Glossary of the Lecture 3 «Approaches to the Functional Testing» for the software testing courses

Authorization – a process of checking (confirming) rights to perform some predefined actions. The username and password must be written to the corresponding fields to pass the authorization.

Boundary value – an input or output value that is on the edge of the equivalent range or at the smallest distance from both sides of the edge, for example, the minimum or maximum value of the area.

Equivalence class – a data set that is processed in the same way and produces the same result.

Requirement – a description of what functions and under what conditions the application should  perform in the process of solving a task that is useful for the user.

(Technical task, specification)

Verification – a process of evaluation of a system or its components to determine whether the results of the current development phase satisfy the conditions formulated at the beginning of this stage. The main question is, if our goals, deadlines and project development tasks defined at the beginning of the current phase are fulfilled.

Validation – a process of checking (confirming) that software corresponds to the expectations and needs of the users and system requirements.

Checkbox – a multiple-choice button. A graphical interface element that allows the user to control a parameter with two states - ☑ on and ☐ off. Turned on or off, a check mark (✓), or a cross (×)) is displayed inside the checkbox correspondingly. A sign is displayed next to the flag, usually it is a signature, sometimes an icon. 

(Checkbox, multiple selection button, checkmark)

Counter – an option for numeric values. Pressing/clicking the button allows you to change the parameter value by one up or down. They can also work automatically (for example, countdown).

Drop-down list – an interface element that allows you to select mutually exclusive parameters from the list. When a drop-down list is inactive, it displays a single value. When activated, it displays (drops down) a list of values, from which the user may select one.

Footer – a site element that is usually placed at the bottom of a web page. It often contains links to the main sections of a page, a copyright mark, a link to a license agreement file, etc. Also in the footer can be placed other objects, for example, widgets.

(Footer of the site)

Form – a specially designated area that contains a set of fields for entering data on a web page. It often also contains drop-down lists, checkboxes, and radio buttons. 

(Web form, form to fill in)

Scroll – an ability to move a line or a page using a vertical or horizontal scroll bar.

(Scroll the page vertically or horizontally, scrolling, scroll bar)

Ad-hoc testing – a testing without preparation or documentation.

(Ad-hoc or Intuitive testing/Exploratory testing)

Exploratory Testing – a more formal version of ad-hoc. It is a testing that doesn’t require writing test cases but implying that each subsequent test is selected based on the result of the previous test.

(Testing without writing test cases, testing without specification, testing without requirements)

Negative Testing – a testing for checking test cases other than the intended use of the software, for example, input data with incorrect parameters, etc. The main goal of performing such tests is to make sure that the system does not accept incorrect data.

(Testing with invalid values, checking for invalid cases, checking for exceptional situations)

Positive Testing – a testing by using only valid data and checking that the software works correctly. It is intended to show that the program works as it should, presupposing that the user enters the correct data and does not go beyond the scope of the provided behavior cases.