    Learning Practice

  • 5

    Lecture 58: Mc/dc Testing

    This section provides an comprehensive guide on Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC) testing, detailing its significance, methodology, and practical implications in software development.

    Learning Practice

  • 5.1

    Learning Objectives

    This section outlines the learning objectives of Condition Testing in advanced software engineering, focusing on its purpose, methodology, and limitations.

    Learning Practice

  • 5.2

    Topics Covered

    This section explores advanced white-box testing techniques, focusing on Condition Testing and its importance in uncovering logical errors in complex boolean expressions.

    Learning Practice

  • 5.2.1

    Systematic Test Case Derivation For Mc/dc

    This section provides an in-depth look at the systematic process of deriving test cases to achieve Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC) for software testing.

    Learning Practice

  • 5.2.2

    Minimum Number Of Test Cases For Mc/dc

    This section discusses the concept of Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC) and outlines the minimum number of test cases needed for achieving MC/DC in software testing.

    Learning Practice

  • 5.2.3

    Challenges And Practical Considerations In Mc/dc Testing

    This section addresses the complexities and practical constraints associated with Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC) testing in software engineering.

    Learning Practice

  • 5.2.4

    Benefits And Costs Of Mc/dc Testing

    MC/DC testing provides stringent evaluation standards for software, particularly in safety-critical applications, balancing significant benefits against inherent costs.

    Learning Practice

  • 5.2.4.1

    Significant Benefits

    This section outlines the significant benefits of advanced white-box testing techniques, particularly Condition Testing and its variants, in enhancing software quality and reliability.

    Learning Practice

  • 5.2.4.2

    Associated Costs

    Learning Practice

  • 6

    Lecture 59: Path Testing

    Path Testing focuses on executing distinct sequences of statements in a program to verify its logical correctness and execution paths.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.1

    Learning Objectives

    The Learning Objectives section outlines the key goals for understanding Condition Testing in advanced white-box testing techniques within software engineering.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2

    Topics Covered

    This section explores advanced white-box testing techniques, focusing on Condition Testing and its critical role in identifying logical errors within software.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.1

    The Concept Of Program Paths

    This section introduces program paths, focusing on their critical role in software testing, particularly through path testing and control flow graphs.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.2

    Control Flow Graphs (Cfg)

    Control Flow Graphs (CFGs) are a visual representation of the control flow within a program, crucial for understanding execution paths and complexity.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.2.1

    Definition

    This section provides a comprehensive overview of advanced white-box testing techniques in software engineering, focusing on Condition Testing, Modified Condition/Decision Coverage (MC/DC), Path Testing, Dataflow Testing, and Mutation Testing.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.2.2

    Construction Of Cfgs

    This section explores the construction of Control Flow Graphs (CFGs) as essential tools in path testing for software engineering.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.2.3

    Significance Of Cfgs

    Control Flow Graphs (CFGs) are essential in white-box testing, allowing for a detailed analysis of program execution paths, enabling testers to systematically design test cases.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.3

    Independent Paths And Cyclomatic Complexity

    This section discusses the concepts of independent paths and cyclomatic complexity in software testing, emphasizing their importance in evaluating the structural complexity of code and ensuring effective test coverage.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.3.1

    Independent Path (Basis Path)

    This section addresses advanced white-box testing techniques emphasizing Condition Testing and its limitations, alongside the necessity of deriving effective test cases to ensure optimal code quality.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.3.2

    Cyclomatic Complexity (Mccabe's Metric)

    Cyclomatic Complexity, developed by Thomas J. McCabe, is a metric used to measure the complexity of a program based on the number of linear independent paths in its control flow graph, facilitating more effective testing and maintenance.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.4

    Deriving Test Cases For Path Coverage

    This section discusses the process and importance of deriving test cases specifically for achieving path coverage in software testing.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.5

    Advantages And Limitations Of Path Testing

    Path testing is a white-box technique aimed at assessing the execution sequences within a program, highlighting both its strengths and limitations.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.5.1

    Advantages

    This section outlines the advantages and limitations of Condition Testing, emphasizing its role in improving software quality through rigorous logical evaluations.

    Learning Practice

  • 6.2.5.2

    Limitations

    This section highlights the limitations of Condition Testing within white-box testing techniques.

    Learning Practice

  • 7

    Lecture 60: Dataflow And Mutation Testing

    This section covers Dataflow Testing and Mutation Testing, two advanced techniques for assessing software quality through variable usage and fault injection.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.1

    Learning Objectives

    This section outlines the learning objectives for advanced white-box testing techniques, emphasizing the importance of Condition Testing.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2

    Topics Covered

    This section explores advanced white-box testing techniques essential for uncovering logical errors in software development.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.1

    Dataflow Testing

    Dataflow Testing is a white-box technique that focuses on the lifecycle of variables in a program to identify errors related to data usage.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.1.1

    Introduction To Dataflow Testing

    Dataflow testing is a white-box testing technique focused on tracking the usage of variables within a program to identify defects.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.1.2

    Key Concepts In Dataflow Testing

    Dataflow testing focuses on tracking the usage and lifecycle of variables in software code to identify potential anomalies related to data usage.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.1.3

    Dataflow Coverage Criteria

    Dataflow testing focuses on the usage, definition, and lifecycle of variables in software to ensure logical correctness.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.1.4

    Benefits And Challenges Of Dataflow Testing

    Dataflow testing focuses on tracking the use and definition of variables throughout a program, providing significant benefits while also presenting unique challenges.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.2

    Mutation Testing

    Mutation Testing evaluates the effectiveness of existing test suites by introducing artificial faults into the code to identify weaknesses in test coverage.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.2.1

    Introduction To Mutation Testing

    Mutation Testing is a technique used in white-box testing to evaluate the quality of an existing test suite by creating and testing modified versions of the program.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.2.2

    Key Concepts In Mutation Testing

    Mutation Testing involves injecting faults into software to assess the effectiveness of test suites in detecting these faults.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.2.3

    The Mutation Testing Process

    Mutation testing is a technique that evaluates the effectiveness of a test suite by intentionally introducing faults into the software and assessing if the tests can detect them.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.2.4

    Advantages And Disadvantages Of Mutation Testing

    Mutation testing evaluates the effectiveness of test suites by introducing faults and checking if they are detected.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.2.4.1

    Significant Advantages

    The section outlines the significant advantages of advanced white-box testing techniques, focusing on their ability to enhance defect detection and software reliability.

    Learning Practice

  • 7.2.2.4.2

    Inherent Disadvantages

    This section discusses the inherent disadvantages of Condition Testing in white-box software testing, exploring its limitations and the critical need for more robust testing techniques.

    Learning Practice

References

Untitled document (20).pdf

Class Notes

Memorization

What we have learnt

  • Condition Testing is essent...
  • MC/DC is the highest standa...
  • Path Testing helps achieve ...

Final Test

Revision Tests