Boundary value Analysis (BVA) & Equivalence Partitioning (EP)
1. Boundary Value Analysis (BVA)
Definition
Boundary Value Analysis is a software testing technique used to test the values at the boundaries or edges of input ranges, because errors are most likely to occur at the boundary limits.
What is Boundary Value Analysis?
BVA focuses on minimum, maximum, and edge values of input ranges instead of testing every possible value.
Example:
If the valid input range is 1–100, boundary values are:
0 (below minimum)
1 (minimum)
2 (just above minimum)
99 (just below maximum)
100 (maximum)
101 (above maximum)
Why is Boundary Value Analysis Used?
Boundary testing is used because most errors occur at boundary limits.
Reasons:
Reduces number of test cases
Finds edge-case bugs
Improves testing efficiency
When is Boundary Value Analysis Used?
BVA is used when:
Input values have specific ranges
Forms accept numbers, age, marks, quantity, etc.
Example:
Age field (18–60)
Marks field (0–100)
Where is Boundary Value Analysis Used?
It is commonly used in:
Login forms
Online registration forms
Banking systems
E-commerce quantity fields
Exam marks systems
How Boundary Value Analysis Works
Steps:
Identify input range
Identify minimum and maximum values
Create test cases around the boundaries
Test values below, at, and above the boundary
Example:
Age field range 18–60
Test cases:
17 (below minimum)
18 (minimum)
19 (just above minimum)
59 (just below maximum)
60 (maximum)
61 (above maximum)
2. Equivalence Partitioning (EP)
Definition
Equivalence Partitioning is a software testing technique where input data is divided into valid and invalid partitions, and one value from each partition is tested.
What is Equivalence Partitioning?
Instead of testing every input value, inputs are divided into groups (partitions) that behave the same.
Only one value from each group is tested.
Example:
Marks range 0–100
Partitions:
Invalid partition → less than 0
Valid partition → 0–100
Invalid partition → greater than 100
Why is Equivalence Partitioning Used?
EP helps to:
Reduce number of test cases
Save testing time
Improve testing coverage
When is Equivalence Partitioning Used?
It is used when:
Inputs have large number of possible values
Testing input fields or form validations
Example:
Marks input
Password field
Quantity input
Where is Equivalence Partitioning Used?
Commonly used in:
Web form validation
Login systems
Student result systems
Online registration forms
How Equivalence Partitioning Works
Steps:
Identify input field
Divide input values into valid and invalid groups
Select one value from each group
Test the application using those values
Example:
Marks field 0–100
Test cases:
-5 → invalid partition
50 → valid partition
110 → invalid partition
Difference Between BVA and Equivalence Partitioning
| Feature | Boundary Value Analysis | Equivalence Partitioning |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Edge values | Groups of values |
| Test cases | Minimum and maximum values | One value per group |
| Purpose | Find boundary errors | Reduce test cases |
BVA: Tests boundary limits of input ranges.
EP: Divides input data into valid and invalid partitions
Comments
Post a Comment