Table of Contents
Equivalence Partitioning and Boundary Value Analysis are testing techniques used to identify test cases that cover different input scenarios. They help in reducing the number of tests while maintaining coverage. This article provides practical guidelines and examples for applying these techniques effectively.
Understanding Equivalence Partitioning
Equivalence Partitioning divides input data into groups, or partitions, where each group is expected to behave similarly. Testing one value from each partition can represent the entire group, reducing the number of test cases needed.
For example, if a system accepts ages between 18 and 65, the partitions are:
- Below 18
- Between 18 and 65
- Above 65
Testing one value from each partition ensures coverage of all input scenarios.
Applying Boundary Value Analysis
Boundary Value Analysis focuses on the edges of input partitions. Since errors often occur at boundaries, testing values just inside, on, and just outside these boundaries is crucial.
Using the previous example, boundary values are:
- 17 (just below 18)
- 18 (lower boundary)
- 65 (upper boundary)
- 66 (just above 65)
Practical Guidelines
To effectively apply these techniques:
- Identify all input partitions based on specifications.
- Select representative test cases from each partition.
- Focus on boundary values for each partition.
- Combine both techniques for comprehensive testing.
- Automate test case generation where possible.
Example Scenario
Consider a login form that accepts passwords with lengths between 8 and 16 characters. Partitions are:
- Less than 8 characters
- Between 8 and 16 characters
- More than 16 characters
Boundary test cases include:
- 7 characters (just below minimum)
- 8 characters (minimum boundary)
- 16 characters (maximum boundary)
- 17 characters (just above maximum)