Black Box Approach:

Functional testing approach focuses on application externals. We can call it as Requirements-based or Specifications-based.

Characteristics:

1. Functionality
2. Requirements, use, standards Correctness
3. Business forms, Documents
4. Does system meet business requirements

Type of Test during Black Box Approach:

1. System Testing: System test demonstrates that all programs function and work together as designed. This test is performed when all the individual component objects for a release have been integrated into a single system. Documented non-functional requirements such as performance, volume, stress, capacity and security are also verified. Particular attention is paid to regression testing during this phase.
2. User Acceptance Testing: The testing performed for or by user is called user acceptance testing or UAT. The purpose is to ensure that end users are satisfied with the functionality and performance of the system.

Techniques & Tools:

1. Equivalence partitioning – Develop program code to perform tests
2. Boundary value analysis – Develop program code to perform tests
3. Cause-effect graphing – Flow graphing tools
4. Random testing – GUI test tools
5. Error Guessing – GUI test tools
6. Regression testing – GUI / Server test tools
7. Stress testing – Load test tools
8. Replication testing - Load test tools
9. Data Integrity testing – Data analysis tools
10. Backup and recoverable testing – Load test tools / Server test tools / GUI test tools
11. Configuration testing – Multi platform test tools
12. Performance Testing – Load test tools
13. Functional testing – Load test tools / GUI test tools / Server test tools
14. Security testing – Security test tools
15. Operational Readiness Testing – Load test tools / server / GUI tools
16. User Acceptance testing – GUI test tools
17. Compatibility / conversion testing – Load / GUI / Server test tools
18. Benchmark Testing – Benchmarking tools
19. Usability testing – Usability measurement tools
20. Alpha / Beta testing – Load / Server / GUI test tools