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What is Black Box Testing?

Black box testing is a software testing method, also referred to as functional testing, closed-box testing, and opaque testing. It does not involve knowledge of the application's internal source code and structure; the tester will only check its functionality following the requirement specification. In this type of testing, the tester is not given access to the source code; they uncover vulnerabilities in a system from the outside. Black box testing examines all significant subsystems, such as UI/UX, web apps, SaaS apps, networks, firewalls, routers, VPN, IDS/IPS, web servers, application servers, database servers, and integrated systems.

Advantages of Black Box Testing:

Advantages of Black Box Testing include:

1. It can be implemented without the tester's additional functional knowledge or coding skills.
2. It ensures that the application is implemented quickly.
3. It is unbiased because the tester and the designer do not collaborate.
4. It identifies the exposed vulnerabilities in your applications and network.
5. It helps you find implementation and configuration issues by testing the program while running.
6. It can identify errors like incorrect input/output validation, information disclosure in error messages, etc.
7. It may be less expensive than other types of penetration testing, such as gray box and white box. 

Techniques of Black Box Testing

1. Boundary Value Testing

This technique focuses on the input domain's boundary value because it is a likely target for errors. This method determines if a specific range of values is permitted by the system or not. 

2. Equivalence Partitioning

This technique is also known as Equivalence Class Partitioning (ECP). It separates input data into various groups or partitions according to their results' similarity. Only one input from each group is examined to determine the outcomes.

3. Decision Table Testing

In this technique, test cases are created based on numerous scenarios or conditions, such as if/else conditions. Decision tables are used to analyze system behavior using inputs and outputs where each input and output condition is verified to pass the test and provide the correct result.

4. State Transition Testing

In this technique, the testing phase considers the system's inputs, outputs, and various states. It examines the software application for a series of input transitions.

5. Error Guessing

This technique is based on guessing about the potential application errors and functionalities. It depends on the tester's abilities, judgment, and prior knowledge.

6. Graph-based Testing

In this technique, a graph is created for each of the application's objects. This object graph builds a test to find errors and determine the relationship between each object.

How can InfosecTrain help?

Black box testing is a highly useful technique to check the system's functionality and find vulnerabilities. Enroll in InfosecTrain’s CEH v12, CompTIA PenTest+, CPENT, and Web Application Penetration Testing online training courses to learn penetration testing. We will provide you with hands-on labs to teach the techniques and methodologies of black box testing, enabling you to gain practical experience and skills in this area.