ISTQB FOUNDATION 4.0 | Tutorial 24 | Static Testing vs Dynamic Testing | Static Testing Defects

Summary

This tutorial explores the distinctions between static and dynamic testing, emphasizing their complementary roles in defect detection. Static testing excels at identifying documentation inconsistencies and design flaws without executing code, while dynamic testing uncovers UI and functionality issues through actual product use. The video highlights the benefits of each method, discusses the types of defects more easily detected by static testing, and underscores the importance of applying both approaches in software testing.

Takeaways

• 📚 Static and dynamic testing are complementary practices with similar objectives, such as defect detection, but they differ in approach and the types of defects they can uncover.
• 🔍 Static testing is beneficial for identifying defects in documentation and design, such as inconsistencies and high coupling, which are not evident through execution.
• 👀 Dynamic testing is effective for detecting UI-related defects, functionality issues, and user challenges that become apparent only when the system is in use.
• 🔑 A key difference is that static testing can directly find defects in work products, while dynamic testing identifies failures and then analyzes the root cause.
• 🛠 Static testing can detect defects in code paths that are rarely executed or hard to reach, which may not be uncovered by dynamic testing.
• 🛡 Static testing can be applied to non-executable work products like user manuals, unlike dynamic testing which requires executability.
• 📈 Static testing measures quality characteristics not dependent on code execution, such as maintainability, while dynamic testing measures characteristics like security and performance that require code execution.
• 📋 The script provides a list of typical defects more easily found through static testing, including inconsistencies in requirements, inefficient database structures, and deviations from coding standards.
• 🔄 Static testing involves reviewing and analyzing work products, whereas dynamic testing involves running the product under various conditions to observe behavior.
• 🛑 Some defects are only identifiable through static testing, such as documentation errors or design flaws, which do not manifest as failures during dynamic testing.
• 🔄 Conversely, dynamic testing can reveal runtime issues like buffer overflows, which are not detectable through static analysis of documentation alone.
• 🔑 Understanding the distinct value of each testing approach is crucial for applying them appropriately in a project to ensure comprehensive defect detection.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the tutorial in the provided transcript?

The main focus of the tutorial is to discuss the differences between static testing and dynamic testing, and to explore the benefits and typical defects that can be identified through static testing compared to dynamic testing.

How do static and dynamic testing complement each other?

Static and dynamic testing complement each other by having similar objectives, such as supporting the detection of defects in work products, but they differ in the types of defects they can identify and the methods used for analysis.

What are some defects that can only be found through static testing?

Defects related to documentation, such as inconsistencies, ambiguities, contradictions, omissions, inaccuracies, or duplications in requirements, can only be found through static testing.

How does static testing differ from dynamic testing in terms of identifying defects?

Static testing allows for direct identification of defects in documentation or code during review, while dynamic testing involves observing failures caused by defects and analyzing them to determine the root cause.

What is the role of static analysis tools in the context of static testing?

Static analysis tools are used in static testing to detect and identify anomalies in code, including parts that are rarely executed or hard to reach, which may not be identified through dynamic testing.

Can static testing be applied to non-executable work products?

Yes, static testing can be applied to non-executable work products, such as user manuals, which can be reviewed for defects but not executed as part of dynamic testing.

What are some quality characteristics that static testing can measure?

Static testing can measure quality characteristics that are not dependent on executing the code, such as maintainability, adherence to coding standards, and the presence of security vulnerabilities like buffer overflow.

How does dynamic testing differ from static testing in terms of measuring quality characteristics?

Dynamic testing measures quality characteristics that are dependent on executing the code, such as security testing or performance testing, which require running the code with a desired amount of load.

What are some typical defects that static testing can find more easily or cheaply compared to dynamic testing?

Typical defects that static testing can find more easily include inconsistencies in requirements, inefficient database structures, poor modelization, coding defects like unreachable code, and deviations from coding standards.

What is the significance of traceability in the context of testing?

Traceability is significant as it links different components of a project, ensuring that there is a test case for each requirement. Static testing can identify gaps or inaccuracies in traceability, such as missing tests for acceptance criteria.

How does the tutorial suggest we should approach the use of static and dynamic testing in a project?

The tutorial suggests that both static and dynamic testing should be used in a project as they are independent yet applicable, and recognizing the need for each and applying them appropriately is crucial for comprehensive defect detection.