State Transition Testing Technique Training

software of a component or system.

What is dynamic testing?

What is

Black box testing: Method of testing that examines the functionality of an application without peering into its internal logical structure.

system where user gets a different output for the same

What is state transition testing?

State transition technique is a dynamic black-box testing technique, which is used when the system is defined in terms of states and the transitions between the states is governed by the rules of the system.

to visualize all of the states in which the system

- to capture certain kinds of system requirements and to document internal system design;

- can serve as a guide to creating test cases;

- is used in cases when system’s reaction depends on its state.

transitions (from one state to another)
- events (that cause

Actions that result from a transition are not shown explicitly but they would be a message to the customer saying things (such as 'Please enter your PIN').

Technique: designations

A state transition model can be represented as diagram and as a table.

account. He has 3 tries to enter valid PIN and

Wait for PIN

2nd try

3rd try

Access to account

Eat card

Start

Card inserted

Enter valid PIN

Enter invalid PIN

Enter valid PIN

Enter invalid PIN

Enter valid PIN

Enter invalid PIN

Technique: State diagram

In 10 seconds

card
Start
Card inserted
Enter valid PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter
invalid PIN
Enter

Enter invalid PIN

Card inserted

Card inserted

Enter invalid PIN

Enter valid PIN

Technique: State diagram

In 10 seconds

Card inserted

Enter valid PIN

Enter valid PIN

Enter invalid PIN

Enter valid PIN

transition table.
Where every column illustrates every transition from one state

Technique: State table

where the correct PIN is entered the first time.
Wait

2nd try

3rd try

Access to account

Eat card

Start

Enter valid PIN

Enter invalid PIN

Enter valid PIN

Enter valid PIN

Enter invalid PIN

Card inserted

Technique: Test Cases. 1st flow

Enter invalid PIN

In 10 seconds

PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Technique: Test

Enter invalid PIN

A second test (to visit every state) would be to enter an incorrect PIN each time, so that the system eats the card.

In 10 seconds

PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Technique: Cover

Enter invalid PIN

In 10 seconds

PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Technique: Test

A third test case where the PIN was incorrect the first time but OK the second time.

In 10 seconds

Enter valid PIN

PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Technique: Cover

In 10 seconds

Enter valid PIN

PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Technique: Test

A fourth test where the PIN was correct on the third try.

In 10 seconds

Enter valid PIN

PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Technique: Cover

A fourth test where the PIN was correct on the third try.

In 10 seconds

Enter valid PIN

PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter valid PIN
Enter invalid PIN
Technique: Cover

Enter invalid PIN

In 10 seconds