Difference Between White Box Testing And Black Box Testing In Tabular Form

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In Software testing, both are the testing techniques used to ensure the working of software as per the software requirement and specification. However, the main difference between them is, Black box testing mainly focuses on software behavior, whereas, White box testing mainly focuses on the internal operational flow or working of the software.

Black Box Testing

In black-box testing, the tester is not aware of the internal working and mechanics of the software system. This type of testing has an end-user appeal to it and the focus of this testing is more on the inputs and outputs obtained.

This technique uses software requirements and specifications as the base to drive test cases. It can be employed on every level of testing such as unit, integration, and system testing. The tester provides some input and expects a desirable output to verify the expected behavior of the software application. Therefore, it is also termed as Behavioral Testing

A Black Box Testing can be classified into three types, namely functional testing, non-functional testing, and regression testing.

Functional Testing: For functional requirements that involves testing of APIs ( such as Login, Payment Gateway), Database, GUI, and more.

Non-Functional Testing: For Non-Functional Requirements that involves testing of performance, scalability, and more

Regression Testing: It is done after any changes or update made in software to verify previously tested code is still working properly.

Equivalence Class Technique, Decision Tables Technique, Boundary Value Technique are some of the testing techniques that fall under the category of Black Box Testing.

White Box Testing

In white-box testing, the tester is well aware of the internal functioning and working of the software system. This type of testing is based upon checking each and every block of code and every possible condition. This nature of the testing acts like transparent testing, unlike the other testing methods.

In this, a tester examines the code of a software application in order to ensure the internal structures are implemented properly as per the software specification.

Statement Coverage, Decision Coverage, Condition Coverage are some of the testing techniques that fall under the category of White Box Testing.

Difference Between White Box Testing And Black Box Testing In Tabular Form :

Black box testingWhite box testing
Internal behaviour of the software is always unknownInternal behaviour of the software is known
It is High-level testingIt is Low level testing
Ideal for acceptance testing and system testingIdeal for integration testing and unit testing
No need to have any knowledge pertaining to coding / programmingShould have prior knowledge pertaining to coding / programming
Less time consumingMore time consuming
Also known as Behavioural testingAlso known as Structural testing
Done by TesterDone by Programmer
Implementation Knowledge isn't requiredImplementation Knowledge is required
Decision table testing, Equivalence partitioning and Cause–effect graph are some of the techniques that are usedStatement Coverage and Branch coverage are some of the techniques that are used
Requirement specification is used as the base for test casesDetailed design is used as the base for test cases
It mainly focuses on the software functionalityIt mainly focuses on internal working of software
Functional, Non-functional and regression testing are the types of Black box testingCondition Testing, Loop Testing and Path Testing are the types of White box testing

Key Differences:

  • TESTING BASIS

In the case of black-box testing, the internal behavior of the software is always unknown while the emphasis is on the external factors like input and output; whereas; in the case of white-box testing, the internal behavior of the software is known and the tester can test each every part of the code.

 

  • TYPE OF TESTING

When we talk about black-box testing, since we are not concerned about internal working, that’s why, it is High-level testing; whereas; when we talk about white box testing, as we are aware of the internal functionality of the code, that’s why it is Low-level testing.

 

  • IDEAL USAGE

For the scenario related to Black box testing, as this testing is considered as higher level; this makes it ideal for acceptance testing and system testing; while; for the scenario related to white box testing, as this testing is considered as low level; this makes it ideal for integration testing and unit testing.

 

  • PROGRAM RELATED KNOWLEDGE

In the case of black-box testing, there is no need for the tester to have any knowledge pertaining to coding/programming; whereas; in the case of white-box testing, there is a prerequisite for the tester to have prior knowledge pertaining to coding/programming.

 

  • GRANULARITY

When we talk about black-box testing, this type of testing has very low granularity; whereas; when we talk about white box testing, this type of testing has quite high granularity.

 

  • TIME CONSUMPTION

If we consider the black box testing then, this testing is much less time consuming and also less exhaustive; whereas; if we consider white box testing then, this testing is much more time consuming and also more exhausting.

  • OTHER NAME

Black box testing is also termed as Behavioural testing, whereas White box testing also referred as Structural testing

This post was last modified on December 26, 2020

Rupesh Rawat

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Rupesh Rawat
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