SDLC Implementation Phase & Boundary Values – What are the benefits and drawbacks of using boundary value analysis?
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Design
- Requirements
- Implementation(Correct)
- Maintenance
Explanation
Boundary value analysis (BVA) is a test case design technique that focuses on the values at the edges of the input domain, such as the minimum, maximum, or just inside and outside the valid range. BVA is based on the assumption that errors are more likely to occur at the boundaries than in the middle of the input domain. In this article, we will explore the benefits and drawbacks of using BVA for testing software applications.
Benefits of BVA
BVA can help you reduce the number of test cases needed to cover the input domain, as you only need to test a few values at each boundary instead of testing every possible value. This can save you time and resources, as well as make your test cases more manageable and maintainable. BVA can also help you detect errors that might otherwise be overlooked, such as off-by-one errors, overflow errors, or boundary condition errors. BVA can improve the quality and reliability of your software, as it can reveal defects that might affect the functionality, performance, or security of your application.
Drawbacks of BVA
BVA is not a perfect technique, and it has some limitations and challenges. BVA might not be suitable for testing complex input domains that have multiple boundaries, interactions, or dependencies. BVA might also miss some errors that occur in the middle of the input domain, or that are caused by other factors than the input values, such as logic, data, or environment. BVA might also require some assumptions or estimations about the input domain, which might not be accurate or consistent. BVA might also depend on the quality and completeness of the specifications and requirements, which might not be clear or available.
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How to use BVA
To use BVA effectively, you need to follow some steps and guidelines. First, you need to identify the input domain and its boundaries, such as the valid and invalid ranges, the minimum and maximum values, or the equivalence classes. Second, you need to select the test cases that cover the boundary values, such as the values at the exact boundary, or just inside and outside the boundary. Third, you need to execute the test cases and verify the expected results, such as the output, the behavior, or the error messages. Fourth, you need to document and report the test cases and the test results, such as the test plan, the test data, or the defects.
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Examples of BVA
To illustrate how BVA works, let’s look at some examples of applying BVA to different types of input domains. For example, if you have a numeric input domain that accepts values from 1 to 100, you can use BVA to test the values 0, 1, 2, 99, 100, and 101. For example, if you have a string input domain that accepts values with a maximum length of 10 characters, you can use BVA to test the values with 9, 10, and 11 characters. For example, if you have a date input domain that accepts values from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, you can use BVA to test the values December 31, 2019, January 1, 2020, January 2, 2020, December 30, 2020, December 31, 2020, and January 1, 2021.
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Tips and best practices for BVA
To make the most of BVA, you should follow some tips and best practices. First, you should combine BVA with other test case design techniques, such as equivalence partitioning, decision tables, or state transition diagrams, to increase the coverage and effectiveness of your testing. Second, you should use BVA not only for testing inputs, but also for testing outputs, such as the ranges, limits, or formats of the expected results. Third, you should use BVA not only for testing normal or valid scenarios, but also for testing abnormal or invalid scenarios, such as error handling, exception handling, or boundary violations. Fourth, you should use BVA not only for testing functional requirements, but also for testing non-functional requirements, such as performance, usability, or security.