Testing Vocabulary - Page 2

Debugging: The process of analysing and correcting syntactic, logic and other errors identified during testing.

Decision Coverage: A white-box testing technique that measures the number of - or percentage - of decision directions executed by the test case designed. 100% Decision coverage would indicate that all decision directions had been executed at least once during testing. Alternatively each logical path through the program can be tested.

Decision Table
A tool for documenting the unique combinations of conditions and associated results in order to derive unique test cases for validation testing.

Defect Tracking Tools
Tools for documenting defects as they are found during testing and for
tracking their status through to resolution.

Desk Check: A verification technique conducted by the author of the artifcat to verify the completeness of their own work. This technique does not involve anyone else.

Dynamic Analysis: Analysis performed by executing the program code.Dynamic analysis executes or simulates a development phase product and it detects errors by analyzing the response of the product to sets of input data.

Entrance Criteria: Required conditions and standards for work product quality that must be present or met for entry into the next stage of the software development process.

Equivalence Partitioning: A test technique that utilizes a subset of data that is representative of a larger class. This is done in place of undertaking exhaustive testing of each value of the larger class of data.

Error or defect: 1.A discrepancy between a computed, observed or measured value or condition and the true, specified or theortically correct value or conditon 2.Human action that results in software containing a fault (e.g., omission or misinterpretation of user requirements in a software specification, incorrect translation or omission of a requirement in the design specification)

Error Guessing: Test data selection techniques for picking values that seem likely to cause defects. This technique is based upon the theory that test cases and test data can be developed based on intuition and experience of the tester.

Exhaustive Testing: Executing the program through all possible combination of values for program variables.

Exit criteria: Standards for work product quality which block the promotion of incomplete or defective work products to subsequent stages of the software development process.

Flowchart
Pictorial representations of data flow and computer logic. It is frequently
easier to understand and assess the structure and logic of an application system by developing a flow chart than to attempt to understand narrative descriptions or verbal explanations. The flowcharts for systems are normally developed manually, while flowcharts of programs can be produced.

Force Field Analysis
A group technique used to identify both driving and restraining forces that
influence a current situation.

Formal Analysis
Technique that uses rigorous mathematical techniques to analyze the
algorithms of a solution for numerical properties, efficiency, and correctness.

Functional Testing
Testing that ensures all functional requirements are met without regard to the final program structure.