Black Box Testing is a Software testing method in which the internal working of the

application is not known to the tester.

The Black Box Testing mainly focuses on testing the functionality of software without any
knowledge of the internal logic of an application. Here we are learning the topics related to
the Black Box Testing in detail.
Table of Content
 What is Black Box Testing?
 Types Of Black Box Testing
 Advantages of Black Box Testing
 Disadvantages of Black Box Testing
 Difference between Black Box Testing and White Box Testing
 Grey Box Testing
 Ways of Black Box Testing Done
 Tools Used for Black Box Testing
 Features of Black Box Testing
 What Does black Box Testing Focus On?
What is Black Box Testing?
Black-box testing is a Type of Software Testing in which the tester is not concerned with
the software’s internal knowledge or implementation details but rather focuses on validating
the functionality based on the provided specifications or requirements.

Types Of Black Box Testing

The testing of application without knowing the internal code or structure, following are the
various Types of Black Box Testing:
1. Functional Testing
Functional Testing is a type of Software Testing in which the system is tested against the
functional requirements and specifications. Functional testing ensures that the requirements
or specifications are properly satisfied by the application.
 This testing is not concerned with the source code of the application. Each
functionality of the software application is tested by providing appropriate test input,
expecting the output, and comparing the actual output with the expected output.
 This testing focuses on checking the user interface, APIs, database, security, client or
server application, and functionality of the Application Under Test. Functional testing
can be manual or automated. It determines the system’s software functional
requirements.
2. Regression Testing
Regression Testing is like a Software Quality checkup after any changes are made. It
involves running tests to make sure that everything still works as it should, even after
updates or tweaks to the code. This ensures that the software remains reliable and functions
properly, maintaining its integrity throughout its development lifecycle.
 Regression means the return of something and in the software field, it refers to the
return of a bug. It ensures that the newly added code is compatible with the existing
code.
 In other words, a new software update has no impact on the functionality of the
software. This is carried out after a system maintenance operation and upgrades.
3. Nonfunctional Testing
Non-functional Testing is a type of Software Testing that is performed to verify the non-
functional requirements of the application. It verifies whether the behavior of the system is
as per the requirement or not. It tests all the aspects that are not tested in functional testing.
 It is designed to test the readiness of a system as per nonfunctional parameters which
are never addressed by functional testing.
 It is as important as functional testing.
 It is also known as NFT. This testing is not functional testing of software. It focuses on
the software’s performance, usability, and scalability.
Advantages of Black Box Testing
 The tester does not need to have more functional knowledge or programming skills to
implement the Black Box Testing.
 It is efficient for implementing the tests in the larger system.
 Tests are executed from the user’s or client’s point of view.
 Test cases are easily reproducible.
 It is used to find the ambiguity and contradictions in the functional specifications.
Disadvantages of Black Box Testing
 There is a possibility of repeating the same tests while implementing the testing
process.
 Without clear functional specifications, test cases are difficult to implement.
 It is difficult to execute the test cases because of complex inputs at different stages of
testing.
 Sometimes, the reason for the test failure cannot be detected.
 Some programs in the application are not tested.
 It does not reveal the errors in the control structure.
 Working with a large sample space of inputs can be exhaustive and consumes a lot of
time.
Ways of Black Box Testing Done
1. Syntax-Driven Testing
Syntax-Driven Testing is a Software Engineering technique or approach that is used in
functional automation testing that’s why called a type of functional automation testing.
 This type of testing is applied to systems that can be syntactically represented by some
language.
 For example, language can be represented by context-free grammar.
 In this, the test cases are generated so that each grammar rule is used at least once.
2. Equivalence partitioning
Equivalence Partitioning Methods is also known as Equivalence Class partitioning (ECP).
It is a software testing technique or black-box testing that divides input domain into classes
of data, and with the help of these classes of data, test cases can be derived.
 The idea is to partition the input domain of the system into several Equivalence
Classes such that each member of the class works similarly.
 If a test case in one class results in some error, other members of the class would also
result in the same error.
The technique involves two steps:
 Identification of equivalence class – Partition any input domain into a minimum of
two sets: valid values and invalid values . For example, if the valid range is 0 to 100
then select one valid input like 49 and one invalid like 104.
 Generating test cases- To each valid and invalid class of input assign a unique
identification number. Write a test case covering all valid and invalid test cases
considering that no two invalid inputs mask each other. The whole number which is a
perfect square-output will be an integer. The entire number which is not a perfect
 square-output will be a decimal number. Positive decimals Negative numbers(integer
or decimal). Characters other than numbers like “a”,”!”,”;”, etc.
3. Boundary value analysis
Boundary Value Analysis is based on testing the boundary values of valid and invalid
partitions. The behavior at the edge of the equivalence partition is more likely to be incorrect
than the behavior within the partition, so boundaries are an area where testing is likely to
yield defects.
 Boundaries are very good places for errors to occur.
 Hence, if test cases are designed for boundary values of the input domain then the
efficiency of testing improves and the probability of finding errors also increases.
 For example – If the valid range is 10 to 100 then test for 10,100 also apart from valid
and invalid inputs.
4. Cause effect graphing
This technique establishes a relationship between logical input called causes with
corresponding actions called the effect. The causes and effects are represented using Boolean
graphs. The following steps are followed:
1. Identify inputs (causes) and outputs (effect).
2. Develop a cause-effect graph.
3. Transform the graph into a decision table.
4. Convert decision table rules to test cases.
For example, in the following cause-effect graph:

It can be converted into a decision table

like:
Each column corresponds to a rule which will become a test case for testing. So there will be
4 test cases.
5. Requirement-based testing
Requirement-Based Testing in Software Development refers to a crucial process that
involves validating a software system based on its specified criteria. This approach
guarantees that the software aligns with documented specifications and meets the anticipated
outcomes outlined during the initial phases of the project.
Principles of Requirement-Based Testing
1. Traceability: The approach aims to establish clear links between each test and its
respective requirements, ensuring easy tracking.
2. Early Engagement: Early involvement in testing allows teams to comprehend,
validate, and clarify requirements, minimizing misinterpretation risks.
3. Validation and Verification: This methodology focuses on both aspects to ensure
software compliance with specified requirements, boosting testing reliability.
6. Compatibility testing
Compatibility Testing is the test case results not only depends on the product but is also on
the infrastructure for delivering functionality. When the infrastructure parameters are
changed it is still expected to work properly. Some parameters that generally affect the
compatibility of software are:
1. Processor (Pentium 3, Pentium 4) and several processors.
2. Architecture and characteristics of machine (32-bit or 64-bit).
3. Back-end components such as database servers.
4. Operating System (Windows, Linux, etc.)
Tools Used for Black Box Testing
Black box testing focuses on verifying the functionality of a software application by
evaluating its inputs and outputs without any knowledge of its internal workings. The tester
interacts with the system as an end-user to ensure the software meets its requirements and
performs tasks as expected.
 QA Wolf
 Mobot
 Selendroid
 Watir
 Katalon
 IBM Rational Functional Tester (RFT)
 AutoHotkey
 Ranorex
 Selenium IDE
 TestComplete
Features of Black Box Testing
1. Independent testing: Black box testing is performed by testers who are not involved
in the development of the application, which helps to ensure that testing is unbiased
and impartial.
2. Testing from a user’s perspective: Black box testing is conducted from the
perspective of an end user, which helps to ensure that the application meets user
requirements and is easy to use.
3. No knowledge of internal code: Testers performing black box testing do not have
access to the application’s internal code, which allows them to focus on testing the
application’s external behavior and functionality.
 4. Requirements-based testing: Black box testing is typically based on the application’s
requirements, which helps to ensure that the application meets the required
specifications.
5. Different testing techniques: Black box testing can be performed using various
testing techniques, such as functional testing, usability testing, acceptance testing, and
regression testing.
6. Easy to automate: Black box testing is easy to automate using various automation
tools, which helps to reduce the overall testing time and effort.
7. Scalability: Black box testing can be scaled up or down depending on the size and
complexity of the application being tested.
8. Limited knowledge of application: Testers performing black box testing have limited
knowledge of the application being tested, which helps to ensure that testing is more
representative of how the end users will interact with the application.
What Does black Box Testing Focus On?
Black Box Testing focuses on assessing how an application performs based on its inputs and
outputs, without the need to look internally in the code or internal structure.
Here are the key areas Black Box Testing focuses on:
 Functional Requirements: verify the software performs the tasks it was designed for,
according to the requirements, and meets user expectations.
 User Interface (UI): Tests the usability of the application by checking the interface is
easy to navigate and works properly for users.
 Input Validation: Verifies that the system correctly handles both valid and invalid
inputs, providing the right output and error messages when needed while running.
 Security: Checks that sensitive data is protected through encryption, proper access
controls are in place, and there are no security vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
 Performance and Reliability: Assesses how the application behaves under stress,
such as high user load or long periods of use, ensuring it remains stable and reliable.
 Compatibility: Verifies the software works across various platforms, including
different operating systems, browsers, devices, and network configurations.
 Error Handling: Tests how the system handles unexpected issues or failures. The
application should fail gracefully without crashing and display meaningful error
messages.
 System Integration: Ensures all parts of the application and any external
services (like APIs) are working well together, confirming the system functions
as intended when components interact.
Conclusion
Here we learned the actual process of Black Box Testing, and we discussed the all
topics related to the same in detail. If you want to learn more about the Software
Testing types and all related to Software testing. Refer the “Software Testing
Tutorial” which is really helpful for learning purposes.