Software Testing Concepts Quiz

Define the term dry run in the context of software testing and explain its purpose. (2 marks)

• A dry run is a type of automated testing that executes the program fully.
• A dry run is a process of compiling code without checking for errors.
• A dry run refers to running the program in a production environment without any testing.
• A dry run is a manual simulation of code execution to identify errors and verify logic without running the program.

What is the main difference between alpha testing and beta testing? (3 marks)

• Alpha testing is internal and focuses on finding bugs, while beta testing is external and gathers user feedback.
• Alpha testing is the final stage before release, while beta testing is the first stage.
• Alpha testing is conducted by end-users, while beta testing is done by developers.
• Alpha testing is focused on user experience, while beta testing is focused on performance.

Explain the role of stubs in integration testing. (3 marks)

• Stubs provide real data from external systems during testing.
• Stubs simulate unavailable components, allowing isolation and interaction verification in integration testing.
• Stubs are only necessary for unit testing, not integration testing.
• Stubs are used to replace hardware components in testing.

A software development team is creating a navigation app. Describe how black box testing would be used to verify the app's functionality. (3 marks)

• Black box testing verifies the app's functionality by testing inputs and expected outputs without examining internal code.
• Black box testing requires access to the app's source code.
• Black box testing focuses solely on the app's internal algorithms.
• Black box testing is used to optimize the app's performance metrics.

Suggest a scenario where white box testing would be more appropriate. (3 marks)

• A scenario where white box testing is used for user interface testing to ensure visual elements are correct.
• A scenario where white box testing is applied to test the performance of a web application under load.
• A scenario where white box testing is conducted during system testing to validate end-to-end functionality.
• During unit testing of a complex algorithm, where understanding the internal code structure is crucial for verifying correctness.

You are testing an online store's checkout system. Identify how you would use integration testing to validate the interaction between the cart, payment, and order confirmation modules. (4 marks)

• Integration testing for cart, payment, and order confirmation modules involves validating item addition, payment processing, and order confirmation display.
• Validating payment processing without checking order confirmation.
• Testing only the cart module without payment validation.
• Confirming order details without testing item addition in the cart.

Compare and contrast walkthroughs and dry runs as methods of identifying errors in software development. (6 marks)

• Walkthroughs are collaborative and discussion-based, while dry runs are individual and execution-focused.
• Walkthroughs are primarily used for testing, while dry runs are for documentation.
• Dry runs involve multiple team members, whereas walkthroughs are done individually.
• Walkthroughs are focused on execution, while dry runs are collaborative.

Discuss how acceptance testing contributes to overall software quality, providing examples from real-world applications. (8 marks)

• Acceptance testing is irrelevant in agile development.
• Acceptance testing focuses solely on performance metrics.
• Acceptance testing is only necessary for large software projects.
• Acceptance testing contributes to overall software quality by validating that the software meets user requirements and is ready for deployment, as seen in healthcare EHR systems and e-commerce platforms.

What is black box testing?

• A technique used exclusively for performance testing of applications.
• Black box testing is a method of software testing that evaluates the functionality of an application without knowledge of its internal code structure.
• A testing approach that requires knowledge of the software's source code.
• A method that tests the internal code structure of an application.

What is acceptance testing?

• Acceptance testing is the process of verifying that a system meets the specified requirements and is ready for use.
• Acceptance testing is a process for training users on a new system.
• Acceptance testing is the final stage of software development before deployment.
• Acceptance testing is a method for debugging software.