BBST® Testing Tours Cards

Testing tours, as a software testing technique, is an organized exploration of a product centered around specific themes or aspects. The concept is extensively covered in the Black Box Software Testing Test Design course.

Testing tours have several purposes in software testing. Firstly, they create an inventory of attributes of the product under test, enabling testers to systematically cover various aspects to a desired depth, thereby achieving coverage-oriented testing goals. Whether it’s statements, features, or claims documented for the product, if it can be listed, it can be tested and checked off the list.

Secondly, testing tours help testers get to know the product inside out. They dive into various aspects like how it works, how people use it, and what it can do. This learning journey is like peeling layers off an onion – it reveals all sorts of insights about the product’s quality.

Moreover, testing tours provide a structured way for testers to communicate their progress and findings to stakeholders. By explaining what aspects of the product have been studied and what areas remain unexplored, testers can effectively report progress, especially in the early stages of testing where metrics may be scarce.

Put simply, testing tours give a clear path and purpose to exploring the product. They help testers find new ideas and get to know the product well, ultimately leading to more effective testing. It’s worth noting that the term “tours” signifies that the focus isn’t (yet!) on identifying problems but just on learning and understanding the application thoroughly.