EDUCBA

EDUCBA

MENUMENU
  • Free Tutorials
  • Free Courses
  • Certification Courses
  • 600+ Courses All in One Bundle
  • Login

Gray Box Testing

By Priya PedamkarPriya Pedamkar

Home » Software Development » Software Development Tutorials » Software Testing Tutorial » Gray Box Testing

Gray-Box-Testing

What is Gray Box Testing?

Gray Box Testing is also known as Transparent Box. Gray Box Testing, as the name says, is a mix of both white box and black-box testing that covers the testing process of the application software with less or limited familiarity with the code with which the application is built. It is a type of functional testing used to verify the code to some extent by keeping the expected internal functional behavior in mind. As it involves a combination of code and functionality testing, it is typically executed in more than one stage of the Testing Life Cycle.

Understanding Gray Box Testing

Gray box testing is a product of Black Box Testing and White-box Testing. Black Box Testing means the tester has no knowledge of how the software works inside. This type of testing is done at the user level. So the tester checks whether the end result is obtained and doesn’t know whether the code is working correctly at the loops and the breaks inside. So, the Software Testers are the ones who generally are responsible for Black Box Testing. Exactly opposite is White Box Testing. This type of testing is done mostly by the Software Developers as they check whether a particular result is being obtained at a particular break. In white-box testing, the testers (generally developers) have the knowledge of how the software is internally working.

Start Your Free Software Development Course

Web development, programming languages, Software testing & others

Understanding Gray Box
As told earlier, in Transparent Box, for testing purposes, the tester enters some dummy values to check the correct flow of the output. So for using Transparent Box, the tester needs to have knowledge of both software development and testing so as to check the correct flow.

Examples

As we know by now, that only a partial part of the logic is known to the tester in Transparent Box; it becomes a middle way in which the user can test the logic or software. The best example to explain the same would be; in certain software, the user needs to use some third-party application. This application, when it is being used, only a part of it is exposed to the developer. So, now this can only be checked using the input data and some of the part which has been exposed. This is a perfect example of how Transparent Box works.

Another example would be the working of HTML links. The tester checks for the links. Some of the links he may click may or may not open the correct page. When the link does not go to the expected page, the tester can change the link address from the partially exposed code and correct it.

One more example of Transparent Box is the validations that are used while inputting data. Most of us have experienced this while entering details online; we get errors if we input some wrong data, for example, “abc@con.con”. Now, we will see this wrong input and get the error message. The tester will rectify this at their end by disabling the code.

Gray Box Testing Techniques

Some of the techniques are listed below:

  • Matrix Testing: Developers define the entire variable that might be used during the execution of the software. Each of these variables has a technical and business risk associated with it. The risks are tested under the matrix testing phase.
  • Pattern Testing: An analysis is done on the previous failures of the software. Why and how the software has failed is taken into account and logged for future references. This helps in designing test cases in the future, which will not let the software fail.
  • Orthogonal Testing: Usually used when the amount of data is less but the complexity is more. So, all the possible permutations and combinations are used to assess.
  • Regression Testing: When certain changes are done in the software to get the desired output, regression testing is done to check whether the current logic is not affecting the output and working with the software and desired result is still being derived.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Given below are some advantages and disadvantages mentioned:

Advantages:

  • As it is a derivative of Black Box and White Box Testing methods, it adds more of both the testing techniques advantages.
  • Testing is done from more of a user perspective than of a developer’s perspective.
  • The testers need not have access to all of the code/logic.
  • Instant fixes can be done, as a partial code is available.
  • The flow of the data is managed and maintained correctly.
  • A fair review of the software is done, and no conflicts arise between developers and testers.

Disadvantages:

  • As only limited access to code/logic is available, complete fixes cannot be done sometimes, which means, sometimes the software can remain as it is.
  • Other white box testing types like algorithm testing cannot be done, as complete logic is not available.
  • Difficult to perform this type of testing on distributed architected software systems.

Why Should we use Gray Box Testing?

As of now, we all know that it is very effective with not only web applications but with business applications too, so it’ll rectify most of the software solutions. As the name goes, sometimes it is also known as a transparent box; the tester need not have a full understanding of the system. This testing method certainly penetrates through the application and gets to the core of the problem, and without knowledge of the whole code, it can be fixed.

Popular Course in this category
Sale
Software Testing Training (9 Courses, 2 Projects)9 Online Courses | 2 Hands-on Projects | 60+ Hours | Verifiable Certificate of Completion | Lifetime Access
4.5 (8,147 ratings)
Course Price

View Course

Related Courses
Penetration Testing Training Program (2 Courses)TestNG Training (4 Courses, 2 Project)

Conclusion

With so many usage advantages, one will necessarily require Gray Box Testing. And as specified earlier, a combination of both testing methods is certainly an effective technique to find out the errors in the software system.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to Gray Box Testing. Here we discussed how gray box testing is performed with the help of examples and different black box testing techniques. You can also go through our other suggested articles to learn more –

  1. White Box Testing
  2. Game Testing Interview Questions
  3. Black Box Testing
  4. Testing of Mobile application

Software Testing Training (9 Courses, 2 Projects)

9 Online Courses

2 Hands-on Projects

60+ Hours

Verifiable Certificate of Completion

Lifetime Access

Learn More

1 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share
Primary Sidebar
Software Testing Tutorial
  • Types of Testing
    • Adhoc Testing
    • Types of System Testing
    • Manual Testing Types
    • Unit Testing Types
    • Unit Testing Benefits
    • Agile Testing
    • What is Agile Testing
    • Acceptance Testing
    • Stress Testing Types
    • Alpha and Beta Testing
    • Application Testing
    • Automation Testing
    • Automation Testing Advantages
    • Benchmark Testing
    • Black Box Testing
    • Domain Testing
    • Dynamic Testing
    • Ecommerce Testing
    • Fuzz Testing
    • Gray Box Testing
    • GUI Testing
    • Installation Testing
    • Interface Testing
    • Interoperability Testing
    • Mainframe Testing
    • Manual Testing
    • Mutation Testing
    • Monkey Testing
    • Negative Testing
    • Penetration Testing
    • Penetration testing phases
    • Penetration testing framework
    • Protocol Testing
    • Recovery Testing
    • Regression Testing
    • Mobile Penetration Testing
    • Accessibility Testing
    • Sanity Testing
    • Scalability Testing
    • Security Testing
    • Spike Testing
    • Stability Testing
    • State Transition Testing
    • Static Testing
    • Gatling Load Testing
    • System Integration Testing
    • Structural Testing
    • Locust Load Testing
    • System Testing
    • Control Flow Testing
    • Unit Testing
    • Cypress testing
    • Volume Testing
    • Web Testing Application
    • What is Exploratory Testing
    • What is Stress Testing
    • What is Usability Testing
    • White Box Testing
    • Types of White Box Testing
    • Compatibility Testing?
    • Use Case Testing
    • Beta Testing
    • Integration Testing
    • Non Functional Testing
    • Non Functional Testing Types
    • What is Functional Testing
    • Functional testing types
    • Cookie Testing
    • Alpha Testing
    • Boundary Value Testing
    • Equivalence Class Testing
    • Glass Box Testing
    • SOA Testing
    • Smoke Testing
    • Visual Testing
    • Visual Paradigm
    • Model-Based Testing
  • Basics
    • What is Software Testing
    • Careers in Software Testing
    • Defect Life Cycle in Software Testing
    • Levels of Software Testing
    • Software Testing Life Cycle
    • Software Tester Work
    • Software Testing Principles
    • Software Testing Services
    • Testing Methodologies
    • Test Approaches
    • Grey Box Testing
    • Types of Software Testing
    • What is a Bug in Software Testing
    • Benefits of Automation Testing
    • What is Automation Testing?
    • Types of Automation
    • Automation Testing Process
    • Mobile Automation Testing
    • Automation Testing Life Cycle
    • Software Quality Assurance
    • Software Quality Assurance
    • What is Test Environment?
    • Verification and Validation Testing
  • Testing techniques
    • Software Testing Methodologies
    • Black Box Testing Techniques
    • Static Testing Techniques
    • Test Case Design Techniques
    • What is Static Analysis
  • Testing tools
    • Manual Testing Tools
    • Visual Testing Tools
    • Automation Testing Tools
    • Functional Testing Tools
    • GUI Testing Tools
    • Penetration Testing Tools
    • Performance Testing Tools
    • SOA Testing Tools
    • Accessibility Testing Tools
    • What is QTP
    • Regression Testing Tools
    • Security Testing Tools
    • Test Management Tools
    • Defect Management Tools
    • Code Coverage Tools
    • Test Coverage Tools
    • Defect Tracking Tools
    • Continuous Integration Tools
    • Install Bugzilla
    • Test data generation tool
    • Unit Testing Tools
    • Web Testing Tools
    • Stress Testing Tools
    • Performance Monitoring Tools
    • Mobile Testing Tools
    • Responsive Testing Tool
    • Cross Browser Testing Tools
    • Risk Based Testing
    • Database Testing Tools
    • WinRunner
    • What is Squish?
    • CubicTest
    • What is WinRM?
    • Bugzilla Tool
    • Code review tools
    • Penetration Testing Open Source Tools
  • Advance
    • Cyclomatic Complexity
    • Decision Table Testing
    • Decision Tree Algorithm
    • What is Continuous Integration
    • Mantis Bug Tracker
    • Equivalence Partitioning
    • Gantt Chart Software
    • Acceptance Testing Types
    • Load testing tools
    • Install TestNG
    • Install Unity
    • Defect Management Process
    • Test Plan Template
    • Testing Interview Questions
    • Testing of Mobile application
    • What is Test Automation Frameworks
    • Test Automation Framework
    • Application of Automation
    • Test Automation Process
    • Automation Testing Roles and Responsibilities
    • What is Instruction Cycle?
    • What is Cucumber?
    • 15 Best Popular Bug Reporting Tools
    • What is Automated Testing?
    • Software Maintenance Types
    • Types of Penetration Testing
    • Software Reliability
    • Best Gantt Chart Software
    • Code Coverage
    • Branch Coverage
    • Decision Coverage
    • Statement Coverage
    • What is Test Case
    • Types of Test Case
    • What is Test Scenario
    • Formal Review
    • Alpha Beta Pruning
    • What is Cyclomatic Complexity?
    • Test Coverage
    • How to Write Test Case
    • Testing Documentation
    • Performance Testing Life Cycle
    • Test Harness
    • Test Strategy
    • Software Incident Management
    • What is Debugging
    • What is Defect?
    • Listeners in TestNG
  • Inteview Questions
    • Automation Testing Interview Questions
    • Manual Testing Interview Questions
    • ISTQB Interview Questions
    • Cucumber Interview Questions
    • Software Testing Interview Questions
    • Penetration Testing Interview Questions

Related Courses

Software Testing Course

Penetration Training Course

TestNG Training Course

Footer
About Us
  • Blog
  • Who is EDUCBA?
  • Sign Up
  • Live Classes
  • Corporate Training
  • Certificate from Top Institutions
  • Contact Us
  • Verifiable Certificate
  • Reviews
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  •  
Apps
  • iPhone & iPad
  • Android
Resources
  • Free Courses
  • Java Tutorials
  • Python Tutorials
  • All Tutorials
Certification Courses
  • All Courses
  • Software Development Course - All in One Bundle
  • Become a Python Developer
  • Java Course
  • Become a Selenium Automation Tester
  • Become an IoT Developer
  • ASP.NET Course
  • VB.NET Course
  • PHP Course

© 2022 - EDUCBA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE CERTIFICATION NAMES ARE THE TRADEMARKS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

EDUCBA
Free Software Development Course

Web development, programming languages, Software testing & others

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

EDUCBA
Free Software Development Course

Web development, programming languages, Software testing & others

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Let’s Get Started

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Loading . . .
Quiz
Question:

Answer:

Quiz Result
Total QuestionsCorrect AnswersWrong AnswersPercentage

Explore 1000+ varieties of Mock tests View more

EDUCBA Login

Forgot Password?

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to our Privacy Policy

EDUCBA

*Please provide your correct email id. Login details for this Free course will be emailed to you

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Special Offer - Software Testing Training (9 Courses, 2 Projects) Learn More