Black box testing is a software testing method that examines the functionality of an application without peering into its internal structures or workings. This method of testing can be applied to virtually every level of software testing, including unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing. Black box testing is sometimes referred to as specification-based testing, and it is designed to test the application from the perspective of an end-user.
Black box testing is performed by testers who are not involved in the development of the application, which helps to ensure that testing is unbiased and impartial. Testers performing black box testing do not have access to the application’s internal code, which allows them to focus on testing the application’s external behavior and functionality. Black box testing is typically based on the application’s requirements, which helps to ensure that the application meets the required specifications.
Typical black box test design techniques include decision table testing, all-pairs testing, equivalence partitioning, boundary value analysis, cause-effect graph, error guessing, state transition testing, use case testing, user story testing, domain analysis, syntax testing, and combining technique.
Black box testing can be used to evaluate the functionality, security, performance, and other aspects of an application. It is also used in penetration testing to simulate an external hacking attempt. Black box testing is named for the fact that the tester has no internal knowledge of the application, while white box testing takes the opposite approach.
