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Glossary of Software Testing Terms:
D
This glossary of software testing
terms and conditions is a compilation of knowledge, gathered
over time, from many different sources. It is provided “as-is”
in good faith, without any warranty as to the accuracy or
currency of any definition or other information contained
herein. If you have any questions or queries about the contents
of this glossary, please contact
Project Realms directly.
Data & Database Integrity Testing
Data testing ensures information is seeded and used correctly.
Validations of transformations of data will occur. The databases
and the database processes will be tested as a sub-system.
The sub-systems should be tested without User Interfaces (as
the interface to the data). As data migrates through the system,
Database Integrity testing verifies fields that are subject
to conversions, fields that are derived from other fields,
field type conversions (e.g., string to integer), data moved
to another table structure, and relational data integrity.
This type of testing requires special tools such as a database
query tool. It also requires security access to the database.
Access is typically managed by the Database Administrator
or DBA. This testing type is used to validate the following:
- Data Migration - When migrating data from one system
architecture to another, the data is typically transformed
from the old structure to the new. Verifying the accuracy
of the migration requires an understanding of the conversion
process as well as the data mapping between the two systems.
Key focal points for this testing type are fields that are
subjected to conversions, fields that are derived from other
fields, field type conversions (i.e.: string to integer),
data moved to another table structure and relational data
integrity
- Data Validation - If data is entered in a UI (user
interface) or imported from another system, verifying the
accuracy of what is stored in the database can be valuable
to a testing effort. Some values are never displayed in
the UI so they can only be verified by querying the database.
In some cases the UI claims the data is deleted, but querying
the database confirms that the data has not been removed.
These are all examples of the value of direct database query
testing. Sometimes this testing is used in conjuncture with
Failover testing to ensure the integrity of the data after
a failover condition.
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Data Case
Data relationship model simplified for data extraction and
reduction purposes in order to create test data.
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Data Definition
An executable statement where a variable is assigned a value.
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Data Dictionary
A database that contains definitions of all data items defined
during analysis.
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Data Driven Testing
A framework where test input and output values are read from
data files and are loaded into variables in captured or manually
coded scripts. In this framework, variables are used for both
input values and output verification values. Navigation through
the program, reading of the data files, and logging of test
status and information are all coded in the test script.
This is similar to keyword-driven
testing in that the test case is contained in the data life
and not in the script; the script is just a "driver,"
or delivery mechanism, for the data. Unlike in table-driven
testing, though, the navigation data isn't contained in the
table structure. In data-driven testing, only test data is contained
in the data files.
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Data Flow Coverage
Test coverage measure based on variable usage within the code.
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Data Flow Diagram
A modeling mutation that represents a functional decomposition
of a system.
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Data Flow Testing
Data-flow testing looks at the lifecycle of a particular piece
of data (i.e. a variable) in an application. By looking for
patterns of data usage, risky areas of code can be found and
more test cases can be applied.
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Data Protection
Technique in which the condition of the underlying database
is synchronized with the test scenario so that differences can
be attributed to logical changes. This technique also automatically
re-sets the data base after tests - allowing for a constant
data set if a test is re-run.
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Data Use
An executable statement where the value of a variable is accessed.
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Database Testing
The process of testing the functionality, security, and integrity
of the database and the data held within.
Functionality of the database is one of the most critical aspects
of an application's quality; problems with the database could
lead to data loss or security breaches, and may put a company
at legal risk depending on the type of data being stored.
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Debugging
A methodical process of finding and reducing the number of bugs,
or defects, in a computer program or a piece of electronic hardware
thus making it behave as expected. Debugging tends to be harder
when various subsystems are tightly coupled, as changes in one
may cause bugs to emerge in another.
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Decision
A program point at which the control flow has two or more alternative
routes.
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Decision Condition
A condition held within a decision.
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Decision Coverage
The percentage of decision outcomes that have been exercised
by a test case suite.
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Decision Outcome
The result of a decision.
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Defect
A defect is a problem that will prevent the system from functioning
according to end user expectations. It is a nonconformance to
requirements or functional/program specifications. Defects can
be identified in requirements, design, code, and test cases.
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Defect Log
The Defect Log is a tool used by the test team to communicate
defect status information. As defects are identified, the following
information may be included: detection date, severity, priority,
status, type, root cause and description. Defects can be logged
during any phase of a project from Planning to Closure, and
they cam be written against requirements, design documentation,
code, or systems. As the defect management process proceeds,
the Defect Log is modified to reflect a defect's status.
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Defect Tracking
Defect tracking is the process that documents the status of
a defect throughout its lifecycle. The lifecycle begins with
detection and continues through closure, when it has been resolved
and validated. The Defect Log is the tool used to communicate
the information.
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Delta Release
A delta, or partial, release is one that includes only those
areas within the release unit that have actually changed or
are new since the last full or delta release. For example, if
the release unit is the program, a delta release contains only
those modules that have changed, or are new, since the last
full release of the program or the last delta release of certain
modules.
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Dependency Testing
Dependency Testing examines an application's requirements for
pre-existing software, initial states and configuration in order
to maintain proper functionality.
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Depth Testing
A test that exercises a feature of a product in full detail.
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Design Based Testing
Designing tests based on objectives derived from the architectural
or detail design of the software (e.g., tests that execute specific
invocation paths or probe the worst case behavior of algorithms).
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Developer Role
This role is filled by one or more associates who create programs
according to specifications and performs initial Unit
Testing.
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Development Environment
The Development environment is intended to be a lab where developers
can experiment with and test new application components and
configuration modifications.
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Dirty Testing
Testing which demonstrates that the system under test does not
work. Also know as negative
testing.
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Documentation Testing
Testing concerned with the accuracy of documentation.
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Domain
The set from which values are selected.
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Domain Expert
A person who has significant knowledge in a specific domain.
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Domain Testing
Domain testing is the most frequently described test technique.
The basic notion is that you take the huge space of possible
tests of an individual variable and subdivide it into subsets
that are (in some way) equivalent. Then you test a representative
from each subset.
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Downtime
Total period that a service or component is not operational.
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Durability Testing
This category of Performance testing is used to determine the
characteristics of a system under load conditions, over time.
This testing effort can help identify the stability of transaction
response times over the duration of the test, determine if there
are memory leaks, evaluate I/O activity levels, and evaluate
database resource consumption. It is sometimes called Availability
Testing.
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Dynamic Analysis
The examination of the physical response from the system to
variables that are not constant and change with time.
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Dynamic Testing
The examination of the physical response from the system to
variables that are not constant and change with time.
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