Test Case Design
Equivalence Partitioning
Test Case Design
Introduction
This article provides a comprehensive guide to test case design, focusing on the equivalence partitioning technique. We will explore various methods for systematically creating effective test cases and illustrate these concepts with practical examples.
Test Case Design
Test case design is the process of creating detailed test cases to effectively verify software functionality. It involves identifying potential scenarios, defining inputs and expected outputs, and designing test cases to cover these scenarios.
Test Case Design Techniques
Several techniques help design test cases systematically. These include equivalence partitioning, boundary value analysis, decision table testing, state transition testing, use case testing, and more.
Equivalence Partitioning
Equivalence partitioning is a test case design technique where input data is divided into groups (partitions) that are expected to be treated similarly by the software. Testing one value from each partition can provide significant test coverage, reducing redundancy.
Explanation
The goal is to identify representative values from each partition. If one value in a partition passes the test, it's likely other values within the same partition will also pass. This approach greatly improves the efficiency of testing.
Example 1: Login Form
Consider testing a login form with a username and password field.
Valid Input Group
Username and password with correct credentials.
{"username": "validuser", "password": "validpassword"}
Invalid Input Group 1
Username is correct, but the password is incorrect.
{"username": "validuser", "password": "wrongpassword"}
Invalid Input Group 2
Username is incorrect, and the password is left blank.
{"username": "invaliduser", "password": ""}
Example 2: Age Verification
Let's test an age verification feature for a website.
Valid Input Group
Age within the accepted range (e.g., 18-65).
const age = 30; // Valid age
Invalid Input Group 1
Age below the accepted range.
const age = 15; // Invalid age
Invalid Input Group 2
Age above the accepted range.
const age = 70; // Invalid age
Summary
- Test case design is crucial for effective software testing.
- Equivalence partitioning helps create efficient test cases by dividing inputs into groups.
- Applying techniques like equivalence partitioning and boundary value analysis reduces redundancy and ensures comprehensive test coverage.
- Understanding different input groups (valid and invalid) is essential for creating robust test cases.