A software development company has hired a programmer to develop a plug-in module to an existing proprietary application. After completing the module, the
developer needs to test the entire application to ensure that the module did not introduce new vulnerabilities. Which of the following is the developer performing
when testing the application?
A.
Black box testing
B.
White box testing
C.
Gray box testing
D.
Design review
Explanation:
In this question, we know the tester has some knowledge of the application because the tester developed a plug-in module for it. However, the tester does not have
detailed information about the entire application. Therefore, this is a grey-box test. Gray box testing, also called gray box analysis, is a strategy for software
debugging in which the tester has limited knowledge of the internal details of the program. A gray box is a device, program or system whose workings are partially
understood. Gray box testing can be contrasted with black box testing, a scenario in which the tester has no knowledge or access to the internal workings of a
program, or white box testing, a scenario in which the internal particulars are fully known. Gray box testing is commonly used in penetration tests.
Gray box testing is considered to be non-intrusive and unbiased because it does not require that the tester have access to the source code. With respect to internal
processes, gray box testing treats a program as a black box that must be analyzed from the outside. During a gray box test, the person may know how the system
components interact but not have detailed knowledge about internal program functions and operation. A clear distinction exists between the developer and the
tester, thereby minimizing the risk of personnel conflicts.
Incorrect Answers:
A: Black-box testing is a method of software testing that examines the functionality of an application without peering into its internal structures or workings. This
method of test can be applied to virtually every level of software testing: unit, integration, system and acceptance. It typically comprises most if not all higher level
testing, but can also dominate unit testing as well. Specific knowledge of the application’s code/internal structure and programming knowledge in general is not
required. The tester is aware of what the software is supposed to do but is not aware of how it does it. For instance, the tester is aware that a particular input
returns a certain, invariable output but is not aware of how the software produces the output in the first place. In this question, the tester has some knowledge of the
application. Therefore, this answer is incorrect.
B: White-box testing (also known as clear box testing, glass box testing, transparent box testing, and structural testing) is a method of testing software that testsinternal structures or workings of an application, as opposed to its functionality (i.e. black-box testing). In white-box testing an internal perspective of the system, as
well as programming skills, are used to design test cases. The tester chooses inputs to exercise paths through the code and determine the appropriate outputs.
This is analogous to testing nodes in a circuit, e.g. in-circuit testing (ICT). White-box testing can be applied at the unit, integration and system levels of the software
testing process. Although traditional testers tended to think of white-box testing as being done at the unit level, it is used for integration and system testing more
frequently today. It can test paths within a unit, paths between units during integration, and between subsystems during a systemlevel test.
In this question, the tester has some knowledge of the application but not the detailed knowledge required for a white-box test. Therefore, this answer is incorrect.
D: A design review in terms of application development is the process of reviewing the design of the modules and units used in the application. However, in this
question, the application has already been developed. Furthermore, a design review does not describe the process of testing an application. Therefore, this answer
is incorrect.http://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/definition/gray-box http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-box_testing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-box_testing