What is Boundary Value Analysis?

Software Quality Assurance Questions Medium



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What is Boundary Value Analysis?

Boundary Value Analysis is a software testing technique used to identify errors or defects at the boundaries or limits of input values. It involves selecting test cases that lie at the edges of the input domain, including the minimum and maximum values, as well as values just above and below these boundaries. The objective of Boundary Value Analysis is to ensure that the software functions correctly and handles these boundary conditions effectively.

By testing the boundaries, it is possible to uncover errors that may not be identified through normal testing. This technique is based on the assumption that errors are more likely to occur at the boundaries due to the complexity of handling extreme values. Boundary Value Analysis helps in identifying issues such as off-by-one errors, rounding errors, and other boundary-related problems.

For example, if a software application accepts input values between 1 and 100, Boundary Value Analysis would involve testing values such as 0, 1, 2, 99, 100, and 101. By testing these boundary values, it is possible to determine if the software handles them correctly, such as rejecting values outside the specified range or accepting values within the range.

Overall, Boundary Value Analysis is a valuable technique in software quality assurance as it helps in identifying and resolving issues related to boundary conditions, ensuring the software functions correctly and reliably in all scenarios.