Introduction to Object Oriented Testing Methods

Object oriented testing begins in the small with a series of tests designed to exercise class operations and check whether errors exist as one class collaborates with other classes. Use based testing along with fault based testing is applied to integrated classes. In the end, use cases are used to uncover errors at software validation level.

Encapsulation can create a minor problem when testing because testing reports on concrete and abstract state of an object. Multiple inheritance complicates testing by increasing number of contexts for which testing is required. Black box testing methods are appropriate for object oriented systems as they are for systems developed using conventional software engineering methods.

The strategy for fault based testing is to hypothesize a set of possible faults and then derive the tests to prove each of that hypothesis. The effectiveness of these techniques depends on how testers see a plausible fault.

Inheritance complicates the testing process. even though the base class has been properly tested, there is a need to test all classes derived from it.

Scenario based testing will uncover errors that occur when any actor interacts with the software. It concentrates on what the user does and not what the product does. This type of testing uncovers interaction errors.

Surface structure is an externally observable structure of object oriented program. Testing surface structure is similar to black box testing. Deep structure refers to the internal technical details of object oriented program. It exercises dependencies, behaviors and communication mechanisms. It is similar to white box testing.