What is white box testing?
White box testing (also called “clear box” or “structural” testing) lets testers examine the internal workings of an application by diving into its source code.
Unlike black box testing where you only see inputs and outputs, white box testing gives you direct access to the code's logic, functions, and pathways. Think of it like inspecting a car's engine instead of just testing if it runs.
Unlike black box testing where you only see inputs and outputs, white box testing gives you direct access to the code's logic, functions, and pathways. Think of it like inspecting a car's engine instead of just testing if it runs.
Do you have any examples of white box testing?
When performing white box testing, you might:
- Test a discount calculator function by writing unit tests for each price bracket and edge case (like $99.99 vs $100.00)
- Verify that a login system properly handles password encryption by examining the hashing function
- Ensure a search algorithm checks all database tables in the correct order by testing its execution path
- Test error handling by deliberately triggering each exception case in the code
Why is white box testing important?
White box testing catches issues that might slip through traditional user-focused testing. By examining the code directly, testers spot potential problems like incorrect boundary conditions or infinite loops before they become production bugs.
What are the challenges with white box testing?
White box testing requires a solid understanding of programming languages and software architecture, though you don't need to be an expert developer.
The biggest challenge is often keeping test cases updated as the codebase evolves. Testing heavily branched code can become complex, and you'll need to balance thoroughness with time constraints. Success often depends on good coordination with developers to understand new code changes and their impact.
The biggest challenge is often keeping test cases updated as the codebase evolves. Testing heavily branched code can become complex, and you'll need to balance thoroughness with time constraints. Success often depends on good coordination with developers to understand new code changes and their impact.
