Quality Assurance Consultant: Input Data Combination Matrix

Quality Assurance Consultant: Input Data Combination Matrix

In some cases, data entry errors are not caused by the data themselves or input operations, but by their combinations. If the program fails only when a user enters 60 characters in the third line of the screen and then presses the right arrow – there is an error which cannot be identified by testing individual operations and variables. Unfortunately, most programs have a vast number of possible combinations of input operations and input data (and more often than not the number is simply infinite) so it is impossible to test them all. Therefore, the question is how to identify the most interesting of them. Get in touch with quality assurance consultant to be provided with lots of valuable information relating successful software development.

A recognized computer scientist describes a complex but multifaceted approach to solving this problem, called Cause-effect Graphing. We will not consider it in this article, but those who want to become highly experienced testers are recommended to study it.

We will use rather experimental approach as it is more appropriate for the case. We have to study combinations of input conditions while doing testing. Thus, not all theoretically possible variants enter our field of vision, but only the most common of them. It is very useful to show programmers a list of program variables and ask them which of these variables are absolutely independent. But it is unwise to rely too heavily on their information: first, their memory may let them down, and secondly, one of the programmers can find it interesting to submit knowingly false information for your consideration. So for the sake of safety and reliability, be sure to perform fault-detection tests.

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After we have handled the program competently and have had some understanding of relationships between its data, we should proceed to more consistent testing of their combinations.

Software testing services company invites you to verify each aspect of your program to make sure that it operates as intended.