Software Quality Assurance Practice Exam

Which black box testing type divides the input domain of a program into a finite number of classes and identifies the test cases?

1. Equivalence partitioning

2. Cause-effect graphing

3. Boundary value analysis

4. State transition testing

The correct answer is: Equivalence partitioning

Equivalence partitioning is a technique in black box testing that aims to reduce the number of test cases by dividing the input domain into classes or partitions. The main premise is that if one input value from a class works correctly, all other values in that class should work as well, assuming the function behaves uniformly across the partition. By identifying and grouping inputs that are expected to produce similar results, equivalence partitioning enables testers to create test cases that effectively cover a range of situations without the need to test every single input individually. This becomes particularly useful in scenarios with large input domains, making the testing process more efficient while still ensuring comprehensive coverage of the application. Other techniques mentioned focus on different aspects of testing. For instance, cause-effect graphing concerns the relationships between inputs and their resulting outputs, boundary value analysis specifically targets edge cases by testing the values at the boundaries of equivalence classes, and state transition testing examines the system's behavior in response to a sequence of inputs or events. Each has its importance, but equivalence partitioning specifically addresses the division of input domains into managed classes to streamline test selection.