Black-Box Testing vs White-Box Testing

Black-Box Testing

Black-box testing, also known as functional testing, is a software testing technique that focuses on testing the functionality of the application without examining its internal code structure. Testers primarily evaluate the system's inputs and outputs to verify that it behaves as expected based on specifications.

When to Use:

Black-box testing is ideal when the tester has limited knowledge of the internal workings of the application or when the emphasis is on the end-user's perspective. This method is effective for testing user interfaces, system functionalities, and requirements validation.

White-Box Testing

White-box testing, also known as structural or glass-box testing, involves examining the internal code and logic of the application. Testers analyze the internal structures, design, and implementation details to ensure the software works correctly at the code level.

When to Use:

White-box testing is suitable for verifying code coverage, identifying logic errors, and assessing the robustness of the code. It is beneficial in unit testing, integration testing, and debugging processes.

Example Scenario:

For a banking application, black-box testing would be appropriate to test the user interface, navigation flows, and transaction processing from a user's perspective. On the other hand, white-box testing would be more suitable for verifying complex algorithms used for interest calculations or security protocols implemented within the application.